Sunday, January 27, 2008

52 Blessings Project: Week #4

"We {I} Thank Thee O God For a Prophet..."

Gordon Bitner Hinckley (June 23, 1910 – January 27, 2008)

{click here for official statement from The Church}

The fifteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death. He was the oldest person to preside over the Church in its history. As president of the Church of Jesus Christ, he was considered by its members to be a prophet, seer, and revelator. His presidency was noted for the building of new temples and the creation of the Perpetual Education Fund. Hinckley holds the record for dedicating the most Church temples and has dedicated more than half of the current Church temples.
All I can say that I'm sad for me, for us as a Church, but so glad for him. Can you even imagine how happy he is tonight? Can you imagine the pure joy, love, excitement going on in the Spirit World right now? I love President Hinckley so much! Every time he spoke I could feel his love for me. I am so blessed that he was our prophet for so many years. I am blessed that I got to meet him when I was young. (His son was our Bishop when I was young so he visited our ward before.) He is just amazing person and such a wonderful example. He will be so missed.
It's going to be hard to tell the kids in the morning. He is their prophet- the only one they've known. Jillie especially will be sad, since she always felt a special connection to him because they share a birthday.

5 comments:

Dave said...

I will never forget the time I had the assignment from our Stake President to pick him up at the airport on one of his stop-thru's to see the family after a visit with another Stake (I think he was to visit with the Stake President and then meet his son, our bishop, after that to go visit with his family.
I arrived at the airport about the time his plane was to land, and after not seeing him at the concourse, decided to check the "arrivals" board. I had no sooner turned around to do that, than I heard my name being called out by someone. I turned back around to see him beckoning to me. (I didn't know he knew me or knew I would be picking him up).
And then there was the ten minute ride back to the Stake Center with him alone with me in the car. I guess I was so intent to give him a letter from Holly (our daughter) to his grand daughter Holly, who was her friend and that he would be visiting, that I didn't take any opportunity to ask him those ponderous questions one might want to ask a Prophet. We just had a pleasant, casual conversation as one brother with another, about family and the like.

Sunny said...

Wow Dad, do you have this experience written somewhere or hard copied? That's awesome. How fun that all the way out in Michigan we got to experience one on ones with the prophet. (even though he wasn't at the time) What a choice experience. Good post Nik!

Holly said...

Ok- I don't remember that story either! I do remember shaking his hand though. I remember thinking that it was really important, but didn't know why. I am sad that his "era" is over, but I am happy he is with all of his loved ones again. :)

Dave said...

Well yes, you just read it here =)
Well, he wasn't THE Prophet, but he was in the First Presidency; and a "prophet, seer & revelator".
Of all the latter-day prophets I've known (Joseph F. Smith to the present) none had the wit (as well as the wisdom) President Hinkley had, to my recollection. We were truly blessed to have had his influence in our lives, and so personally.

Leanne said...

Great post and super great comments!

Funny how we all remember him coming for visits when we were young at that time. I remember shaking his hand too. Holly- you remember being friends with his grand-daughter? I don't really remember Bishop Hinckley's kids. Just him and his wife who taught some things to us at youth activities. I must have been about 12 when they were in our Ward which makes you girls even younger. I hate being old.