I was saddened to hear the news of President Hinckley's passing on Sunday night. I was also surprised at how deeply his passing affected me. I didn't know him personally and yet he had great import to me. He had been around for all of my life that I can remember, either serving as a counselor in the First Presidency or, more recently, as our Prophet, Seer and Revelator. He even came to Juneau, Alaska one year and was instrumental in our area becoming a stake under direction from Salt Lake instead of a district presided over by the area mission. I remember that meeting. I had smooshed myself into an already packed row in an effort to be closer to the podium and not have to sit way back in the overflow area. I'd never seen our building so full. When he walked in, there was an immediate weight in the air and such an overflowing of the Spirit. I cried when he spoke, I was so overcome, and I didn't stop crying until half an hour after he had left. He had such a gentle demeanor, a strong testimony of Jesus and a respect and admiration for women. I always looked forward to hearing him speak.
I was surprised that he lived so long, particularly after his beloved wife passed on four years ago. I expected him to follow much sooner. But I am grateful that he continued with us for a few more years. I am grateful for his work on this earth and grateful for his testimony. I am grateful for his genuine love of all people. I just wanted to close with a few quotes from him:
• “We must not be clannish. We must never adopt a holier-than-thou attitude. We must not be self-righteous. We must be magnanimous, and open, and friendly. We can keep our faith. We can practice our religion. We can cherish our method of worship without being offensive to others. I take this occasion to plead for a spirit of tolerance and neighborliness, of friendship and love toward those of other faiths.” (Pioneer Day Commemoration, July 2001).
• “We can respect other religions and must do so. We must recognize the great good they accomplish. We must teach our children to be tolerant and friendly toward those not of our faith. We can and do work with those of other religions in the defense of those values which have made our civilization great and our society distinctive…” (General Conference, April 1998).
• "1. Be grateful. 2. Be smart. 3. Be clean. 4. Be true. 5. Be humble. 6. Be prayerful" (New Era, January 2001).
• “I want to give you my testimony. I know that God our Eternal Father lives, that He is the great Governor of the universe, and that we are His children, and that somehow He hears and answers the prayers of His children. I want you to know that I know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, that He left His royal home on high and came down among men—hated and abused of men—and that He went about doing good [see Acts 10:38]. He was crucified out of the hatred of the people; He rose the third day—‘the firstfruits of them that slept’ (1 Corinthians 15:20). I want you to know that the Father and the Son appeared to the boy Joseph Smith and ushered in this marvelous dispensation—the greatest dispensation in the history of the entire world” (member meeting, Seoul, South Korea, July 31, 2005).
• “I am so profoundly grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ, for a testimony of the Atonement of the Savior. I believe in it with all my heart, and I live for it, and I bear witness of it this day. Of all of the events of human history, none other approaches the Atonement of the Savior in its meaning and in its results. God be thanked for the gift of His precious Son, to whom we all owe thanks for His sacrifice in our behalf” (member meeting, Copenhagen, Denmark, May 22, 2004).
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