The Passing of a Prophet

We are saddened by the death of President Gordon B. Hinckley. We will miss his great humor and powerful testimony. However, we are happy as he is again with his sweet wife and great things still lie ahead of us as members of the church. It is exciting to anticipate the changes that will come and to see the work of the Lord continue to move forward.

"I hope that all of you will remember that on this Sabbath day you heard me bear my witness that this is God's holy work. The vision given to the prophet Joseph in the grove of Palmyra was not an imaginary thing. It was real. It occurred in the broad light of day. Both the Father and the Son spoke to the boy. He saw Them standing in the air above him. He heard Their voices. He gave heed to Their instruction.

"It was the resurrected Lord who was introduced by His Father, the great God of the universe. For the first time in recorded history, both the Father and the Son appeared together to part the curtains and open this the last and final dispensation, the dispensation of the fullness of times.

"The Book of Mormon is all that it purports to be - a work recorded by prophets who lived anciently and whose words have come forth to the convincing the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations' (Book of Mormon title page).

"The priesthood has been restored under the hands of John the Baptist and Peter, James, and John. All the keys and authority pertaining to eternal life are excercised in this Church.

"Joseph Smith was and is a prophet, the great Prophet of this dispensation. This Church, which carries the name of the Redeemer, is true.

"I leave you my testimony, my witness, and my LOVE for each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

President Gordon B. Hinckley
(June 23, 1910 - January 27, 2008)

April 1, 2006, sunday morning session of the 176th
Annual World General Conference