President Hinckley

I just wanted to say a few things about President Hinckley. Sometimes you get used to someone being there always and you don't always think about how much they mean to you until they pass away. President Hinckley has been a great influence in my life for many years.

I remember going to a devotional that he had for the youth of the church in the Conference Center. I was sitting up in the balcony, so I wasn't that close, but it was a great feeling sitting in that room with everyone else listening to his council. He taught us six "Be's" of things that we should remember. Be Grateful, Be Smart, Be Clean, Be True, Be Humble, and Be Prayerful. Listening to him, I knew he was a prophet of God. I knew that I could trust and love him.

A few years later I had the opportunity to be an usher for General Conference. I was able to be in the conference center for all of the sessions of conference. The thing I remember the most is that every time the prophet would walk in the room, there would be a silence and everyone would stand. You can feel the Spirit very strong as you remember that he is the mouthpiece of our Heavenly Father. I raised my hand with millions to sustain him as a prophet, seer and revelator.

In November of 2002, I recieved a letter from President Hinckley to call me on a mission to Rome Italy. I knew that was a call issued from my Heavenly Father through His prophet. I remember as we were about to leave the MTC, they showed us a video of President Hinckley with a message to missionaries going out. He expressed his love for us. You could see the excitement in his eyes for us. Thinking of President Hinckley throughout my mission helped keep me going. One of the seventy came to talk to us and talked about President Hinckley. He said that as they were in New York visiting the Hill Cumorah, President Hinckley ran up the hill. He had energy to do the work he was called to do and was an inspiration for all those serving our Heavenly Father.



I loved watching "Special Witnesses of Christ" and hearing President Hinckley's testimony with investigators. As I bore testimony that he was a prophet of God, I knew in my heart that it was true. I knew that as I followed his teachings that I would be following the teachings of Jesus Christ.

The summer after I got home from my mission I was a counselor for EFY. On one of the days, they showed a movie of President Hinckley speaking to the youth. Every time I saw this movie it brought me to tears because again I could see the love in his eyes as he expressed his love and hope for us. As he wept, I knew that his heart was completely into the work that he did. I knew that I could understand my Heavenly Father's love more as I saw this man.

President Hinckley will always remain my prophet. He has overseen so many temples to bring them closer to the people. His optimism shone out of him and was enough to light the whole world. He has set the example of integrity and faith in the Gospel. I know that he will continue that work in heaven to bring souls to Christ. I commit myself to follow his example.

We thank thee, O God, for a prophet to guide us in these latter days.