The second of the two videos above, courtesy the LDS Church, shows various elements of the graveside services for Elder L. Tom Perry, including a 21 gun salute and the presentation of the flag to Perry's wife. Before becoming an Apostle in the LDS Church, Perry served as a Marine during WWII.
SALT LAKE CITY -- Funeral services were held Friday morning for Elder L. Tom Perry, who served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Perry died on May 30 at the age of 92. He had been recently diagnosed with thyroid cancer and a statement from the LDS Church said the cancer had spread "aggressively."
Perry's funeral was held in the Salt Lake Tabernacle at Temple Square in Salt Lake City and was open to the public.
"The prayers and the expressions of comfort and gratitude from the members of the Church have been overwhelming," said Lee Perry, Elder Perry’s son and the first speaker at the funeral.
According to Mormonnewsroom.org, Elder M. Russell Ballard and Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles also spoke at the funeral.
"Elder Perry, by his nature, is one who always expected to see things move forward," explained Elder Ballard. "He seemed to have very little patience if time was not productive. He always taught, encouraged and inspired all of the general authorities that we could do more, we could do better and we could move faster in blessing the lives of every member of the Church."
LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson was the final speaker at the funeral.
"We shared much over the years — heartache and happiness, sorrow and laughter and, above all, a love for the Lord and His gospel," President Monson said. "All who heard his voice and those who read his words could readily see that here was a fearless defender and testifier of truth, intelligent in thought, radiant and warm in personality, succinct and powerful in expression, unwavering and unflinching in commitment and belief. He could teach, persuade, warn, explain and encourage."
President Monson continued, "I declare to you, my brothers and sisters, that there was no chink in L. Tom Perry’s armor; there was no guile in his soul; there was no flaw in his character. He loved the Lord with all his heart and soul and served Him with all his might to the very end of his mortal life.”
Perry was called to his position in the Quorum of the Twelve on April 6, 1974 and he has served in several other church leadership positions in Idaho, California, New York and Massachusetts. Perry also served as a Marine in the '40s.
Complete footage from the funeral service is available via Mormonnewsroom.org, click here for the video.
