President Howard W. Hunter, who made a tremendous impact on the lives of Church members during his nine months as the 14th president of the Church, was eulogized in funeral services March 8. He died Friday, March 3.
President Gordon B. Hinckley, who had served as first counselor to President Hunter, conducted the funeral service held in the Salt Lake Tabernacle on Temple Square.Speakers were President Hinckley; President Thomas S. Monson, who was President Hunter's second counselor; President Boyd K. Packer, who served as acting president of the Council of the Twelve during President Hunter's presidency; and Elder James E. Faust of the Council of the Twelve. Jon M. Huntsman, a regional representative who was President Hunter's stake president for nine years and a close personal friend, gave a tribute to the prophet.
The invocation was offered by Elder M. Russell Ballard and the benediction was by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, both of the Council of the Twelve.
A poignant scene on the Tabernacle stand was the empty chair between the chairs occupied by President Hinckley and President Monson.
The Tabernacle Choir, under direction of Jerold Ottley and accompanied by Tabernacle organist John Longhurst, provided music for the service. Hymns sung by the choir were "I Need Thee Every Hour," "How Great Thou Art," "Nearer, My God, to Thee," and "Abide with Me; 'Tis Eventide." Linda Margetts, a Temple Square organist, played prelude and postlude music.
Before the prelude music began, the congregation spontaneously sang - softly and reverently - a number of hymns.
The funeral was telecast live over the Church's satellite network to locations throughout North America and the Caribbean. In addition the services were carried live by Salt Lake area television stations.
Nearly 6,000 people attended the funeral in the Tabernacle, which was adorned by dozens of floral arrangements. Overflow seating was provided in the adjacent Assembly Hall. A wide cross-section of people attended, from older people to teens and children. From their expressions, it was evident many had experienced a personal, as well as a Churchwide loss. Many of them were among the 25,212 men, women and children who reverently filed past President Hunter's bier at a public viewing in the lobby of the Church Administration Building on March 7.
A reverent congregation arose and stood silently as President Hinckley and his wife, Marjorie, and President Monson and his wife, Frances, entered the Tabernacle ahead of the casket bearing President Hunter's body. President Hunter's widow, Inis, and other family members followed the casket into the Tabernacle.
The funeral service was an inspiring tribute to a "holy man" who was polished and refined, disciplined, trained and taught under the Almighty to stand as a prophet to the nations.
Burial was in the Salt Lake City Cemetery, where one of President Hunter's sons, John J. Hunter, dedicated the grave. President Hunter's other son, Richard A. Hunter, offered the family prayer before the services.
