Personal Moments with Gordon B. Hinckley

President Gordon B. Hinckley became the prophet just before I turned 11, and was the prophet until he passed away when I was 23. These were my key decision-making years, so as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, he was definitely a huge influence in my life for good. A person teaches more by example than by what they say, and Gordon B. Hinckley was a great example in many ways. I will briefly discuss four ways the teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley have influenced for good/blessed my life.

Gordon B. Hinckley was a great example of optimism. He always had a positive attitude and a friendly smile on his face. Seeing his optimism influenced me to want to be an optimistic person also because I could see that optimism equals happiness.

Gordon B. Hinckley was happy to tell others about the gospel, and share his testimony with them. I still remember when our family gathered on my parents’ bed to watch his interview with Mike Wallace on television. I was so impressed that he had the faith and courage to face the world in such a bold manner. Seeing his courage in sharing his beliefs has taught me that I can also have that same courage in sharing with others my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.   

Gordon B. Hinckley was a great example of how to be a good spouse. He and his wife, Marjorie, were such a cute, loving couple. You could tell in the way they treated each other with utmost love and respect. President Hinckley was instrumental in the bringing forth of The Family: A Proclamation to the World, which offers great counsel on marriage and family matters. Seeing his example, and studying The Family: A Proclamation to the World has influenced me to be a better spouse, and helped me to better understand how a marriage and family should be.

Gordon B. Hinckley also taught about the importance of temples. During the time he served as prophet, the number of operating temples leaped from 47 to 124. I remember attending youth temple baptisms at the Portland, Oregon temple. Each visit was a special experience. They helped me to gain a testimony of the importance of temple ordinances, temple work, and family history.

I love Gordon B. Hinckley. I am grateful that he was the prophet during such crucial years of my life. I am grateful for all the wonderful things I have learned from him. I am grateful for his good example.

-Bonnie Barrett, Columbia 2nd Ward

Personal Moments with Gordon B. Hinckley

I have loved studying the teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley this year in Relief Society.  One of the most memorable teachings for me from President Hinckley was his emphasis on reading the Book of Mormon.  

In August of 2005 President Hinckley issued a challenge to Church members.  He challenged us to read the Book of Mormon in its entirety before the end of that year.  He later reported, “It is amazing how many met that challenge. Everyone who did so was blessed for his or her effort. As they became immersed in this added witness of our Redeemer, their hearts were quickened and their spirits touched.”

I vividly remember taking President Hinckley’s challenge.  My 3 boys were young (ages 8, 6, and 4), but they were old enough to all be involved in organized sports and music programs.  I did a lot of driving my boys around, so I decided to read the Book of Mormon by way of listening.  I listened in the car as we drove to various events.  After a while my boys began reciting scriptures from the Book of Mormon.  I was amazed, especially with my 4 year old.  I remember the Spirit I felt as I listened to the book in its entirety over a few short months.

President Hinckley makes a promise when we read the Book of Mormon.  He said, “It is then that the Spirit can bear witness of its divinity.”  We are all entitled to receive personal revelation.  It is my testimony that when we read the Book of Mormon and sincerely seek revelation through study and prayer, we will know it is true.  

President Hinckley said, “Without reservation I promise you that if each of you will observe this simple program, regardless of how many times you previously may have read the Book of Mormon, there will come into your lives and into your homes an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God.”

I am grateful for the teachings of President Gordon B. Hinckley.  He was such a positive man with much energy.  Remembering, studying, and obeying his teachings have truly blessed my life.

- Kim Olivier (Columbia 2nd Ward)

Stake Relief Society Counselor

Personal Moments with Gordon B. Hinckley

Janice Maughan - Columbia 2nd Ward

At the beginning of the year I prepared an overview lesson about President Hinckley using the information at the beginning of the Relief Society/Priesthood manual. What an amazing man!  His accomplishments, his service and dedication to the Church, and his energy are inspiring and a little overwhelming.  

I love his calm and loving but very logical, problem-solving attitude.  Whether it was helping provide better printed material for missionaries, or recommending that the temple instruction be put on film, or decentralizing authority by creating Area Presidencies, or bringing the Church out of obscurity through the use of media, or creating the Perpetual Education Fund to help underprivileged members, or introducing smaller temples so more could be built, he was an innovative problem solver.  President Hinckley cared about people so much and felt a keen responsibility for helping and lifting them.  I love that quality of leadership.  I'm grateful for his example.

Personal Moments with Gordon B. Hinckley

Elizabeth Van Patten - Columbia 1st Ward

"Keep trying, be believing, don't get discouraged, things will work out."

When I was newly married, about 9 months, one of my visiting teachers gave me a beautiful print out of this quote by Gordon B. Hinckley. What she didn't know at the time, was that I had just found out I was pregnant with our first child.

What a shock that was to me. Even though I had just turned 22, I still felt like a teen mom. How were we going to provide for a tiny human when we were both still in school? Where would we put a baby in a one bedroom basement apartment? 

I looked at that quote often throughout my pregnancy and subsequent years. President Hinckley was an eternal optimist. His example helped me to rely on others for support in my time of need and most importantly, to rely on the Lord. I kept believing, remained courageous and things did work out.

Personal Moments with Gordon B. Hinckley

Bonnie Peterson - Ellicott City Ward

I am grateful for this opportunity to review the teachings of President Gordon B. Hinckley and the influence they have had on my life.  

This great man was such a fun prophet.  He loved to see the lighter side of things, and share funny anecdotes or even tell jokes.  You could really see that he just loved life.  He was happy because of his beliefs.  This is one of my favorite quotes from him, "Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, but with great and strong purpose in your heart."  And he did just that.  

He spoke frequently about the strength that lies within a family, and the effects that a strong family has on a community.  He was not shy to chastise the Saints and tell us to do better at teaching our children to live the gospel of Jesus Christ and to be a good example to the community.  He taught that we also need to teach our children morals and values.  He also taught us that we need to be more kind and loving of each other.  We need to uplift and support each other, give service with a kind heart, and respect all people equally, regardless of our differences.  To strengthen these teachings, he helped to introduce "The Family: A Proclamation to the World."  He helped to initiate the Perpetual Education Fund to make sure that all missionaries were able to obtain an education after they completed their service.  He tried to teach us to love each other as much as our Father in Heaven loves us.

More then anything, I most remember him for his desire to build as many temples as possible.  He wanted all members of the church to have easy access to a temple to obtain their saving ordinances.  He said, "Each temple built by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints stands as an expression of the testimony of this people that God our Eternal Father lives and that He has a plan for the blessing of His sons and Daughters...Every temple is an expression of our testimony that life beyond the grave is as real and certain as is mortality."  This desire of his to build many new temples further taught that we are to love and minister to each other.  Our loved ones that have passed on also deserve that same kind of love and service.  These beliefs strengthened my own desire to do family history research.  

I am so grateful for President Hinckley's funny, humble, and strong testimony of our Savior.  I know that as we strive to serve and love each other, we will be blessed.

Personal Moments with Gordon B. Hinckley

Gina Stephens - YSA Branch

There are so many thoughts that come to mind when I think of President Gordon B. Hinckley. He was the prophet as I was growing up in Young Womens, and was the first living prophet I really gained a testimony of.  I always picture him carrying a cane on doctor’s orders, but not actually using it. His sense of humor was amazing! I can hear his voice when I read his talks, and can still feel his love whenever I relisten to his words.

One of my favorite talks was given by President Hinckley in October 2004. As he gave his talk “The Women of Our Lives,” my heart was so full as I listened to him reflect on the life and passing of Sister Hinckley. As he continued to talk about womanhood, I gained a greater testimony of my worth and divine heritage as a daughter of God.

His work to build temples within reach of all of God’s children, to me, was an outward manifestation of his love for each of us and his desire for us to be able to take part in the blessings of the temple. Reflecting on my younger self, I think watching President Hinckley’s efforts to build temples helped me to understand the importance of these sacred buildings, and cemented a greater desire in me to attend the temple someday.  I am thankful for his impact in helping me to recognize that I needed to make the temple a goal in my life.

I am forever grateful for the Lord’s prophets and apostles on the earth today!

Personal Moments with Gordon B. Hinckley

Susie Rosenquist - Columbia 1st Ward

When I first joined the church, President Hinckley was the prophet. I had always wondered why we no longer had prophets on the earth, so it was easy for me to believe and accept that Joseph Smith, Jr. spoke with God and restored His church on the earth. I did struggle with accepting President Hinckley as a modern day prophet. That concept was still a bit foreign to me. Weren't prophets all supposed to be dead and we read their works as scriptures?
Before my second or third General Conference as a member, I decided I needed to gain a testimony of Gordon B. Hinckley as a modern day prophet. I believed that Brigham Young was the prophet after Joseph Smith. There were too many miraculous events described regarding the mantle of the priesthood passing to him after the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. It stood to reason that if I believed that transfer of authority, then I should also believe all subsequent transfers of authority. I recall attending that next General Conference broadcast with the faith and hope that Gordon B. Hinckley was a prophet. During that conference the Spirit confirmed that truth to me.
My favorite thing about President Hinckley was his unsinkable optimism. My favorite teachings are his Ways to Be.

Personal Moments with Gordon B. Hinckley

Helen Stanger - Eldersburg Ward

I am filled with love as I reflect on my feelings from that very formative time in my life.  

Unfortunately, I cannot recall any specific experiences, but I can recall distinct impressions.  I remember being impressed with how “up to date” President Hinckley was with the times…especially for an old guy!  He was very aware of technology and he knew how to take advantage of it and use it for the Lord’s work, rather than shunning it as something worldly and evil.  He was extremely well-informed about history and current events.  I remember being a little bit in awe of just how much he knew!  He seemed to understand and relate to people of all different situations and circumstances.

I LOVED listening to him speak.  He was always a straight shooter, never shy about telling it like it was, never intimidated by what the world might think—and yet, his words were always filled with love and gentleness.  He was blunt without being offensive.  I always felt compassion in his words.  I knew he was filled with love for all of us…and I could never quite understand how that was possible; it always kind of blew my mind!

I was also very impressed with his seemingly limitless energy: he traveled all over the world and was always busy, always involved.  It was easy to lose track of which temple he was dedicating, which country he was visiting, which conference or fireside he was speaking at.  As he soared into his 90’s I started to think he was something of a miracle.  I thought maybe the Lord was going to preserve him indefinitely and that he would be the one to escort us into the Millennium!  Frankly, I was a little shocked and disappointed when he passed away!  (At least until the Spirit bore witness to me that Pres. Monson had received his calling and mantle from the Lord, and then I knew we’d be okay.)

I discovered a more personal connection with Pres. Hinckley just recently as I was reading about his life in our new manual.  I was deeply moved when I learned that he lost his mother to cancer as a young adult.  He had a really hard time getting over that loss, but he often felt like his mom was there supporting him, especially on his mission.  Having just lost my own mom to cancer recently—and feeling the same sense of her guiding presence in my life—I was touched and even more grateful for his strength and his example!

Personal Moments with Gordon B. Hinckley

As we start this new year of Relief Society lessons with an emphasis on the Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, my thoughts have turned to my own moments over the years as I heard him teach and how those times affected my life.  I'm sure that many of us have those moments.  I'm hoping that sisters will be willing to share some of those moments with us throughout this year via this blog.  If you have an experience that comes to mind - please email me at loriepierce.rs@gmail.com.

The moment for me that came immediately to mind was from the General Relief Society Meeting in 1995 at which President Hinckley read for the first time "The Family: A Proclamation to the World".  I had three young children at the time - the youngest was just 1 year old - our youngest daughter not even on the horizon yet.  I was sitting in the Columbia Stake Center with many of my sisters from across the Stake.  The feeling in that room as we listened to our prophet read those words was amazing.  I just knew that what I was connected in that moment to something very important - to something historical.  The Spirit bore witness to me that this proclamation would be a blessing to myself and my family.  I recall going home and attempting to convey to my husband what had occurred and not really being able to put it into words for him.

The other President Hinckley moment that has truly stayed with me was from the General Conference immediately following 9-11.  His words were prophetic and reassuring.  I remember a feeling of hope & peace and a desire to move forward in faith without fear.

How grateful I am for the prophets and apostles.  How grateful I am that their words are recorded for us to study & remember and to look back upon & then move forward from.

-Lorie Pierce