Gordon B. Hinckley

Read about more little-known stories and miracles behind the creation of the Church’s first temple endowment film.

Among many traits President Hinckley characterized, he exemplified a life full of positivity and good humor. The following is a compilation of some of funny moments and life lessons we won’t forget.

There is no doubt that Planet Earth is a wondrous, beautiful, and glorious place, and we are eternally grateful for all of God’s creations.

For Bishop Caussé, that bill is worth far more than ten dollars. In fact, he has kept it tucked in his scriptures years.

In the face of tragedy, President Hinckley “took the grieving family members in his warm embrace and wept with them.” Learn how his loving response led to the conversion of one woman and impacted a community by clicking the link below.

How did some of our modern-day prophets propose to their wives? From the humorous to the sweet, you'll love these incredible stories that show a brief glimpse into the early lives of three prophets.

It’s unlikely that anyone in the Church (except for the apostles) anticipated that Neal A. Maxwell would be called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles when he was. As far as most people knew, there wasn’t a vacancy to be filled. Generally, a new apostle is called when an apostle dies. However, in 1981, the health of all three members of the First Presidency was declining. After many vibrant years of service together, they were slowing down. President Spencer W. Kimball, in recovery from surgery, felt “a restless urge to breathe needed vitality into the First Presidency”. President Kimball called Elder Gordon B. Hinckley to be a fourth member of the Presidency on July 15th. This left a vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve.

With so many Church leaders who have a wonderful sense of humor all their own, there are always many funny or light-hearted moments shared each general conference. Here are some of the most hilarious that are guaranteed to give you a laugh, brighten your day, and deepen your love for God's chosen apostles.

The messages and stories Church leaders shared in the wake of the devastation on 9/11 are ones we can apply in times of division, darkness, and even in times of prosperity. They are messages to live by that remind us what is most important in a world filled with death, destruction, hate, and also love.

Summertime and camping are pretty much synonymous with each other. There's just nothing like taking off into the great outdoors, roasting marshmallows, and looking up at the starry sky on a summer night.

President Hinckley had been speaking several minutes. He paused and explained that there was another person from the other side of the veil he had not mentioned. In a strong voice filled with emotion and joy, President Hinckley exclaimed, “Welcome, Father Lehi! Oh, how your heart must rejoice!”

June 8, 1978, is emblazoned into our collective memory as Latter-day Saints. Many of us identify with the sentiments of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, who said, "I can remember exactly where I was. For us, that's the 'where we [were] when Kennedy was shot' [moment], this deep, deep, spiritual, emotional moment in the history of the Church."

It has sometimes been said that newer is better, but let’s celebrate the older parts of our Church—past and present.

Only three months after the Church was officially organized, the Lord instructed Emma to make a selection of hymns to be used by the Saints:

Baptist minister Lynn Ridenhour thought it was a joke when he picked up his phone one day and heard, "My name is Elder Robert Oaks," on the other end.

General conference: a time of year that Latter-day Saints across the entire world unite their prayers, their voices, and their spirits in sustaining and listening to God's chosen prophets and leaders. It is, without a doubt, a sacred and wonderful time for Mormons everywhere, full of many spiritual and emotional highs.

It's that time again where millions watch in awe as the best athletes in the world compete in tests of strength, endurance, and skill. As one of the eagerly watched signs that the Olympics are approaching is the ceremonial journey of the Olympic Torch.

While taking out the trash at home one day, Henry B. Eyring received a phone call from President Gordon B. Hinckley, who was then the prophet. Surely he had the wrong number, the then-Elder Eyring thought. He had no way of knowing the magnitude of what he was about to hear.

President Heber J. Grant told a wonderful story about work for the dead:

When Gordon B. Hinckley approached the pulpit at general conference in October 2001, the heinous attacks on September 11 were fresh in the minds of everyone listening around the world.

Go Forward w Faith live PB Go Forward w Faith live PBWhile serving his mission in England, President Hinckley encountered many challenges, but two sentences kept him going and changed his life forever. Read what those sentences were in the following excerpt from Go Forward in Faith by Sheri Dew.

In 1991, President Gordon B. Hinckley, then the first counselor in the First Presidency, stood before the women of the Church to answer the questions of a young 14-year-old girl, questions that still arise today. This poignant talk was the result:

So much content on social media and in person-to-person interaction is filled with hate. Black vs. white, democrat vs. republican, straight vs. LGBT, anti-Trump vs. Trump, conservative vs. liberal, religious vs. non-religious. I haven't even mentioned the "movements" that preponderates current news. I find the yelling matches of typing fingers to be an exhausting, venomous rhetoric. How can such conflict be resolved?

On April 7, 1996, President Gordon B. Hinckley appeared on CBS' 60 Minutes.

While many of us might remember hearing about the life-changing letter President Gordon B. Hinckley received while serving a mission in England, there's much of the story you might not have known.

What an incredible way this man has continued his grandfather's legacy.

As the prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for over a decade, President Gordon B. Hinckley traveled much of the world and left an impact on millions both inside and outside of the Church. From receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom to seeing 100 dedicated temples placed on the earth, he left a beautiful testimony and legacy that we can all learn from.

With so much in our society that draws us apart—with all the online debating, the differences, and even the hatred that divides us, this counsel from President Gordon B. Hinckley is something everyone should strive to make a reality in their life today:

When Gordon B. Hinckley was a young boy, he decided to do something typical of little boys—he decided to skip school. But the results that followed would be something that would change young Gordon B. Hinckley's life.

We love these men and the testimonies they bore as Apostles of Jesus Christ, through their actions and their words.

As we prepare to study the wisdom, humor, and beautiful counsel of President Gordon B. Hinckley this year, we wanted to share with you his powerful testimony of the Savior, of whom he was a special witness.

There are many reasons to be excited for 2017, and one of those reasons is that we will be studying President Gordon B. Hinckley in our Relief Societies and Elders Quorums. As 2016 comes to a close and the new year begins, learn from President Hinckley the unfailing power of optimism.

When Thomas S. Monson was called to the Quorum of the Twelve in October of 1963, one of the first assignments he was given was to supervise the work of the gospel in the Polynesian area. He came to know and love the members in Polynesia, even giving his October 1966 conference talk on "God's Gifts to Polynesia's People."

Through the years, President Thomas S. Monson has felt a special kinship with President Wilford Woodruff, the fourth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“I make no defense of the war from this pulpit,” Elder Gordon B. Hinckley said in the later 1960s. “There is no simple answer. The problems are complex almost beyond comprehension. I seek only to call your attention to that silver thread, small but radiant with hope, shining through the dark tapestry of war—namely, the establishment of a bridgehead, small and frail now; but which somehow, under the mysterious ways of God, will be strengthened . . .”

Everyone loves lists, including Mormons. In fact, from Primary on up, we are encouraged to make or memorize lists, like the Articles of Faith. But here are a few lists of virtues that we say often within the Church that you might not have realized were lists. These lists remind us of what is most important and teach us the kind of people we should strive to be.

The relationship between U.S. presidents and the Church hasn't always been friendly. In the early days of the Church, presidents were often viewed more like antagonists than allies to the Church and its cause. However, as the Church has grown and its members more involved in politics, so has its relationship with these important government leaders.

At a single adult fireside in 1989, President Hinckley gave this counsel to the single saints of the Church, something that is crucial for all members to read, no matter their age, gender, or marital status.

In his October 2015 general conference talk, Elder David A. Bednar, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spoke of the final years in the lives of recent church leaders.

MR says: From meeting movie stars and royalty to flying planes, from milking cows to traveling the world, check out some of these incredible pictures of our Latter-day prophets.

MR says: Our modern-day prophets and apostles have performed miraculous works for people around the world, but their greatest contribution to the lives of those they meet are their strong testimonies of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Wednesday marks the 20-year anniversary of the release of an important document. In 1995, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints put forth a set of principles that would help strengthen families and communities throughout the world. Those time-tested guidelines came in the form of “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” Virginia H. Pearce, daughter of late Church President Gordon B. Hinckley, was serving in the Church’s auxiliary leadership at the time. She shares her thoughts on the moment she heard the proclamation and her feelings today.

When there is a vacancy in The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the President of the Church is the one who ultimately issues the calling to a new apostle. The process of receiving that inspiration includes earnest prayer and discussion with all of the current apostles. President Gordon B. Hinckley shared this after filling a vacancy left by the passing of Elder Marvin J. Ashton in 1994:

In honor of Mother’s Day, here is a collection of thoughts, stories, memories and tributes to mothers by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

President Gordon B. Hinckley, the 15th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is fondly remembered for his quick wit and sense of humor. He also had a special way with words that inspired thousands of members around the world. Here are some of his most inspiring quotes to help lift you up when you're feeling down.