We Thank Thee O God For a Prophet

When I think back about what I know or remember about President Gordon B. Hinckley I realize there is more than I could ever hope to express in this forum at this time. He has done so much for this church and for my testimony. My memories of prophets are probably different from other people. I know that Spencer W. Kimball was still president of the church when I was born, but I have no memory of him. I do remember Ezra Taft Benson, not so much things that he said, but just seeing him and listening to his voice in the Stake Center for General Conference. I do remember when he died. We got to miss school and go to the Stake center for a memorial service that was being broadcast. I have vague memories of moments of concern, concerns about what the church would do now. This was my first real experience of losing a beloved prophet. Then came Howard W. Hunter. He was president of the LDS church for 9 short months. I remember thinking when he passed away, "What is wrong with this church that we get these old guys to lead us and they keep passing away?" I know that isn't a very respectful or reverent thought to have had, but it was the concerns that a 12 year old had. I think what I learned about the Priesthood and the organization of the church at that time was something I will hold to faithfully for the rest of my life. I learned that although we had lost a dear prophet, I already knew who was next in line to lead this church. God has organized this church to be a house of order. When Joseph Smith was killed there were many who thought that the church was through, and we went several years without a new president being called and set apart. How grateful I am that I live in a time where that same confusion is not an issue.

President Gordon B. Hinckley served as the 15th president of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his passing on January 27, 2008. In that time there are many things that he taught and many things that were brought to pass through his leadership and council. Some of them, at least the ones that I think of most often are related to families and the temples. The Proclamation to the World on the Family is perhaps one of the greatest words of scripture that I have studied and learned from. Through all the many trials I have experienced in my own life I gleaned so much from those words. When I was going through my divorce there were some who asked me if I found words such as those offensive or discouraging, seeing as my own experience with marriage had turned out the way it did. My response surprised me, but I hope to always remember it: "The Lord does not call prophets to preach to "exceptions to the rule" he calls them to teach the rule. It is up to us to apply those teachings to our own personal circumstances knowing that the prophet is called of God and is the Lord's mouthpiece." I will forever be grateful for the influence that Pres. Hinckley has had on my own growth, as well as the growth of the church. There are more temples on the earth today than I thought I would live to see, but I know there will be hundreds more built before my time on earth is through and the work of the Lord will fill every corner of the earth.

Although I am filled with sorrow at the passing of such a dear prophet, I am also filled with the sweet assurance that God loves us and he is the head of this church. I know that with Him at the helm, we will never be lead astray. I am also filled with the comforting peace that the temples President Hinckley worked so hard to build are the very things that have ultimately made it possible for him to return to live with our Father in Heaven and to spend the rest of eternity with his love, Marjorie. And those same temples are where we go to receive the blessings of being sealed to our own families, as well as God's family, for all of eternity.