President James E. Faust, 1920-2007

I turned on the news after waking up this morning to hear that President Faust had died during the night. It makes me sad. I’ll miss him. He was one of the first missionaries to serve in Curitiba, Brasil, where I served, and it was while I was serving that I started to appreciate more and more what he had to say, maybe because I could relate more. I know I greatly appreciated his talk at the last General Conference about forgiveness. It was a beautiful talk and one I am sure I will turn to again in the future. Here are a few quotes that stood out to me from it:

All of us suffer some injuries from experiences that seem to have no rhyme or reason. We cannot understand or explain them. We may never know why some things happen in this life. The reason for some of our suffering is known only to the Lord. But because it happens, it must be endured. President Howard W. Hunger said that “God knows what we do not know and sees what we do not see.”

When tragedy strikes, we should not respond by seeking personal revenge but rather let justice take its course and then let go. It is not easy to let go and empty our hearts of festering resentment. … The Atonement brings a measure of peace and comfort.

I also received an email this morning from my mission president with the news. My mission president and his family were close to President Faust. The temple in Curitiba should be dedicated next year and I’m sure there aren’t many who doubt that President Faust will be there in spirit. This recent picture of the temple still under construction was attached to the email.

When I heard the news, I wondered how people in Curitiba specifically, and Brasil in general, are reacting. I know he loved that land and they loved him. The news station said that he was made an honorary citizen of Brasil several years ago.

He will be missed.

Link to the official news release from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.