[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 8712-8713]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     REMEMBERING ELDER L. TOM PERRY

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise to honor the memory of Elder L. Tom

[[Page 8713]]

Perry, an exemplary leader whose kindness, compassion, and love were as 
boundless as his optimism. Elder Perry quietly passed away on May 30 
after a brief battle with thyroid cancer. Serving as an apostle in the 
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for more than 40 years, 
Elder Perry traveled the world, strengthening congregations, visiting 
the poor, and ministering to the sick and afflicted. Throughout his 
ecclesiastical service, his words and actions inspired countless 
Latter-day Saints and many more outside the church. As millions across 
the world mourn his passing, we find peace in his teachings and take 
solace in the memory of a man who consecrated his life to the service 
of others.
  From humble beginnings, Elder Perry developed a strong sense of 
discipline that would later define his church service. Born to Leslie 
Thomas and Nora Sonne Perry in 1922, his father was a lawyer and his 
mother was a teacher by profession. Together, they taught Tom the 
principles of honest work and self-reliance. Elder Perry was no 
stranger to hard labor, and some of his earliest memories included long 
days working the fields, milking the family cow, and cutting hay by 
hand with an old scythe. From these early experiences, Elder Perry 
learned that nothing would be handed to him and that he had to work for 
everything he received. And work he did.
  After finishing his first year of college, Elder Perry accepted a 
call to serve his church in the Northern States Mission. During the 2 
years Elder Perry worked as a volunteer missionary, he developed a 
powerful testimony of Jesus Christ--a testimony that inspired a life of 
love and selfless service. After serving his church, Elder Perry 
desired to serve his country. He enlisted in the United States Marine 
Corps only a month after returning from his church mission.
  Elder Perry's marine battalion was deployed to Nagasaki shortly after 
the Japanese surrender. Observing the devastation and suffering of the 
Japanese people only softened Elder Perry's already tender heart. In 
his off-duty hours, he rallied a group of fellow marines to help him 
rebuild a Protestant chapel. On the same tour, he also helped repair a 
Catholic orphanage and build another chapel on the island of Saipan. 
While in Japan, Elder Perry grew especially close to a Protestant 
congregation. When he was transferred to another city, a group of 
nearly 200 members of this congregation gathered to bid him farewell. 
As his train crawled out of the station, each member of the 
congregation lined up along the track as Elder Perry reached out to 
touch their hands one by one. He loved these people, and they loved him 
back, making the goodbye all the more difficult. Last Saturday, 
thousands of us tasted that same bittersweet emotion when Elder Perry 
departed this mortal life for the next. Like this small Japanese 
congregation, we were all moved by his kindness, energized by his 
enthusiasm, and humbled by his service.
  After his honorable release from the Marine Corps, Elder Perry 
returned to Utah State University, where he earned a degree in finance 
and married his wife, Virginia Lee. Together, they were the parents of 
three children: Barbara, Linda Gay, and Lee. Family was always the 
highest priority for Elder Perry. Although his successful business 
career demanded much of his attention, he always made special 
sacrifices to spend time with his wife and children.
  Elder Perry was also committed to balancing his busy work schedule 
with his church service. As his family moved across the country--from 
Idaho and California, to New York and Boston--Elder Perry served in 
various leadership positions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
day Saints, including two bishoprics, a high council, and two stake 
presidencies. In April 1974, he accepted a calling to serve in the 
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Sadly, after serving as an apostle for 
only 8 months, Elder Perry's beloved wife, Virginia Lee, died of 
cancer. Nine years later, cancer would also take his daughter, Barbara. 
Although Elder Perry's life was marked by tragedy, it was not defined 
by it. His faith in God was unshakeable, as was his optimism. In 
response to heartbreak, Elder Perry said, ``[The Lord] is very kind. 
Even though some experiences are hard, he floods your mind with 
memories and gives you other opportunities. Life doesn't end just 
because you have a tragedy--there's a new mountain to climb.''
  Elder Perry never stopped climbing those mountains, and he served 
valiantly as an Apostle of Jesus Christ. In 1976, he married Barbara 
Dayton--his loving helpmeet and able partner who helped him bear the 
heavy responsibility of his apostolic calling. I will always remember 
Elder Perry for the zeal and energy he brought to every facet of his 
life. Nothing could temper his enthusiasm, and nothing could deter him 
from doing what was right.
  Elder Perry never tired of his calling. He so loved meeting with 
church members and leaders throughout the world that he once said, ``My 
association with great men has been not only an education, but an 
inspiration.'' I can easily say the same of my own association with 
Elder Perry; it has been both an education and an inspiration, and I 
will always be grateful for his example.
  I will never forget Elder Perry, his life of dedicated service, and 
his unwavering optimism. I consider myself lucky to have known him and 
even luckier to call him a friend. I will miss Elder Perry dearly, as 
will all those who knew him. I send my deepest condolences to his wife, 
Barbara, and their beautiful family. May God comfort them in this time 
of grief, and may his love be with them always.

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