Monday, January 28, 2008

The Beloved Walnut Tree Still Lives On

The beloved walnut tree still lives on

Published: January 28, 2008

President Gordon B. Hinckley's love of trees — and one tree in particular — became part of the new Conference Center. He told the story during the Saturday morning session of LDS general conference on April 1, 2000.

I love trees.

When I was a boy, we lived on a farm in the summer, a fruit farm. Every year at this season we planted trees.... I think I have never missed a spring since I was married, except for two or three years when we were absent from the city, that I have not planted trees, at least one or two — fruit trees, shade trees, ornamental trees, and spruce, fir and pine among the conifers. I love trees.

Well, some 36 years ago, I planted a black walnut. It was in a crowded area where it grew straight and tall to get the sunlight. A year ago, for some reason it died. But walnut is a precious furniture wood. I called Brother Ben Banks of the Seventy, who, before giving his full time to the church, was in the business of hardwood lumber. He brought his two sons ... , one a bishop and the other recently released as a bishop and who now run the business, to look at the tree.

From all they could tell it was solid, good and beautiful wood. One of them suggested that it would make a pulpit for this hall. The idea excited me. The tree was cut down and then cut into two heavy logs. Then followed the long process of drying. ... , first naturally and then kiln drying. The logs were cut into boards at a sawmill in Salem, Utah. The boards were then taken to Fetzer's woodworking plant, where expert craftsmen designed and built this magnificent pulpit. ... with that wood.

The end product is beautiful. I wish all of you could examine it closely.... It represents superb workmanship, and here I am speaking to you from the tree I grew in my back yard, where my children played and also grew.

It is an emotional thing for me.

I have planted another black walnut or two. I will be long gone before they mature. When that day comes and this beautiful pulpit has grown old, perhaps one of them will do to make a replacement. To Elder Banks and his sons, Ben and Bradley, and to the skilled workers who have designed and built this, I offer my profound thanks for making it possible to have a small touch of mine in this great hall where the voices of prophets will go out to all the world in testimony of the Redeemer of mankind.

Subsequently, "The Story of the Walnut Tree" — whose central character was simply called "the kindly man" — was the basis for a book written by Don H. Staheli and illustrated by Robert T. Barrett.

The Life of President Hinckley

Gordon B. Hinckley, right, with his brother, Sherman (photograph taken around 1913).

President Hinckley, second from left, second row, as missionary in Great Britain.

Humor helped guide the Hinckley family. "If the time ever comes when we can't smile at ourselves, it will be a sad time," President Hinckley said.

The life of President Gordon B. Hinckley

By the Deseret Morning News staff

Published: January 28, 2008

President Gordon B. Hinckley provided a deep reflection — a first-person eulogy — on his life of service to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the April 2006 General Conference.

He advised conferencegoers that this talk should not be regarded as "my obituary. I look forward to speaking to you in October (of 2006)."

But in what he described as a departure from the usual gospel-themed talks of general conference, he acknowledged that "I face the sunset of my life. I am totally in the hands of the Lord. ... I take this opportunity while it is available to express appreciation and gratitude for the remarkable blessings the Lord has showered upon me. ... Somehow, the Lord has watched over and guided my choices, although it was not always evident at the time."

The church leader said the concluding words of a poem by Robert Frost, "The Road Not Taken," came to mind. "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference."

President Hinckley also referred to recent surgery to remove a cancerous growth in his colon. "It was the first time I have been a patient in a hospital. I do not recommend it to anyone," he said, drawing knowing laughter from the audience. He said physicians involved in the Jan. 24 surgery warned him that he may have continuing problems.

He said the conference address was one of more than 200 he has presented since being called as an LDS general authority in 1958. "I have dealt with a great variety of subjects, but running through all has been a dominant thread of testimony of this great latter-day work," he said.

During his time as a church authority, President Hinckley said, he had hosted and mingled with presidents, prime ministers and ambassadors, as well as having "walked among the impoverished and poor of the Earth, and shared with them my love, my concern and my faith. I hope I have made at least a small difference."

In his tenure, the church created several humanitarian service projects, such as the Perpetual Education Fund, and greatly expanded humanitarian aid for many people around the world.

He spoke of a patriarchal blessing he received as a boy of 11. "It is personal, and I will not read extensively from it. However, it contains the statement: 'The nations of the Earth shall hear thy voice and be brought to a knowledge of the truth by the wonderful testimony which thou shalt bear."'

Later, after a mission in England, he traveled for a time in Europe and was able to bear his testimony in Berlin and Paris and then when he was in Washington, D.C. He felt this had fulfilled the promise in his blessing, he said.

However, "That proved to be a mere scratching of the surface. Since then, I have lifted my voice on every continent, in cities large and small, all up and down from north to south and east to west across this broad world. ...

"It is," he said, "all a miracle."

HUMOR — Put a little wit and laughter into your lives

President Gordon B. Hinckley was serious about humor.

"We need to have a little humor in our lives," he said in a Church News interview in September 1995. "We better take seriously that which should be taken seriously, but at the same time we can bring in a touch of humor now and again. If the time ever comes when we can't smile at ourselves, it will be a sad time."

President Hinckley's humor was always gentle and usually directed at himself.

During the press conference after he was set apart as the church's 15th president, President Hinckley was ready when he was asked about his health.

"I spent one night in the hospital in my life. I was past 75 when that occurred," he replied. "That doesn't mean I'm ready to run a 100-yard dash."

In the Tabernacle Choir performance at the Tuacahn outdoor amphitheater on a cold Sunday morning, April 9, 1995, he warmed the members of the Ivins, Washington County, audience, many under blankets, by dubbing the event "Music and the Frozen Word."

It was a quality he shared with his wife of nearly 67 years, Sister Marjorie Pay Hinckley. Following her death the Office of the First Presidency released a statement in which President Hinckley described his wife as "the lodestar of their family (who) gently guided her children with faith, intelligence and humor. Her happiest role was that of a supportive wife and mother (who) made good use of humor to settle many of life's difficulties. She was often heard to say, 'The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it."'

President Hinckley's first address as a general authority poked fun at himself. He spoke at general conference the day he was sustained as an assistant to the Twelve, on April 6, 1958.

"My dear brethren and sisters," he said. "I don't know whether it's these new bifocals or the circumstances that make you look foggy. I'm reminded of a statement made by my first missionary companion when I received a letter of transfer to the European Mission office.

"After I'd read it, I turned it over to him. He read it and said: 'Well, you must have helped an old lady across the street in the pre-existence. It isn't anything you've done here."'

Family members spoke of a man who loved laughter.

"He loves to tell stories that make people laugh," said granddaughter Ann Hinckley in an April 1997 New Era article. "He doesn't tell jokes that are at the expense of others. He laughs at himself and helps us laugh at ourselves."

"I love it when he tells a story," said granddaughter Katie Barnes. "He can hardly get through it because he's laughing so hard. He can't breathe because he's laughing, which makes us laugh."

Fellow church leaders also spoke of President Hinckley's humor.

"He has kept a highly developed sense of humor, seeing good cheer as a vital message of life," the now-deceased Elder Neal A. Maxwell once said of President Hinckley.

The late G. Homer Durham, a high school classmate and later a missionary companion and general authority, once described how humor fit into President Hinckley's overall character: "His judgment stands up in every situation. His insight into human character and situations is rich and meaningful. He knows when silence is better than utterance. He has a sense of humor that endears him to all."

SPEAKER — Love for language led to skills in speaking, writing

As a writer and speaker, President Gordon B. Hinckley was noted for his love of the English language. Several influences during his early years helped create this lifelong love.

One influence was his parents' background. Both were professional educators. This was reflected in the layout of their home, which featured a library of more than a 1,000 books.

His mother also was a musician, and his father was a skilled writer of history. The library featured a large oak table, a good lamp and several comfortable chairs in addition to the books.

In an Ensign magazine interview just after President Hinckley was sustained as prophet, President Hinckley's son Clark noted that his father had often spoken to his children about what a quiet, inviting place it was.

"Apparently it was a wonderful place to study," Clark Hinckley said, "and it reflected a love for good books and learning in that home. Now, I don't think that as a boy Dad spent all his time reading, but there is no question he was exposed to great literature and that it had an impact on him."

President Hinckley grew up putting that love of language and literature to good use. His early academic intentions were toward a degree in journalism, so he went to the University of Utah to prepare.

Then came another opportunity.

"I was most fortunate," he said, "in the happenstance events that formed my early university education. I went to enroll in a freshman English class, and all the sections were filled.

"Because there were several of us still trying to register, they had to open up a new section, and apparently there was no one to teach it but the able and gifted head of the department. I had a wonderful introduction to the English language at his hand. ... I loved him and all my instructors.

"I read Carlyle and Emerson, Milton and Longfellow, Shakespeare and all the others. And from there I went on to study Latin and Greek.

"I couldn't do it now, but once I could have read you the 'Iliad' and the 'Odyssey' in the original Greek. I finished up my work at the university with a minor in ancient languages."

He had a memorable speaking opportunity when he was about age 20 and a college student. His bishop had scheduled apostle and U.S. Sen. Reed Smoot as a speaker. At the last minute, the speaker was called away, so the bishop called on Gordon Hinckley and Robert Sonntag to substitute and address an overflow congregation.

"When Gordon Hinckley had finished speaking, the people had forgotten all about Sen. Smoot's absence," Sonntag recalled. "The boy really stirred them," a 1961 Improvement Era article said.

"President Hinckley is a master orator," the late Wendell J. Ashton, former missionary companion, Deseret News publisher and a longtime friend, once said. "I'll never forget Lord Thompson of Fleet saying privately to his son a few years ago: 'This Hinckley is a great speaker. He knows how to move people."'

He also devoted some preparation days during his mission to England to visiting historical sites and attending cultural events.

He was the author of one hymn in the current LDS hymnal — No. 135, "My Redeemer Lives" — with music by Elder G. Homer Durham, another former mission companion and former member of the Seventy. And even more recently, when people met President Hinckley, they commented on his facility with the language, as it gave expression to the breadth and grasp of his intellect.

President Hinckley's love of language was recognized in 1999. When the University of Utah began raising funds to create an endowment for British studies in its English department, the project was named in his honor.

The complete text of President Hinckley's address can be found at "Seek Ye the Kingdom of God".

World Mourns Beloved Leader

World mourns beloved leader

By the Deseret Morning News staff

Published: January 28, 2008

Reaction late Sunday to the death of President Gordon B. Hinckley came from all quarters of the political, religious and business worlds, as well as from typical Latter-day Saints locally and across the globe.

Church spokesman Bruce Olsen told reporters Sunday night that the 97-year old church leader's health had been failing for the past few weeks, but President Hinckley maintained much of his schedule for the past few days. "He worked until the very end," Olsen said, adding President Hinckley underwent chemotherapy treatment for the last time early last week and became ill a few days later.

Funeral services are pending and will be planned by President Hinckley's family and church leaders today.

Among those reflecting on his death:

• Gov. Jon M. Huntsman Jr.: "Mary Kaye and I are truly mourning tonight's death of President Gordon B. Hinckley. The president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has served as a transformational religious leader and tremendous ambassador for Utah with his unprecedented outreach to all corners of the world.

"We join with thousands of others, who have been touched by his words and deeds, in remembering all he has done for so many in our community and in the world. His leadership in humanitarian efforts around the world was matched only by his efforts in his own beloved state and community as a committed citizen. He has stood as a remarkable example of selflessness, charity and humility, and he will be greatly missed by all.

"We extend our deepest of sympathies to the family and the community who loved President Hinckley. May we all be comforted in the knowledge of his beloved positive outlook on life."

Huntsman's office said the governor has authorized the United States and Utah flags to be lowered in honor of President Hinckley. The flags will be flown at half-staff on all state-owned facilities until sunset on the day of his interment.

• Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah: "I know one thing: He's going to be overjoyed to be reunited with his wife. This is a man who — I don't care what your religious belief is, I don't care what your educational standards are, I don't care what place you've reached in the world, etc. etc. — you have to conclude this is one of the greatest men who ever lived on the face of the earth. A man of dimensions, intelligence, tremendous sense of humor and love for his fellow men and women — I saw all of this," he said in a telephone interview.

"I loved President Hinckley. This is a sad day for us, but a wonderful reunion for him. ... This is a man God undoubtedly will say did what was right all his lifetime. ... I felt very deeply about him. I've known him a long, long time. I had many visits with him. And every time it was like walking into the presence of a man who was truly the most exceptional of people."

Later, in a formal statement, Hatch added: "I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of President Gordon B. Hinckley. He was a beloved prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His life was a true testament of service, and he had an abiding love for others. His wit, wisdom and exemplary leadership will be missed by not only members of our faith but by people of all faiths throughout the world.

"He was an articulate leader and defender of our Christian principles and had a unique gift and way about him to communicate with people from all walks of life and all religious persuasions. ... Elaine and I feel deeply privileged to have known such a remarkable man and been touched in so many ways by his life and example."

• Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah: "I have been privileged to know President Hinckley since my early 20s, and the thing that has impressed me the most about him has been his humility. He always viewed his assignments, no matter how great or small, as opportunities to serve rather than positions of prominence.

"He stayed fully engaged and completely up to date right to the end, and his legacy will be remembered long after all the rest of us are gone."

• Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah: "I am saddened to learn of President Gordon B. Hinckley's passing. In my experience, he was a man of tremendous foresight, with a keen awareness of current events and of the challenges and opportunities facing the people of the LDS Church, of the state of Utah and of our country. I will remember him as a devout, compassionate spiritual leader who showed much warmth and humor. I express my sincere condolences to his family."

• Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, said his family has a longtime, personal relationship with President Hinckley, who served in the British (LDS Church) mission "where my grandfather was the mission president. President Hinckley was a missionary with my father (Adrian Cannon). President Hinckley introduced my mother to my father."

"Many people don't realize that President Hinckley was a great wit, and sometimes his wit could be biting, although never harmful," said Cannon. President Hinckley always used to tell the men in the Cannon family that they married above themselves. "He really liked my mother — and he was probably right — we all did marry above ourselves."

Hinckley and Adrian Cannon were strong missionaries, said Chris Cannon. "For many years, no Mormon missionaries preached in Hyde Park" — a famous free-speech area. "They would get beat up. But my father and President Hinckley started preaching in Hyde Park" — with nothing too harmful happening to them.

President Hinckley had a great clarity of vision, said Cannon. And one reason that GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney is doing so well, even though he is a Mormon, this election year, is because President Hinckley over many years publicly spoke on various TV shows and in newspapers about Mormons — showing the world the good side of his religion, said Cannon.

• Utah House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy: "I'll always remember the first time I met him and shook his hand. It was a great honor for me personally. This is a great loss not only to the LDS Church but to the state of Utah as well. He was a revered and respected leader."

Curtis said he doesn't yet know what honors will be coming from the Legislature, which is one week into its 45-day annual general session. "Certainly we'll have a moment of silence on Monday. A time for reflection on his life. Later, after the ceremonies of the funeral are announced, I imagine we'll do more."

• Utah Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem: "I feel like I've lost a good friend tonight," he said. "But, then, that was how President Hinckley made everyone feel — like he was your good friend."

On Jan. 4, President Hinckley gave a dedicatory prayer at the rededication ceremony of the state Capitol. President Hinckley looked worn and tired, Valentine and a number of those present remarked.

But in a quick private meeting in the ceremonial Gold Room — beautifully restored — President Hinckley remarked to Valentine "about how remarkable the Capitol looked. He said we did a very good job of keeping the old parts of the Capitol and blending them in so well with the modern updates. He was very aware of what had been going on" in the three-year remodeling.

"He taught me by example, not only in his sermons, but his ability to respect all people, especially those who didn't belong to his religion.

"He wasn't afraid to talk to reporters, and his civility showed. He was a world leader, he had a world view, not just a church or Utah view," said Valentine, who also said there would be a short ceremony today in the Senate to honor President Hinckley.

• Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker: "I extend my deepest sympathy to the family of President Hinckley and the millions of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I appreciate the great care and concern President Hinckley had for our city. He has guided an unprecedented investment in downtown Salt Lake City that will be an example and catalyst for our future.

"He was truly one of Salt Lake City's greatest ambassadors. His compassion, sense of humor and wisdom will be deeply missed by our community. As the mayor of Salt Lake City, I hope all of us will follow President Hinckley's example of reaching out as individuals to serve our neighbors."

• Utah's Episcopal Bishop Carolyn Tanner Irish: "Hearing of President Hinckley's death this evening I find it difficult to imagine the world and its faith communities without him. Leading the LDS Church for decades, he has been its heart and soul to many millions — members and nonmembers alike.

"Like so many others, I have been deeply touched by his generous wisdom, kindly voice and delicate humor. In my youth and when I returned to Utah to lead another church, he has always been the quintessential 'good neighbor.'

"I pray for his family and close friends who must feel this immediate loss so keenly. His journey here was long and his faith so strong, that his very presence made us all want to embrace life as fully and well as he did."

• Jeanetta Williams, president of the NAACP Salt Lake City branch and of the NAACP of Utah, Nevada and Idaho: "I want to convey my deepest, heartfelt sympathy to President Hinckley's family and to church members. I was very fond of President Hinckley. I personally knew him, and I will truly miss his voice and his concern for the community....

"He was always concerned about other people and always concerned about how people were treating me. He was just a very, very good person, and I will miss him so much."

• Brigham Young University President Cecil Samuelson: "BYU has been very blessed by its significant association with President Gordon B. Hinckley. As long-time chair of the university's board of trustees, he has set the vision for BYU and the high expectations we strive to meet.

"The magnificent building on campus that bears his name could never be sufficient to match the legacy he has established for us. By having the faith and courage to show the world that great secular learning can be combined with an atmosphere that actively supports faith, President Hinckley has made an indelible mark in higher education, not just within the church, but worldwide."

BYU spokeswoman Carri P. Jenkins said BYU will fly flags at half-staff today, as directed by the church. Any updated events will be announced on BYU's Web page: www.byu.edu. At press time, the university was uploading a slide show on its Web site of President Hinckley's visits to campus.

• Utah House Minority Leader Brad King, D-Price: "This has really gotten to me tonight," he said, his voice cracking. "How do you sum up that kind of a life? Certainly, he was a great leader, but more importantly, a kind and gentle man. He will be missed by all of those who knew him. His personality and charisma transcended the bounds of religion. His are big shoes to fill. We send good wishes to his family." President Hinckley's grandson — Joseph Hinckley — is working as King's intern during the current legislative session.

"We wish President (Thomas S.) Monson and all the other church leaders good luck."

• University of Utah President Michael K. Young: The University of Utah family joins with millions worldwide who mourn the passing of President Hinckley ... a cherished alumnus of the U. Citizens of all nations will miss his great faith and boundless energy, his vision and spiritual resonance, and his compassion and gentle good humor. Truly the world is poorer today because of his passing.

"He leaves behind a rich legacy of courage and compassion. ... On countless occasions President Hinckley shared his personal conviction that all people be afforded the right of thought, conscience and belief. Such was the power of his conviction that hearts were changed and decisions were made that furthered religious freedom around the globe....

"He was a great friend to the U. and to many of us personally. ..." President Hinckley "spent a lifetime reaching down to lift others up. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and with all those who will feel so deeply the loss of this great man."

• Philanthropist Jon Huntsman Sr., father of Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., has been a close personal friend of President Hinckley "for at least 35 years" and serves in one of the church's Quorums of the Seventy. Huntsman Sr.'s father-in-law was Elder David B. Haight, who passed away several years ago.

For years, sources said, Huntsman Sr. provided one of his corporate jets for President Hinckley to travel in. But that was just the latest connections between the families. "President Hinckley represented the very best in human spirit, he was a gifted leader. He was gracious and kind and a very dear friend," said Huntsman Sr.

"He will be greatly missed. He was my hero."

Huntsman Sr. said as he got to know President Hinckley better, they would often talk not only about their families, but also about business. Even though President Hinckley was a religious leader who spent the vast majority of his career working for and serving the church, he had an astute and keen mind about business, Huntsman Sr. said.

As the Huntsman Corp., which made Huntsman Sr. a billionaire, grew and acquired chemical firms across the world, Huntsman Sr. said President Hinckley gave advice as a personal friend on what turned out to be smart business moves.

"He loved to discuss business and understood business in great detail — all around the world. He helped me immensely as an adviser. He was a friend. He attended all of our children's weddings. There was great love between our families" and he will be greatly missed, Huntsman Sr. added.

"We loved and admired him," he said.

• The campaign of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a candidate for the Republican nomination for president, said Romney will make a comment Monday morning.

· · · · ·

Reaction among LDS members who learned of the death Sunday night during church meetings reflected the love Latter-day Saints have for the man they considered to be God's prophet on earth.

Cell phones went abuzz at a Gresham, Ore., gathering of members receiving instruction about LDS temples Sunday night.

"We all got phone calls at the exact same time," Betsy Batman said. "Everyone just went out into the lobby and kept looking at each other to figure out if it was real."

After the fireside ended, Bishop Robert Nielson of the Kelly Creek Ward, Gresham, Ore., Stake, said the fireside topic was "a fitting subject to be talking about tonight."

"Tonight there has been a wonderful reunion," Bishop Nielson said. "President Hinckley has been reunited with his wonderful wife."

The congregation then stood and tearfully sang the hymn "We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet."

"Barely anybody could sing because we were all crying," Batman said.

Closer to home, youths attending a stake event in the South Jordan Stake Center Sunday night had their cell phones buzzing with text messages relating the news. As the meeting finished, stake President Blair Bangerter announced the death from the pulpit to a stunned and silent crowd, who reacted with a mixture of sadness, reverence and quiet comments about how the church leader will now be reunited with his beloved wife.

As news of their prophet's death spread, a small crowd of Latter-day Saints gathered at Temple Square to pay tribute. In the lights illuminating the square and the temple itself, a few dozen followers embraced and sang hymns. For most, emotions were mixed.

"It's a strange feeling for us when someone dies," said Justin McTee, a student at LDS Business College. "We're sad, but at the same time, there's a happy feeling. We know after this life, we'll be together (with loved ones) again."

Several followers said they believed President Hinckley's death was a blessing, an opportunity for the man to reunite with his wife, Marjorie Pay Hinckley, who died in April 2004.

That sentiment was affirmed by church spokesman Olsen, who said President Hinckley often expressed his desire to join his wife both in public and in private. The church leader also "had pled with the Lord not to have to linger," incapacitated by illness as a few of his predecessors had, Olsen said.

Between 8:30 and 10 p.m. local time, the church's Web site at LDS.org had registered more than 100,000 hits from people seeking details about President Hinckley's death, and many trying to access deseretnews.com were unable to connect, as the site was swamped with hits.

"He was universally loved and respected," said Olsen, noting President Hinckley was two months shy of serving 13 years as president of the church.

"He had a great love for the people and often said, 'I fall in love with them when I am with them."' He had a great affinity for the youth of the church, was tuned into their world and was "worried about it," he said.

With his death, the First Presidency was dissolved, Olsen said, and the church is now governed by the Council of the Twelve in what is called "apostolic interregnum." He said organization of a new First Presidency will likely take from a week to a month.

President Hinckley Passes Away

President Hinckley passes at 97

President Gordon B. Hinckley, who led The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through twelve years of global expansion, has died at the age of 97.

President Hinckley was the 15th president in the 177-year history of the Church and had served as its president since 12 March 1995.

The Church president died at his apartment in downtown Salt Lake City at 7:00 p.m. Sunday night from cause’s incident to age. Member of his family were at his bedside. A successor is not expected to be formally chosen by the Church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles until after President Hinckley’s funeral within the next few days.

Biography

President Hinckley was known, even at the age of 95, as a tireless leader who always put in a full day at the office and traveled extensively around the world to mix with Church members, now numbering nearly 13 million in 171 nations.

His quick wit and humor, combined with an eloquent style at the pulpit, made him one of the most loved of modern Church leaders. A profoundly spiritual man, he had a great fondness for history and often peppered his sermons with stories from the Church’s pioneer past.

He was a popular interview subject with journalists, appearing on 60 Minutes with Mike Wallace and on CNN’s Larry King Live, as well as being quoted and featured in hundreds of newspapers and magazines over the years. During the Salt Lake Olympics of 2002, his request that the Church refrain from proselytizing visitors was credited by media with generating much of the goodwill that flowed to the Church from the international event.

In recent years, a number of major developments in the Church reflected President Hinckley’s personal drive and direction. In calling for 100 temples to be in operation before the end of the year 2000, the Church president committed the Church to a massive temple-building program.

In 1999 — 169 years after the Church was organized by its founder, Joseph Smith — the Church had 56 operating temples. Three years later that number had doubled, largely because of a smaller, highly practical temple architectural plan that delivered these sacred buildings to Church members in far-flung parts of the world. Many more Church members can now experience the sacred ceremonies that occur only in temples, including marriages for eternity and the sealing of families in eternal units.

President Hinckley was the most traveled president in the Church’s history. His duties took him around the world many times to meet with Latter-day Saints in more than 60 countries. He was the first Church president to travel to Spain, where in 1996 he broke ground for a temple in Madrid; and to the African nations of Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Cape Verde, where he met with thousands of Latter-day Saints in 1998. In 2005, he traveled nearly 25,000 miles on a seven-nation, nine-day tour to Russia, South Korea, China, Taiwan, India, Kenya, and Nigeria.

At a general conference of Church members in April 2001, President Hinckley initiated the Perpetual Education Fund — an ambitious program to help young members of the Church (mainly returning missionaries from developing countries) receive higher education and work-related training that they would otherwise likely never receive.

Closer to his Salt Lake City home, President Hinckley announced the construction of a new Conference Center in 1996 and dedicated it four years later. Seating 21,000 people, it is believed to be the largest religious and theater auditorium in the world and has become the hub for the Church’s general conference messages to the world, broadcast in 54 languages.

Even before his term as president, President Hinckley’s extensive Church service included 14 years as a counselor in the First Presidency, the highest presiding body in the government of the Church, and 20 years before that as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

President Hinckley was born 23 June 1910 in Salt Lake City, a son of Bryant Stringham and Ada Bitner Hinckley. One of his forebears, Stephen Hopkins, came to America on the Mayflower. Another, Thomas Hinckley, served as governor of the Plymouth Colony from 1680 to 1692.

President Hinckley’s first job was as a newspaper carrier for the Deseret News, a Salt Lake City daily. After attending public schools in Salt Lake City, he earned a bachelor of arts degree at the University of Utah and then served two years as a full-time missionary for the Church in Great Britain. He served with distinction and ultimately was appointed as an assistant to the Church apostle who presided over all the European missions.

Upon successfully completing his missionary service in the mid-1930s, he was asked by Heber J. Grant, then president of the Church, to organize what has become the Church's Public Affairs Department.

President Hinckley began serving as a member of the Sunday School general board in 1937, two years after returning home from missionary service in Great Britain. For 20 years he directed all Church public communications. In 1951 he was named executive secretary of the General Missionary Committee, managing the entire missionary program of the Church, and served in this capacity for seven years.

On 6 April 1958, while serving as president of the East Millcreek Stake in Salt Lake City (a stake is similar to a diocese), President Hinckley was appointed as a general authority, or senior full-time leader of the Church. In this capacity he served as an assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles before being appointed to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on 5 October 1961.

President Hinckley received a number of educational honors, including the Distinguished Citizen Award from Southern Utah University; the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Utah; and honorary doctorates from Westminster College, Utah State University, University of Utah, Brigham Young University, Southern Utah University, Utah Valley State College and Salt Lake Community College. The Gordon B. Hinckley Endowment for British Studies, a program focused on the arts, literature and history of the United Kingdom, was established at the University of Utah.

President Hinckley was awarded the Silver Buffalo Award by the Boy Scouts of America; was honored by the National Conference for Community and Justice (formerly the National Conference of Christians and Jews) for his contributions to tolerance and understanding in the world; and received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. In 2004, President Hinckley was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush in the White House.

In March 2000 President Hinckley addressed the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. He also addressed the Religion Newswriters Association and the U.S. Conference of Mayors and twice addressed the Los Angeles World Affairs Council.

President Hinckley wrote and edited several books and numerous manuals, pamphlets and scripts, including a best-selling book, Standing for Something, aimed at a general audience. In it he championed the virtues of love, honesty, morality, civility, learning, forgiveness, mercy, thrift and industry, gratitude, optimism and faith. He also testified of what he called the "guardians of virtue," namely traditional marriage and family.

President Hinckley married Majorie Pay in the Salt Lake Temple in 1937. They have five children, 25 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren. Sister Hinckley passed away 6 April 2004.

Passing of President Gordon B. Hinckley

Beloved Church President, Gordon B. Hinckley, Dies at 97

SALT LAKE CITY 27 January 2008 President Gordon B. Hinckley, who led The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through twelve years of global expansion, has died at the age of 97.

President Hinckley was the 15th president in the 177-year history of the Church and had served as its president since 12 March 1995.

The Church president died at his apartment in downtown Salt Lake City at 7:00 p.m. Sunday night from causes incident to age. Members of his family were at his bedside. A successor is not expected to be formally chosen by the Church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles until after President Hinckley’s funeral within the next few days.

President Hinckley was known, even at the age of 97, as a tireless leader who always put in a full day at the office and traveled extensively around the world to mix with Church members, now numbering 13 million in 171 nations.

Upon successfully completing his missionary service in the mid-1930s, he was asked by Heber J. Grant, then president of the Church, to organize what has become the Church's Public Affairs Department.

President Hinckley wrote and edited several books and numerous manuals, pamphlets and scripts, including a best-selling book, Standing for Something, aimed at a general audience. In it he championed the virtues of love, honesty, morality, civility, learning, forgiveness, mercy, thrift and industry, gratitude, optimism and faith. He also testified of what he called the “guardians of virtue,” namely traditional marriage and family.

President Hinckley married Marjorie Pay in the Salt Lake Temple in 1937. They have five children and 25 grandchildren. Sister Hinckley passed away 6 April 2004.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Elder Ballard Counsels Grads To Use The Web To Voice Opinions

Published on Na Leo Ho'omaluhia (http://newsroom.byuh.edu)

Elder Ballard counsels grads to use the Web to voice opinions

By staceh

Created 12/15/2007 - 4:08pm

Stace Hall | University Advancement | 15 December 2007
Ballard At Saturday's fall commencement exercises, Elder M. Russell Ballard (pictured with graduate at left) told graduating students they could individually make a difference in perceptions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by letting their voices be heard using technology.

"May I ask that you join the conversation by participating on the Internet…to share the gospel and explain in simple, clear terms the message of the Restoration," he said.

Ballard, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, explained to the graduates that they and all members of the LDS Church have a duty to help others understand their beliefs. "We are living in a world saturated with all kinds of voices because now, more than ever, we have a major responsibility…to define ourselves instead of letting others define us."

Many misconceptions are held by people throughout the world because of false information they read on the Internet, posted by critics of the Church, Ballard said. He suggested that the tech-savvy generation get involved in "new media," including blogs, Web sites, and social networks to help clear up falsehoods and misunderstandings. "We [Church Public Affairs] cannot answer every question, satisfy every inquiry, and respond to every inaccuracy that exists. Some who seek answers want them to come directly from a member of the Church, like each one of you. They appreciate one-on-one conversations."

Ballard said that the Church may be getting more attention than ever before and that the attention is good as Church members respond to comments and inquiries respectfully and with dignity. "Every disciple of Christ will be most effective, and do the most good by adopting a demeanor worthy of the follower of the Savior of the world."

Though undergraduate work concluded for a couple hundred students on Saturday, Elder Ballard suggested that using the Internet can be very far-reaching. "Your outreach can be international."

Steven C. Wheelwright, president of BYU-Hawaii, also offered motivational advice to graduates. "Each day, make a commitment to put forward your best effort. Do not settle for anything less. New opportunities will open to you because people and organizations need and desire excellence, as does the Lord in building His Kingdom." Ballard2

"We need to daily assess our thoughts and acts," the ninth president of BYU-Hawaii said, "strengthening those that are developing the aspects of habit and character the Lord would desire, and eliminating and replacing those that would detract from our becoming like the Savior Himself."

Graduates also heard briefly from Elder W. Rolfe Kerr (pictured at right, to the right of Elder Ballard), commissioner of the Church Educational System. Kerr also stressed the importance of example. "The power of example is so crucial, and there is that high expectation that you will be the very best examples as you go into the world… the Lord expects you to play that very important role. Do everything you can to build His Kingdom where you are."

Of the nearly 200 graduates whose BYU-Hawaii schooling concluded this week, over half are from outside the United States, and many of them will likely reflect on the main commencement speaker's remarks. "Four years of studying here has put a foundation for me to go to the next step," said Mongolia native Munkhtur Enkhbold, who graduated magna cum laude in computer science.

"Elder Ballard knows that this school is producing 'genuine gold,' so it's a perfect time for him to remind us of the importance of our message."

:: View video clips of the commencement... [1]

Source URL:
http://newsroom.byuh.edu/node/1514

Links:
[1] http://newsroom.byuh.edu/node/1516

My Crazy Dog--Becky

This is my crazy yellow Labrador, Becky. She's going to be 3 years old tomorrow (December 19), yet she's still as naughty as a puppy!!! Meanwhile, she learned how to swim two weeks ago and enjoyed swimming very much.