As Mormons (members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), we believe the scriptures to be the word of God. And in the Old Testament we can read a verse in Amos 3:7 that tells us that God uses prophets to reveal His will to this.
Makes perfect sense. God being a God of order would do things in orderly fashion. Using spokesmen to teach His children would be orderly and quite direct, given that many of God’s children are not interested in talking with God, nor are they interested in living sin-less lives. The Lord would know who does and thereby could call them to serve as His mouthpieces.
President James E. Faust was one such man. He passed away recently, but oh what a man he was. He was first called as a General Authority for the Mormon church in 1972 and served for more than thirty years before his death (he died of natural causes August 10, 2007).
Although President Faust gave tremendous service to the Church, more importantly he knew the significance of what it meant to be a “Dad” and “Grandpa.” There is much that can be learned from an individual like President Faust. This is why he inspires me so.
He was a man who gave great priority to two things: his God and his family. He took great effort to put the Lord first; he took great effort to ensure his children and grandchildren knew they were special and important to him. According to Elder Neal A. Maxwell (an apostle for the Mormon church), President Faust said upon being called as a General Authority for the Church in 1972:
“I am never going to be released from my calling as a father or a grandfather.”
We can see the humility of President Faust in that statement. James E. Faust had just received a calling for tremendous church service that would make his name a household name. Although he soon would be recognized throughout the world, he still knew that his most important “calling” was that of father and grandfather.
President Faust was also According to Elder Maxwell, spoken 12 years prior to President Faust’s death:
“Those who know him understand that President Faust will not yield to mere pressure…[He] regularly counseled, ‘The most important thing is your good name and reputation.’” And more than just a saying he quoted, President Faust actually lived what he spoke.
Those he worked with elected him to be president of the Utah State Bar Association (1962-63). And he was not only a person with integrity, but he was known also for his loyalty and sensitivity, treating everyone equally well. He even would make two hair appointments right after the other – this so that the second barber could even out the rough job of the ailing first barber’s work (who was a very good friend from World War I).
Why do I share this? Because President Faust inspires me. President Faust was a man like any other man. He was born. He ran track in high school, played sports like other boys, etc. He went to college, served a mission, got married.
One might think nothing unique about him. But what made him unique is that he chose to put God first in all things. And he who honors God transforms himself in the process.
So does President Faust inspire me to seek God first in all things? Absolutely. And I hope in the process that as a Mormon I can bless the lives of others like he did.
