President Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1995 until he died in January of 2008. This was a very important part of my life and when I made almost every major decision of my life. I loved him dearly and had some very sacred experiences that confirmed to me that he was truly a prophet of God, called to serve like Moses of old in leading and teaching the Lord's covenant people.
I served a mission for my church in Kiev, Ukraine from 2001-2003. At that point the church had only been in Ukraine for 20 years and I spent a lot of time working with the members in Kiev especially, training, teaching and helping them be ready for a temple to be built in their city, as well as trying to teach others the gospel message. In the fall of 2002, President Hinckley came to speak to the members of the church in Ukraine. He spoke at a beautiful building called the Palace of Ukraine to thousands of people, some who had traveled for days on a train, to hear the prophet speak in person.
I remember entering that building and it being filled with missionaries and the dedicated church members from all around the country. There was a buzz of excitement and happiness. Then President Hinckley walked into the room and there was a real and tangible feeling of love that walked in with him. I will never forget it. I knew in that moment that this man was here on earth to represent Jesus Christ. I could feel the love of the Savior flood my heart and that room that day. It was undeniable and powerful and left an indelible witness on my heart.
I had met and shaken hands with President Hinckley back before he was a prophet, when he was a counselor to Spencer W Kimball. He was a kindly man and so optimistic and positive. He had a wonderful sense of humor and every time he spoke to the members of the church, he lifted and encouraged us to be better. His wife, Marjorie, was also an inspiration with her wit and humor and I admired her so much.
The night he gave this talk was the night Josh was set apart as a missionary. I remember being in the church building listening to parts of his talk while the stake president met with Josh. I was so grateful for his counsel and love and how he knew just what to say to a bunch of young adults. He was always saying how wonderful we were but how he knew we could do even better.
It was under his prophetic guidance that the smaller temples were built so that more of them could dot the earth, The Family: A Proclamation was issued, as was Special Witnesses of Christ, one of my very favorite church videos. His interview with Mike Wallace was ground-breaking and inspiring. He signed my mission call and I thought about him often while I was serving as a missionary, trusting that I had been called by Jesus Christ through a living prophet do participate in that sacred work. I also often thought of his father's advice given when he was a missionary to forget yourself and go to work.
I loved him very much and am grateful for the wonderful influence he had on my life. I'll forever be grateful for how he taught, for how he strengthened my testimony, for his example and love and leadership.
I served a mission for my church in Kiev, Ukraine from 2001-2003. At that point the church had only been in Ukraine for 20 years and I spent a lot of time working with the members in Kiev especially, training, teaching and helping them be ready for a temple to be built in their city, as well as trying to teach others the gospel message. In the fall of 2002, President Hinckley came to speak to the members of the church in Ukraine. He spoke at a beautiful building called the Palace of Ukraine to thousands of people, some who had traveled for days on a train, to hear the prophet speak in person.
I remember entering that building and it being filled with missionaries and the dedicated church members from all around the country. There was a buzz of excitement and happiness. Then President Hinckley walked into the room and there was a real and tangible feeling of love that walked in with him. I will never forget it. I knew in that moment that this man was here on earth to represent Jesus Christ. I could feel the love of the Savior flood my heart and that room that day. It was undeniable and powerful and left an indelible witness on my heart.
I had met and shaken hands with President Hinckley back before he was a prophet, when he was a counselor to Spencer W Kimball. He was a kindly man and so optimistic and positive. He had a wonderful sense of humor and every time he spoke to the members of the church, he lifted and encouraged us to be better. His wife, Marjorie, was also an inspiration with her wit and humor and I admired her so much.
The night he gave this talk was the night Josh was set apart as a missionary. I remember being in the church building listening to parts of his talk while the stake president met with Josh. I was so grateful for his counsel and love and how he knew just what to say to a bunch of young adults. He was always saying how wonderful we were but how he knew we could do even better.
It was under his prophetic guidance that the smaller temples were built so that more of them could dot the earth, The Family: A Proclamation was issued, as was Special Witnesses of Christ, one of my very favorite church videos. His interview with Mike Wallace was ground-breaking and inspiring. He signed my mission call and I thought about him often while I was serving as a missionary, trusting that I had been called by Jesus Christ through a living prophet do participate in that sacred work. I also often thought of his father's advice given when he was a missionary to forget yourself and go to work.I loved him very much and am grateful for the wonderful influence he had on my life. I'll forever be grateful for how he taught, for how he strengthened my testimony, for his example and love and leadership.
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