President Gordon Bitner Hinckley Passes Away

[liberty]

Just heard it on the news Gordon B. Hinckley passes away.

This is the end of era.

Husband of Liberty

[ChelC]

My Dad just passed this on to me. We will miss him. How glad a time he must be having though, well greeted I am sure.

[Proud 2b Peculiar]

Until we meet again.

[liberty]

Just an additional note.

A couple of years ago I had a dream about the church being disenfranchised when Monson was serving as president. It will be interesting if this comes to pass.

Husband of Liberty

[cjex]

My brother just rushed over after a Priesthood meeting and told me I came to post it but it all ready up... its definitely the end of an era what a great man.

[Proud 2b Peculiar]

Why do I feel this deep sense of foreboding? It is like this moment is the end of one time and the beginning of another that will be very different.

As a child I felt a connection to Monson as "my prophet" for later in life when I am older.... I often questioned if he would actually ever be Prophet, so this is a shock to my system in a way, but then again when Hinckley said "What more can I say then has already been said" I knew his mission was fulfilled.

I will treasure the letter I received all the more now.. and I wonder now about how he was doing health-wise when he got it.

I felt an extra sweet measure of the spirit, and that is comforting.

[BroJones]

We loved President Hinckley and will miss him. Calling the family together now to pray for Pres. Monson especially, and whoever will be called soon as an apostle to fill the vacancy.

I felt particularly sensitive today... I realize he is happy to see his wife and Joseph Smith and....

[SwissMrs&Pitchfire]

I so hoped his smiling face would be the liberating face of our Moses in the day of deliverance. Good for him! He deserves the glorious homecoming going on now. I can't but imagine the applause and reverenced awe (each in their place and time).

[Army Of Truth]

We will all truly miss one of the great prophets of the Lord. I'm glad I got to see him in person. He always made my soul smile. Until we meet again.
I'm happy that he is now with his wife, Marjorie...together forever - and of course sitting next to all the great prophets (Adam, Abraham, Noah, Moses, Nephi, Joseph, etc)

[Proud 2b Peculiar]

We loved President Hinckley and will miss him. Calling the family together now to pray for Pres. Monson especially, and whoever will be called soon as an apostle to fill the vacancy.

I felt particularly sensitive today... I realize he is happy to see his wife and Joseph Smith and....

I did too... during our sacrament prayers, I cried more then I usually do (I always cry now) and my husband and I both were crying from being touched during our closing song, which was "Abide with me"

It is fitting that he return on the Sabbath day to his eternal rest.

[WhisperFox]

I feel the same foreboding feeling. Without saying more now disenfranchised is a good choice of words.

When I went in to tell my wife she first said "Ohh" with a little sadness, then she piped up with, " It's about time he graduated", and smiled.

Having had a wife pass away, I can imagine how happy he is right now and I have to smile.

[ithink]

I had been wondering how I would feel about this moment, it is quite unexpected and I am a bit shocked. I told a friend yesterday that I have been quite ill at ease for a few days now, I have no idea what that was, but I feel like a piece of the puzzle has been fitted where it was once missing -- as in a fulfillment of something. Is this what you mean by those feelings of foreboding?

I was expecting to see him once again in April. I have always thought Pres. Hinckley's conference addresses were particularly matter of fact, and always the gentle man, I felt you needed to consider the gentle way he was in order to understand what he was saying.

We have a temple going in our province of British Columbia soon, the Vancouver temple. Here's how it came about, if you don't already know, and this epitomizes my feelings to our late Prophet. While visiting the area, Pres. Hinckley was taken to various sites that the local leadership had found that might be appropriate. Having visited them all, he was still not satisfied any were right. En route from place to place later in the same day, they were waiting at a light (or something) in front of a large hedge, obscuring the view of whatever lay behind it. Pres. Hinckley simply stated "this is where we will build the temple", indicating behind the hedge. The driver suggested they stop and have a look at it. Pres. Hinckley said "that won't be necessary", and they did not stop to look at it then, and above all, it was not for sale.

The bottom line is three lots were amalgamated at that spot, sight unseen, and the temple construction is under way or soon to be. Unknown to anyone at the time, that location also happens to be the highest point of land in that region, and if you've seen the trees we have, you would know how that would be easily possible to not really know where you were at any given time. What an amazing story to me, and I will honor Pres. Hinckley forever for what he as done here at these extremely trying times. May we make him proud of us.

God bless his memory and those he has left behind, til we meet again, and may God's choicest blessings be with his successor.

ithink

BTW, we sung Abide With Me twice today in our Sacrament meeting.

[ShawnC]

All the love, honor and respect that I am capable of giving, I give now to the prophet, seer and revelator. Happy homecoming brother.

Shawn

[BroJones]

BBC today:

Last Updated: Monday, 28 January 2008, 04:50 GMT

President of Mormon church dies

Gordon Hinckley, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has died, aged 97.

He had been president of the church - popularly known as the Mormons - for the past 13 years.

The post is held for life, and Hinckley lived to become the oldest ever president, seeing church membership expand to 13 million people.

Based in Utah, half of the LDS membership is now drawn from outside the United States.

BBC today also:

Greek Orthodox church head dies

Archbishop Christodoulos had been receiving treatment for cancer
The head of the Greek Orthodox Church, Archbishop Christodoulos, has died, aged 69, after suffering from cancer.

An attempted liver transplant in Florida last year was unsuccessful, and the archbishop had grown steadily weaker at his home in recent days.

Elected to lead the church in 1998, he was a colourful figure, defending the church's pre-eminent role in the state.

He was also a strong supporter of Hellenism, the national character and culture of Greece.

The archbishop had been diagnosed with cancer last June after intestinal surgery.

In 2006, he met the Pope at the Vatican as part of efforts to bring the two churches together - the first such talks between Greece's most senior cleric and the leader of the world's Roman Catholics.

Their meeting focused on attempts to end the Great Schism that dates from 1054.

Looks like some missionary work in the spirit world for President Hinckley right off the bat!

See D&C 43:17 - end...

[Jeremy]

I dont feel much sadness. I thought I would. I feel like something has come to a close while something new is beginning. This isnt speculation, just a personal feeling.

I have been thinkning about what to say regarding this wonderful man. All I can really think to say is He loved us. Each of us. Members/non members. He loved...excuse me He LOVES Gods children. What a wonderful man. I am very happy for him and his wife. A reunion made in heaven.

[libertyfriend]

My prayers go out to his family and to those who will step up to take his place. I always saw him as a rational voice of peace, integrity, and wisdom. He had an amazing sense of humor, an amazing love for everyone, and truly dedicated his life to serving others. His words had a profound impact on my life and I hope to be able to thank him someday. He'll be greatly missed.

[AussieOi]

Having had a wife pass away, I can imagine how happy he is right now and I have to smile.

A life of service. what great men
these are. day, after day, after day, after day, til 97. amazing.


Ah, to be 30 again!!!!

(you know we're not "old" when we're in heaven...its just the flesh that ages. my guess is a physical appearance that resembles the early 30's)

must be very exciting for him. I know as much as it would be exciting to see the lord, past prophets, joseph smith, parents and so on, - it would be my wife that i'd most dearestly be keen to be reunited with. considering we are a partnerships before the lord, i'd image such men - and women- would be privileged to be reunited before the grand introductions.

we truly fear our mortality, but if we are prepared it must be so exciting. may I ensure I am worthy of the promises I am sure he has received.

what an exciting time.

[Proud 2b Peculiar]

Last night we prayed for those who will now be given the mantle. and that it may be lightened by the Savior so that it does not feel to heavy.

We said an unusually long prayer last night, not so much about the prophet passing and those who will be called, but for many other things too.

I was reading the newsroom article on the prophet on the church web site and I could not help but think about all that he has accomplished, it is truly amazing!

[Col. Flagg]

What a wonderful man. I'll miss him because to me, he wasn't just our prophet, he was our Grandpa! I am sure he's enjoying a very happy reunion with Marjorie, Christ, the Lord, and all of the other important men in LDS history... what an awesome reunion must be taking place right now! Like we always hear from 'The Spoken Word'... 'God be with you Pres. Hinckley until we meet again'.

[Lamanite Descendant]

My wife and I are very happy for him, we had a very peaceful feeling about this, what a homecoming he must have got but at the same time he must be worried for us who are still here... there may be some interesting times ahead in a Monson lead era.