President Gordon B. Hinckley was ordained as the new Prophet of the LDS Church about three weeks before my 17th birthday. It’s crazy to think that President Hinckley has been the prophet for almost half of my life! So I will share with you the most special memory I have of this beloved prophet.
In March 1997, my good friend, Mark Amakasu (who was baptized a member of the LDS Church in April 1997), and I waited outside of the church building, down the street from my parents’ house, so we could get a front row seat to hear President Hinckley speak at a young single adult fireside(and we were also saving a spot for our friends who met us later that day). We waited for six hours…and we got our front row seat! My brother, Tyler, and I were sitting just to the right of the podium in the front row right across from President Hinckley and his wife. It was AMAZING! The spirit there was so strong (much like the spirit felt in the School of the Prophets in Kirtland or in the Sacred Grove in Palmyra) President Hinckley's main message to us young adults was to "Be not faithless but be believing." Something I was introduced to at that meeting was President Hinckley’s sense of humor as he walked to the podium and said, “I’m so glad to be here with you young people, young people with problems! You are all so worried about getting married, who to marry, when to get married and if you’ll ever get married!” He is a great man, prophet and such a great example of forgetting oneself in the service of our God and fellowman. He is also an exceptional model of following in the pattern of the Savior's life and teachings. This experience I had solidified my testimony that there is a living prophet on the earth today who is the Lord's mouthpiece. Thank goodness for modern day revelation to guide us through these latter days.
Though we mourn here of the death of a truly incredible prophet, my family and I agree that he is now at peace with his wife, and what a glorious reunion it was for them. I am so grateful for the fulness of the gospel here on this earth that answers our questions that can not be answered in any other way; and that death, though saddens those left behind, is not the end, but a beginning and a happy time for those who move on to the other side. I have a testimony that families are eternal, if sealed by the proper priesthood authority and through continually keeping sacred covenants made in the Lord's temple. Though our loved ones who have passed on are busy doing Heavenly Father's work on the other side, I know that from time to time they "check in" on us to see how we are doing. We are not forgotten nor are they.
P.S. I'm adding this on Monday. An email/text went around last night among many of the youth to wear Sunday clothes today in honor of President Hinckley. Over half of our student body dressed in their Sunday clothes....it totally gave me goosebumps!
8 comments:
My dad told me that many of the students were going to wear Sunday clothes, I'm glad to hear so many did. How cool. I wish I could have gone to a fireside and sit so close to the prophet.
That is so cool that the students did that!!!!!
I love that story of him talking baout youth with problems! That is so funny! I too got goosebumps when I heard about the kids wearing church clothes to honor him! How awesome!!! And to think about those who aren't of our faith, how they will respond and ask questions. How many will search our religion a little more and maybe become converted.
I loved your testimony, this part hit me "if sealed by the proper priesthood authority and through continually keeping sacred covenants made in the Lord's temple" WOW! It's so true. I remind my Laurels of that often. Thanks again for making me cry...again..
What a great testimony, and I echo Janel's comment! WOW! How amazing is that. There is an article about it in the Salt Lake Tribune.
I was a mess all day at work. One of my coworkers (not a member) wrote me an email expressing his condolences about President Hinckley. It was so sweet. I was a basket case after that.
This post made me cry! What a wonderful memory of our beloved President Hinckley. We hung onto him as long as we could. Thanks for your beautiful thoughts!
By-the-way, it would be just fine if you'd like to use that post I did about the shoes....my foot is pretty anonymous.
I love it. What a sweet testimony you have. Thanks for sharing.
And I think that's awesome that so many kids wore their Sunday clothes, but I can't help but feel bad for those that would have, but didn't get, or read, their email in time.
AMEN!
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