Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons

Farrell Rollins Hurst (1952-1986)

Farrell Rollins Hurst was born on September 23, 1952, in Delta, Millard County, Utah to Elden and Josephine Hurst. He attended East High in Salt Lake City and graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in music education. He attended the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California. He was an accomplished violinist and organist.

Farrell willingly gave of his time and talents to serve in the community. He was skilled at home restoration and refurbishing, and he built and rebuilt musical instruments.

Farrell taught music privately and at East Community School. He served an LDS mission in Taiwan. He organized the Yale Ward Strings and was a member of the Bonneville Strings. At the time of his death he was serving as the Yale Ward priesthood and choir organist and as the Salt Lake Bonneville Stake organist.

Farrell committed suicide on January 9, 1986. He was 33 years old.

Farrell is buried at the Mountain Green Cemetery in Morgan County, Utah.

Tribute prepared by his family

Farrell R Hurst was born on September 23, 1952 and died on January 9th, 1986 at the age of 33. He is survived by his parents, 4 brothers, 5 sisters, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Farrell loved the Lord and served Him through music. He attended church regularly and played the organ for Sacrament and Priesthood meetings. He was also a member of the Yale Ward Strings, Bonneville Strings, and the Mormon Youth Symphony and served as Stake Organist at the time of his death. He organized and played in string quartets throughout his high school and college days. We often asked him to provide some of the music for family weddings and social events.

Farrell was also a very talented craftsman who spent hours restoring the wood in his parent's home to its natural beauty. He and a brother restored several player pianos while still in high school. He also restored a reed organ for his parents and kept the ward pipe organ in tune and in good repair. He built several musical instruments, including a harpsichord. They all stand as monuments to his attention to the finest details.

Farrell loved the Chinese people and served a full-time mission in Taiwan. Years later, he spent a month touring Mainland China and auditioned for the Chinese symphony.

Farrell married the love of his life, Mary, on the first grade playground during recess. We moved away two years later and they remained good friends throughout his life. It was in letters he sent her during high school, shared with us before his funeral, that he first described having symptoms of depression. At times, he seemed distant and sought solitude or the company of friends instead of family. We cannot imagine what feelings or thoughts he may have had. Farrell was a very private man who also loved his moments in the spotlight.

We did not recognize the depression. We saw the happy times, the performances of "Swine Lake" in his living room, his Annual Spring Soirée, the Pizza Party sleepover for his nephews and nieces, the Hawaiian Luau in his backyard canyon, the "Birthday Funeral" delivery messenger in tuxedo tails and striped shorts, and the pot luck funeral for "Hitler's Revenge" as the tow truck hauled it away. He brightened our days, but at times, he pushed us away.

His death ended whatever earthly pains he was experiencing at that time, but left many unanswered questions for those he left behind. We miss him. A part of us died, too, on that cold, hazy day in January. We are thankful for the atonement of Jesus Christ, through which we can all be resurrected. When we meet again, we have a lot to talk about.

In loving memory,

His family