Just this evening, the vigorous, humorous, intelligent, and inspiring leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints passed away. President Thomas S. Monson must be feeling an overwhelming burden now – the calling of President of the Church, Prophet, Seer, and Revelator.
President Hinckley was one of the most lovable and loving people in the world, and was respected by those within and without the Church. He will truly be missed. But his touch upon the Church, especially his imprint on the young people of the Church and the recent converts of the Church, will long be felt.
After his endless energy and dedication, and his endurance without his wife at his side, he must welcome this rest. Thank you, President Hinckley.
I found out about this from family up in Utah about 30 minutes ago. I just can’t believe it. Words can’t describe the kind of person he was, the kind of person he is. I will never forget his words, his lessons, his love. He was and is an example for all people.
I’ve been feeling this would come sometime soon. However, it was still too soon.
Out here in Salt Lake City I was shocked when the news broke in over the show I was watching and announced that President Hinckley passed away.
It is times like this that I am glad to have these wonderful passages from Mosiah 15:18-20 and Mosiah 16:6-9 as a comfort.
Rest in peace President Hinckley. Your loving kindness has set an example that has inspired many people. God bless you.
Steve Smoot
I’m from the Philippines and I just got the news a couple of hours ago. This is really a sad sad day for all. His immeasurable impact on my life and others’ is superhuman. I will never forget him.
This is a happy and sad time. Happy for him, reunited at last with Him whom he so diligently served and his beloved wife. Sad because we will miss him. Still, I can be happy knowing that he is in a better place. He was really the first prophet that felt I really knew. What a great blessing it has been to hear from him so often. He will be missed but not forgotten.
A bit of a shocker considering he is the one I am used to seeing during conference for such a long time. I will miss his wit, humor, and his no nonsense way of counsel during his talks.
God Be With You ‘Til We Meet Again, Dear President Hinckley.
“I don’t know that we teach it. I don’t know that we emphasize it. I haven’t heard it discussed for a long time in public discourse. I don’t know. I don’t know all the circumstances under which that statement was made. I understand the philosophical background behind it. But I don’t know a lot about it and I don’t know that others know a lot about it.”
– Interviewing Gordon B. Hinckley, Time Magazine, Aug 4, 1997
prophetic!
A beautiful post about a beautiful man who will be sorely missed.
Nice going Anonymous. Someone beloved by millions of people dies and you make a smug comment.
Whether you believe he was a prophet or not, he was a good, honest and honorable man. He was a man who loved God, who served God and served his fellowmen.He dedicated his LIFE for that purpose.
If you don’t care whether or not he passed, don’t believe he was a prophet– that’s fine. But being nasty about it and posting a nasty comment about him to those who DO care and who are mourning wasn’t necessary, nor was it Christian at all.
Yeah, it was a shocker this morning to hear it from one of my Seminary students. He will be missed.
In a world where people look up to all the wrong kinds of people, it is refreshing to remember the life of Gordon B. Hinckley and recognize that he was a true hero in every sense of the word. What an example of everything that I would want to be. He was incredibly smart, very humorous, so patient, humble, loving, and understanding–in short, so very Christ-like. All day I’ve been trying to wrap my mind around the magnitude of this. It’s huge. When I first found out I didn’t want to believe it, and I started thinking “How dare he. He can’t leave yet. He needs to make it to 100. I’m not ready for this yet”. And that’s the crazy thing. His life itself was so remarkable that we don’t even think twice that he was 97. Something about him just led us to believe that he would keep on going, because that’s the way he lived his life–always carrying on with energy and determination. Probably one of his most important talks was his very first as president of the Church:
“Now, my brethren and sisters, the time has come for us to stand a little taller, to lift our eyes and stretch our minds to a greater comprehension and understanding of the grand millennial mission of this The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is a season to be strong. It is a time to move forward without hesitation, knowing well the meaning, the breadth, and the importance of our mission. It is a time to do what is right regardless of the consequences that might follow. It is a time to be found keeping the commandments. It is a season to reach out with kindness and love to those in distress and to those who are wandering in darkness and pain. It is a time to be considerate and good, decent and courteous toward one another in all of our relationships. In other words, to become more Christlike” (“This Is the Work of the Master,” Ensign, May 1995, 71).
This is how we will carry on as the work moves forward. “Go forward with faith”-the theme of his biography. Of all the things President Hinckley taught, it is faith that best sums up his ministry. “The Miracle of Faith” is one of the talks that best sums up what he felt was so important and best demonstrates his amazing way of teaching and building faith. Faith in the Savior, Jesus Christ. Faith in the restoration. “Faith is the basis of testimony. Faith underlies loyalty to the Church. Faith represents sacrifice, gladly given in moving forward the work of the Lord…O Father, help us to be faithful unto Thee and unto our glorious Redeemer, to serve Thee in truth, to make that service an expression of our love, is my humble prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”
Amen, President Hinckley. You were (and always will be) one of my greatest hero’s. God be with you ’till we meet again.
President Hinckley, I will miss you dearly. As a mother, I certainly appreciated his most recent First Presidency message in the Ensign. What a wonderful man, and a great example to us all. I hope I can be the type of parent he taught me to be.
To the anonymous poster– we are all mourning our Prophet. Please have a little respect. And for what it’s worth, his comments were taken out of context.
When I first heard, I cried. I can’t express how much I love that man. Just SEEING him at conference and seeing pictures of him in the Ensign brought me peace. I can’t really explain it– just a quiet confidence I guess, knowing who he was, what he stood for and knowing his relationship with God and the Savior. There’s a feeling of safety that I can’t really put into words, in knowing that there’s a true prophet of God on earth.
At the same time I had such feelings of loss and sorrow at his passing, I also felt incredible joy for him– knowing that he must have been having a joyous reunion with his wife.
His loneliness without her was clear. His expressions of love for her after her passing touched me so deeply.
I’m sure you remember his address at conference, shortly after her passing.
” My brethren and sisters, at the outset, if you will bear with me, I wish to exercise a personal privilege. Six months ago, at the close of our conference, I stated that my beloved companion of 67 years was seriously ill. She passed away two days later….
My children and I were at her bedside as she slipped peacefully into eternity. As I held her hand and saw mortal life drain from her fingers, I confess I was overcome. Before I married her, she had been the girl of my dreams, to use the words of a song then popular. She was my dear companion for more than two-thirds of a century, my equal before the Lord, really my superior. And now in my old age, she has again become the girl of my dreams.”
The genuine joy I feel for him, to once again be with her surpasses my feelings of loss for losing him here.
To quote President Hinckley himself, “God be thanked for His matchless love” and if I may add to his words– for a faithful prophet of God.
I am not trying to be a stickler, but Jeff, it’s Hinckley not Hinkcley.
No one ever claimed that everything GBH ever said was prophetic, or even correct, Anonymous.
When I found out, I absolutely couldn’t believe it. I mean, you always know this is going to happen, but it seems like it just never will.
Rest in peace, president Hinckley.
Jeff is there a way to turn off anonymous posting? Anon’s post was cowardly and I guess I hate it when people hide behind anonymous. I guess people could always make up names but that is ridiculous. He/she should be ashamed. Could you imagine trashing a world religion leader after their death?
I can never tell which Anon is which. It’s like there is a Baskin Robbins of Anons.
I think it is very telling that the non-Mormons and/or anti-Mormons are either rude now or silent. They are willing to always challenge and debate. They can’t even put aside their hate for a moment. Richard Gokey
What’s wrong with being silent?
He was a great man and truly a prophet of God. He will be missed. I remember the first time I saw him, prior to joining the Church, I thought…’so that is what a prophet looks like’. His actions ended up showing me so much more. He showed so much love and compassion in all he did.
Single mom of two.
President Hinkley, how we love you! We will miss your gentle humor and your goodness. What a wellcome must have been on the other side.
RWW, there is nothing wrong with silence. I just think that a comment expressing some level condolence would go a long way. If I was always debating with a Protestant and Billy Graham died I’m sure I could find it in my non-Christian Mormon heart to say something appropriate. Richard G
God bless our prophet dear.
Richard G said:
“If I was always debating with a Protestant and Billy Graham died I’m sure I could find it in my non-Christian Mormon heart to say something appropriate.”
I wouldn’t be too sure, Richard. Haven’t you heard? We’re Satanic. We don’t have hearts.
We DO have horns though. I wish I could do something with mine to make them a little more attractive, but since we womenfolk are so oppressed and aren’t allowed to wear wear makeup…. *smile*
President Hinckley has done so much for so many. I honor him as a prophet, and friend. He specially loved the youth of the church. He has been a super optimistic in the face of some of the most troubling times this world has ever faced.
I found a site honoring him, where anyone can go to and leave a message in tribute to his memory.
The site is:
http://honoringpresidenthinckley.blogspot.com/2008/01/honoring-president-gordon-b.html
I feel so happy and thankful to know that Gordon B. Hinckley was a prophet of the Lord.He was a great man,I love him so much.People can critize the church,and tell lies about us,but there is something they can never take away from us and that’s our testimony that the church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter- Days Saints is the Lord’s Kingdom once again established on earth.
For those who haven’t heard, Glenn Beck gave a very sweet and touching tribute to President Hinckley on his show Monday night. You can see and hear him trying very hard to keep from crying as he thanked President Hinckley for his example and service.
You can watch it here.
http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/200/5127/