27 January 2008
A Tribute to Gordon B. Hinckley
Posted by Joy Bischoff under: What's News .
To our friends who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, forgive us for stealing the blog for tribute to a man who has been greatly loved by our church. Know that we love and respect our fellow Christian and Jewish friends. To any LDS guests, feel free to post a comment to share your feelings, favorite story, or anything you would like about President Hinckley.
“Some of you are in the wrong major.” These are words I will never forget. The prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has just passed away. My favorite memory of him is personal. I, along with two men, were asked to sing solos and a trio as part of the dedication of the Howard W. Hunter Law Library at the law school at Brigham Young University.
Law students and their spouses were invited to sing in a choir for this dedication. My husband was in law school and I was a senior, majoring in Middle Eastern Studies at the time. As the choir sang the opening number, Marjorie Hinckley, wife of the prophet, beamed encouragingly at me. Later, when it was time for my solo, I stood next to the podium that held the prophet. A few feet straight in front of me was Sister Hinckley. She grinned at me, and nodded encouragement. I had feared this experience would be the most difficult solo of my life until I looked into her sweet face. Then I turned and looked at the prophet and his two counselors and I realized there was nothing to fear. I was with my best friends.
When the prophet began to speak, he complimented the choir, looked at me, smiled big and said, “some of you are in the wrong major.” He assumed I was a law student. I will miss him. His was a warm and gentle soul. His humble leadership has lead to a better understanding of our religion in the world at large and a better relationship with our Christian brothers and sisters. We will miss him.
14 Comments so far...
Iffer Says:
27 January 2008 at 10:30 pm.
I was 7 when President Hinckley became the prophet. Now, 15 years later its hard to imagine anyone else being the prophet.
Although he was old, he seemed immortal some how…
He will be greatly missed. But i am happy for him. I am sure President and his wife are rejoicing in Heaven right now.
Joy- Thank you for sharing this personal story with us.
If anyone else has any stories or thoughts about President Gordon B. Hinckley, i would love to read about them.
E.E. Says:
27 January 2008 at 10:36 pm.
I loved watching his travels in Africa. I will miss him so much.
Roy Bischoff Says:
27 January 2008 at 11:01 pm.
It seems to me to be the end of an era somehow. I know that Thomas Monson will be a capable successor but it will take a while to get used to the idea that President Hinckley is no longer with us. Out of about 120 LDS temples worldwide very few have not had President Hinckley preside at a dedication or rededication. I think that almost single handedly he made the far flung membership of the church seem much closer together, because as he traveled I felt like everywhere he was accepted as a prophet and with great love it made me feel a connection with those people. Their love for him helped me to feel a bond with them, whether they were from Africa, Asia, Europe or in the Americas. He will be missed.
Bryon Says:
27 January 2008 at 11:22 pm.
I am sure that most of the church that owns cell phones will know. I texted lots of my friends and got lots in return about this. I was five when he became prophet. He was a part of the twelve long before I was born. I have never known the church without him. I am really going to miss him. I hoped he would last until the second coming.
jobob911 Says:
27 January 2008 at 11:39 pm.
President Hinckley was the only prophet I have ever really known. The things that he is done for the LDS church are just beyond belief. The amount of members in the church has more then doubled since he has been the prophet. I was so shocked when I first heard, I thought there was just some miscommunication. He was the kind of person that I thought would go on forever, he never seemed to stop or to even slow down at all. He was adored by everyone. Nobody
could say anything bad about him unless they were lying. He has been all over the world and has changed so many different peoples lives. I am thankful and amazed at everything he has done. I am sad that he is gone but the things he has done will live on forever.
Nalvy Says:
27 January 2008 at 11:53 pm.
It is hard for me to type this right now. I am a recent (as of December) convert to the church and I am so grateful that such a great man as President Hinckley was leading the church. I remember hearing everyone talking about him with such reverence and love and the first time I saw him and heard him speak was at the request of the Elders who were teaching me.
He was such a great man and although I did not ever get to meet him personally I love him as much as everyone else and am truly mourning his loss.
It was a shock to hear the news…especially through a text message but immediately after I felt happy for him because I know he is with his wife and family and with all the other great Prophets.
President Gordon B. Hinckley will be truly missed and always loved!!
E.E. Says:
28 January 2008 at 6:23 am.
When I tried to write last night, I was too emotional. I watched the tribute to President Hinckley on KSL last night and cried a lot. That helped. What was so amazing about that man was his ability to love everyone so deeply. Wherever he went he would look into the peoples’ eyes and tell them how much he loved them. He often said they looked beautiful to him. He loved the Asian members, the Russian members, just everyone. But like I wrote before he seemed to have such a special tender place in his heart for the African members. He seemed so excited when he announced the temple in east Africa and enjoyed it so much when he went there for the dedication. I loved to watch how much the members there loved him. Millions around the world will miss him. I will miss him.
rorin Says:
28 January 2008 at 10:47 am.
This is such a hard thing to write about because of how mixed my emotions are. Every time I think of how much I am going to miss hearing Pres. Hinckley speak it gets hard for me but at the same time it is hard to stay sad thinking of a man who was such an optimist and a genuinely happy person. The only times I can think of when he seemed sad was when he was talking about his wife and now he is with her again. I remember when Pres. Benson and Pres. Hunter died but I was very young so it didn’t mean as much. I thought of them in an abstract way as the prophet but Pres. Hinckley has become much more for me. I feel like I knew him personally. I am a student right now at BYU and I know many of my fellow students feel the same. He was our prophet and we loved him dearly. It’s amazing that even with the age difference between Pres. Hinckley and my peers we still knew he understood us. He was an inspiration to young people everywhere. We all miss him.
Stumpy Says:
28 January 2008 at 11:20 am.
I am sorry for your loss. He sounds like a good fella. When young folks talk like that about an old guy something good has happened.
Joy Bischoff Says:
28 January 2008 at 12:24 pm.
I wanted to post a portion of my son, Robert’s email. He is serving a mission in Missouri. When we mourn, it is a comfort to do it together.
“I don’t often think about how much I love the prophet but
last night made me realize how much I do. Seems like it has been
forever since he became prophet. After we heard the news Elder Adams and I
sang We thank thee O God for a Prophet. It is a good song. At first I couldn’t believe it was true but I had the job of calling the missionaries in my district and telling them.
President Hinckley is a man who will always be remembered. He is an
example all of us can look to. His enthusiasm and hard work made him a
successful missionary, husband, father, business man, church leader and
whatever else he set his mind to be successful at. I hope we can all catch
his vision for our future and together we can work to achieve it.”
Carrie Says:
28 January 2008 at 3:19 pm.
I remember singing We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet when he spoke at a youth meeting. The feeling in the room was so strong. I knew he was a prophet and I have loved him so much ever since. I am happy he is with the Lord and with his wife but I will miss him.
Terrie Soberg Says:
28 January 2008 at 8:25 pm.
I heard the news last night here in Minnesota from my son in Tennessee who heard it from ward members who heard it from friends in Utah. The news must have spread far and wide at great speeds. It took me another twenty minutes to verify the news on the internet.
Gordon B. Hinckley was such a beloved man. I lay in bed teary-eyed, thinking about him and about the reception he must have had when he got to the other side of the veil. His wonderful wife, his parents and grandparents, and so many of the prophets and apostles that have already passed on from mortality. Even though we are sad and will miss him, he is in a beautiful place with loved ones all about him and he no longer suffers the pains and struggles of mortal life. It almost makes me jealous!
President Thomas S. Monson will be a wonderful president and I am anxious to see what he will focus on during his time. I am sure that we will see some exciting changes. I am thankful for the testimony I have of President Hinckley.
Joy Bischoff Says:
28 January 2008 at 8:53 pm.
Here is an informative article about the succession of LDS prophets.
Sharon Anderson Says:
29 January 2008 at 9:48 am.
Over the past several years as I contemplated the inevitable passing of our beloved Prophet, I felt so sad at the prospect. He loved all people whether they were members of the Church or not and was loved in return. I will miss him deeply, yet I know that President Hinckley completed his mortal mission most honorably, and according to the Lord’s tender mercies and perfect wisdom, he was called home at just the right time.
My father Charles Hampton Price (1911-1982) and Gordon B. Hinckley were only a year apart in age and knew each other as they were growing up in Salt Lake City. President Hinckley’s deep respect for others, his optimism, and sense of humor were much like my dad’s. They represented the best of a generation that will soon no longer be with us. This is a good time for each of us to consider our own lives and the influence our generation will have on others. Hopefully we will leave a similar legacy for those who follow us.
I believe that the best thing we can do to honor President Hinckley is to follow our Savior Jesus Christ and reach out to others in love and respect as we build up the Kingdom of God.
My cousin sent me this poem that was sent to her. I think it captures the spirit of the great man that we knew as a Prophet of God.
Prophetic Passing
I imagine he’s running to Marjorie now,
Yes, running, not waving his cane.
I see him embracing his father and mother
While they keep repeating his name.
I see him now meeting his forebears,
Brother Brigham and Joseph are there.
Sweet reunion of prophets, united by service
That only such noble men share.
I see him embraced by the Savior
While Father says, “Good and well done.
So faithful in stalwart endurance, I welcome
My noble, most excellent son.”
I then hear the ripples of laughter
As he says the reception’s just fine,
But he hopes that he’ll get an assignment or two
Since there’s no need to waste any time.
I can hear his clear voice in the stillness
At the close of this sweet Sabbath day,
Have faith and move forward — there’s work to be done.
President Hinckley would want it that way.
Anna M. Molgard
January 27, 2008
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