Reminisces About President Hinckley

In a way I'm still finding it hard to believe that President Hinckley is no longer with us.  I knew he couldn't last forever, but I sure was pulling for him to become the oldest apostle of our dispensation (Elder Haight has him beat by 4 months).  Seeing how well he was able to maintain his health well into his nineties, I thought there was even a good chance for him to make it to 100.  Obviously, the Lord had other plans for him.

I vividly remember last General Conference when he ended it by saying: "Now the conference is adjourned for six months. We look forward to seeing you again next April. I’m 97, but I hope I’m going to make it."  I couldn't help but have the same hope.  While he didn't make it to next conference, I feel very privileged to have been able to hear him speak only two weeks ago at our multi-Stake Conference.  At that time, I noticed he looked very frail.  His suit looked like it was swallowing him, but he still gave a powerful talk.  I'll always be grateful for being able to hear him one last time.

I can't say that I've ever had the privilege of meeting him in person.  In fact I can only think of a few occasions when I even saw him in person.  The first time was at the dedication of the Las Vegas temple.  The first dedicatory session was reserved for Las Vegas's Church leaders (Bishoprics, Stake Presidencies, High Councilors, Patriarchs, and such) and their wives.  While my parents were invited to attend that session, I was assigned to help direct traffic in the parking lot.  Soon before the session started, I mentioned to my father how much I would have liked to attend that session.  At that he went and asked our Stake President if I would be able to squeeze in.  He agreed and filled out an admissions ticket for me on the spot.

I joined my parents in the lobby of the temple where they were seated, so I was probably only about 30 feet from the entrance when the entire First Presidency came in dressed all in white.  Even today, just over 18 years later I can still remember the overwhelming Spirit that accompanied them (my mother almost immediately started to cry, and I nearly did as well.)  This is a memory I'l cherish throughout my life.

The second time I saw President Hinckley in person was when I was at the Missionary Training Center.  He was coming to dedicate the new gym and auditorium and I was waiting outside in line to enter.  This time he passed no more than three feet from me.  I remember thinking that he looked rather ragged and tired (I think he had just come in from an overseas flight), but under all of that you could still feel his Spirit and know he was a man of God.

Those are the times I can remember that I've been nearest to him.  (I did attend a devotion or two while at BYU where he spoke, but at those times I was clear up in the nose-bleed seats.)  Whenever I've seen him, whether in person or on TV, I couldn't help but feel uplifted and encouraged by his presence.  He truly was a great example of how to be a disciple of Christ.  If I could be only half the man he was, I feel I'd be doing fairly well.

One last reminisce is about how he was a direct influence on a major decision of my life.  It was my last year of college and I was planning on following it up with some graduate work.  At the October General Conference of that year he gave a powerful talk on the importance of getting out of debt.  As a college student I was deeply in debt and I knew that going directly to graduate school would only further my debt.  Instead, I decided to enter active duty in the military after graduation.

It took me nearly four years to pay off all my debts, but no sooner did that happen than I found the woman of my dreams.  When we were married I was practically debt free which gave us a much better start for our marriage than we would have otherwise had.  I have no idea how things would have turned out if I had disregarded President Hinckley's advise to get out of debt as soon as possible, but I feel I am much better off for it.

President Hinckley will be dearly missed.  He left an impact on innumerable lives, and I'm sure his influence will continue to be felt for years.  "We thank thee, O God, for a Prophet to guide us in these latter days....We feel it a pleasure to serve thee, and love to obey thy command."