I know this is a blog mainly about weight loss, but I couldn't help but pay tribute to our beloved prophet. I thought this would be a neat way for all of us as a family to pay tribute to him. What a wonderful disciple of the Lord he was. For a man who has dedicated his life to the church we dedicate these comments and thoughts to him- As a Family! Thanks, Nicole
11 comments:
I sure will miss this witty and darling man. I just can't imagine the Church without him. He's been in the presidency since before I was born. What an amazing individual. His gentle, powerful words have motivated me countless times and I am so grateful for his willingness and ability to be such a remarkable instrument. I truly loved him and am sad I never got to meet him in this life.
A co-worker once asked me, "don't you think Moses would be a little offended by your calling the leader of your church a prophet?" Without apology I helped him understand who Pres Hinckley was and that I esteemed him no less of a prophet than any who had ever lived (including Moses). What a reunion must have awaited Pres Hinckley last night at his passing. I couldn't help but smile at the thought.
Jim
I had this special feeling toward Pres. Kimball because he was the prophet when I was in High School and he was the prophet who called me on my mission . President Hinckely reminds me of Pres. Kimball with his kindness, down to earth attitude and love of people. All of you young people 12-35 are so lucky to have a prophet in your life like Pres Hinckley as you each obtained a testimony of the church. I am still amased at how many people Pres. Hinckley touched in and outside the church. Hopefully, we each will live our lives in such a way that we can some day meet him in person. We know where he will be. He will be missed by me and my family, yet I like others know that he is now in a better place without his 97 year old body. If only we all could live to be 97 and have the life and health that he enjoyed.
Shane
I had a friend relate this story to me today and I thought this was the lighter side of President Hinkley that we all came to love, President and Sister Hinckley visited us in Eagle Mountain, he stood at the pulpit and looked out at the vast congregation, made up of mostly children, and said "I look at all these little ones and I am inclined to think, what a gold mine for a Pediatrician."
Matt
I agree with what Shane said. I feel blessed that President Hinckley was the Prophet during my "growing-up years". What a remarkable example he's been to The Saints.
I'm generally not at all an emotional person but everytime I saw President Hinckleys face or heard his voice I'd have to fight back the tears. I have such a testimony of him, and I know I will never lose that.
I'm so grateful to have been able attend conference the past couple of years to be in his presence and feel his spirit.
Thanks President Hinckley :)
When I first heard of the passing of our dear Prophet, President Hinckley, I along with our other ward members last night were leaving from a fireside. When the Bishop went to the pulpit and annouced that the Prophet had died - there was an immediate hush and reverance that fell over the Relief Society room - you could have heard a pin drop. There were many bitter sweet tears on the face of our member's as they left the buiding.
President Hinckley has been an outstanding Prophet, and such a great lighthouse to the entire world. His mind was so keen - I can't think of man who has had both the brilliance and humility combined that President Hinckley had. As I contemplated his death I couldn't help but wonder how fast he was put to work on the other side of the veil. I'm sure when little Sister Hinckley greeted him she gave him a smile with a twinkle in her eye and then asked; "Why did you take so long to come home?". I know he missed Sister Hinckley so much and it has to be a glorious reunion.
In reality I knew Presidnet Hinckley would leave us soon, but at the same time I thought he was invinsible - this man of 97 with the mind of a thirty year old. Oh that I could be just a bit like that at my age now.
The motto I will always love that Pres. Hinckley said was; "Just do the best you can, but make it your very best". I think that showed how he could relate to all of us imperfect Saints who for the most part are trying to do the best we know how, but sometimes we slip along the way.
Shauna
Shane and I were in Palm Springs when Howard W. Hunter died. That Sunday we attended fast and testimony meeting there in California. A woman in the crowd stood up to bear her testimony. She said that she was a journalist and had the opportunity a few years earlier to interview President Hinckley at his home. She said when she arrived for the interview, Pres. Hinckley was out in the fields riding on a tractor. She sat and spoke with Sister Hinckley for quite a while, waiting for President Hinckley. When he finally came in the house, Marjorie asked him what on earth he was doing out on the tractor so long. His reply, "I was pretending that I was retired." Some 15 years later he was still only dreaming of retirement.
I have thought often of this comment of his, and how tirelessly he worked for some 90+ years. I cannot imagine his work load, apparently up until just last week. Whenever I am feeling over burdened, I can't help but think of President Hinckley. He probably is still not relaxing!
How I loved that man.
President Hinckley's passing was a shock in a way. He didn't seem like a 97 year old in his mental capacity or attitude. I'm so grateful that he didn't have to go through a long incapacitated state that so many older prophets have. I loved his positive upbeat outlook on life. I remember shortly after 9/11 how he spoke and just seemed to lift everyone out of the doom that had been in the news and everywhere you looked. He always had such a optimistic view of life.
He wasn't uninformed. He read several newspapers every day and knew so much more about what was going on in the world than most of us. But he still maintained the positive outlook. I think that is one of the examples and lessons I'll always remember.
What a great man and leader. I will truly miss him. Tomi
I too will miss President Hinckley. When we moved back from Central America in 1987, I received an assignment at work that involved meeting with the First Presidency on general Church budget matters once or twice each month. After ten years, I transferred to CES, with similar responsibilities for Church Education. I don't want to overstate my role, I take minutes and prepare budget summaries for review. I have been blessed, however, to personally witness the wit, wisdom, and goodness of President Hinckley for over twenty years. His financial genius has been particularly interesting. His principles for fiscally operating the Church are very simple. I will paraphrase some of them in my words:
- Spend less than you make, every year. Save the surplus.
- Strive to distinguish between needs and wants. Try and defer spending on wants, even if you can afford them.
- You can't afford to do every good thing you would like to (in time or money). You need to prioritize and focus on things that matter most.
- Projects always cost more and take longer to finish than you estimated. Plan accordingly.
- Everyone makes mistakes. Take responsibility for them and move on.
- Most problems cannot be fixed by throwing more money at them, as tempting as it is to try.
- Make sure you ask the right questions before committing your time or money.
- Make sure you understand the long-term effect and commitments connected to decisions that have a financial impact.
- If you spend less than you make long enough, you will be able to do incredible things when the right opportunity arises (i.e. 75 new temples, the Conference Center, converting Ricks College to BYU-Idaho).
- Do your very best, and then don't worry. Things will work out.
We have all been blessed by President Hinckley's incredible business sense, as well as his spiritual gifts and testimony.
As a sideline, it has occurred to me more than once that these principles are consistent with the way Jess and Marilyn generally do things. We have all been blessed to have had these good people in our lives for so many years. I hope they both live as long as he did.
- Jim
We took a few minutes at the end of our Sunday School lesson today for comments about President Hinckley. One member of our ward shared this story about one of his friends who had been a chauffeur for President Hinckley. He had been told to never let President Hinckley drive the car, but on a return trip to church headquarters, he found President Hinckley already in the driver's seat and telling him to take shotgun. They didn't go straight back, but rather took a longer route that took them on the freeway for a few miles. He said that President Hinckley would pull up next to a car, look out the window with a grin on his face and wave.
Isn't it odd how you can feel like you know someone so well, that you have never met? His personality was just so engaging, he was so down to earth. A man in our ward is Marjorie's nephew. He talked about his uncle on Sunday. He said after Aunt Marge had died, President Hinckley was so sad. At her funeral, he kissed her good-bye, but as he was walking back to the limo my friend said he could almost see the mantle of the church fall back on his shoulders and he was no longer just the man who had lost his wife, but again the Prophet. I'm glad he was sustained and we were given as long as we had to enjoy President Hinckely. We will all miss him greatly. Tracy
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