Reflecting on the Impact President Hinckley Has Had

The list just keeps getting longer.

I have been thinking all week about all that President Hinckley has done throughout his life and ministry to further the work of the Lord, and I just keep having more things come to mind. Of course, sitting here I probably won't remember them all, but here is what I can remember right now -- things that he did or that took place while he was the president and prophet that have had an impact. (For video tributes, click here.) (Part of the third video doesn't have sound it's worth hanging on, because there are some powerful clips that do have sound, and the pictures are great.)

-The Proclamation on the family
-Amazing temple building initiative (47 to 124 -- WOW!)
-Perpetual Education Fund
-A real focus on youth (watch this video for an example of the impact he has had)
-Celebrations with temple dedications (here's an example)-- which were focused on giving the youth a once-in-a-lifetime experience (this also happened in many places with the recognition of Joseph Smith's 200th birthday)
-Building the Conference Center
-Beautifying the area around the headquarters of the Church (there are SOOOOO many people who have benefited from this -- the times I have walked by the reflecting pool, it has been clear what a meaningful place it is for so many)
-Dedicating resources to Church history sites, giving members a place to reflect on the restoration, and giving our friends and neighbors the opportunity to learn more about us
-Traveling all over the world (I can't handle one overseas trip for the jet lag and all; he, 60 years my senior, could go at a pace that was nearly dizzying)
-Changes in the missionary program (raising the bar and the Preach My Gospel program)
-Taking the church to the Internet -- broadcasts and web sites and newsrooms and music and videos and all
-A new era of family history work, using the Internet and computers in unprecedented ways
-Rebuilding the Nauvoo Temple (did you know this was a dream of both his father and his grandfather?)
-Being an amazing, amazing presence with the media -- He was prepared for that role from the time he was a young adult
-Standardized building of chapels (saving money and time)

There is also just who he was -- the epitome of optimism, love, humility, humor, health, faith, pragmatism, hard work, endurance, and pretty much all else that we strive to become. He lived what he taught.

Obviously, I will miss him dearly. I believe his legacy will live on. He is an example of what can happen when one seeks to become an instrument in God's hands, and I know that he would want us to give all the glory to God, for He was simply His servant, trying to do the best he could do. He reminded us that we needed to do the same. He called us his friends and associates, and we could feel the honest and heartfelt love he had for us. I am grateful to have lived at a time when I could call President Hinckley my prophet. (On Monday, my youngest daughter asked me to print out a picture of President Hinckley ("in color"). I did so. She wrote, "My Prophet" and cut that out, and taped it to the picture. She then taped this to her door. What more could be said? He was "my prophet" to millions of us.)

Godspeed, President Hinckley. Thank you for your loving, dedicated, faith-filled service. We are all better people for knowing you.

A Musical+ Tribute to President Hinckley

And here's a musical tribute (with many clips of him speaking)....

A Virtual Visit to the Hinckley's Grave

I'm still mulling over President Hinckley's death, still mourning in my own way. I have appreciated what others have said and done to honor him, and thought I would share this photo essay with you, if you are the type that finds cemeteries peaceful and reflective places. I do, so I appreciated this. (I also thought it was interesting to see the effort that has gone into getting ready for Pres. Hinckley's funeral.)

Glenn Beck's Tribute to Pres. Hinckley

If you have room in your prayers....

It never hurts to ask for prayers. This little boy and his family are in need of them. They are friends of my sister.

Life is fragile.

Succession of Prophetic Leadership in the Church, Work Beyond the Veil

I'm working on a Family Home Evening lesson on how things work when a prophet dies. First [edited] here is the Church's official explanation about this process (I had looked for this when I wrote the original post, but couldn't find it).

I also found this talk that I thought was interesting and helpful. (It was given around the time that Harold B. Lee passed away unexpectedly.) I thought it was worth sharing.

A few highlights follow:

Now, this is the pattern; this is the system. Succession in the presidency happens in an orderly and systematized way, because the Lord has conferred upon the members of the Council of the Twelve all of the keys and powers and authorities that have ever been held in any dispensation or any age of the past. Every key is given to each apostle who is set apart a member of the Council of the Twelve. But because keys are the right of presidency, they lie dormant, as it were, in each man unless and until he becomes the senior apostle and is thus in a position of presidency to direct the labors and the work of all others. Therefore succession occurs, as it were, automatically....

Speaking of the transition from the leadership of President Lee to President Kimball, Elder McConkie says:

It was not required, nor was it requisite or needed, that the Lord give any revelation, that any special direction be given. The law was already ordained and established. God does not look down each morning and say, "The sun shall rise." He has already established the law, he has set the sun in the firmament, and the sun operates in harmony with established law in its rising. And so it was with the transfer of leadership from President Lee to President Kimball.

When the President of the Church passes on, the First Presidency is disorganized, and the mantle of leadership--the reins of presidency--go to the senior man left and to the Council of the Twelve as a body; in effect the Council of the Twelve then becomes the First Presidency of the Church and so continues unless and until a formal reorganization takes place. These words I read to you from President Joseph F. Smith:

There is always a head in the Church, and if the presidency of the Church are removed by death or another cause, then the next head of the Church is the Twelve Apostles, until a presidency is again organized of three presiding high priests who have the right to hold the office of First Presidency over the Church; and, according to the doctrine laid down by President Wilford Woodruff, who saw the necessity for it, and that of President Lorenzo Snow, if the President should die, his counselors are then released from that presidency, and it is the duty of the Twelve Apostles to proceed at once, in the manner that has been pointed out, to see that the First Presidency is reorganized, so that there may be no deficiency in the working and order of the priesthood in the Church of God. [Conference Report, April 1913, pp. 4–5]

I love the conviction he communicates at the end of his talk:

The destiny of the Church is guaranteed and assured. The only problem that ever can arise is with individuals--whether individuals will walk in the light and do the things that they must do to be in harmony with the Church and to reap and inherit its blessings.

In doing a little more searching, I found a few thoughts from our beloved President Hinckley on the topic of prophetic succession. When he was second counselor to President Kimball, he spoke of this phenomenon:

None other can or will take his place for so long as he lives. When he passes, there will be another ready, a man who, through long years of experience and service, has been trained, has been tested, has been schooled and refined and prepared to fill that sacred and awesome responsibility.

I wonder if he comprehended then that he would someday carry that 'sacred and awesome responsibility' as prophet.

I was struck as I read President Hinckley's biography at how the Lord had been preparing him for this calling all of his life. Truly he was a prophet of God!

And yet, he knew as prophet that someday he would be called home. He spoke of this fairly recently as well, and it stuck with me. In the October 2006 General Conference, he said:

The Lord has permitted me to live [aren't we all so grateful for that?!?]; I do not know for how long. But whatever the time, I shall continue to give my best to the task at hand. It is not an easy thing to preside over this large, complex Church. Nothing escapes the attention of the First Presidency. No major decision, no expenditure of funds is made without their approval. The responsibility and stress are great.

But we shall carry on as long as the Lord wishes. As I said last April, we are in His hands. I feel well; my health is reasonably good. But when it is time for a successor, the transition will be smooth and according to the will of Him whose Church this is. And so, we go forward in faith....

There is much to reflect on here. Our lives are in the Lord's hands -- all of our lives! We can each take comfort in His personal care. Our days are known to the Lord.

The Church is in the Lord's hands as well. I take great comfort in the way the Lord has built in an order that will not leave us leaderless for one moment.

I also love to hear our leaders testify of how involved they are in the decisions made. "Nothing escapes the attention of the First Presidency. No major decision, no expenditure of funds is made without their approval."

One other concept that I love to ponder at times like this is how the work is rolling forth on both sides of the veil. Death really is not the end, although it carries with it some sorrow for the loss of those left behind. But still, I think we can take comfort in the doctrine of the continuation of life beyond the veil.

Elder McConkie said:

[W]e have no difficulty in accepting [the death of the prophet] and in understanding that he is going forward in the Lord's work in another sphere.

President Hinckley also made a statement about how those who pass on continue the work of the Lord, shortly after Elders Haight and Maxwell passed away.

As we open this great conference we note the absence of Elders David B. Haight and Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Each of them served long and very effectively. We mourn their passing. We greatly miss them. We extend our love to their dear ones. We are confident that they are carrying on this great work on the other side of the veil.

All of this is comforting, but also sobering, for who we become in this life will be who we are in the next. President Hinckley, in his typical clarity and candor said:

This life is a part of eternity. This is one stage of our eternal lives. When we die, we will go on to purposeful, active, challenging living. The life on the other side of the veil will be somewhat like the life here. If we have been clean and decent and good here, we will go on in that same spirit. If we have been rascals, we will go in that same spirit. I believe that. I believe in the eternity of life. It is as much a part of my belief as anything that I know of, that this is not the end, that there will be another life, that we will be accountable to God our Father and to our Lord Jesus Christ, that we will have work to do, and that sometime we will all participate in the resurrection. That is my hope, my faith, my testimony” (interview with Ignacio Carrión, El País newspaper, 7 Nov. 1997).

Finally, I loved this testimony from our dear President Hinckley:

I want to give you my testimony of this work, and I want to say it in such a way that you can remember that I said it. I know this work is true. I know that God our Eternal Father lives. I am thankful for the knowledge that He loves us as His children. I am grateful that I feel in my heart a great love for Him. I know He lives, my Father in Heaven. I can scarcely comprehend the wonder of it all. He who is the Creator and Governor of the universe knows me, knows you, each of you children here today. He knows you, He loves you, He is concerned for you. I know that Jesus is my Redeemer, my Lord, my Savior. I know that. I can’t comprehend the full meaning of the Atonement, but I know that through His sacrifice He has made it possible for you and for me to live eternal lives of growth and knowledge and understanding and work, regardless of whether it’s on this side of the veil or on the other side of the veil” (sacrament meeting, Promontory Branch, Tremonton Utah South Stake, 15 Oct. 1995).

There is much to ponder at times like this. I love this work, I love our leaders. I am grateful to know the Lord is at the helm of the Church and of our lives, if we will let Him be.

Of One Heart and One Mind: The Power of a Prophet's Leadership and Spirit

It's been an interesting evening, getting the phone call about President Hinckley's passing, making phone calls to make sure loved ones knew, trying to get on ksl.com and deseretnews.com and not being able to get through (for the traffic, I imagine, as people wanted to check to see if it was really true, if he really had passed on).

Of course, checking the bloggernacle was part of that ritual. At first, there were no posts; I felt that desperate desire to send an instant message to every person who blogs so that everyone could know. But then, the word trickled in. And soon, the 'nacle was alive with posts and comments.

Reading through some of them has been a blessing as part of my reflection and mourning and desire to honor this great man of God. I know that he, in his typical self-deprecating manner, would want us to focus on the wonderful work he loved, and, of course, on the Savior, who is the True Head of the Church.

But it has been a moving experience to feel us all coming together in gratitude for the blessing of being led by such a man as Gordon B. Hinckley. As one commenter noted, we are all united tonight.

There is a poignant bittersweetness to it all. We all knew it would come, and it's sad to lose such a man on this side of the veil, but what a wonderful thing to consider the reunions on the other side of the veil. Thank you, all of you, for sharing your thoughts and feelings at this tender time.

Anyway, it has been wonderful to look at the headlines on the posts and to see so many simply paying tribute. It is a powerful and fitting tribute in my mind to President Hinckley, in a sphere that often thrives on lively discussion and frequent disagreement, to see how essentially everyone just stopped and, with one heart, reflected with love and gratitude on him and his life and this wonderful work.

President Hinckley has passed away

We knew it would come, but it's still hard to believe it. If you can get it to load, the story is here.

President Faust's October 2007 Conference Address"The Power to Change"

Maybe this is old news to you, but I looked in the back of my Conference Ensign last night and found this. It touched me to see it, because I loved President Faust's tender spirit, because his message is wonderful, because I love the fact that they found it and included it, because he clearly pondered and prepared way ahead to have gotten a talk to this point....

Because it's just another drop in my ever-filling reservoir of testimony. The gospel is true! The Atonement is real!

The work goes forward even as these men pass on, but their words and testimonies linger in my heart and life, and for that I am grateful.

"Better Duck -- if you're a Mormon"

Loved this article. We need more voices like this reminding us that "even Mormons" deserve respect. Even if you don't want to vote for Romney, it will be hard to disagree with this article.

What an interesting time to be a member of the Church.

If the rest of it really doesn't matter, why do I want to do it all?

I was on the phone with a friend today. She asked how Christmas preparations were coming, and I shared with her that my body had basically hit bottom. I spent essentially all day horizontal. Many of the things I have wanted to do, including for family, have either been put on the back burner (our family members living out of state won't receive their gifts until after the holiday) or will just fall off the plate.

My friend kindly offered her help, and then reminded me that when I look back, the stuff that didn't get done won't matter anyway.

As I lay on the couch, playing games with my daughter, basking in that sweet time together, I wondered: "If most of the trappings and the extras really don't matter, why do we do them all?" And I wonder how much of that might apply to my day-to-day life. Am I so consumed with stuff that really won't matter that I am sometimes (often?) missing what does?

But then again, how does one decide what 'doesn't matter'? I suppose each of our plates can carry different amounts at different times, and I think each day will probably be a little different. But this week when I have felt so rotten, and throughout the course of my struggle with chronic illness, I have struggled to figure out how to balance. Where is that line between diligently striving to be "anxiously engaged" in "many things" (Doctrine and Covenants 58:27) and running faster than I have strength?

I know there is no pat answer to it, and that we need the guidance of the Holy Ghost to help us. But as my husband and I have had to work to just keep the bare minimum going, we have realized how often we really don't seek the Spirit and instead just sort of let life live us. It's so easy to let the good things keep us from the most important things.

Although my obvious wish is to have more strength to do more of what I want and feel I need to do. However, I can't help but wonder how much of that stuff along the way is really that important. I feel I am learning a lot, especially the past while (and with the help of several talks at this last General Conference), about the importance of proactively seeking to have my priorities in place, every day.

Truth be told, I felt more joy today lying on the couch playing with my daughter than I would have felt doing almost anything else on my "list" even with how much I love Christmas. Might this be a lesson the Lord wants me to learn through all of this?

And a Little Child Shall Lead Them....

Last night, BB (age 6) had the Family Home Evening lesson. She was gone all day, and yet she had an idea that she wanted to run with. By the time she got home, I couldn't help her because I had to get dinner ready. So she tackled it on her own.

We sat down to a lesson that touched my heart. It was on the Book of Mormon. One key message she wanted to get across was that reading the Book of Mormon [reading scriptures] was more important than reading other books. [She meant this in terms of priorities -- that we should read the scriptures first before reading other things.] She had her brother come up and pretend to be reading a different book, and then had Dad come up to remind him that he should read his scriptures first.

Once she had this little 'skit' she had us each draw a picture of the Book of Mormon or the gold plates. She then asked to use my cell phone to take a picture of us all holding our pictures.

In our family prayer, she later asked that we would remember to read the Book of Mormon before we read other books.

Do I even need to say which book I started my day with today? :)

Awesome Household Tips

I just ran across this page that has a huge variety of household tips using things like vinegar, baking soda, yogurt, club soda, and powdered milk. (Did you know you can make paint from powdered milk! At last I have a backup plan for using all of my milk I never use up from my food storage!) :)

Join Team Bloggernacle in Donating to Heifer International!

I've always been impressed with the concepts behind this organization, and now we have a chance to join together to make an impact in a significant way. I know there are lots of opportunities and choices at this time of year, but if you have even a few dollars, please consider joining this awesome effort. To contribute, click on the "General Team Donation" link.

Thanks to Janet Garrard-Willis for organizing this effort!

Words Matter, but Grace and the Spirit Matter More

I have been mulling over something today, while participating in a discussion about the challenge of language. (The particular discussion was about the concepts of presiding/patriarchy and partnership, although I'm sure we could find others where words and concepts seem to collide.)

It may seem at the outset that these are conflicting concepts, and, perhaps in the dictionary sense, that may be true. What do we do when this happens? Do we dismiss efforts to explain them? I think doing so is a serious mistake.

Words do matter. And it's difficult when words seem to get in the way of our understanding or communication. But when we are using words in the gospel (or even in relationships), we are seeking to explain and understand concepts that have an eternal (or at least a concealed) dimension (in relationships, we rarely know all that is behind the words said or written (experience, upbringing, pain, motives, etc.). As such, words themselves will usually not be sufficient to truly understand gospel concepts, or to understand each other. If we limit ourselves to only words, and react only at the level of dictionary definitions (or our limited, I believe we will miss significant opportunities for meaning and understanding, and also for compassion.

In fact, I believe we have a solemn responsibility to receive words with more than just dictionary in hand. We must receive by the Spirit.

I was reminded today of Moroni in Ether 12. Imagine the weight of knowing your words would be passed down for generations, and would be an anchor for gospel teaching. He laments the limitations of language, of his words. He goes to the Lord in fear and concern:

"[W]hen we write we behold our weakness, and stumble because of the placing of our words; and I fear lest the Gentiles shall mock at our words" (v. 25).

The Lord comforts him by letting him know that the listeners (readers) have a responsibility to receive the words in the right spirit.

"And when I had said this, the Lord spake unto me, saying: Fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of your weakness..." (v. 26).

Do we ever take advantage of the apparent weakness of others' words? I fear that too often we do, be they words from prophets or even just from those around us in our day-to-day lives. We insist that the way we understand what they said is correct. We hold up dictionaries and worldly learning and our own experiences alone, and thus too often feel justified in criticizing or dismissing or undermining or reacting unkindly to what their words. (Misunderstandings, after all, are just about misunderstanding words, right? We all know this happens far too often in our lives and relationships. We know it also happens in the Church.)

It seems to me that the Lord expects more of us, however. This is evident in these verses in Ether 12. I think we also find warnings against such reactions to words in 2 Nephi 28:

...And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God--he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this

Other scriptures also recognize the limitations of language (see, for example, 3 Nephi 5:18)

I think of a wonderful talk by A. Roger Merrill in last year's October General Conference. He talked about receiving by the Spirit. I believe that as we receive by the Spirit, with meekness and charity, the Lord will magnify seemingly weak words and help us understand things that our minds alone cannot understand. He will also overcome our weak tendency to take advantage of others because of their words, or their weakness. The Lord's grace is sufficient for us, and for them. It is our opportunity and responsibility to tap into that grace or I believe we will mourn as we someday discover that we have missed opportunities for spiritual understanding and experiences with gift of charity.

Indeed, words matter, but I believe grace and charity matter more.

New LDS Site for Teens

Here's the link.

Here's a story talking about it.

Environmental Benefits of Keeping the Sabbath?

Whaddya think?

Missionary Meme

BiV, I'm finally getting to that meme! (And I'm doing it because I love you...even though I'm not a huge fan of these things. This is one with some good purpose, so on we go....)

Here are the rules--
1. Answer the three missionary questions

1. Did you serve a mission, and where?
Yes, I served in South America.

2. What was your best missionary experience?
One I wrote about recently...talking for hours with a women who had read the whole Book of Mormon and bombarded us with questions, and finally breaking through to help her understand about authority and ordinances. The other was watching Roberto get baptized, about a week before I left. (That's a funny story, too, because we had to bail out the baptismal font...someone had left it undrained. Yuck.)

3. Who is the most missionary-oriented leader you have ever had?
Hm. Hard one to answer. I think Elder Lynn Mickelsen is one who had the greatest impact on my view of missionary work -- open your mouth, all of the time! Teach in every opportunity! He helped me understand the power of the Spirit when we teach the gospel. His teaching changed my mission and my life, because as I taught more, I received a specific testimony of Joseph Smith's divine calling, something I had desired for a long time.

2. Do the missionary activity and return and report.
Ask a random stranger if they have ever heard about the Mormon Church, and if they would like to know more (Golden Question)
(I'll report when I actually do it!)

3. Tag 5 of your friends.

I tag Eric, Connor, Téa, and Tanya. (Having a mental block for #5)

First Presidency Supports National Adoption Month

Thought this might be of interest.

Keeping Children Safe in our Church Buildings

Parents, don't assume that just because your kids are in the church building, they are safe. This is a sobering story that has me thinking about times my kids were in the hall when I was somewhere with some adults, even just chatting after a ward something-or-another.

http://www.nbc4.com/news/14424638/detail.html