On a recent date, my husband and I visited the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City. I wanted to see the Boy Scout exhibit honoring One Hundred Years of Scouting in the Church and the artwork on display from Norman Rockwell. I love his work!
First, we visited the first with exhibits about the early history of the Church. You can feel the spirit of the early saints there. There is a headset tour as well, but we didn’t use it. Next time. We moved upstairs and viewed the scouting exhibit, and then moved into an exhibit about the latter-day prophets.
When I saw the portrait of Gordon B. Hinckley it was as if I was seeing my own grandfather again. I have such tender feelings for President Hinckley. I believe he was the one who motivated me to work on creating this blog. Perhaps I relate most to him because of my background in journalism. Perhaps it is because we both like the same poet Robert Frost who wrote “The Road Not Taken,” which concludes with these lines:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
To see President Hinckley’s chair, his white temple suit, his Presidential Medal of Freedom given to him by President George Bush, and other personal belongings was a bit emotional for me. Gordon B. Hinckley was an amazing man and prophet of God who accomplished so much in his lifetime to bring the church out of obscurity. I will forever be grateful to him for his teachings, counsel and love. He passed away January 27, 2008, at the age of 97 and I still remember visiting the Church Conference Center for his viewing.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes from him:
“This cause will roll on in majesty and power to fill the earth. Doors now closed to the preaching of the gospel will be opened. The Almighty, if necessary, may have to shake the nations to humble them and cause them to listen to the servants of the living God. Whatever is needed will come to pass.”
– Gordon B. Hinckley, “Look to the Future,” Ensign, Nov 1997, 67
“The time has come for us to stand a little taller, to lift our eyes and stretch our minds to a greater comprehension and understanding of the grand millennial mission of this, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
– Gordon B. Hinckley, “This Is the Work of the Master,” Ensign, May 1995, 69
“This is my prayer for all of us—’Lord, increase our faith.’ Increase our faith to bridge the chasms of uncertainty and doubt. . . . Grant us faith to look beyond the problems of the moment to the miracles of the future. . . . Give us faith to do what is right and let the consequence follow.”
– Gordon B. Hinckley, “Lord, Increase Our Faith,” Ensign, Nov. 1987, 52–53
“Now, brethren, I want to make it very clear that I am not prophesying, that I am not predicting years of famine in the future. But I am suggesting that the time has come to get our houses in order. So many of our people are living on the very edge of their incomes. In fact, some are living on borrowings. There is a portent of stormy weather ahead to which we had better give heed.”
– Gordon B. Hinckley, “To the Boys and to the Men,” Ensign, Nov. 1998
“The best place to have some food set aside is within our homes. … We can begin ever so modestly. We can begin with a one week’s food supply and gradually build it to a month, and then to three months. … I fear that so many feel that a long-term food supply is so far beyond their reach that they make no effort at all. Begin in a small way, … and gradually build toward a reasonable objective.”
– Gordon B. Hinckley, “To Men of the Priesthood,” Ensign, November 2002
“Under the plan of heaven, the husband and the wife walk side by side as companions, neither one ahead of the other, but a daughter of God and a son of God walking side by side. Let your families be families of love and peace and happiness. Gather your children around you and have your family home evenings, teach your children the ways of the Lord, read to them from the scriptures, and let them come to know the great truths of the eternal gospel as set forth in these words of the Almighty.”
– Gordon B. Hinckley, “Selections from Addresses of President Gordon B. Hinckley,” Ensign, Mar. 2001, 64
Today I share one of his talks “Seek Ye the Kingdom of God.” I hope he will put a smile on your face.
The Church History Museum is open to the public free of charge:
Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
It is located at:
45 North West Temple Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 84150
Photo from lds.org