2.02.2008

my favorite teachings of the prophet gordon b. hinckley

(picture by becky higgins)
today is the funeral for president hinckley, and it's been neat to see on everyones blog their stories or favorite things about him. he led the church for 13 years. he pushed the expansion of the church. he was the prophet who went to byu and encouraged us to make the jump from mediocrity to excellence, and to walk a little taller...and with those words changed the course of my life. he was the prophet while i was a missionary and I testified daily that he truly spoke with the lord and was leading the church as his mouthpiece, and feeling the spirit confirm that again and again to my heart and to those i was teaching.

my favorite quotes by president hinckley are: "Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just like people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, and most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is just like an old time rail journey ... delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride."


“Before I married her, she was the girl of my dreams,” he said. “She was my dear companion for more than two thirds of a century, my equal before the Lord – really my superior. Now in my old age, she has again become the girl of my dreams.” President Hinckley said he has seen too many marriages end in tragedy because of arrogance and degradation. In his estimation, if men and women were to do whatever it took to ensure the comfort and happiness of his or her counterpart, there would be little or no divorce. “Arguments would never be heard, accusations would never be leveled, angry explosions would not occur,” he said. “Rather love and concern would replace abuse and meanness.” In President Hinckley’s 67 years of marriage, he could not remember one serious quarrel or argument with his wife. The prophet pleaded with the men of the church “to look for and nurture the divinity that lies within their companions.” He said that harmony, peace and enrichment of family life are results of such treatment. “The cure for most marriage troubles does not lie in divorce; it lies in repentance and forgiveness, and expressions of kindness and concern,” he said. “We can live together in the God-given pattern of marriage and accomplish that which we are capable, if we will exercise discipline of self and refrain from trying to discipline our companion.” President Hinckley said women are endowed with certain divine qualities and that men should give them the opportunity to express their qualities and talents. According to President Hinckley, Sister Marjorie Hinckley summed up her gratitude for her husband’s encouragement in one statement. 'You’ve always given me wings to fly, and I’ve loved you for it,' she said"

i am going to miss his bright optimism and expressions of love. his encouragement and true christianity. but i am so happy for him! i tried to imagine his reception in heaven and i thought it must've been glorious! and to be with his wife again! he expressed his lonliness these past few years and i'm so happy they are together again. my favorite quote of all time was said by sister hinckley, and i think it is especially applicable and true of the hinckleys entrance to heaven:

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing Sister Schenck's lawn. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor's children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived." -marjorie pay hinckley, wife of the prophet.

i am one of millions who will miss him.


10 comments:

C & D Pedersen said...

Those are some great quotes. I will miss President Hinkley too. But I am also happy that he is with his sweetheart.

The Quist Family said...

Couldn't of said it better. Love all the pictures. I will miss him.

gs said...

Thanks Steph, those quotes are wonderful. I memorized the last couple lines of the first one, but don't remember having read it in it's entirety. Can you give the references for each---pleaz?

The Bentley's said...

thanks for that! i just love him!

Sydney said...

I had never read that first quote. That's a great one. I often forget to be thankful for the ride. Thanks for posting that.

Carrie Anne said...

I love all of those quotes so much! Thank you for posting those, because they are, like him, so inspiring and motivating. So awesome!

Sarah said...

love all the quotes. I just love him and may steal some of these from you. thanks for sharing.

Sarah said...

love all the quotes. I just love him and may steal some of these from you. thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

I just found your blog through my sisters, and I have to say....wow. thats a great post! what a great man he was. TFS.

Jaimee said...

Stephanie, this post is so nice! It's great to reflect on Pres. Hinckley's teachings and rememeber the influence he has had on our lives. He will be missed.