President Gordon B. Hinckley

1910 - 2008

I was so sad to hear of President Hinckley's passing last night. I consider him my Prophet, as he is the one whom I have known since I can remember. Though I may be sad, I am grateful above all. He was such an amazing influence in my life and in the lives of so many others, and I will forever hold him dear to my heart.

In the April 1, 2006 Sunday morning conference session, President Hinckley bore his testimony. I have never been able to read through it without having chills run throughout my body and tears streaming down my face. I hope that you all can read through it and remember what an amazing man he was.

“I hope that all of you will remember that on this Sabbath day you heard me bear my witness that this is God’s holy work. The vision given the Prophet Joseph in the grove of Palmyra was not an imaginary thing. It was real. It occurred in the broad light of day. Both the Father and the Son spoke to the boy. He saw Them standing in the air above him. He heard Their voices. He gave heed to Their instruction.

“It was the resurrected Lord who was introduced by His Father, the great God of the universe. For the first time in recorded history, both the Father and the Son appeared together to part the curtains and open this, the last and final dispensation, the dispensation of the fullness of times.

“The Book of Mormon is all that it purports to be—a work recorded by prophets who lived anciently and whose words have come forth “to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations” (Book of Mormon title page).

“The priesthood has been restored under the hands of John the Baptist and Peter, James, and John. All the keys and authority pertaining to eternal life are exercised in this Church.

“Joseph Smith was and is a prophet, the great Prophet of this dispensation. This Church, which carries the name of the Redeemer, is true.

“I leave you my testimony, my witness, and my love for each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.” President Gordon B. Hinckley

Thank you President Hinckley for the great influence you were, and will continue to be in my life.