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The First Presidency released the following statement regarding the passing of Ronald Reagan, former president of the United States:
"Ronald Reagan will be remembered across the world not only as the president of the United States who helped hasten the end of the Cold War, but also as a man of uncommon decency and dignity.
"The First Presidency expresses its sympathy and condolences to President Reagan's wife, Nancy, to his children and extended family."
The message was signed by President Gordon B. Hinckley, President Thomas S. Monson and President James E. Faust.
President Ronald Reagan, 93, died on June 5 following a long bout with Alzheimer's. He was President of the United States from 1981-1988. His 1987 challenge to USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall" led to the end of the Cold War. A few years later, missionary work began in Eastern Europe.
During his term of office, he was well known in Utah and in the Church. He and his wife were fans of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, which performed "Battle Hymn of the Republic" during his first inaugural parade on Jan. 20, 1981. It was President Reagan who later called it "America's Choir." President Spencer W. Kimball presented the U.S. President with his genealogy in March of that year. When an attempt to assassinate the President left him critically wounded in April, the First Presidency issued a statement urging "people everywhere to join with us as we pray."
He soon recovered, and a year and a half later, he visited Church welfare system facilities in Ogden, Utah, and observed that such a private sector initiative "holds the key to the renewal of America in the years ahead." At a picnic following in nearby Hooper, Utah, he looked at the large crowd and quipped, "This is almost as big a crowd as an Osmond family reunion."
Among those who hosted him were President Gordon B. Hinckley, then counselor in the First Presidency, and Elder Thomas S. Monson of the Quorum of the Twelve, then of the Church Welfare Executive Committee.
When President Reagan proclaimed 1983 as the "Year of the Bible," it was "heartily endorsed" by the First Presidency. In 1984, presidential candidates Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale visited the First Presidency, and among the gifts given to the president was a set of LDS scriptures.
In 1986, President Ezra Taft Benson visited President Reagan in the White House, and a year later as the Church celebrated its sesquicentennial in Great Britain, President Reagan sent a lengthy videotaped message shown at the Anniversary Banquet at London's Savoy Hotel July 24. He also issued a greeting during and a congratulatory wire after the Tabernacle Choir's Pacific Tour in 1988, calling it "America's most renowned musical ensemble."
After his term of office ended, the 40th president spoke at BYU in 1991 at the request of BYU President Rex E. Lee, who was solicitor general during the Reagan administration. "I have great admiration for your school here," he said. "I know how great it is and know how successful you are in so many ways."
A number of Church members served under him in government, among them Ronald M. Mann, who said of him:
"He will go down as one of the truly great presidents of the United States."
