Memorial for President Frederick N. Larsen

In Memory of Frederick Niels Larsen

On the evening of April 26, 2019 our President, Prophet, Seer and Revelator, Frederick Niels Larsen passed to the eternal realm. Brother Larsen leaves the saints with a legacy of faith and commitment to doing the Lord’s work.

 

President Larsen directs the priesthood during a gathering at the Kirtland Temple in Kirtland, Ohio in 2010.

In March of 2019, Fred Larsen was admitted to the hospital due to a suspected stroke. The doctors identified the area of his stroke and put him on a care plan to return home. Over the next several weeks, however, the strokes continued, and his ability to do everyday tasks diminished, despite medical intervention and therapies. When the doctors shared that there was nothing else that could be done for him, his family chose to have their father spend his final days at home. His wife, Mary Lou Larsen was able to tell him good-bye before he left the hospital despite being cared for in a rehab facility herself due to an injury she sustained in a fall a couple of weeks prior. Brother Larsen was tended to by his five children, with the assistance of hospice, in his home until his passing.

Brother Larsen’s end of life wishes included internment in a mausoleum at the Mound Grove Cemetery in Independence, Mo., where Frederick M. Smith is also buried. Due to the lengthy preparation needed before his casket can reside in its final resting place, the family has chosen to hold a private family visitation this Thursday, May 2^nd and a larger open-invitation visitation and service once the mausoleum is completed, which we anticipate will take place in June. The church priesthood will be involved in the later service during which time church members can pay their respects.

President Larsen with wife Mary Lou at General Conference.

Our love and support for Brother Fred and his family is already being shown through meals provided to the family by women in the Church, support for Sister Mary Lou, cards mailed and prayers sent. In the meantime, for those wanting to express their love, donations can be made to the ‘Fred Larsen Memorial” via the church office or local branches designating the contribution on their tithing envelopes.

Brother Larsen walked this earth for over 87 years. He was married to the love of his life for over 66 years. He served as the President and Prophet of the Remnant Church for over 17 years. He was ushered into his leadership role by four individuals under the direction of the Holy Spirit, was set apart as President/Prophet by three individuals who brought Brother Fred before the Lord, and throughout his presidency, eight men served as his counselors.

Our late Prophet’s leadership lives on through the 19 revelations he brought to the church through the power of the Holy Spirit. In his first sermon to the church as Prophet in April of 2002, he shared these words from Ephesians 4, which we remember now as we walk through this next season for the Church:

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, in one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

 

Images of President Larsen at Conferences, praying, holding his Conference gavel, leading by example and preaching.

A General Conference has been called for June 29 & 30, 2019 at which time the church will address the topic of succession.

Full obituary can be read below:

Frederick Niels “Fred” Larsen

Friday, January 15th, 1932 – Friday, April 26th, 2019

On Friday, April 26, 2019, Frederick (Fred) Niels Larsen, loving husband and father of five children, passed away at the age of 87, at home with his family. Fred was born on January 15, 1932 in Kansas City, Missouri to Edward J. Larsen, a Danish immigrant, and Lois A. Larsen, daughter of Frederick M. Smith. Fred was married on June 7, 1952 to Mary Louise (Mary Lou) Malott, the love of his life for the last 66 years. They raised three sons, Larry, Brian and Stephen (Stevie), and two daughters, Luann and Linda.

As a young boy, Fred’s family moved to a 20-acre homestead in East Independence. Fred’s primary education started at DeKalb Country School next door to the family’s homestead. He completed his secondary education at Garden Grove Union High School in California, where he graduated in 1950. Fred received his higher education in the physical sciences at Graceland College and University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry. Fred held a series of notable professional positions. He retired from Bendix as a Polymer Chemist after 35 years of service. During his time there he served as a consultant in the field of Polymer Science at the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory in Livermore, California. After retirement, Fred began another adventure with the City of Independence Police Department’s Crime Scene Unit as a Forensic Chemist, where he established the illicit drugs and methamphetamine labs for the Jackson County Drug Task Force.

As a descendant of Joseph Smith, Jr., Fred has always had a close association in the Church. Fred was blessed and confirmed by his grandfather, Fred M. Smith; ordained to the office of Priest in 1956 by Israel A. Smith, his great uncle; ordained to the office of Elder by W. Wallace Smith, his great uncle; and Fred and Mary Lou received their Patriarchal Blessings by Elbert A. Smith, a second cousin. In a call to gather the saints into what became the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Remnant Church), Fred was one of the twelve signers of the Proclamation and Invitation to the Faithful, which led to the creation of the Remnant Church on April 6, 2000. In April 2002, Fred was chosen to become the President of the High Priesthood of the Remnant Church. Fred provided leadership to the Remnant Saints and the Church and helped prepare for building the Kingdom of God on this earth. In his personal time, Fred engaged in various hobbies that reflected his passion for sports, science, the outdoors, music and travel. Fred participated in high school football, college tennis at Graceland College and most recent golf with anyone who would get out and enjoy it with him. His favorite sport was watching his kids and grandkids in whatever sport or activity they participated in at the time. Fred loved music of all genres and frequently played the piano, guitar, banjo and the harmonica just to name a few. Fred loved the adventure of spelunking (cave exploration) and studying and collecting rocks of all kinds. Fred was an active member of the Boy Scouts of America Tribe of Mic-O-Say and led Scout Troop 257 on their annual Big Adventure trips to explore the Collegiate Peaks, a section of the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains, located in central Colorado, a place his grandchildren still enjoy. Fred and Mary Lou loved to travel, especially to Hawaii, where they visited annually and shared with family and friends.

Fred was preceded in death by his father, Edward, his mother, Lois, and his step-mother, Margaret. He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou, and their five children: Larry, Linda, Luann, Brian, and Stephen (Stevie); ten grandchildren: Angela, Erika, Frederick (Mitch), Justin, Madilyn (Madi), Shawn, Austin (AJ), Zachary (Zach), Ashley, Jacob, and Tyler; three grand pups: Daisy, Shrimper and Rusty; eight great grandchildren: Cecilia, Olivia, Ava, Frederick (Wyatt), Austin, Ambria, Triston, Laila, Livonia, Lucas, and Rileigh; and his four brothers and one sister: Stephen (Steve), Edward (Zeke), Daniel (Dan), Leif (Pete), and Anina.

A private service will be held for family at Speaks Suburban Chapel in Independence, MO. A public visitation and funeral service will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be expressed at www.speakschapel.com (Arrangements: Speaks Suburban Chapel 816-373-3600).

Internment:

Mound Grove Cemetery

1818 North River Boulevard

INDEPENDENCE, MO 64050

We will remember our late Prophet, President, and friend with wonderful memories of his encouraging smile, his words of wisdom, his never-failing energy for Zion and his concern for all the scattered Saints across the world.  Let us join in unity to raise the banner “Onward to Zion” as we honor the work Brother Fred was directed by the Holy Spirit to undertake.  We are reminded of the latter-day revelation that Brother Fred gave the Saints in 2014:

Be not discouraged, My Remnant flock, for My work will never be thwarted.  Lay aside those things that cause aught with your brothers and sisters and live in the light and joy of the Gospel.  Determine what must matter most in your individual lives – loving and relying upon God, the Father, for all things good: caring for your families both in and out of the Church; and finding security in the redemptive power of the cross and through the atonement of the Only Begotten Son of God.  These things are most precious and should cause you to always be of good cheer, looking upward for that glorious day of the Lord’s return, for then you shall all see eye to eye and be one with each other and with the Father and the Son.  May it be so. Amen.