David Sorensen

1933 - 2014

1933 ~ 2014
David E. Sorensen, cherished husband, father, and grandfather died peacefully at his home in San Juan Capistrano, California, on August 26, 2014. He was a man of God: exemplary in his service and secure in his witness that Jesus Christ lives. As his wife Verla often said, "He has the head of a businessman, the heart of a cowboy and the soul of a disciple of Jesus Christ." For several years he valiantly fought the cancer that took his life at 81. His wife and children were at his bedside.
David lived many lives all at once: husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, businessman, rancher, community leader, and benefactor. He was humble, purposeful, and serious-even in his youth, sensitive to the needs of others, disciplined, honest, and quietly generous.
A man of great spiritual insight, strength, and wisdom, he was born in Aurora, Utah, in 1933, the seventh of eight children of Alma and Metta Amelia Helquist Sorensen. He married his beloved Verla Anderson in the Manti Temple December 29, 1958.
David served a mission for his church to the Central Atlantic States Mission from 1954 to 1956. He was drafted upon his return into the U.S. Army, and after two years studied business at BYU, Utah State, and at the University of Utah. He put that training to work establishing or operating a number of successful enterprises. He was a master builder: Wherever he was, the kingdom of God prospered.
His service as a General Authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began with a call to the Second Quorum of the Seventy in 1992, was sustained to the First Quorum in 1995, and to the Presidency of the Seventy in 1998, where he served until being named an emeritus General Authority in 2005. Prior to his call as a General Authority, he served as president of the Canada Halifax mission (1985-88), president of the Las Vegas Stake (1988-92), and many other Church callings.
He loved the temples of the Lord. In 1998 he was assigned as the Executive Director of the Temple Department with the responsibility to assist President Gordon B. Hinckley in his vision to increase the number of LDS temples in the world from 49 to 100 by the year 2000. They met the goal and dedicated another 20 temples before David was released in 2005. He brought to that daunting assignment his experience in construction and business, his spiritual nature, and remarkable work ethic. After being named an emeritus General Authority he was called as president of the San Diego temple and Verla served as the matron.
Without question, he drew his greatest satisfaction from his family and from doing the work of Jesus Christ. He encouraged others to do the same. He followed the path of the Lord who "went about doing good . . . for God was with him." All who heard him or worked at his side were touched by his testimony.
David is survived by his wife, Verla, their seven children, 35 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren, and his sister Carolyn Burgoyne. A viewing will be held at 10:00am, and Funeral services will be held at 11:00am, on Saturday August 30, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 28291 Alicia Pkwy, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677. A graveside service and interment will be held at Salt Lake City Cemetery on Tuesday September 2nd at 10:00am. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in memoriam to LDS Humanitarian Services,
http://www.ldsphilanthropies.org/humanitarian-services.html