So, I’ve been putting this off all week… I suppose I’ve been putting it off because I’m not entirely sure what to say or how to say it, but the honest to goodness truth is that I need to say something.
We’ve all had teachers in our lives that have made a profound impact for one reason or another… I have had several, I suppose, but the one that has had the greatest impact would be Gordon B. Hinckley. Gordon B. Hinckley was the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Prophet of the Savior Jesus Christ. This past Sunday evening he died at the age of 97, ending a long life of compassion and service.
President Hinckley led the LDS Church through the majority of my life, and I have had countless opportunities to hear his counsel on how to live a more Christ-like life. There was always a challenge to be more charitable, loving, accepting, and faithful. His testimony of Jesus Christ was witness to the Savior’s divine nature and mission.
“Believe in Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Redeemer, the Son of God, who came to earth and walked the dusty roads of Palestine-the Son of God-to teach us the way of truth and light and salvation, and who, in one great and glorious act offered an atonement for each of us. He opened the way of salvation and exaltation for each of us, under which we may go forward in the Church and kingdom of God. Be not faithless, but believe in the great and wonderful and marvelous blessings of the Atonement.”
( “Selections from Addresses of President Gordon B. Hinckley,” Ensign, Mar. 2001, 64.)
He testified not only of Jesus Christ, but of the restoration of Christ’s Church through Joseph Smith (to clarify: Joseph Smith is not considered a Mormon God, nor is he more important to us than Jesus Christ – we simply honor and respect him much like the Jews honor and respect Moses). President Hinckley’s testimony was simply that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Church of God, restored on the earth with the proper Priesthood authority that was held by the Apostles of old. He testified of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, scripture written by “other sheep” on the American continent who also saw and testified of Jesus Christ.
To me, President Hinckley was a role model and teacher. He has taught me to be a better son, brother, and future husband and father. On numerous occasions he has taught me the importance of treating everyone as a Child of God, because that’s who we truly are. He challenged me to read the Book of Mormon and to pray about it – and because of that I gained a personal testimony of Jesus Christ, served a two year LDS Mission and changed my life. He gave me a greater perspective of my potential, and I can only hope to live up to it.
I’m not going to lie, I feel terribly inadequate writing something about someone who has been a strength to so many people. I am not terribly articulate, but I can certainly confess that I love President Hinckley and I know he is a Prophet of God. People will argue and dispute that, but I am personally satisfied that it is the Truth.
I place my thoughts alongside those of millions of others who have been touched by the life of a great man. I thank thee, O God, for the Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley…
