Aman of integrity, faith, talents, love and compassion is how Elder H. Verlan Andersen was remembered at his funeral July 20 by President Thomas S. Monson, second counselor in the First Presidency.

A former member of the Seventy, Elder Andersen died July 16 of cancer at his home in Orem. He was 77. He had served as a member of the Seventy since April 1986, and was released from the Second Quorum of the Seventy last October.A number of General Authorities attended the funeral, both from the Council of the Twelve and from the Seventy. President Monson said others, including President Gordon B. Hinckley, first counselor in the First Presidency, were on assignment and could not attend. President Monson conveyed to the Anderson family the love President Ezra Taft Benson has for them, and his sorrow that he could not be present in person at the services.

Speakers also included four of Elder Andersen's children: LaDawn Andersen Jacob, Timothy Hoyt Andersen, Dale E. Andersen and Bishop Hans Verlan Andersen Jr. of the Lakeview 8th Ward in Orem, who also conducted the funeral.

Several musical selections were presented by members of Elder Andersen's posterity. He and his wife, Shirley Hoyt Andersen, have 11 children, 92 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

The family members who spoke frequently referred to their father as "Daddy," a name which conveyed their love for him.

"I want the children and grandchildren to remember that beautiful passage in 3 John. It is what their father and grandfather would say to them. `I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.' " (3 John 1:4.)

President Monson said he had spoken by telephone the week before with Sister Andersen, and then unexpectedly, heard Elder Andersen's voice on the telephone.

"It was a good, firm voice. I said, `Verlan, how are you doing?' `Pretty good.' He said: `When I'm lying down, I don't have any pain. But I can't lie down all the time; I have to get up and move around.' But he said, `I'm feeling fairly well.' And I conveyed to him my love and the love of my wife and all of the Brethren.

"And then to think that God touched him as he slept, and he's returned home."

President Monson gave several descriptions which he said apply to Elder Andersen's life and nature.

"He was a man of integrity. When he knew what was right, he followed it. There was no dissuasion."

Referring to a quotation from George Washington, President Monson said Elder Andersen "never endorsed that with which he did not agree, for he wanted to be able to defend his position. And his position was always on the side of the Lord."

Elder Andersen was a man of talents, President Monson said, mentioning his struggle to obtain degrees in accounting from BYU, and law from Stanford University Law School and Harvard University. Elder Anderson headed the accounting department at BYU and at the time of his death was an emeritus professor in the university's School of Accountancy.

"My own son-in-law took a class from him. And he said, `We learned about public administration, but we also learned he had a testimony of the gospel and he loved the Book of Mormon.' "

Describing Elder Andersen as a man of faith, President Monson told of visiting with Elder Anderson following his call as a General Authority. Brother and Sister Anderson had previously served a mission together in South America.

"I said to him: `Verlan, we don't know where you'll be assigned, but it could well be overseas. But I know you've been away from your lovely family for a long time, and maybe your grandchildren will grow up without benefit of your influence.' And he sat there without saying a word, just a smile on his face. And then he said to me, `Brother Monson, I want to serve where the Lord wants me to serve.'

"He, in effect, was saying, `Here am I; send me.' And we did, beyond the borders of the United States where he used the Spanish language. When I was visiting in Guatemala, they told me that his grammar wasn't exactly the best in the world in Spanish. But they said: `Oh, how the people love to hear him speak. And how they like to follow that which he says.' "

President Monson said Elder Andersen was a man of love and compassion and referred to his justifiable pride in his many children and grandchildren.

He described a spirit of brotherhood and comradeship among Elder Andersen and the other two General Authorities who served with him in the Utah Central Area of the Church. He said he has a letter from Elder Andersen written at the time he became ill, suggesting he be relieved of his responsibilities in the area presidency for the good of the work, but that he would do whatever President Monson felt was best.

"I have that with another letter from the other two members of the area presidency. And they wrote: `We know Verlan Andersen is going to write you and tell you he's not feeling as well as he should, and that maybe he's hindering the work. Brother Monson, we hope that Brother Andersen will not be released from his area presidency assignment, for the two of us are perfectly capable with the Lord's help to put forth some additional effort and cover the bases for our beloved comrade and associate Verlan."

President Monson read a letter from the First Presidency to Sister Andersen. In part, it said: "When Brother Andersen was called as a General Authority, he had already gained our respect and trust. His service in the Lord's kingdom did not start with that calling. He has given long years of service by serving a mission as a young man, and later serving in his ward and stake and in the Sunday School general presidency.

"To his considerable posterity, we say that his testimony was firm, his faith in God his strength."

Elder Andersen was born Nov. 6, 1914, in Logan, Utah, to Hans and Mynoa Richardson Andersen. He and Sister Andersen were married June 15, 1942, in the Salt lake Temple. Together, they served missions in Argentina and Peru.

As a General Authority, he served as first counselor in the Mexico/Central America Area presidency, second counselor in the South America South Area presidency, second counselor in the Utah Central Area presidency and second counselor in the general presidency of the Sunday School.

He served two terms in the Utah State Legislature.