The Prophet is Dead. Long Live the Prophet.

By January 27, 2008

As many, if not most, have heard by now, President Hinckley died today. I have vague memories of Presidents Kimball, Benson, and Hunter, but the prophet of my youth will be President Hinckley. I remember vividly him coming to Houston in 1998, just prior to my mission. I distinctly recall watching as he left the Summit on his cart, as we sang We Thank Thee of God for a Prophet, and he turned to wave to the audience. I felt tremendous love for that man at that moment and an incredibly poignant feeling of gratitude for such a warm leader. I recall desiring him to stay with us, as did the Nephites with Christ in 3 Nephi 17:4-6, but alas it was his time to go. That memory comes powerfully to me now, as I internalize this death, and I desire President Hinckley to tarry with us a little longer, but alas it is his time to go. The prophet is dead. Long live the prophet. May our prayers be with the Hinckley family. May our prayers be with President Monson.

KSL

Deseret News

LDS Newsroom

Tribune

Washington Post

Article filed under Categories of Periodization: Modern Mormonism Current Events Reflective Posts


Comments

  1. 🙁

    Comment by Sad — January 27, 2008 @ 10:31 pm

  2. President Hinckley has been president the whole time I’ve been a member of the church. For the past 5 minutes I have beenstaring at the words on the screen. But at last, all I can think is he has returned to Marjorie.

    Comment by Matt W. — January 27, 2008 @ 10:33 pm

  3. Matt W.
    I agree. It seems so surreal, and yet I’m not as sad as I thought I would be. How great that they are together again!

    Comment by cheryl — January 27, 2008 @ 10:51 pm

  4. “This office is not one to be sought after. The right to select rests with the Lord. He is the master of life and death. His is the power to call. His is the power to take away. His is the power to retain. It is all in his hands. I do not know why in his grand scheme one such as I would find a place. But having this mantle come upon me, I now rededicate whatever I have of strength or time or talent or life to the work of my master in the service of my brethren and sisters.”
    -GBH, April 1995.

    Comment by Christopher — January 27, 2008 @ 11:16 pm

  5. Praise to the man who communed with Jehova! One of the greatest prophets of this or any dispensation has left this sphere of existence and will carry on the work in the other. The world will always have been a better place because Gordon B. Hinckley walked upon it.

    Comment by Jon — January 27, 2008 @ 11:25 pm

  6. I just saw that CNN’s write-up on President Hinckley’s death is titled, “Mormon pioneer Gordon Hinckley dead at 97.” How apt that description (“Mormon pioneer”) is.

    Comment by Christopher — January 28, 2008 @ 12:02 am

  7. […] think we could classify this event as sad. It is simply a time of change. As David G. from the Juvenile Instructor said, “The prophet is dead. Long live the […]

    Pingback by Ami Chopine » President Hinckley passes on — January 28, 2008 @ 12:18 am

  8. Speaking of Marjorie, he said: “My children and I were at her bedside as she slipped peacefully into eternity. As I held her hand and saw mortal life drain from her fingers, I confess I was overcome. Before I married her, she had been the girl of my dreams, to use the words of a song then popular. She was my dear companion for more than two-thirds of a century, my equal before the Lord, really my superior. And now in my old age, she has again become the girl of my dreams.”

    I am glad he sees her no longer just in his dreams.

    Comment by Ray — January 28, 2008 @ 11:28 am

  9. […] Tonya. Summer. Swint. Louis. Canasian. Mark. Robin. Edain. Nylan. Wendy. Tanyaross. John F. David G. Seth. Sam. BCC Admin. Russell. Nate. Janet. Jared. Matt B. Guy. Jeff L. Hollywood. David H. Eric. […]

    Pingback by Gordon B. Hinckley « Heart Issues for LDS — January 29, 2008 @ 1:24 am


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