Gordon B. Hinckley

Gordon Bitner Hinckley (born June 23, 1910) has been President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ("LDS Church"; see also Mormon) since March 1995. Additionally, at times when President Hinckley's predecessors were in poor health, Hinckley performed most of the duties of the Church President. As president of the Church, he is considered by faithful members to be a prophet, seer, and revelator of God's will on behalf of humanity.

Life

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, he completed high school there in 1928. After attending the University of Utah he was called to go on a mission to London in 1933, an unusual occurrence for Depression-era Saints. Hinckley returned to the United States in 1935 and soon accepted a job offer to lead the Church's new public relations department (he had been schooled as a journalist in college). Hinckley's responsibilities included developing the Church's fledgling radio broadcasts and making use of the era's new communication technologies. Starting in 1937, he served on the Sunday School General Board. On April 29, 1937, he married Marjorie Pay (November 23, 1911 – April 6, 2004). They had been married 67 years at the time of her death.

Related Topics:
Salt Lake City - Utah - High school - 1928 - University of Utah - London - 1933 - Depression-era - United States - 1935 - Public relations - Journalist - Radio - 1937 - Sunday School - April 29 - November 23 - 1911 - April 6 - 2004

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After service in a stake presidency, he became a General Authority of the Church in the now discontinued position of Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1958. In 1961 he himself became an Apostle and member of that Quorum, the youngest at that time.

Related Topics:
Stake - General Authority - 1958 - 1961

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In the early 1980s the ill health of both Church President Spencer W. Kimball and his octogenarian Counselors N. Eldon Tanner and Marion G. Romney led the Church leadership to resort to the occasional practice of adding an additional Counselor to the First Presidency, and Hinckley filled this position on July 23, 1981. At the time of Tanner's death in 1982, Romney succeeded him as First Counselor and Hinckley succeeded Romney as Second Counselor.

Related Topics:
1980s - Spencer W. Kimball - Octogenarian - N. Eldon Tanner - Marion G. Romney - July 23 - 1981 - 1982

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By this time, however, Hinckley was largely shouldering the burdens of the First Presidency himself. Though he officially remained Second Counselor, he was informally referred to in the press as "acting President of the Church." Kimball and Romney remained largely out of the public eye until President Kimball died in November 1985.

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Longtime President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Ezra Taft Benson became Church President, and named Hinckley First Counselor. Romney succeeded Benson as President of the Twelve, though he never exercised the duties of this position. Thomas S. Monson became Second Counselor, and, for a while, all three members of the First Presidency were able to perform their duties.

Related Topics:
President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles - Ezra Taft Benson - Thomas S. Monson

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In the early 1990s however, the nonagenarian Benson developed serious health problems that removed him from public view, and First Counselor Hinckley again carried out many of the duties of the President of the Church until Benson died in 1994. Howard W. Hunter, who had succeeded Romney as President of the Twelve, became Church President and confirmed Hinckley and Monson as his Counselors, Hinckley additionally becoming President of the Twelve by seniority. And when Hunter died after a presidency of only nine months, Hinckley was chosen to be president of the Church at the age of 84 (his two predecessors had both acceded at age 86) after being unanimously sustained by members of the Quorum of the Twelve.

Related Topics:
1990s - Nonagenarian - 1994 - Howard W. Hunter

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Vigorous for his age, Hinckley has led the Church since March 12 1995; he is now the third oldest president in Church history.

Related Topics:
March 12 - 1995

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Hinckley is known for his aggressive building of temples. Under his leadership, the Church has expanded the number of temples worldwide from 27 to 122 (as of October 2005, with 11 announced or under construction). In 2000 alone, more LDS temples opened (34) than existed at the time of Hinckley's ordination to the Presidency. Over two-thirds of all LDS temples currently in operation were dedicated by Hinckley. Hinckley has also overseen other building projects like the LDS Conference Center.

Related Topics:
Temples - 2000 - LDS Conference Center

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On 23 September 1995 he announced and read ', a statement of belief and counsel prepared by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve.

Related Topics:
23 September - 1995

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On July 22 2005, friends of President Hinckley performed in a celebration commemorating his 95th birthday. In addition to the twenty-two thousand people who attended in person, the event was broadcast on BYU Television and to meetinghouses on the Church's closed-circuit satellite system. Mike Wallace, former host of 60 Minutes, narrated Hinckley's life and his accomplishments. Afterward, Hinckley spoke, thanking everyone for attending, and saying, "Let's do this again in five years."

Related Topics:
July 22 - 2005 - BYU Television - Mike Wallace - 60 Minutes

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