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January 28, 2008
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My missionary ministerial certificate, signed by President Gordon B. Hinckley, who passed away last night at the age of 97.
Please see the rest of my rambling below the picture...
Please see the rest of my rambling below the picture...
Canon EOS 30D
F 3.5 - 1/60 seconds
ISO 100
F 3.5 - 1/60 seconds
ISO 100
When I was 15 years old, I spent a year in Austria as an exchange student. Although I had been raised Mormon, my host family
was decidedly not. It was during this year that I felt that I had to decide for myself if Mormonism was something that I was going to
believe in for myself or not. Through the course of the year, I had many experiences that led me to understand that I really did
believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the true church. It was something I decided for myself, and that
year did a lot to shape my faith. In April of that year, President Hunter passed away, and Gordon B. Hinckley was sustained as the
prophet (leader) of the church. Thus, for the entire time that I have really followed and paid attention to the teachings of the
leaders of the church for myself, President Hinckley has been my prophet. I have looked up to him, admired him, heeded him, and
been inspired by him for the last thirteen years. Although his passing isn't surprising (I mean, he was 97), I have been rather
melancholy all day. I tried to put my finger on my feelings and realized that it is the same feeling I get when I move away from
somewhere and realize that it will be a long time before I see my friends again (if ever). It's the saying good-bye to a dear friend
part that is getting to me today.
And, if I may share another anecdote (well, of course I can, it's my blog after all :) )...
In Spring 2001 I was a student at Brigham Young University. It was General Conference weekend, (read the link if you're
non-LDS... They're from wikipedia... lds.org was down). I was a busy student and had opted to skip out on one of the sessions of
conference in order to do some studying. At the last minute, however, I decided that I should attend after all, and was very happy
that I did so. It was during this session of conference that President Hinckley announced the Perpetual Education Fund, a
church administered micro-loan program to fund higher education for people in financially depressed areas of the world. As he
outlined the concept, and the mechanics, I was moved. It wasn't a "hallelujah" jump up and down feeling, but I was touched in my
heart and soul and I knew better at that moment than I ever had before that President Hinckley was not just a leader of the church,
but that he really was a prophet of God. A man set apart to direct the affairs of the Church and entitled to receive revelation for it.
It wasn't necessarily an a-ha experience, but it provided a deep solidification of my beliefs.
Having served for awhile now in a leadership position in my local congregation, I know that the rotating of church members through
various assignments is a part of church life. I know that President Hinckley's successor will be every bit the prophet that President
Hinckley was and will lead and guide the affairs of the Church through inspiration from God. I will sustain that person just as I
sustained President Hinckley. For the rest of my life, however, I will remember him as the prophet of my testimony, and I will look
forward to seeing him again one day.
"The time has come for us to stand a little taller, to lift our eyes and stretch our minds to a greater comprehension and
understanding of the grand millennial mission of this The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is a season to be strong.
It is a time to move forward without hesitation, knowing well the meaning, the breadth, and the importance of our mission. It is a time
to do what is right regardless of the consequences that might follow. It is a time to be found keeping the commandments. It is a
season to reach out with kindness and love to those in distress and to those who are wandering in darkness and pain. It is a time to
be considerate and good, decent and courteous toward one another in all of our relationships. In other words, to become more
Christlike."
- President Gordon B. Hinckley, April 1995
"Be grateful. Be smart. Be clean. Be true. Be humble. Be prayerful."
- President Hinckley's B's
was decidedly not. It was during this year that I felt that I had to decide for myself if Mormonism was something that I was going to
believe in for myself or not. Through the course of the year, I had many experiences that led me to understand that I really did
believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the true church. It was something I decided for myself, and that
year did a lot to shape my faith. In April of that year, President Hunter passed away, and Gordon B. Hinckley was sustained as the
prophet (leader) of the church. Thus, for the entire time that I have really followed and paid attention to the teachings of the
leaders of the church for myself, President Hinckley has been my prophet. I have looked up to him, admired him, heeded him, and
been inspired by him for the last thirteen years. Although his passing isn't surprising (I mean, he was 97), I have been rather
melancholy all day. I tried to put my finger on my feelings and realized that it is the same feeling I get when I move away from
somewhere and realize that it will be a long time before I see my friends again (if ever). It's the saying good-bye to a dear friend
part that is getting to me today.
And, if I may share another anecdote (well, of course I can, it's my blog after all :) )...
In Spring 2001 I was a student at Brigham Young University. It was General Conference weekend, (read the link if you're
non-LDS... They're from wikipedia... lds.org was down). I was a busy student and had opted to skip out on one of the sessions of
conference in order to do some studying. At the last minute, however, I decided that I should attend after all, and was very happy
that I did so. It was during this session of conference that President Hinckley announced the Perpetual Education Fund, a
church administered micro-loan program to fund higher education for people in financially depressed areas of the world. As he
outlined the concept, and the mechanics, I was moved. It wasn't a "hallelujah" jump up and down feeling, but I was touched in my
heart and soul and I knew better at that moment than I ever had before that President Hinckley was not just a leader of the church,
but that he really was a prophet of God. A man set apart to direct the affairs of the Church and entitled to receive revelation for it.
It wasn't necessarily an a-ha experience, but it provided a deep solidification of my beliefs.
Having served for awhile now in a leadership position in my local congregation, I know that the rotating of church members through
various assignments is a part of church life. I know that President Hinckley's successor will be every bit the prophet that President
Hinckley was and will lead and guide the affairs of the Church through inspiration from God. I will sustain that person just as I
sustained President Hinckley. For the rest of my life, however, I will remember him as the prophet of my testimony, and I will look
forward to seeing him again one day.
"The time has come for us to stand a little taller, to lift our eyes and stretch our minds to a greater comprehension and
understanding of the grand millennial mission of this The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is a season to be strong.
It is a time to move forward without hesitation, knowing well the meaning, the breadth, and the importance of our mission. It is a time
to do what is right regardless of the consequences that might follow. It is a time to be found keeping the commandments. It is a
season to reach out with kindness and love to those in distress and to those who are wandering in darkness and pain. It is a time to
be considerate and good, decent and courteous toward one another in all of our relationships. In other words, to become more
Christlike."
- President Gordon B. Hinckley, April 1995
"Be grateful. Be smart. Be clean. Be true. Be humble. Be prayerful."
- President Hinckley's B's