President Hinckley, Part 1

I wrote this a year ago, posted and then deleted because it was just too long. But I did not abandoned it. This year I edited it and decided to divide in to two parts. Now you can take a break. Even though I broke it up; it is still too long. The dates in the headings represent the actual dates, not when I wrote originally wrote it.
The News (January 27, 2008)
Four years ago on the last Sunday of January, my sister, Laura from Washington State called and broke the news that President Hinckley had passed away. I am not sure how she found out, but soon the TV was on. Apparently, those in their teens and twenties were the first to know. The youth probably texted each other before KSL could find a reporter to send to Temple Square. I could be wrong, but KSL was showing some students from a local institute singing hymns at Temple Square or maybe the Institute at the University of Utah. The next morning, The Salt Lake Tribune had a half page sized picture of President Hinckley on the front page. The Tribune also gave President Hinckley his own section; a first for any prophet. A short article on Tuesday appeared in the paper about East High School students wearing the Sunday best on a Monday. Even the Utah Chronicle (aka the Chrony) had a front page article about President Hinckley. When I was a student there, President Kimball died and there wasn't anything about him, nada. But then, President Hinckley attended and probably graduated from the University of Utah, whereas President Kimball was an Arizona native and businessman before he moved to Salt Lake. But I think it was more than being a Utah alumnus that got President Hinckley a spot on the front page of the Chrony. President Hinckley reached out to the youth, probably like no other prophet of the church had in the 20th and 21st century. While I was in high school, I don't remember receiving a phone call to wear my Sunday best the day after President Lee died. Granted, President Lee was only the President for possibly three short years and President Hinckley was President of the church for more than ten years.
When I had heard that President Hinckley died, there was some shock and some disbelief. I thought he was going to live to be 100. After all, when he had his 95th birthday celebration, he told the crowd at the Conference Center that he would see them in five years. But then quickly, I realized he was with Marjorie, his wife of countless years. She had passed away shortly after Jay and I bought our condo. Even though I felt sad at his passing, I also felt joy. I imagine President Hinckley was smiling when he saw Sister Hinckley. I just hope he didn't knock the air out of her when he greeted her in heaven. He was probably quite thrilled to see the love of his life after a few long years. I remember when President Hinckley visited our ward almost four years ago, which was shortly after his wife died. When it came to bless for his grandson to bless his daughter, President Hinckley came down from the stand. I was surprised at how frail and how old he was. He seemed so lonely without Marjorie. I could tell he missed her greatly. President Hinckley was the first president of the church that I remembered who lost his wife while serving as a prophet. When I went to Sister Hinckley's viewing in the Relief Society building downtown, I walked around the Salt Lake Temple before boarding Trax. While I was walking by the temple, I knew President Hinckley and Sister Hinckley would be together again just like I know that I see my crazy, but lovable father again. Love is eternal and families can be forever. When I was in college, President, then Elder Hinckley came and spoke in stake conference. I had probably heard him in General Conference during a few radio broadcasts. But in the fall of 1978, it was the first time or second time; I had probably seen him speak in person. Because it was a smaller setting, I somehow felt more of his spirit or personality. I remember him speaking about a flight that he shared with a couple he knew. Just the way he spoke of the couple brought President Hinckley closer to my realm. This apostle was a real human being who experience life like me and the other college students.
When I attended the University of Utah, Chase Peterson was inaugurated as President. President Hinckley, then apart of the first presidency of the church, gave one of the prayers. Listening to his prayer, I felt his testimony. I swear his prayer went right thru the Special Events Center (now the Huntsman Center) roof and right to heaven. President Hinckley was speaking to God, his Father, and his Creator. It was an eloquent prayer.