One of my greatest heroes, the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints, has passed away. Without going into great detail, President Hinckley was a great spiritual and temporal leader. He became the President of the church shortly before I departed to serve my two year mission in Italy and, of course, was the President of the church when I got married and started a family (he served from 1995-2008). Hearing about his death evoked a variety of feelings: I was very saddened yet, simultaneously, I felt that peace that comes with knowing that he, like the rest of us, has simply passed on to the other side and continues his existence beyond this world.
Biographical Sketch:
Born in Salt Lake City on June 23, 1910, Gordon B. Hinckley was prepared from his youth to be a prophet. After graduating from the University of Utah, he was called to serve a mission to Great Britain. After he returned, he embarked on a lifetime of service for the Church. He was employed as the executive secretary of the Church Radio, Publicity, and Literature committee, before he was called to be an Apostle in 1961. He was later called to serve as a counselor to President Kimball, President Benson, and President Hunter. Since becoming Church President on March 12, 1995, he has directed the most intense temple building program in the history of the Church in an effort to extend temple blessings to more members. He has exhibited vitality and energy as he has traveled about the world meeting and speaking to members of the Church. Through television interviews and national press publications, he has increased media attention and improved the public image of the Church. He has counseled Church members to fellowship new converts, befriend members of other faiths, live exemplary lives, and avoid the evils of the world.
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