In remembrance of President Gordon B. Hinckley, beloved Prophet, President, friend to many.

All the thoughts and memories that others have shared have been are wonderful and so I will just share a personal experience in remembrance of President Gordon B. Hinckley. I also know President Hinckley would want us to be busy in the cause of the Gospel, so I want to share an experience and some thoughts concerning the Gospel that can be left for my family.

In 1997 or 1998, roughly a year or so after joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, my family visited parts of Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. We went through Salt Lake City for the first time and visited some friends and the sites. This was my first time here...now it's our current home for a season.

When our family was in Salt Lake City, we visited a family who were our neighbors in DC many years ago. My grandparents moved into their home when they left. The "Mom" of this family is the daughter of President Ezra Taft Benson. Due to them being in President Hinckley’s home congregation (ward) and living in the same apartment building as President Hinckley, they took us to see President Hinckley at a ward picnic. My entire family was privileged to shake hands and talk with him. It was wonderful experience and something I will cherish.

What I personally feel is remarkable and wonderful more than anything about meeting him is the faith of knowing he is Prophet of God, even if you have never seen him in person. I think we sometimes even as members forget how vast and far reaching The Church and its teachings are and how it is affecting people with maybe far less resources than we have. The message can go deep into the heart of anyone in any place. There is such faith in this church! It is remarkable how this faith in Jesus Christ and the Restoration of his Church is abundant all over the world. The message is the same all over the world, but touches peoples lived in different ways.

For those who understand the teachings and history of the church, it doesn't take being in The Sacred Grove or having seen of the many church sites or having proof in seeing something to come to a knowledge of truth. While those things are great and are there because they are important and sacred and can help, in the end it takes faith and a desire to know and of course prayer, plain and simple to know in your heart of truth. Knowing that Gordon B. Hinckley, a human man is God's Prophet on the earth is a miracle to me. I can though remember clearly a time when I would not believe or want to believe there could be a living Prophet on the earth.

Another thought I want to share because although I know and have knowledge of truth embedded in my heart, I also remember the many questions I had when learning of a "living Prophet". I understand why some may not understand why we consider him to be a Prophet, but at that same time can understand why we call him the "President of the Church". For some hearing that may seem strange or unconventional. There is a challenge in trying to at least understand and know the "Why?" of this.

President Hinckley once shared that some of the reason for criticism of certain aspects of the Church comes from lack of real understanding. So naturally the next thing that follows that is to criticize. He then shared, “A quiet inquiry, an anxious desire to grasp the principle behind the result, could bring greater understanding and appreciation." -April 2001, General Conference I personally would say understanding the source of any teaching, understand the reason “Why?” we have such a teaching will bring great understanding.

It is generally easier to believe and accept that there were Prophet's who walked the earth in the Bible, but it can be hard to accept and feel in your heart and mind that they can exist today. I remember that feeling clearly and can relate to one who feels that way. Believing such things doesn't always happen overnight, it takes wanting to know with a pure intent, having faith that God will tell you. I thought it was a "way out there" idea and just plain wrong. We do though live in a different time from those in times when Prophets were upon the earth years ago. God's word is God's word, but our times are different and changing. Our Heavenly Father knows this and loves us just as he did those who had Prophets before. The conflicts of mankind and problems are many. For this reason, God has blessed us with a Prophet for our time, who can give us God's instruction for this period that applies to our current situation in life. What a great blessing and showing of great love and care for his children! You could say in a sense, it just makes life happier and simpler.

As a family, we hope that those who go after us will always be grateful for the Gospel and will always feel that it is a precious gift, something never to take for granted. That they can come to a personal knowledge in their heart of the Church and its teachings is our hope. We also hope that they will love and respect those of other faiths and be grateful and see all the good and truth they bring and never put another faith down. I hope that they would have empathy and understanding for those who may not understand or accept all our beliefs. We can do this as members of the Church without giving up our beliefs. President Hinckley has taught us this and we ought to be thankful for his life and example of being a true disciple of Jesus Christ.

--Charles