Articles celebrating the Life of the Prophet Gordon B Hinkcley are found on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints web site.
President Thomas S. Monson:
“It was my privilege to know and love President Hinckley long before either of us was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles or the First Presidency. Through the years I have sat next to him, have served with him and have learned from him. I am a witness to his prophetic calling.
“President Hinckley was prodigious in his work ethic and was totally dedicated to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was a friend to one and all and a leader who inspired spirituality. His outreach on an international scale was unprecedented. He was truly a prophet for our time. Like the Master, he devoted his life to doing good, and God was surely with him. His life was a gift to the world.”

Glenn Beck

Meridian Readers remember President Hinckley
On Fast Sunday in the brand New Year of 1999, my husband and daughter and I attended sacrament meeting in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. President and Sister Hinckley were there in attendance. Pres Hinckley bore his testimony and told the congregation how grateful he was to be there for the meeting and to take the sacrament with us.
Afterwards, our daughter wanted to get in line out in the hallway to shake his hand. We had had that opportunity in the past in our home area, and worried that he might be too tired to deal with a line of greeters. But the line was short that day, so we joined a few other visitors.
When President Hinckley got to my husband and extended his hand to him, my husband started to cry. (I knew he was thinking of other experiences with President Hinckley, such as being ordained a bishop by him back in 1965.) President Hinckley smiled and said, “Where are you from, brother?” My husband managed to say, “California,” and then our prophet replied consolingly, “Well, that’s not so bad!”
Marcia W. Green
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When I told my 16-year-old daughter of the passing of President Hinckley, she cried. We tenderly hugged as we spoke lovingly of our memories of him. We so loved our Prophet!
We went to SLC Conference when she was 12 years old, and we will never forget the sacred experience we shared there. We knew he was a prophet of God and we knew he loved us. Sister Hinckley was alive then and held a special place in our hearts. What a wonderful companion for President Hinckley. We are so grateful for their influence in our lives. Goodbye President Hinckley — we love you!
MaryAnne and Candace Cornish
Pincher Creek, Alberta
Canada
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The memories of our beloved Prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley, will stay in my heart forever. I loved him so much even though I never had a chance to personally meet him. He had a twinkle in his eye and a song in his heart. He truly saw the roses in winter even during his greatest trial of losing his beloved wife, Sister Margorie Hinckley, four years ago.
He was in every prayer I ever uttered. He deserved respect because he first respected us. He loved everyone, as Christ truly loved us all. He won everyone’s heart with his genuine ability to see past our sins and inspire us to want to stand a little taller. I wish I could have had a glimpse into Heaven last night around 7pm so I could have seen the reunion with his sweetheart, then with the Savior, Joseph Smith and all the prophets who ever lived.
I cannot imagine how all of Heaven must have shouted for joy knowing that he would join them. President Hinckley, thank you for your devotion to the Lord. Thank you for listening to your father’s advice long ago in England when he told you to forget yourself and go to work. Thank you for giving your life to the Lord. I will love you and Sister Hinckley forever, and hope and pray someday I can live worthily enough to be able to meet you.
Mija Garlick
Alpine, Utah
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I am saddened to hear of President Hinckley’s passing. I can’t help but think of the happiness on the other side of the veil. He will be missed; he warmed my heart and made me smile. I loved his wit and loved to listen to him at conference. Truly a man of God, yes he will be missed in this life, but some day we will see him again.
Thank you for sharing some of your favorite pictures of President Hinkley.
Georgia M Moore
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Our feeling for President Hinckley is the loving one. We love him so much for the person he was.
So special in everything he did; a good husband, father and grandfather; a great man of God. He has touched our lives spiritually so much. We remember the 16th of March 2001, when he was here, visiting us in our chapel here in Aruba; it was a great moment for all the members. It was very special for us to hear and see him. We are very thankful, that the spirit send him here to us. We send our deepest love and sympathy for the family.
Hans Jurgen and Filomena Gotze
Oranjestad, Aruba
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I worked in the features section at the Deseret News when the new building on First South was dedicated. As part of the dedication, the First Presidency walked through each department shaking hands with every employee.
President Hinckley greeted me and proceeded down the aisle. As President Monson and President Faust shook my hand, I couldn’t take my eyes off President Hinckley as he walked through the department. It was not because I’d never seen an LDS Prophet before, as I had. It was because President Hinckley was completely surrounded by a brilliant white light.
I will be eternally grateful that the Lord gave me such a beautiful and powerful witness of this great man. I have been greatly blessed by his wonderful leadership and testimony.
Karen Boren
Springville, Utah
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I am going to miss him. I loved him so much. I hoped that we would have him a while longer. He was a wonderful man and a great prophet
Christina Maier
Germany
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As a student at BYU in the 1970’s, I was in Jane Hinckley’s ward. I was assigned as her visiting teacher. She was just Jane Hinckley to me; I really didn’t know who her father was at the time.
My car was being worked on one day and she gave me a ride to campus. Jane was driving with her roommate seated beside her and I was gabbing with my roommate in the back seat, when I noticed that she was in the Administration parking lot, looking for a parking space. I whispered to my roommate “What is she doing?” wondering why she was in an “A” sticker parking lot (reserved only for senior employees of BYU). My roommate whispered back, “Don’t you know who her father is? Gordon B. HinckleyI remember thinking that it was so not fair that Jane got an “A” parking sticker, just for being the daughter of an apostle.
Years later, I read President Hinckley’s biography. I loved that book and developed such a love and admiration for President Hinckley. I was in awe of all the service he gave the Church throughout his entire life. That little incident of the BYU parking lot came into my mind and my thoughts about it then were, “Because of her father’s great service to the church, Jane Hinckley deserved all the ‘A’ stickers she could have!” She and her family gave up a lot of time with their father because of his devotion to the Lord.
I will miss this great man and can only imagine the beautiful reunion he has had with his sweet wife, Marjorie. I am grateful for his devotion to the Lord and his great example as a follower of the Lord. I was privileged to hear him speak just last week, January 20, at our stake conference. Every time I heard him speak in the past few years, I would wonder if this was the last time. I had those same thoughts as I listened to him, along with 40 other Southern California stakes that day. This time, it was the last time to hear our great prophet speak. Thank you, Gordon B. Hinckley, for the exemplary life you led.
Patti Hatch
San Diego, California
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Anything that I say at this time will surely feel inadequate to express my feeling for President Hinckley. He was the president of the Church when I was converted, when my wife and I received our endowments, and when we were eternally married.
He was honored by many of and not of LDS membership. He loved the saints and expressed this love in many discourses, these I will truly miss. Those who have gone on before us will now benefit from his presence and love.
Mark Beckstead
Yucaipa, California
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I was a member of one of the choirs who sang at the dedication of the Boise Idaho Temple. I was standing right above President Hinckley. The song was one I loved, and my emotions were overflowing and suddenly a large tear fell right onto the top of President Hinckley’s head. I was so embarrassed, but didn’t dare stop singing. I am sure he felt the tear, but he never as much as reached his hand up to wipe his head and I didn’t dare touch him. I have that memory of him etched in my mind.
Arlene Henley
Nampa, Idaho
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I never got to meet President Hinckley in person, but I will be influenced by the spirit of humility and sense of humor that he has. He did a lot to bring the temple to many Latter-Day Saints throughout the world. This is a great benefit to many people. I love him very much and I’m sad that he has passed away. He is with his lovely wife, Marjorie and they can be happy together.
Lee Massey
Teachey, North Carolina
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And how do we honor the memory of such a great man? He brought us temples and asked us to use them more often, so we will. He set the standard for charity to all nations, so we must continue to donate and reach out in love to those in distress. He pleaded with us to be kind and loving to all mankind, to behave like true Christians, and so we will leave our political, religious and social differences behind us. He counseled us to be free of debt and leave the entrapments of the world behind, and so we must follow in his footsteps and refocus our eyes on heaven.
There is no better way to honor this prophet of God than to heed his counsel and “get to work”! When we honor him, we honor God.
How we will miss you!
Jeanne Brown
Pleasanton, California
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What a wonderful Prophet President Hinckley is! When he came to the San Antonio Texas Temple dedication, I remember the feeling that came with him when he entered the room. The spirit was so strong and overwhelming! He really is a Prophet of God. I just love his humor and
his love for all of us, whether he’s met us personally or not. He really loves us all. He will greatly be missed, but how wonderful it is to know that he’s with his beloved wife now! What a wonderful thing — to know that families are forever and that we live again when we leave this beautiful earth.
Katie Bartow
Austin, Texas
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I feel the sadness in his demise, but I know he is now with his beloved wife, and I know he is happy. I always loved to see him speak at conference and other meetings. I knew there was something that the Lord wanted him to speak on, he was truly a prophet of the Lord I will miss him.
Dave Ridley
Roseburg Oregon
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When a great light goes out it affects the earth in more ways than we can ever imagine. What happened to many of the computer servers at that time? We are bereft of a great and marvelous soul, one who has done his work with honour and love and great power. How we will miss his dear face, his tender love for us and not to forget that quick yet gentle wit.
Diane Kadlec
Okotoks Alberta
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When I joined the Church at the age of 38 in 1983, Gordon B. Hinckley was immediately my favorite apostle. I think he was one of the reasons I joined the Church, actually. And he has continued to be my favorite, 25 years later. How I have loved, and continue to love, that dear, sweet, brilliant, funny, sunny man. A light has gone out in the world today with his passing.
How can we possibly have General Conference without President Hinckley? I will miss him forever, but am so happy for his joyous reunion yesterday with his beloved Marjorie. Nevertheless, my heart aches for the world’s loss and my loss.
Claire Helmers
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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President Hinckley is one of a kind. We have had many great and marvelous modern-day prophets, and we love them all. However, President Hinckley’s wit and perfect timing endeared him not only to the members of the Church, but to all he has met around the world. He has been more than a President or Prophet, he has been an ambassador for the Church wherever he has gone, and he will be missed beyond telling.
Gwen Edmunds
Hayward, California
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President Hinckley became part of me because he reminded me of how simple the Gospel really is. The words of the song “Constant as the North Star” comforts me now when I think of him. I don’t think any of us can let our sorrow overcome the joy that we feel for him being reunited with his beloved Marjorie. I pray that I may live worthily, doing my best as he has counseled me and rest finally where I can even hear mention of him. I will never be able to think of him without smiling. President Hinckley has surely “shown us how we can.”
Dolores Anne Harris
Alamo, Nevada
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Several years ago I wrote a brief letter of thanks to President Hinckley, who at the time was serving as a councilor to President Benson. I noted his yeoman service to the kingdom during that difficult period when both President Kimball and Elder Romney were basically incapacitated and the burden of Church leadership fell so heavily on his able shoulders. In closing I wrote: I am an ordinary man but am a better man because of you and the extraordinary person you have become.
Two weeks later, I received a gracious reply from Elder Hinckley that included the following: You say you are an “ordinary man.” No man is ordinary who walks in faith and fidelity in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I shall miss this great man.
Gary Davis
Salem, Utah
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I am deeply saddened by President Hinckley’s passing. I think of the wonderful leader, and powerful world influence that is now gone. It is a loss not only for the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but also for the world.
Denise Durtschi
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President Hinckley had a unique way of endearing himself to world leaders, public and political figures all the way to the average blue collar worker. His ability to express his beliefs without offence, with genuine kindness no doubt enabled him to become one of the most respected of religious leaders. His keen wit, made him human and personable, and helped win the hearts and love of people world wide. He will be sorely missed!
He is a wonderful, beloved man. His sense of humor and love of the gospel were sweet. I will miss him and will have a loneliness in my heart for him. But I also rejoice for him; he is with his sweet Marjorie and his mother, father, and loved ones. He is with Joseph, Brigham, Mormon, Moroni, Abraham, Noah, just to name a few. He is happy, he served and he served well. He is with Heavenly Father and Jesus. Wow! What more could one desire? I will always love him and be grateful I was on the earth during his reign. I will follow our next prophet with all my heart and soul for I know the gospel is true.
Susan Nelson
Salt Lake City, Utah
Jenny Hatch