(Compiled by Dennis B. Horne)
Elder Faust
met with the Area Presidency and some of the office personnel the next day and
announced that there were to be some changes in General Authorities and that
the Brethren were creating a Second Quorum of Seventy. He also announced that
Members of the First Quorum would be released at age 70 if they were still in
the First Quorum. If they had a year or two to go in the Second Quorum, they
were allowed to stay on. This applied very much to me because I was moved from
the First Quorum to the Second Quorum, and even though I was almost 71, I was
allowed to stay on until I completed at least five and a half years as a
Seventy.
***
On Saturday
I received a phone call from Elder Doug Martin, telling me that the First
Presidency had excommunicated George P. Lee for apostasy. George had been
released from all of his responsibilities for some time. The Brethren felt that
it was necessary to take further action. I know that this was a difficult thing
for President Hinckley personally.
***
General conference was enjoyable. I had no special duties. I was able to just go, smile, and enjoy what the Brethren did.
On
Thursday, 5 October 1989, the Seventies Quorum meeting was very interesting.
Mostly, it was an opportunity to hear testimonies and goodbye speeches from
Elders W. Grant Bangerter, Paul H. Dunn, Royden G. Derrick, and Rex C. Reeve.
These men were all being made emeritus members of the Seventy.
***
On Sunday,
the last day of 1989, we held a special zone meeting with the leaders of the
mission. During this two-hour meeting, we were able to aid and assist them with
the problems they were having. We found great leadership among these marvelous,
young missionaries. After lunch, we went with President Page (of one of the
stakes) and his counselors and Bishop O)'Grady to visit with Maurice Wade and
some of his family. Maurice had been excommunicated from the Church, in part
because he felt that he was the "one mighty and strong." He loved the
Church and sustained the leaders, but was mixed up in what he thought was a
very special calling for him. He has one legal wife and then two or three additional
wives, which he calls "sisters." They are all apostates who, for the
most part, live the gospel as good as anyone in the Church. They wanted to
attend Church meetings, but for the prior two or three years had been denied
the privilege because when they would disrupt the classes by unusual questions.
They were, however, invited to attend stake conferences. I found the Wades to
be marvelous people in almost every way. Brother Wade was a very
straight-laced, dedicated man. However, he was an adulterer with four or five
wives and a large number of beautiful, young children. I had been appointed by
President Monson to work with these people, and the long visit I had with them
in the afternoon was well worthwhile. I have kept in touch with this family over
the years. Maurice has now passed away.
***
I also had
the sad opportunity to interview a member of the Church who had embezzled
$110,000 from the school. I asked President Hinckley what the Church would have
me do with this case, and he told me I was the President of the Pacific Area
and I had to make the decision of what to do with this member. I publicly
announced to the faculty of the school that the Church would not press for
criminal charges against this brother. This decision was made partly because of
his wife and two children who were approaching missionary age. We helped him
obtain a job in another school, and he promised to begin making restitution.
This was a difficult challenge for all of us. He was excommunicated from the
Church, but I saw nothing to be accomplished by sending him to prison for 10 or
15 years.
***
On November
17, 1989, President Gordon B. Hinckley and Elder James E. Faust and their wives
arrived in Sydney, Australia. President and Sister Hinckley stayed with Marva
and me in our little condo in Sydney, Australia.
I was quite
interested in President Hinckley' s first announcement to me. He seemed to be
all smiles and was truly happy when he told me about the last thing he had done
before leaving his office in Salt Lake City: He had signed an official letter
that abolished ward budgets and other financial assignments with the exception
of tithing and fast offerings. He then prophesied that tithing and fast
offerings would increase tremendously and that the Saints would be greatly
blessed because of this new policy change. For more than a half century, the
Brethren have had a strong desire to relieve most of the financial burdens from
the Saints and have been hoping for this day to arrive. President Hinckley
participated time and time again over the years in raising money for welfare
farms, chapels, seminary buildings, etc.; and signing the letter was a very
happy and momentous event for him.
***
On 26 June,
I had another challenge as I needed to call a stake president who had excommunicated
one of his counselors. I felt his decision had been wrong, and after speaking
with him, I convinced him to change the verdict from excommunication to
disfellowshipment, which would be best for everyone concerned. The stake
president thanked me and said he was happy and felt good about this change.
Sometimes we are too inclined toward excommunication.
***
My first
week home, on Monday morning, October l, 1990, I met with Elder Richard G.
Scott at 9:00 a.m. The following week, we were in meetings in connection with
general conference; we had one meeting after the other. We received great
training and fascinating information from the Quorum of the Twelve and the
Presidency of the Seventy. The week after the conference consisted of more meetings
and getting used to a new assignment.
On 12
October, I was assigned to my office in the Temple Department where I was to
become one of the Assistant Executive Directors. I soon discovered that there
were many new and interesting things going on in the department, but I did not
have the pressure, or volume of work that I had when I was assigned to the
Missionary Department.
I also
enjoyed working with Elder George I. Cannon and Elder Francis M. Gibbons in the
North America Southwest Area Presidency. In our first meeting together on
Friday the 12th, we met with El der M. Russell Ballard, who was our first
contact with the Quorum of the Twelve.
***
Two days
later, all of the General Authorities were in the temple. President Benson was able
to come for a while. President Hinckley called on me to talk and bear my
testimony. With his approval, I spoke about Matthew Cowley and his last days of
life after he realized he was not going to live very long. I shared Elder
Cowley's testimony that life is eternal and that he knew he would soon pass
away. I discovered that most of the Brethren had never heard about his last few
days and were interested. That evening on the 26th floor of the Church Office
Building, the 1'emple Department had their Christmas Party. President Gordon B.
Hinckley was the speaker.
***
On 18 March
1990, in the Tahiti Mission Home, I dreamed that I was sitting at a table with
President Gordon B. Hinckley and his son and having a leisurely visit. They
were sitting against the wall, and I was in an aisle.
As we
visited, I looked to the left and saw Matthew Cowley walking toward me. He was
wearing a dark suit and looked exactly the same as he always did, although he
seemed a little taller.
He came
right up to me and I stood immediately. He didn't say anything, but he had a
slight smile on his face and gestured me to Hongi (rub noses), which we did. I
remember distinctly touching his nose, and our foreheads touched in an unrushed
Maori gesture of love.
Then he sat next to the Hinckleys and me and joined in our
conversation. President Hinckley asked him a question, and the two of them got
up and went into a nearby room and closed the door.
When
President Cowley first passed away, I had many ordinary dreams about him, but
the dream in the temple in 1986 was entirely different, as was this one. I have
never tried to explain this dream.
***
On the 27th
of December, President Thomas S. Monson came into my office and we talked for
over an hour—just old bishop stories and the Pacific. Tom is great when he
shifts gears and relaxes. It was good to be back with him and just be able to
talk. He asked very little about our experiences in the Pacific, which
surprised me, but I discovered that the Brethren do not give us a chance to
report on our overseas assignments, they just expect us to do good work.
***
Our Area
Presidency met on Wednesday each week. Elder George I. Cannon was full of
energy and smiles and was good to work with. Elder Francis Gibbons had an
entirely different personality and was quite reserved but level-headed. I found
myself agreeing with Elder Cannon all the time, but with Elder Gibbons quite
frequently disagreeing. It was good to have a presidency who could talk to each
other and disagree if need be.
***
I was up at
3:00 a.m. so Elder George I. Cannon and I could fly to Fayetteville, Arkansas.
We interviewed priesthood leaders for three or four hours and decided to divide
the Fort Smith Arkansas Stake and create the Roberts Arkansas Stake. We also
discontinued the Muskogee Oklahoma Stake, part of which became the Roberts
Stake. We called a new stake presidency for the Fort Smith Stake, as well as
for the Roberts Stake. A splendid young man by the name of David Bednar, who
was a professor at the University of Arkansas, was called to be the stake
president of the Rogers Stake. Since the time he was made a stake president, he
has served as a regional representative and has been called as an Area
Authority Seventy. He is now the president of BYUIdaho (formerly Ricks
College). Elder Bednar was a great choice and has a tremendously good future
ahead of him in the Church. [Editorial Note: Brother Bednar is has now been a
member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for many years.]
***
On the
first Thursday of November, we had an exceptionally wonderful meeting in the
temple. President Hinckley, President Monson, three Members of the Twelve, and
four Members of the Seventy bore their testimonies. Afterwards, I had the
privilege of speaking to the wives of the General Authorities who were assembled
in their monthly luncheon. It is a very frightening and dangerous experience to
talk to the wives because you never know what they will hear you say and go
home and tell their husbands.
***
On Tuesday,
20 November, Elder L. Tom Perry bought me lunch, and we had a meeting during
lunch. He was very complimentary and said, "I like your style and the way
you do things." This was a nice compliment, and I enjoyed working with
this splendid Apostle.
***
I flew to
Joplin, Missouri, with Elder Boyd K. Packer to attend a regional conference.
Elder Packer was very kind and talkative. His wife was not able to travel so I
did not take Marva. We had lunch with three stake presidencies who were from
Joplin and Springfield in Missouri and from Rogers, Arkansas. Elder Packer and
I both spoke three times in the Saturday afternoon meeting. He had me talk, and
then he spoke. We kept that up until I had told them pretty well all I knew. On
Sunday morning, Elder Packer and I went to the civic auditorium in downtown Joplin,
Missouri, to hold the general session. I asked Elder Packer who was going to
speak, and he said, "Me and you." However, after I spoke, he called
seven members to speak from out of the audience. After the conference was over,
we had dinner with President and Sister Bednar and then flew home.
***
While
attending a stake conference in southern Texas I was introduced to a
fine-looking black man. He was thrilled to meet a General Authority, and I was
delighted to meet him. I said to him: "The Brethren tell me you used to
play basket ball." He admitted that he once did. He told me that he was
one of the original members of the Harlem Globe Trotters and that for a period
of time he was recognized as the greatest basketball player in the world. I was
very happy to learn that he and his wife were preparing to visit the Salt Lake
Temple.
While
presiding for a few short months in 1991 over the Corpus Christi Mission, I
spent one Sunday morning in meetings with the Saints in a little branch in
Texas. In this group was a man in his sixties. In visiting with him I
discovered that he had been a member of the Church only a few short years, was
active, and had been to the temple. He told me he was one of the original
actors from "Our Gang Comedy" series. At my request, he told me he
was the one that had been known as, The Little Rich Boy. He told me quite a bit
about the experiences these young boys had many years ago in this very famous
group of young movie actors.
The Church is filled with all kinds of wonderful people,
many who have been famous in their day.
***
The last
time I was invited to a temple meeting with the First Presidency, the Quorum of
the Twelve, and all other General Authorities, was on October 19, 1992. It was
a very special occasion. I was pleased to see Elder Helvecio Martins from
Brazil, assigned to pass the sacrament. This impressed upon me the universality
of the brotherhood of the gospel.
I think
this was the largest group of General Authorities ever assembled in that room,
at least up then. I figure there were 101 in all. Elders Douglas J. Martin,
John R. Lasater, and Glenn L. Pace were absent. President Hinckley, President
Monson, Elder Scott, and Elder Wirthlin all spoke and gave powerful
testimonies. Of the Seventies, Elders Marion D.Hanks, Robert L. Backman, George
R. Hill, Lynn A. Sorensen, Douglas H. Smith, and I were all called on to bear
our testimonies.
These
monthly temple meetings are not intended to be used for business. They are for
partaking of the sacrament, testimony bearing, and participating in a prayer
circle. In the September temple meeting it was interesting to note that the
four men assigned to take care of the sacrament were from four different
continents.
The
meetings in the upper room of the Salt Lake Temple were always very special and
are one of the things I miss the most since being released as a General
Authority.
***
Some years
ago while traveling with Elder LeGrand Richards, he told me an interesting short
story. When he was a young teenage boy, his cousin, Stephen L. Richards, came
out to Tooele to work on the farm with LeGrand and his father, George F.
Richards. The three of them were working in a hay field. At midday, they
crawled under the hay rack to eat lunch in the shade. In reflecting back on
that occasion Elder Richards said that the three of them had no idea who they
really were or what they someday would become. Of the three, George F. was
called to be an Apostle and he served for many years as President of the Quorum
of the Twelve. Years later Stephen L. was called to be an Apostle and he became
a First Counselor in the Presidency of the Church. LeGrand became the Presiding
Bish op and then served for many years as one of the twelve Apos tles. Back
on that day in Tooele, as they sat in the shade of the hayrack, the Lord knew
that each of them would one day become a prophet, seer, and revelator, but they
didn't know it then nor did any other person.
In a like
manner, on October 5, 1939 President Matthew Cowley, our mission president
spent the day with some missionaries, including Robert L. Simpson and myself.
That evening
we attended a Gold and Green Ball in Gisbome, New Zealand.
It was a delightful time, and the three of us, with other missionaries, enjoyed
the evening. I remember that President Cowley, Brother Simpson and I were
standing together and talking. A few years later, President Cowley became a
General Authority and for a number of years presided as the President of the
Pacific Area of the Church. The years passed and Robert L. Simpson became a
General Authority. He too served as President of the Pacific Area. The most
exciting and complimentary assignment for me as a General Authority was to also
preside over the Pacific Area. Years ago none of us could dream that one day
all three of us would preside over the people in the countries and islands of
the Pacific, but the Lord knew.
[Editorial
Note: Those interested can watch Elder LeGrand Richards’ apostolic acceptance
speech at the April 1952 general conference, by copying and pasting the following
link into their browser: https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets?id=cef0b370-172d-4199-8203-00609da22995&crate=0&index=0
]
***
Temple
Meeting: This morning, Thursday, June 2, 1988, I had a lovely, wonderful
experience. All the general authorities who were in the city assembled in the
temple in the room on the fourth floor. President Benson presided and conducted
the meeting. He called on Brother Packer and Brother Wirthlin to bear their
testimonies; then on Brother Pinnock, Pinegar, Cuthbert, and Rex Reeve. They
all did beautifully well. Brother Monson spoke, and then President Hinckley.
The members of the Twelve and the First Presidency all spoke about the lovely
experience earlier this morning when President Benson set President Howard W.
Hunter apart as president of the Council of the Twelve Apostles. President
Benson was the concluding speaker and told of his love for Brother Hunter and
the fact that he had felt close to the Lord while blessing him this morning.
President Benson said he rejoices in these meetings. He said, "The Lord
loves you brethren. I know he does."
We had a
short break and reassembled to have the sacrament. Brother Paramore and Brother
Brewerton blessed the bread and the water, and Brother Paul Dunn and Victor
Brown assisted in passing the sacrament to all of us. We then assembled in the
prayer circle. President Hinckley read off the names of those who were to be
remembered, and I had the great honor of praying at the altar.
This was
the first time in many months, perhaps even a year, that President Benson has
dressed so that he could be in the prayer circle. I had the opportunity to
[stand next to him] and then offer the prayer. I kept it very short,
particularly because of the President. I felt it to be a great honor and
privilege to be in this particular situation. Today was a great spiritual
experience for all of us, and particularly for me.
***
Since being
released, I think I have missed the association with the Brethren the most. I
especially missed the monthly temple meeting, which stands above everything
else. The great part was that we were honored by the people, and priesthood
leaders everywhere we went were willing to receive instructions and help and
gave us a little love and kindness. I do not ever remember having a difficult
problem with a single priesthood leader in a mission, temple, stake, or ward.
Fortunately, I had been schooled over many years of traveling with the General
Authorities. I did everything in my power to bless the lives of people. I am
eternally grateful for the privilege of serving. Altogether, I think we did a
lot of good. . . .
During my
time as a General Authority, I learned that General Authorities receive great
respect from the people of the Church. The big challenge for every General
Authority, and particularly for me, was to school myself and prepare myself to
be somewhat equal to the calling that had been given by the Presidency of the
Church. I also learned that not everything is perfect in the Lord's Church.
There are many problems, difficulties, some degree of disobedience, a lot of
misunderstanding. But, altogether, I learned that the Church is true and that
no people on earth have greater leadership than the Latter-day Saints.
Very faithful
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