We thank thee O God for our prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley

As many of my friends have already begun to blog, I too mourn the loss the world feels tonight. A prophet of God has returned to live with his master and his loved ones. We actually recieved the call before it was breaking news. Kent's co-worker has ties to Larkin mortuary who were called to take care of the body that has housed this soul for almost a century. This coworker called and informed Kent. A few minutes later we found the breaking news on TV. My prayers go out to his family as they mourn the loss of such a lovely father, grandfather, brother, grandfather, etc.

As I have thought about Gordon B. Hinckley's teachings and what he has accomplished as a prophet there was one talk that stood out in my mind above all other talks. It was a talk given at a CES fireside I attended in the conference center in September of 2001. The talk becomes even more meaningful when you realize it was given two days before 9/11.

The quotes I would like to share from this prophet are the inspired encouragings of hope and gladness...

"The world is full of naysayers who think that people your age (18-30) have lost their way. I disagree. Let me say that I am very proud of you. I think you are the finest generation this Church has ever produced. Because of you, I have no fear concerning the future. You are ambitious. You are trustworthy. You are loyal to the Church and its principles. You have great confidence in one another. You work together with love and appreciation and respect one for another. You are faithful, and you are true. You love the Lord, and you pray."

President Hinckley talks of the negitivism in this world and pleads with us to, "stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life we try to "accentuate the positive." I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still our voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment virtue and effort."

In addition to that plea he adds, "look for the remarkable good among those with whom you associate, that we speak of one another’s virtues more than we speak of one another’s faults, that optimism replace pessimism, that our faith exceed our fears. When I was a young man and was prone to speak critically, my wise father would say: "Cynics do not contribute. Skeptics do not create. Doubters do not achieve."

He also warns that there will be tough times ahead, but "Do not despair. Do not give up. Look for the sunlight through the clouds. Opportunities will eventually open to you."

Finally he asks us to "Believe in yourselves as sons and daughters of God—men and women with unlimited potential to do good in the world...Believe in one another as the greatest generation ever yet to live upon the earth."

I am so thankful for the prophet Gordon B. Hinckley who has given so much to this church. I believe that there is sadness in this world to have lost such a great man, but I also believe that we have been left with a legacy to follow his words and become the men and women he saw us to be. It is true of his work when he quoted Madame Curie saying, "So little time. So much to do." He did so much in such a short time and I will forever to grateful to him for his work. I will forever be grateful to say that I was alive during the time when the church was lead by the great prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley.