Today was a very solemn day as I, alongside millions of members worldwide, got the chance to watch the funeral of our beloved prophet Gordon B. Hinckley. I have to admit, when I first heard the news on Monday, I didn’t react right away and my first thought was of sincere joy that he could be reunited with his beloved spouse and companion Marjorie. It wasn’t until later that night as I said my prayers asking Heavenly Father to bless the Hinckley family that I started to really think about what President Hinckley meant to me. During the greater part of my life, he was always there, a constant strength and example for the youth of the church. I will always remember the precious experiences I had in my life to see him in person. The first: alongside Bishop Glade and other youth from the ward, I was blessed to attend the worldwide Youth Broadcast where President Hinckley issued the 6 “Be’s”. My second time inside the beautifully constructed Conference Center, I was humbled by the simple yet direct manner of his instruction. Surrounded by superficial cliques and otherwise exclusive atmosphere, facing the uncertainties of high school graduation, college applications, and dating, I was blessed to receive President Hinckley’s counsel and experience his ability (despite being more than 90 years old) to connect with and care about the youth of the church. Many times following that broadcast, as I wondered about the details of my life, I thought back on the special prayer he offered on our behalf and new that our Heavenly Father would always be there to guide us and provide instruction if we were willing to seek Him.
The second and third times I saw President Hinckley was also in the Conference Center, this time for General Conference, fall 2005 (I think). I had gotten tickets because of a roommate and with a good Guatemalan friend at my side, drove up to Salt Lake. I was thrilled for my first time to attend General Conference in person and moreso now that I was going to the Conference Center. As we sat talking and commenting on the amazing view, the beautiful scenery of the stage, and the masses of people, a hush filled the room and every conversation stopped as the crowd silently rose from their seats and watched a prophet of God enter the room, accompanied by his counselors. I will never forget the palpable witness of the Spirit in that room and despite the distance, knowing that I was just one in a crowd of 21000, I felt the presence of that man and knew in an instant that he was a true prophet called of God. I have been blessed to have that witness repeated in my life and I have been greatly blessed by the personal efforts of President Hinckley to extend the missionary program, build more temples, and witness to the world of the reality of a living Christ. I know that God’s servants are waiting to continue with His work and the passing of one prophet will not stop or in any way hinder the progress of this worldwide church. I pray that I can receive the same witness as to the divine calling of the next prophet. But, I will always have a special place in my heart for President Hinckley and his kind and motivational influence on my childhood and adolescence. Through him, God revealed some of the most wonderful revelations of our time such as the Proclamation on the Family. And, through him, my testimony was strengthened to know more strongly and deeply that God lives, that this is His church and His work, that Joseph Smith was a prophet who ushered in the last dispensation and the restoration of the Gospel, that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, and that we each have an individual potential to become like Him as we repent of our sins and advance along our eternal progression. I pray that whoever reads this might also receive that witness. So, friends and family, thanks for your support in my personal life and thanks for letting me share my thoughts about our dear departed prophet. I promise to update more on my activities and whatnot, but for now, I bid farewell to a dear friend that never knew me personally but impacted my life and will forever be blessed for his impact on mankind. As he would wish, may God be with us till we meet again!!
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