Remembering President Hinckley

Last night, Gordon B. Hinckley, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints passed away at the age of 97 from causes due to age.

I have been alive for three prophets, but President Hinckley is the first one I really remember and had come to love. Ezra Taft Benson was prophet when I was born, but I was still very young when he died. Howard W. Hunter was sustained as prophet when I was about seven or eight, but at that time, I wasn't paying attention in General Conference. He led the Church for only nine months before he died.

President Hinckley really put the Church on the map. He was interviewed by the likes of Larry King. He was awarded a Presidential Medal of Honor by President Bush.

He instituted the "Be's" that are oft quoted by the youth of The Church. They were instituted when I was in high school.

When he became prophet, there were less than one hundred temples on the earth. His goal was to surpass 100. There are over 120 temples in operation. One of the temples he dedicated was the Houston Texas Temple--my home temple. The Nauvoo Temple was also rebuilt.

My mother was able to meet President Hinckley on a few occasions. She played the organ in some meetings he presided over in both Houston and Tokyo. In fact, one of those times was three weeks before I was born, and he did speak to her after the meeting. That is the closest I have ever been to him. On one of those occasions, he wrote to my mother thanking her for the beautiful music she provided in the meetings he was in.

He is very much missed, but now he has been reunited with his wife, who passed away nearly four years ago. He did so much for our Church, and now his work is finished.

We love you President Hinckley. God be with you, till we meet again.