Counselors who served with President Howard W. Hunter in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be among speakers at his funeral at noon Wednesday in the Salt Lake Tabernacle.
President Gordon B. Hinckley, who served President Hunter as first counselor, and President Thomas S. Monson, second counselor, will address the service, as will President Boyd K. Packer, who was acting president of the Council of the Twelve, and Elder James E. Faust, a member of the council.Jon M. Huntsman, a longtime friend of the family and President Hunter's former stake president, will also speak.
Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Council of the Twelve will offer the invocation, and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, the newest member of the Twelve, the benediction.
Richard A. Hunter, a son of President Hunter, will give a family prayer before the funeral begins, and John J. Hunter, another son of the church leader, will dedicate the grave in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
Music will be provided by the Salt Lake Tabernacle Choir, which will be conducted by Jerold Ottley, with John Longhurst at the Tabernacle organ console. Tabernacle organist Linda Margetts will play an organ prelude and the postlude music for the funeral.
Church officials announced Monday that the service will be carried live over the church's satellite network to congregations throughout the United States and in Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean (Galaxy 4, Channel 23). The funeral will be carried live on local television.
Huntsman, who is a regional representative for the church and who has known President Hunter for 33 years and was a neighbor for 23 years, was among those who paid tribute to President Hunter.
Tributes from former President Gerald R. Ford and his wife, Betty, and Teddy Kollek, former mayor of Jerusalem, also have been received since the church leader's death.
Huntsman said, "So much could be said about President Hunter. He's an incredible man with a remarkable, outstanding and broad background and personality. He was a tremendous historian and had a profound understanding of world history, archaeology, geology and business and economic systems. He was a lawyer, accountant, banker, businessman and financier by profession. And all of this knowledge and these abilities were rolled up as part of a deeply spiritual leader.
"Another incredible trait of President Hunter's was his loyalty. He was absolutely loyal to the church, to the Savior, to his family and to his friends. His loyalty to those around him is one of the finest elements of greatness that I've ever witnessed. He always found the time to deal with people and situations, even when he was uncomfortable or in pain because of his health. He made sure that others were always put ahead of himself.
"Notwithstanding the president's very spiritual and formal sense of purpose and being, he had a remarkable sense of humor and quick wit that would often manifest itself in delightful ways. He was a dear friend and leader who will be deeply missed."
In a letter to President Hunter's wife, Inis, a copy of which was supplied by the Office of the First Presidency, Ford said, "Betty joins me in sending you our sincerest condolences on the loss of your beloved husband. President Hunter has been a beacon to both young and old for many years. Under his leadership The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has made enormous strides in a very short time.
"Betty and I extend our condolences to you and the family in this time of sorrow," Ford said.
In a letter to the First Presidency and Council of the Twelve, Kollek, who was mayor of Jerusalem when President Hunter was instrumental in getting the Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies - Brigham Young University - built, said: "Dear Elders, It was with deep sorrow that we learned of President Hunter's passing. We mourn with you a great man, the head of your community and a true friend of Jerusalem. He will be greatly missed and his loss felt around the world.
"With our sincere condolences and prayers from Jerusalem."
Many other people, including present and former officers of the church on a general and local level, Monday recalled special experiences with President Hunter.
Barbara Smith, former general president of the Relief Society, said she recalls that President Hunter, then a member of the Council of the Twelve, took time out of a busy schedule to attend a meeting in the Monument Park Stake soon after her call in 1974 as president of the worldwide women's organization.
"I was surprised but very happy that he came to support me," she told the Deseret News in recounting her assignment to visit the stake.
East Mill Creek Stake President W. Bruce Woodruff remembers being greeted by President Hunter on the grounds of the Swiss Temple back in 1958.
President Woodruff, then serving as as missionary in the Swiss-Austrian Mission, said he met President Hunter, who at that time was president of the Pasadena (California) Stake. President Hunter and his son, John, were at the temple following John's release from a mission in Australia.
"I had a strong feeling of President Hunter's interest in me as a missionary and for the progress of our work in Switzerland. President Hunter conveyed a powerful feeling of his warmth and love, and I had an impression that I would be hearing more of this dynamic stake president," President Woodruff said.
Frank M. Bradshaw recalled similar, positive experiences with President Hunter while he (Bradshaw) was serving as president (1974-77) of the San Diego Mission. He said he vividly recalls a particular visit to the mission made by President Hunter, then a member of the Council of the Twelve. President Hunter was accompanied by his wife, Claire, who was then in poor health.
"He was so sweet, gentle and solicitous of her. It was wonderful" to see how kind and wonderful he was with his wife, President Bradshaw said. Claire Hunter was having difficulty getting around at that time because of her illness.