President Hinckley 1910-2008

Perhaps you've heard the news that President Gordon B. Hinckley, the man that members of my church revered as the Prophet of God on the earth, passed away this evening. He died around 7pm at his home in Salt Lake City with members of his family present. I feel deep emotions of gratitude and appreciation for the life he lived and the influence he had on me. If I had to pick one defining moment in my life when things clicked into place and I caught a vision of my potential, and felt inspired to live the kind of life that would merit eventually meeting someone like Sarah Sacuto, it would be at the dedication of the Boston Temple in October 2000. I was just a few rows away from him, with my freshley shaved head and goatee, as he taught about my eternal potential. The feeling I had was unbelievable and undeniable. In a sense, every good thing that has happened in my life is a result of the feelings and resolutions I had that day.

That was not actually the first time I heard him in person. I saw him in St. Louis in 95 or 96, shortly after he became the prophet. I saw him in 1997 with 21,000 at Madison Square Garden. I actually saw a free Sonic Youth/Busta Ryhmes concert later that day on the main steps of Columbia University's campus. I was 16, so which event of the day do you think I enjoyed most? Even still, I was deeply touched by hearing the prophet.

The next time I saw him in person was the summer of 2004 when he was in NYC to dedicate the Manhattan Temple. He spoke at a fireside the night before at Radio City Music Hall, and then on Sunday morning I serendipitously was the at the "cornerstone" ceremony, and with a group of 40 or so people, got to be with him in that solemn experience. During the Saturday night fireside at Radio City, he challenged us to be better people, to resolve "to make a difference because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ." He asked us to memorize this phrase and write it in our journals. I'm doing my best.

The final time I saw him was in March 2006. I was moving from Boise, Idaho (where I had worked in the legislature for 3 months), and was on my way home to NYC after having attended my Aunt Brenda's funeral. I happened to know where and when Pres. Hinckley's ward met, so my cousin Michelle and I showed up early and got a seat in the center of the third row. Sure enough, five minutes before the meeting started, he and Pres. Faust walked in and sat on the far right side of the front row, just a few feet from us. It was a beautiful experience to take the sacrament with these great men and consider the impressive lives they have lived. Now that they have both passed away, I hope to live up to their example so that my daughter(s and son(s)?) will someday consider me a similar example for them.