According to a recent DeseretNews update, President Hinckley passed away at 7 pm tonite. Perhaps you can each share your stories about the prophet and how he impacted your life.
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i’m so stunned. i’m a convert of only ten years, so i only know president hinckley as a prophet. it’s been hard to go through the changes the past couple of years because i’d only ever experienced one set of apostles since i’d become familiar with the church. when this sinks in, i’m anticipating a bit of a struggle. i’m so happy for him and his wife, but so sad for myself.
it’s very bizarre to think that while we still have presidents monson and eyring and the apostles, we don’t have a prophet right now. it kind of weirds me out?
When Spencer Kimball died it hit me hard because he was the prophet during the years I grew up. I remember feeling quite a loss. Pres. Hinckley lived such a vibrant full life, it’s almost hard for me to feel a sense of loss. I feel like we had him for more than our share of time.
🙂
Pres. Hinckley was the first president that I have a recollection of. I was with some YSA’s last night when the news came. It hit me that many people in the church are a ‘Hinckley Generation’. It’s hard to imagine anyone else being at the head of the church.
My initial reaction to the news was shock. My second one was ‘he’s with his wife.’ I bet that many members thought the same thing.
My all time favorite Hinckley quote was this:
“The whole gamut of human endeavor is now open to women. There is not anything that you cannot do if you will set your mind to it. You can include in the dream of the woman you would like to be a picture of one qualified to serve society and make a significant contribution to the world of which she will be a part.”
I think this was a watershed moment for women in the church. Validation that they could strive for a life beyond wifehood and motherhood, if that is what is desired.
Angels of heaven rejoice, while saints around the world mourn the loss of our bloved prophet and friend.
it is like loosing a grandpa. he was a wonderful prophet!
my husband knew that we would be sealed for time and all eternity under pres. hinckley, which happened on weds jan 27.
monson will make a great prophet. probably the prophet till the millennium!
godbless pres hinckley and his family. with love all of us!!!!!!!!
I love Pres. Hinckley’s focus on education for Young Women and Men. Here’s one of my favorites:
Resolve now, while you are young, that you will get all of the education you can. We live in a highly completive age, and it will only grow worse. Education is the key that will unlock the door of opportunity.
President Hinckely speaking at the General Young Women’s Meeting, April 2007.
Oh, I also appreciated how much Sister Hinckley was a part of his talks and how they both tried to give an accurate portrayal of marriage–it’s not always easy or perfect. I’m glad he’s with her now; there was a sadness about him after she died.
In 1994, when I first decided to enter the teaching profession, I was deeply moved by his 1994 conference address “Save the Children” — a manifesto condemning child abuse in all its forms:
“My plea—and I wish I were more eloquent in voicing it—is a plea to save the children. Too many of them walk with pain and fear, in loneliness and despair. Children need sunlight. They need happiness. They need love and nurture. They need kindness and refreshment and affection . . . Save the children. Too many suffer and weep. God bless us to be mindful of them, to lift them and guide them as they walk in dangerous paths, to pray for them, to bless them, to love them, to keep them secure until they can run with strength of their own.”
I saw Pres. Hinckley last Sunday night when he came to re-dedicate the Garden Park ward building in my stake where his son Clark is President. He was weak and they brought him in a wheelchair but he stood at the pulpit and said a few words before reading the dedicatory prayer. The prayer was interesting; he prayed for the President of the Church and his counselors and I had the feeling he wasn’t praying for himself but for his successor. This was more than just one sentence.
The meeting was only 35 minutes long and I thought it was in deference to him. Elders Oaks and Wirthlin who reside in the stake each took 3 minutes to bear testimony proving that a meeting doesn’t have to be two hours long to be meaningful.
I don’t think I can remember a time when President Hinckley wasn’t in the first presidency. And he has been the prophet of the church during almost all the years of my adulthood. I love him for his optimism, gentleness, meekness and earnestness.
I think of President as the president of the church who probably addressed more women’s issues than any other prophet, save maybe Joseph Smith. President Hinckley was always exhorting women to find and obtain their dream, be educated, independent and strong in the gospel. Of course the prophets have always exhorted the women of the church to be strong in the gospel, but I think of President Hinckley as urging us to do thise ofr ourselves … as opposed to for our husbands or children.