Elder Dallas N. Archibald Eulogized

After a fishing accident on 14 December 1998 near Concepción, Chile, Elder Dallas N. Archibald of the Seventy, President of the Chile Area, was discovered drowned some days later. At his funeral held on 28 December in Salt Lake City, speakers included all three members of the First Presidency, Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and Elder Harold G. Hillam of the Presidency of the Seventy. Elder Joe J. Christensen of the Presidency of the Seventy conducted the funeral service. Elder Archibald’s wife, Linda R. Archibald, and their daughter, Teresa D. Archibald, also spoke.

President Hinckley said: “Nobody can tell the consequences of that which he has done. A baptism here, a teaching of the truth there will go on bearing fruit for generations yet to come.” President Hinckley continued: “He’s gone. None of us can understand why, but we know that there is someone who does understand why and that there’s a purpose in all of this. Nobody could think for one minute that a life so vital could be snuffed out and come to no eternal good.”

President Thomas S. Monson, First Counselor in the First Presidency, said: “Dallas Archibald was a man with no chink in his armor, no guile in his soul, no flaw in his character. There wasn’t room, because love was so dominant in his heart.” He continued: “In Dallas Archibald our Heavenly Father had a choice servant, one who would answer, ‘Here am I, send me.’”

President James E. Faust, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, said: “Dallas Archibald was both righteous and favored. We are all shocked by his sudden passing. Of course we grieve. Of course we mourn. But I should like to look on the positive side of his life. We recall a life of service.” He continued, “He’s done so many things, brought to pass so much righteousness, particularly among the Latin people.”

Born on 24 July 1938 in Logan, Utah, Elder Archibald eventually became an international business executive. He was sustained to the First Quorum of the Seventy on 6 April 1996, after four years of service in the Second Quorum of the Seventy. Before his assignment in Chile, he served in the Brazil Area Presidency. Elder Archibald served as president of the Spain Seville Mission from 1979 to 1982, and his Church callings also included regional representative, stake high councilor, and bishop.