Deseret News | Thousands gather to say farewell to President James E. Faust

Reader comments
Thousands gather to say farewell to President James E. Faust

Lynn H. | 2:04 p.m. Aug. 14, 2007

A very special experience to view it on TV and feel I was there, paying respect to him and to his fine family. I want to be better.

Karen Mortensen | 2:08 p.m. Aug. 14, 2007

I am so glad I was able to watch the funeral. It was a wonderful service. President Faust was indeed a great man and we are all better for having known him.

Mae.S | 2:10 p.m. Aug. 14, 2007

I will always remember him for the talk he gave in
the last Conference on forgiveness it was
very inspiring to all that read it.

Comments continue below

Daniel M Laprevote | 2:19 p.m. Aug. 14, 2007

President Faust was a man of great kindness and testimony. My wife and I met him personally when he performed the marriage of my wife's brother and his beloved in the Salt Lake Temple. President Faust took the time to greet each in the sealing room individually and radiated a love for the Lord and his brothers and sisters there present. I think what President Hinckley said about his message on forgiveness delivered in the last general conference is correct - it was a masterpiece and will inspire many to be more forgiving. That would be a fitting legacy for such a man of God.

Joseph Burns | 2:34 p.m. Aug. 14, 2007

Where do such men come from, how is such men found to fill these important responsibilities. Indeed, some of the very best was saved for these days. What an example of being a man in every respect. We all loved him and long for such men today, there is never enough of them.

Matthew Sherlock | 2:36 p.m. Aug. 14, 2007

What a beautiful service. May our thoughts and prayers continue for the Faust family.

Beth Hendricks | 2:44 p.m. Aug. 14, 2007

Although I wish the hymn "This is the Christ" was in the LDS Hymnbook, it is not. Perhaps you should make that correction in your article.
The choir's rendition of this hymn brought tears to my eyes.

Debbie Wallace | 2:59 p.m. Aug. 14, 2007

What a beautiful tribute to a wonderful man. One who has inspired me for many years in the words he spoke and the way he lived. I always looked forward to hearing him speak for General Conference and at the Women's Broadcast at the end of September. I will miss hearing his inspiring words. But what a wonderful reunion must be going on on the other side.

Jessica P. | 3:03 p.m. Aug. 14, 2007

I have always had a great love for President Faust.
He was a great leader.I loved his talk on forgivness that he gave last Conference. It realy inspired me to be a better person. I think everyone who ever heard him was touched by his love for the gospel.

JG | 3:16 p.m. Aug. 14, 2007

What an inspiration and example for us all. I always loved the sincerity and humility of his words.

WC | 3:18 p.m. Aug. 14, 2007

Great Man - I wish more people listened to his call to bring political diversity into the Church. He will be missed.

LS | 3:29 p.m. Aug. 14, 2007

A humble man that recieved a wonderful welcome into heaven. We will see him again...

Aaron | 3:41 p.m. Aug. 14, 2007

That was an outstanding service. He and President Monson have been perhaps the most influential GAs in my life. I always loved sitting in the dark listening to them in Priesthood Session as I was growing up and developing my own testimony.

WC, the Church has plenty of political diversity. What is needed is perhaps to bring a little more of it into Utah. Don't forget, Utah is only the headquarters, not the Church itself.

Joan & Wayne Herlin | 4:07 p.m. Aug. 14, 2007

President Faust was our Stake President in the 1950's when we lived in the Cottonwood Area. At the death of one of our babies, President Faust and his counselors came into our home to offer condolences. We have always loved him for his kindness, concern for us (and others), and his love and devoted leadership. He will always be one of our favorite leaders whose example we hope to emulate!

Rui Caputi Ruz Brasil SP | 4:41 p.m. Aug. 14, 2007

Quando meu filho Diego, que hoje tem 25 anos nasceu, fui apresentï¿½-lo ao entï¿½o Elder Faust, ele o pegou no colo e o levantou bem alto lï¿½ capela do Caxingui. Deu-me um forte abraï¿½o e a minha esposa e me parabenizou por estar constituindo uma familia nos padrï¿½es que Senhor nos determinou.
Algo tï¿½o simples, mas marcou profundamente minha alma, de minha esposa e de meus filhos.

Earl L. Grossen | 4:46 p.m. Aug. 14, 2007

What a wonderful,humble inspired leader and patriot
on this planet. He knew the Master and Commander of
this world and was a true example. I'm glad I met him in Bill's Market on the Avenues. I know we'll see him again. His funeral was very special today.
Our sympathies to the family and his associates.

Lisa | 5:00 p.m. Aug. 14, 2007

I am very sad that he is gone but with the faith of the church I believe that he is in a better place with all of his family members that has past before him. I am very gladful for his wonderful work and service that he has done here on earth and will always remember him for his good works. Thank you Elder Faust. till we meet again.

WC | 5:04 p.m. Aug. 14, 2007

Aaron- You're right - It is more diversity in Utah - I should have been more specific. I think one day we'll see it. I'd like to think President Faust thought so as well.

Coni Nielson | 5:20 p.m. Aug. 14, 2007

While helping at the JSMB during the Winter Olympics, a hand touched my shoulder and I looked up into the most startlingly blue eyes I have ever seen. With a smile on his face, Elder Faust shook my hand and thanked me for helping during that important time. It is a wonderful memory for me to have been in his presence and felt his testimony for that short, brief moment. My love and prayers go out to his wife and family. ~Coni Nielson

Michael Robison | 7:22 p.m. Aug. 14, 2007

I think that President Faust's talk in April General Conference about forgiveness was one of the most Christ-like things I've ever experienced. He held up the Christ-like example of the Amish people in a way that brought honor to the Church and revealed President Faust as a True Messenger of the Master whom he loved.

Daniel Hill | 7:39 p.m. Aug. 14, 2007

i just want to say thank you president for your wonderful testimony on forgiveness it really touched my heart it was a wonderful service today and i know that we will see eachother on the other side some day soon i just want to say to the family thank you for sharing such a wonderful person with us a man of god and strong faith he will be missed deeply president u was such a wonderful person that we could look up to god bless you

Phoenix Roberts | 8:18 p.m. Aug. 14, 2007

Remind me of a scripture; Genesis, I think...

"And in those days there were giants in the land."

Howard M. Hamilton | 10:01 p.m. Aug. 14, 2007

President Faust brought a down to earth love for the people of the church and an especial affection for those with special needs and circumstances. His talk on forgiveness at the last general conference was a classic and gave great insight to the heart of this special man. He will be deeply missed.

Ann Freeman | 2:49 a.m. Aug. 15, 2007

I too am so grateful for President Faust's timely remarks on FORGIVENESS. I was struggling with a divorce at the time of his message knowing that it should not be. It was ordained of God. However one cannot force another to change their mind, only forgive them. President Faust was and is a great example to this world as also are the Amish people. We need more people like this in our tormented world. We will miss you President Faust.

Anonymous | 11:01 a.m. Aug. 15, 2007

On behalf of the family of President James E. Faust I wish to say thank you for each of your kind expressions of love and support. We have been sustained through this period by your sweet messages.

Faithfully yours,

Marcus G. Faust

Elder R. | 2:12 p.m. Aug. 15, 2007

It was so good to attend his funeral services. I was very touched by all of the talks. I am so glad I was thier for this. I wouldnt miss it for the world.

Linda Smith | 3:09 p.m. Aug. 15, 2007

My husband and I visited Temple Square yesterday from Connecticut. We are not LDS but "coincidentally" we found we could listen to the service for President Faust as we drove down to SLC. It was so meaningful. And even though some things we wished to see or hear (organ recital, Family History) were closed, the love of the faithful for him and their warmth for us certainly made up for our missing somethings. I loved the Bee Hive House and found out that my grandfather's name was Bernot, not Bernard, and had some wonderful conversations with many missionaries. God bless you all for a very special first visit to Temple Square. We will be back.

Hitoshi | 1:23 a.m. Aug. 17, 2007

I feel sad that Pres. Faust passed away last week. Even though I am a LDS Church member and a LDS return missionary, I never had the chance to talk with Pres. Faust in personal this life. I served my mission in northern Brazil, and he was loved for those people. When he came to Brazil, I was in Hawaii as a college student. He was scheduled to attend the BYU graduation cerymony two or three years ago, but due to his healthy problem he could not attend this event; giving then this special moment to Pres. Hinckley to come to my friends graduation. I did not see him, but his talks were very special that could touch many of our brothers and sisters hearts.

Susanne Ryan | 8:06 a.m. Aug. 18, 2007

I have been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for almost two years now and have the two callings in my ward as Food Specialist and 2nd councilor to the Relief Society President.
President Faust has touched my life, as I have watched the video clip of firstly his wedding day and then his funeral,I realised I was watching a man of God go about his life. A comment was made by another member during this service and they said that President Faust was so sure that the Christ lived,he probably had seen him. When I read this comment I realised through the spirit that this was true. God Bless.

Len Noble | 1:07 a.m. Aug. 20, 2007

I feel I need to thank my Heavenly Father for allowing us the privlige of knowing this fine and honorable man in this life . To have his teachings and able to reread them is a blessing. President
Faust fullfilled his mission on this earth and is now starting another mission for his Father in Heaven. He will be missed but we must remimber we will be able to meet him again if we just live worthy and do our part. God Bless his family he will be missed beyond measure.

Gordon Laurie | 11:57 p.m. Aug. 22, 2007

Thank You Elder Faust

Bro.Robert A.Mettle-Nunoo | 3:42 a.m. Aug. 24, 2007

Hello Fellow Children God,
I am humbled before you all and i say that Our God Is Alive.His Church still stands and his work would move forward as Pres.Faust once said.I know we are all
going to follow these our Prophets Heriage and We will be like them to be exalted in the Great Celestial World.
What a wonderful work,we have been entrusted in.
I thank God we have such Like Pres.Gordon B.Hinckley.
THanks again God for YOur Love of a Divine Living Prophet just because of thy love for Us thy children.
Amen!!!!! !!!!!! !!!!!
Bro.Robert.
Accra Ghana
Larterbiokorshie Ward.
celestial.robert@gmail.com

Emily C. | 4:55 p.m. Nov. 5, 2007

My mother once told me a story how at a stake conference, Pres. Faust came to speak. My mother went up to see my grandfather who was up in the stands. Pres. Faust went up to her, and made an opression that will last for a long time. He treated her with great respect, and she has given it back. He showed love to all, he cared for all, and all loved him. Thank you to his family who shared their beloved friend, husband, father, brother to the saints you loved him.
Thank you again,
Emily C.

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7 photos

Stuart Johnson, Deseret News

President Gordon B. Hinckley, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (center), sits next to his First Counselor Thomas S. Monson (at left) and the empty chair of his late Second Counselor James E. Faust during the funeral Tuesday of President Faust at the Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City.

Gallery (7 photos)