Funeral Services Announced for Elders Glenn L. Rudd and Bruce D. Porter

Hello. This is a post I have been promising for the last several hours. I finally got a chance to get to doing it now. As many of you know, the Church recently lost two spiritually giant leaders, both very well known. I have kept an eye out for future developments in this regard, and today the funeral services were announced for both.

Elder Glen L. Rudd, whose greatness in charitable efforts earned him the nickname "Mr. Welfare", passed away on Friday December 30 at the ripe old age of 98, making him one of the oldest emeritus General Authority to pass away.  Though small in stature, he was large of heart. Click here to read the remarkable tribute to this man's monumental life. As he only served as an active general authority for five years, he had just one opportunity to address us in General Conference. His talk can be found here. His funeral will be later today (January 4).

In the meantime, Elder Bruce D. Porter, who has been a general authority for the better part of my 30 years, became the second actively-serving General Authority to pass away in 2016 when he died from complications of a pulmonary infection at the relatively young age of 64. Click here to read more of his life and his passing. Elder Porter only spoke four times in General Conference, but he gave landmark addresses every time. Click here to review any or all of those. Having read them before, I can readily attest to how good they are. Elder Porter had been serving as president of the Church's Europe East Area when (as I assume, though it hasn't been explicitly stated) he was released in early December in view of his failing health before succumbing to the pulmonary infection that would take him from us far too quickly. He died just the day before Elder Rudd. Elder Porter's funeral services will take place tomorrow (January 5). And it is no doubt out of respect and deference to his memory that no change has been officially announced for the Europe East Area Presidency, even though such changes have reportedly already happened. However, I do anticipate that we may hear about that Area Presidency change, whatever it involves, before the end of this week.

Both funerals will no doubt be well attended. And it is almost certain that a representative from the leading brethren of the Church will be present at both services. Who that might be remains to be seen. While I have always personally mourned the passing of such good leaders, the only funeral I have ever personally attended for a prominent Church leader was that for Elder C. Max Caldwell, who served as a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy and was a close personal friend who graciously and without hesitation accepted my request that he officiate at my wedding ceremony. When I went to Elder Caldwell's funeral, I was fully anticipating a current General Authority being in attendance to "represent the brethren." But the one doing so was another close personal friend from my temple service who had served with Elder Caldwell in the Second Quorum of the Seventy and had been president of the Mount Timpanogos Temple during the time that Elder Caldwell and I were serving there. His name was L. Edward Brown.

Therefore, my personal experience is a witness and reminder to me that the apostles will send anyone they feel inclined to send to represent them at these upcoming services. It will more than likely be someone that is somehow connected to Elder Porter and Elder Rudd personally. And it could be any former or current General Authority that they feel would best represent them. Nothing would surprise me at this point.

Thanks for wading through this. Feel free to comment if you feel so inclined. May God bless the memories of these valiant servants of the Lord.