Lunch with President Hinckley

When I heard the news last night that our beloved prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley, had passed away, I instantly wanted to pay tribute to him on this blog.

I told Mr. Dub I wanted to open my comments to people's favorite memory or story of President Hinckley. When I asked myself what mine would be, I found myself thinking, "The time we had lunch together."

Only problem? We never did. Yet my mind could so clearly pull up an image of us chatting over a garden salad as we waited for our main course. He would ask about me and my life. I would ask him what I could do to be a better person and more charitable. We would laugh.

Part of this bizarre illusion, of course, is the result of my strange emotional state as of late. (How else can I explain how completely happy I am that he has died and finally gets to be reunited with his dear wife and take a break from his whirlwind responsibilities?) But I think mostly my pretend lunch date is a reflection of how close I felt to this man, who served as LDS Church president for 13 years and has been a member of the First Presidency since I was two years old.

I always felt like he knew me. I always felt like he understood my generation and our unique set of challenges. I appreciated his humor and easygoing attitude. I loved his ability to be kind and firm at the same time. I knew he was a prophet of God.

Now, we are going to have a new prophet. And while it will be so sad to see someone else in President Hinckley's seat, I have the faith and testimony that he will be called of God, as well. But he won't be filling President Hinckley's shoes; he will be wearing his own and making his own mark as an individual. And that's the way it's supposed to be.

I'll save my story about the time President Monson wanted to have me fired for a news story I wrote about him for another time. 'Cause that one is true, and I don't want you to think any less of the man who is most likely going to be our next prophet. (FYE: It ultimately made me respect him even more.)

Meanwhile, have I told you about the time I had lunch with President Hinckley ...

What's your favorite story or memory of this great man?

Fond Farewell

Someone very special to me, and likely many of you, passed away this morning. Upon hearing the news of his passing, I immediately burst into tears. (And really scared Mr. Dub when I raced into the bathroom in hysterics to tell him that someone had died. Mr. Dub was saddened by the news, of course, but relieved to hear it wasn't an immediate family member.)

President James E. Faust may not be a name familiar to all of you, but he was a great world leader within and without the LDS Church. He was a great lawyer, a great legislator and great football player back in the day.

He loved everyone, but had a special place in his heart for the Brazilian people. And his adoration for his wife Ruth and their five children was inspiring.

He was 87 and had been troubled by Parkinson's disease in recent years. But seeing him give public addresses from a comfy wingback chair rather than standing at the pulpit only made him more personable to me. So I was surprised by his passing, which may or may not have been expected.

Like most people, I've been anxious for the last 10 years that we might lose our beloved prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley, to old age. But at 97, he keeps on ticking! Yet, I didn't expect one of his counselors to go before him. And the sad reality is that he, too, will leave this life ... probably sooner than later.

And that's a very hard idea to handle because President Hinckley, like President Faust, is so dear to me.

It's hard to convey the love the Latter-day Saint people have for their leaders. I think what helps is that they are loving, empathetic, gentle and humorous. They feel more like friends than superiors.

But in the great goodness of this glorious gospel, there is a simple organization that quickly fills the positions with new leaders. And we don't blink before sustaining them because we understand the order. Soon we'll embrace a new member of the First Presidency (and likely a new apostle).

I apologize to those who don't frequent this blog for religious banter. The following paragraph is for you:

Something funny happened. Random pop culture reference. Babies are tricky lil' devils. Word.

For the rest of you, I suggest we take some time today to reflect on President Faust's great life, say some prayers for his wife and family and read one of his talks.

I like this one.

Goodbye, friend!