Anecdotes and Memories of Gordon B. Hinckley, Late President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

I remember developing a love for Gordon B. Hinckley, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, through regular sessions of General Conference. I would wait impatiently each session of General Conference through all of the talks from the upper-echelon of leadership for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for him to come to the podium and speak to the members of the Church. My eagerness usually had something to do with his sense of humor that would cause me to prick up my ears and listen more closely. Somehow the Prophet was always able to captivate and I felt as though he was speaking directly to me even though there were millions of other members listening to conference at the same time. I loved to hear him talk about how much he loved his wife and became choked up when I heard him discuss how much he would miss her after she passed away in 2004.

Later, as a college student at Brigham Young University, I had the exciting opportunity to attend General Conference in person in the new Conference Center and from the nosebleed seats way up high I would lean forward to catch a glimpse of him as he walked in to officiate over the General Conference of the Church. It would not be the first time I saw him in person nor the closest. I also got to see him in the flesh at the Marriott Center at Brigham Young University for what I remember as one of the best-attended weekly devotionals that I can remember from my time in college. My heart would warm and tears would inevitably come to my eyes standing to sing We Thank Thee O God For A Prophet as the Spirit would testify to me of President Hinckley's calling as a modern-day prophet, seer, and revelator. Just seeing him and observing his kind manner made me want to be a better person, to try a little harder to do the right thing, to lengthen my stride.

My favorite anecdotes about President Hinckley are not from the few glimpses I have had of him in person, however. These favorite memories are ones that have been passed from member-to-member as others I have known have had the enviable experience of meeting this awesome man face-to-face.

A native Californian, I had the privilege of being involved in the behind-the-scenes work in making the Sacramento Temple Open House a success. LDS temples are traditionally open to the public to tour prior to their dedication to the Lord when they are made sacred places and after only Church members living the standards of the Church are permitted to enter. My mother was asked to provide catering services for the VIP reception open house for the many important guests and dignitaries invited from Sacramento and surrounding areas. Her position necessitated many meetings with the volunteers assigned to work on the facilities crew who were charged with making sure all of the physical facilities were properly maintained and ready for open house guests. In researching how to best prepare for the impending open house, the facilities crew contacted volunteers who were involved in the Newport Beach Temple Open House in California. The Newport Beach ladies in charge of providing the meals for the General Authorities who conducted the tours for the VIPs at the Newport Beach Temple Open House had gone to great effort in anticipating the needs of the General Authorities meals and had prepared an elegant, fancy meal that they felt was befitting the honored status of the General Authorities of the Church and President Hinckley. President Hinckley, while appreciative of their efforts, requested the simple sandwich he had requested. The dear ladies had not thought it "good enough" for the Prophet and had not made one up! These Newport Beach volunteers were quick to advise the Sacramento Temple Open House staff to make sure and follow the requests from Church headquarters so the Prophet would have exactly what he wanted - even if it was a simple sandwich.

Ever a hands-on President of the Church, President Hinckley visited many of the prospective temple sites personally to select the perfect location for each during the unprecedented expansion of temples throughout the world. In selecting the site for the Sacramento Temple, President Hinckley personally visited and was taken around the Sacramento area to multiple locations before finally arriving at "Mormon Center" (now known as Temple Hill by members of the Church). He asked his companions why they had not brought him to this location first. His guides replied that they knew it was the best, but had wanted him to see all of the other potential sites before the place that the Sacramento Temple stands today. This was not the only time that he visited the Sacramento Temple site though. Local members recount seeing President Hinckley touring the grounds of Mormon Center and viewing the buildings and facilities on-site following a Boy Scout Activity. All of the scouts had gone home and only a few leaders were left helping to clean up when they saw an unassuming President Hinckley walking the buildings and the grounds prior to the announcement of the selection of the Sacramento Temple location.

A teacher at Brigham Young University Education Week recounted this anecdote about the dedication of President Hinckley as a father. His dedication to his children is a great example of how we can all serve our families. The teacher recounted how President Hinckley set aside one day each week to have his children over in his residence for lunch. Even in his advanced years, he would prepare the food for lunch for his children himself.

I am glad he was with his family at his passing. I am glad he is with his wife again on the other side of the veil. He will be missed.