President Gordon B. Hinckley, the prophet and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, passed away this evening. The reports I read (one of which is here) said he died peacefully of old age, surrounded by his family. He was 97.
I was at a Stake Priesthood meeting when I heard the news. Our Stake President was almost finished with his talk, and a man who I believe is a high councilor got the attention of one of the counselors on the stand. When the two men went out to speak in the hallway, I had a feeling someone had died. I thought perhaps it was someone in the stake. After the Stake President sat down, he was handed a note, and he stood back up to tell us the news. The closing hymn was changed to “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet”, which I suspect has been sung in many Saints’ gathering places tonight. Tears streamed down my cheeks as we sang the hymn.
I feel some sense of loss. I also feel happy for him, that he gets to be with his wife, Marjorie, again. I was at General Conference and saw President Hinckley speak on April 6, 2004. That evening his wife passed away. And now they are together again, never to part. Here they are together in 1999:
More than anything else, to me President Hinckley was a shining example of faith and optimism. Sometimes it has been difficult for me in my life to be positive and to exercise faith. President Hinckley is one of several people who have shown me how to be happy and have faith in a troubled world. It is by choosing to be happy, accentuating the positive, and trusting in Him who governs this world. His love is always available to us (see verses 35-39, which our Stake President shared tonight).
Rest in peace, our beloved prophet.
