Howard W. Hunter's life was an example of sacrifice, priorities, and putting the Lord first. [MUSIC PLAYING] In his early years, Howard was a proficient musician, making his living playing a variety of instruments for a dance band, even traveling with a cruise ship entertaining the partying masses. It was a glamorous career, which paid him well.

But sensing that the lifestyle was not compatible with the religion, marriage, and family he held sacred, he packed up his musical instruments, put them away, and rarely touched them again.

As a young father, Howard's first child passed away in infancy. The death was a devastating challenge to him and his wife, Claire. Though they were grief-stricken and numb, still they faithfully believed in eternal families, and remained true to the Lord. As was promised in his patriarchal blessing, Howard W. Hunter's life was filled with callings of leadership. At age 32, he was called as a Bishop of the El Sereno Ward in the Los Angeles area. At age 38, he was called to serve as the Stake President of the Pasadena Stake. In 1959, at age 52, he was called by President David O. McKay to serve as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. At the time of his call, he was a prominent attorney in Los Angeles. He was a director of a number of corporations and had all of the worldly things that one would expect or hope for, and a future that would promise him even more. And then the call came. And like Peter, who left his nets and answered the call of the Lord, so Howard Hunter left all of that behind and gave his full life, his full attention, his full consecration to the ministry to which he'd been called as an Apostle. Righteous leadership has been needed in every dispensation of time. And God chose prophets for this purpose long before they came into this mortal existence.