Officials mourn President Faust's passing

Other political leaders weighed in with their views on President Faust.

"President Faust was a tremendous counselor to President Hinckley and a wonderful leader for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," said Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah. "He was a great friend to our family and millions of others. He is a person of great dimension, wide-ranging abilities, and deeply spiritual capacities. Elaine and I will deeply miss him. We pray that everyone in the Faust family will be comforted at this time with peace through their memories of this great man."

Said Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah: "President Faust was a public servant and a servant of God in the fullest sense of those terms — an uncommon combination to say the least. He seemed to have a keen interest in government and current events, but more importantly he had a genuine interest in people and the welfare of the individual," Bishop continued. "He was truly a kind and caring soul, and he will be missed."

Said Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah: "President Faust was one of the most important and revered people in Utah, but he never lost the common touch. ... Jim embodied the Savior's mandate to be 'wise as serpents and harmless as doves.' He was a lawyer who disciplined himself in his profession in church service and became wise. He was unfailingly kind. I will miss him, his family will miss him, and as a people, we will greatly miss him."

Utah's lone Democratic Congressman said he was saddened to learn of Faust's death.

"I will always remember his concern for the less-fortunate and what a strong advocate he was for public service," said Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah. " He made the world a better place. I extend my deepest sympathies to his family. The world and the Utah Democratic Party have lost an irreplaceable role model who taught us how to reach out to one another. As a community leader, President Faust was an inspiration for Democrats to get involved in public service. "

Wayne Holland, chair of the Utah Democratic Party, said, "His quiet and thoughtful counsel will be missed. We thank his family for sharing him with us and supporting his efforts. At this time our prayers are with them."

State legislative leaders also offered their thoughts.

Utah Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, said he has long looked up to President Faust and identifies with him.

"Like President Faust, I'm an attorney and I'm in the (Utah) Legislature, and I'm an active member of our church, as he was," said Valentine from Boston, where he is returning from a meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures.

"We believed in many of the same things and all of us are very saddened by his passing. A great part of our (Utah) history has moved on," said Valentine.

House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, remembered President Faust fondly, saying: "It's been more than 10 years ago, at the dedication of the Matheson Court House, and President Faust gave a speech about how he hoped that the courthouse would be used to help the less fortunate among us, those who may not have access to the courts, but who should get redress through the law." President Faust "was not only a great example of a religious leader, but also a leader in the Legislature and in the civic community. He is a great leader and will be missed."

Leaders of Utah's legal community said they knew President Faust as a capable and caring attorney.

Former Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard C. Howe recalled being a first-year law student with President Faust.

"I met him the first day of law school," Howe said. "President Faust was an excellent lawyer. ... He had great poise and had great care and concern for his client. He wasn't just there to make money."

Current Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Christine Durham said she will remember President Faust for his work in having the LDS Church's charitable arms help fund legal aid programs for the disadvantaged.

"President Faust was a profoundly influential voice during his service to the legal profession for high standards of ethics, civility and to the rule of law. We have always appreciated the way in which he treasured his experiences as a lawyer and continued to make contributions to the improvement of the legal profession. He will be deeply missed."

Utah State Bar President V. Lowry Snow said he was deeply saddened by President Faust's passing. "President Faust was not only a great lawyer and leader of our profession, but he also actively promoted the delivery of legal services to the poor and needy of all faiths in the state."

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