In years to come, Elder Neal A. Maxwell will be remembered as the "voice of discipleship." He not only asked What Would Jesus Do? but did what Jesus did. And his uncanny blending of the life of the mind with the life of the heart will long echo as a legacy in the church he loved to serve.
Elder Maxwell was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for 23 years. Prior to that he was as an assistant to the Twelve and held many other church assignments.
His was a lifetime of faithful service.
Widely known and respected by members and non-members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for his masterful sermons and writings, Elder Maxwell was also loved and admired for his humble faith and meek but candid manner. He expanded horizons without diluting doctrine. His primary desire was to serve the Lord through ministering to others. He did that valiantly until the end, even through declining health in his waning days, and through an earlier bout with cancer that left him weakened.
In his final years Elder Maxwell turned his own hurt into healing for others. His personal ministry, especially among cancer survivors, was far-reaching. Thousands of people claim him as a friend, and he claimed them. He made each person feel unique, appreciated and special, because he truly believed they were.
Reflecting on the challenges of overcoming earthly difficulties during the October 1994 General Conference, he noted, "While weak hope leaves us at the mercy of our moods and events, 'brightness of hope' produces illuminated individuals."
His life was a bright light that radiated love, warmth, intelligence and powerful purpose.
A masterful wordsmith, Elder Maxwell's literary legacy may lie in his ability to trap a truth in a metaphor and offer short observations that brightened both his talks and the lives of others. Yet his eloquence was tempered by humility.
He maintained an attitude of "ever-learning." He earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Utah, was the recipient of four honorary doctorates and was the former LDS Church commissioner of education. An endowed chair — dedicated to the studies of political theory, public policy and public service — was established at the U. in his honor.
He served professionally as executive vice president of the University of Utah and in the church in countless capacities including as a regional representative and member of the YMMIA General Board.
His involvement on numerous business and civic boards and commissions included service on the Deseret News Board of Directors for 19 years.
Through it all, Elder Maxwell always demonstrated a deep empathy for people. While a portion of that personal and spiritual depth was derived from humble beginnings as a youthful pig farmer and young man who early on struggled with severe acne and who didn't make the school basketball team, his kindness was primarily born of an affinity for things of the spirit.
He overcame those adversities to become a model husband, father and grandfather, a leader of renown, a fine athlete, a man of letters and an ordained servant of God who traveled the world. But he never lost his common touch or his sense of humor.
When asked one time whether his church spent undue time contemplating the Second Coming, he quickly replied, "No, because we're told that the angels up in heaven don't know, and they're a reasonably informed group."
Now Elder Maxwell has crossed that threshold leading from this life to the next, a step that for him held no fear or uncertainty. As he taught: "This is the journey of discipleship. It's worth all the tests and the trials and the inexplicable things through which we must pass."
His life and legacy will influence people for good for years to come.