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LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson was a junior apostle nearly 43 years ago when he welcomed a spry L. Tom Perry into the faith's high-level leadership.
"I told him how pleased I was that there was another Tom among the [church's] general authorities," the 87-year-old Monson quipped at Friday's funeral for Perry, which filled the 5,000-seat Mormon Tabernacle on downtown Salt Lake City's Temple Square with family, friends and the faithful.
The 92-year-old Perry, an apostle for more than four decades in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died May 30 soon after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer, which had "spread aggressively" through his body.
The 6-foot-4 Perry, the tallest and oldest among current Mormon apostles, was known for his commanding presence, his cheerful outlook and his beaming smile. Whether earning a business degree at Utah State University, serving as a Marine in the Pacific during World War II, or climbing the corporate ladder, Perry retained his enthusiasm, energy and optimism.
After becoming an apostle in 1974 at age 51, he and Monson served shoulder to shoulder in the faith they loved, the Mormon leader said Friday in brief remarks.
The two shared "heartache and happiness, sorrow and laughter," Monson said, "and, above all, a love for the Lord and his gospel."
The late apostle was "one who responded willingly to any assignment — and in whom we all had complete confidence," Monson said. " ... There was no flaw in his character. He loved the Lord. He loved his church. His record is known in heaven."
Perry also enjoyed robust health until the final weeks of his life, delivering a powerful sermon on "traditional families" at April's LDS General Conference.
Monson himself cut his speaking load in half at that gathering. The church has said that the leader of the world's 15 million Mormons is "feeling the effects of his advancing age."
Other speakers Friday included Perry's son, Lee Perry, who said his father thought of himself as a Marine until the day he died.
"Every day of his life, he went ... full speed ahead," the younger Perry said after recounting a 1991 story about his dad driving an amphibious landing craft onto a beach. "He forgot to slow down."
LDS apostles M. Russell Ballard and Dallin H. Oaks described the fellowship they experienced among the Quorum of the Twelve.
"He was a big brother to all his juniors in the quorum," Oaks said. "He had a tremendous impact on everyone he met. ... A Catholic leader once said that [Perry's] goodness was transparent."
Oaks said Perry repeatedly told his peers of his desire to die "at least one day before President [Boyd K.] Packer."
Packer, 90, is the senior member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and next in line for the church's presidency. Perry came right after him in seniority. At the funeral, Packer was wheeled to his seat and then had to be lifted into and out of it by three men.
The three members of the LDS Church's governing First Presidency along with the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles make up the faith's top two ruling councils. All of them were in attendance Friday, including Richard G. Scott, who missed the church's April General Conference due to health concerns.
Scott, 86, was hospitalized recently with internal bleeding from a stomach ulcer. Doctors controlled it without surgery, and he returned home.
However, Scott has experienced "a fading memory incident to age," the church said in a news release last month, "and is not fully able to participate in meetings" with his fellow apostles.
After the funeral, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said he had met Perry three years ago for a day of prayer and fasting.
"I got to know Elder Perry on a spiritual basis," Herbert said. "I met with him on many occasions."
The Utah politician said he "hosted a non-Mormon clergy event at the governor's mansion every year. Elder Perry would always be there."
The Mormon official encouraged people to use their faith, whatever it was, Herbert said, "to always be a better Catholic, be a better Presbyterian, be a better Jew. He was good at making friends."
Perry was buried in a private service at the historic Salt Lake City Cemetery.
It is not known when a replacement in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will be selected. Most apostles are named at the next available LDS General Conference, which would be in October, but some have been called at other times.
"Apostles are chosen through inspiration by the president of the church, sustained by the general membership of the church, and ordained by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles by the laying on of hands," the church's website explains. "In addition to serving as witnesses of Jesus Christ to all the world, as Jesus' apostles did, members of the current Quorum of the Twelve Apostles hold the keys of the priesthood — that is, the rights of presidency [for the church]."
With Perry's death, apostle Russell M. Nelson, 90, becomes second in line to lead the church after Packer.
Tribune reporter Shaheed M. Morris contributed to this report.
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