Political and legal figures offer praise

In 1960 after newly elected President John F. Kennedy appointed his own brother, Robert, as U.S. attorney general, a special committee on civil rights was set up under the Justice Department.

"Bobby Kennedy asked President Faust to serve on this important committee, and he did," recalled McConkie. The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law was a group that encouraged lawyers across the nation to provide free legal service to victims of race discrimination. "A very important work, and President Faust did that for several years."

Over many years, "President Faust was one of the prominent political figures of this state," said McConkie.

With a chuckle, McConkie said: "We've been friends for a long, long time. I've tried cases against him" back before President Faust was made a church leader. "He is a great and good man."

U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, a grandson of former LDS Church President Heber J. Grant, said: "I had the great honor of knowing President Faust fairly well, and I have lost a dear friend. The church has lost a great leader, and Joyce (Bennett's wife) and I extend our deepest sympathies to the family."

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."

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.