In a world where people look up to all the wrong kinds of people, it is refreshing to remember the life of Gordon B. Hinckley and recognize that he was a true hero in every sense of the word. What an example of everything that I would want to be. He was incredibly smart, very humorous, so patient, humble, loving, and understanding--in short, so very Christ-like. All day I've been trying to wrap my mind around the magnitude of this. It's huge. When I first found out I didn't want to believe it, and I started thinking "How dare he. He can't leave yet. He needs to make it to 100. I'm not ready for this yet". And that's the crazy thing. His life itself was so remarkable that we don't even think twice that he was 97. Something about him just led us to believe that he would keep on going, because that's the way he lived his life--always carrying on with energy and determination. Probably one of his most important talks was his very first as president of the Church:
"Now, my brethren and sisters, the time has come for us to stand a little taller, to lift our eyes and stretch our minds to a greater comprehension and understanding of the grand millennial mission of this The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is a season to be strong. It is a time to move forward without hesitation, knowing well the meaning, the breadth, and the importance of our mission. It is a time to do what is right regardless of the consequences that might follow. It is a time to be found keeping the commandments. It is a season to reach out with kindness and love to those in distress and to those who are wandering in darkness and pain. It is a time to be considerate and good, decent and courteous toward one another in all of our relationships. In other words, to become more Christlike" ("This Is the Work of the Master," Ensign, May 1995, 71).
This is how we will carry on as the work moves forward. "Go forward with faith"-the theme of his biography. Of all the things President Hinckley taught, it is faith that best sums up his ministry. "The Miracle of Faith" is one of the talks that best sums up what he felt was so important and best demonstrates his amazing way of teaching and building faith. Faith in the Savior, Jesus Christ. Faith in the restoration. "Faith is the basis of testimony. Faith underlies loyalty to the Church. Faith represents sacrifice, gladly given in moving forward the work of the Lord...O Father, help us to be faithful unto Thee and unto our glorious Redeemer, to serve Thee in truth, to make that service an expression of our love, is my humble prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
Amen, President Hinckley. You were (and always will be) one of my greatest hero's. God be with you 'till we meet again.
Posts
4 comments:
Love the post. I love all the posts about our Prophet. I feel like it would be so weird to write about anything else on our blog yet. Like it would be irreverent in some strange way. Love you Spence and all of your thoughtful thoughts : )
You know that quote is on my all time greatest list. I love your dedication to our prophet and the gospel. Thank you for your testimony.
I just feel like reminding you how much I cherish your words. I really value everything you say and all the things you don't. Your opinion means so much to me and I learn so much from your honest and sincere sharings. Thanks so much for just being you. I try to ask you to be more like me sometimes don't I, but that just won't work, you need to always be you. I love you love you love you. Hope your day is pleasant.
~Swedish
I have to add a quote from Elder Marlin K. Jensen:
“His keen intellect and thirst to understand how everything works resulted in a storehouse of knowledge that will be nearly irreplaceable,” said Elder Marlin Jensen, the church’s official historian. “I believe he was a true prophet but it didn’t hurt that he was a genius, too.”
Post a Comment