SALT LAKE CITY – September 28, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) – The funeral of Elder Richard G. Scott, a member of the LDS Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, will be held today. Elder Scott died peacefully at his home Tuesday, September 22.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints says Elder Scott died of age related issues. He was 86 years old and was hospitalized with gastrointestinal bleeding in April. Shortly after that, the church said he had “experienced a fading memory incident due to age, ” and would not be able to participate in meetings of the Quorum of the Twelve.
Funeral services for Elder Scott will be held in the Tabernacle on Temple Square today, Monday, September 28 at 11 a.m. The funeral will be open to the public ages eight and older.The Temple Square gates and the Tabernacle doors will open at 9:30 a.m. Those wishing to attend should be in their seats by 10:30 a.m. Overflow seating will be available in the Assembly Hall on Temple Square. The Church campus buildings will be closed at 10:30 a.m. and will reopen following the funeral at 1 p.m.The funeral services will be broadcast live via MormonNewsroom.org, LDS.org, KSL TV 5.2, BYUtv, BYUtv Global, BYUtv Eleven, BYUtv International, Mormon Channel, Canal Mormón (Spanish) and on the Church satellite system. In addition, audio broadcasts will air on KSL radio, BYU Classical 89 and BYU Radio.
A private burial service will take place at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park in Salt Lake City following the funeral.
Elder Scott was called to the Quorum of the Twelve by the late LDS President Ezra Taft Benson in September of 1988. He was born in Idaho but grew up in Washington D.C. where his father worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Scott studied mechanical engineering in college and later worked on the design for the first nuclear-powered submarine.
In 1953, Elder Scott married Jeanene Watkins, daughter of former Utah Senator Arthur Watkins. They were married for 42 years and had seven children. Sister Scott died in 1995.
Gov. Gary R. Herbert issued this statement following the passing of Elder Scott: “Elder Scott was a kind and generous leader. His unwavering faith and pursuit of lifelong learning was an example to each one of us. I was especially touched by his heartfelt devotion to his late wife Jeanene. Their relationship has always been an inspiration to Jeanette and me. The First Lady and I extend our deepest sympathies to members of the Scott family and to all with whom he served. His leadership will certainly be missed.”
Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles served as a young missionary under Elder Scott. He said, “His messages were filled with hope. And he was unapologetic about repentance and the Atonement because he knew that that’s where hope came from or what one could hope for as a consequence of true, full repentance and the effect of the Atonement, the grace of Jesus Christ, in one’s life.”
