Our Beloved Prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley

On Sunday evening, January 24, 2008, our beloved President Hinckley left this earthly life to reunite with his beautiful wife, Marjorie Pay Hinckley. As I heard the news I was both shocked and not. This man who has seemed to reach my heart and soul for so many years had passed. I cannot say that it was not expected as he has been ill for quite some time as is expected with a man of his 97 years. However, the news struck me with a great force and although others have said they felt peace and calm and did not shed tears, I cannot claim the same. I must admit I cried. I am happy for this wonderful man who has served others for most of his life and led our church with a love and kindness that is admired by many. I know that he no longer feels the pains of his mortal body and that he will continue to do the Lord's work in Heaven just as he has done here on earth. However, I am sad for the loss I feel for myself. President Hinckley is the first prophet that I have ever really felt a connection to. I felt that I knew him and I could feel his love for me personally each time I listened to him speak or saw his picture. He radiated love and affection and acceptance for every person in the world. Not only did he embrace us all with his words or wisdom and truth but he touched our hearts with his humor and that wonderful smile. I will miss him very much. I don't know if I felt so much affection for him and so much connection because I just wasn't old enough to really feel that for those who came before him or if there was just something special about him that reached out to me in a way that others had not before. Either way, he was truly a man of God who loved all and carried out the Lord's work until the end of his mortal life. I love him and will always love him. I look forward to the calling of a new prophet for us all to know and love as we have our beloved President Hinckley.

I found many tributes to President Hinckley but this one was one of my favorites and I wanted to share it with you. I have been thinking of the words of the hymn "We Thank They, Oh God, For a Prophet" and I want to share those words with you also.

We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet

We thank thee, O God, for a prophet to guide us in these latter days. We thank thee for sending the gospel to lighten our minds with its rays. We thank thee for every blessing bestowed by thy bounteous hand. We feel it a pleasure to serve thee and love to obey thy command.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11Wh2x8ybxo