LOWELL TOM PERRY Summary

BORN: 5 August 1922

PLACE OF BIRTH: Logan, Utah, United States

FATHER: Leslie Thomas Perry

MOTHER: Nora Sonne Perry

ELDER L. TOM PERRY

of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Key Doctrines:

Elder Perry served in the military and often speaks of freedom and agency. He warns, “None of us should ever underestimate how driven Satan is to succeed. His role in God’s eternal plan creates 'opposition in all things' (2 Nephi 2:11) and tests our agency.” [1] He also speaks of patterns in the tests of life and being prepared through obedience. Our desires determine our destiny.

Elder Perry tells a fun missionary story about the many good, and convincing Christian people from many denominations. As he met them he was converted to Southern Baptist, Methodist, and Lutheran religions each in turn and realized Mormons are not unique in loving and serving Christ. He began to study and learn what sets the LDS church apart as different and how to teach it to others. It is so important that we learn the truths that are restored through the gospel and remember why we need this knowledge. Only then can we help these good Christians have more happiness and all of the fullness of the gospel.

I learned:

Young Tom often went with his father pulling a wagon around their neighborhood to take supplies to families in need. His father taught him how to serve and he learned to truly love giving service to others and often led others in acts of love and service. He pays tribute to the goodness of his mother. He never wanted to do anything that might reflect badly onto her.

He served in the US military and was stationed for a time at the end of World War II in Japan. Despite ridicule from other soldiers he helped organize a group to help rebuild churches in Nagasaki. When it was time to go home on the train the other men said those that rebuilt churches had wasted their time, until the native people showed up enmass singing “Onward Christian Soldiers” and thanking those that had helped them so much. He often speaks about how we can, by obedience, be temporally prepared and more able to help others in ways that bless them now and for all eternity as they witness God’s love through us.

His strong sense of right and wrong, is a great influence among all that know him. He avoids any appearance of evil. Drinking milk during a cocktail hour is an example of this.

He has a finance degree and spent life in the retail business. During a move to New York, he discovered that his children cared more about a fancy house that his presence because he was so seldom home. He realized his priorities needed to be reordered to make his home and family first.He pays tribute to the goodness of his mother. He claims a man is never his best unless he has the influence of a good woman - a mother or wife.

He taught:

“Today we find ourselves in another war. This is not a war of armaments. It is a war of thoughts, words, and deeds. It is a war with sin, and more than ever we need to be reminded of the commandments. Secularism is becoming the norm, and many of its beliefs and practices are in direct conflict with those that were instituted by the Lord Himself for the benefit of His children.” [2]

He directs, “We must not pick and choose which commandments we think are important to keep but acknowledge all of God’s commandments. We must stand firm and steadfast, having perfect confidence in the Lord’s consistency and perfect trust in His promises.” [3]

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[1] Elder L. TOM PERRY of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Obedience to Law is Liberty,” 183rd Annual  General Conference, 7April 2013

[2] Elder L. TOM PERRY of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Obedience to Law is Liberty,” 183rd Annual  General Conference,  Sunday Morning, 7April 2013

[3] Elder L. TOM PERRY of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Obedience to Law is Liberty,” 183rd Annual General Conference, 7April 2013