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What are blogs more than a personal expression? Let me take a break for a second to share some thoughts on one of the greatest men of this time. President Hinkley was my prophet. Something I've been thinking about this evening and will likely be reflecting about for the next few days or more. If President Bush can post a tribute on his whitehouse.gov site, and Glenn Beck and others can. I suppose I can post something on my blog.
I would like to take a second to reflect on a man who has made a huge impact on my life. President Gordon B. Hinkley. He passed away a few hours ago at the age of 97 due to issues related to old age. He's been the prophet of my church for the last 12 years. I grew up in Southern Idaho and he spoke at a conference I went to when I was about 12 years old. He made a really strong impression on me as an inspired man of God and humble servant. Since that time I've learned a number of lessons including that it's ok to have a good sense of humor. It's ok to have a positive outlook on life and it's ok to plan and live for a bright future and to be successful. It's not about doom and gloom. This is the greatest time to be alive, he'd say. This is the fullness of times and there's never been a better time to be alive.
One message that really resonated with me was his message of "standing for something." In it he championed the virtues of love, honesty, morality, civility, learning, forgiveness, mercy, thrift and industry, gratitude, optimism and faith. We also shared in common the interest of travel and meeting people around the globe. "President Hinckley was the most traveled president in the Church’s history. His duties took him around the world many times to meet with Latter-day Saints in more than 60 countries."
I will miss President Hinckley and his inspired guidance and counsel, but also look forward to meeting up with him hereafter.
For more information about President Hinckley I recommend going to lds.org or there's a good write up on the Gordon B. Hinckley entry on wikipedia including a rich biography.
Thanks for letting me share this.
<Update>
Funeral Info:
SALT LAKE CITY 28 January 2008 Funeral services for President Gordon B. Hinckley, leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who died Sunday evening, will be held this Saturday, February 2, in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City.
The proceedings will be broadcast via satellite in 69 languages to over 6,000 Church buildings globally. Brigham Young University’s BYU Television will also broadcast the funeral internationally.
http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/
Official Press Release:
http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/beloved-church-president-gordon-b-hinckley-dies-at-97
Other Press:
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_8100480
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695247765,00.html
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=2560294
http://www.abc4.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=42aeb7e1-2f99-492c-926d-c6d2d26cdc1a
http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/200/5127/
Videos
</update>
I believe that you posted this with the best of intentions. You must feel a personal connection to the readers of this blog to want to share something that is meaningful to you. However, unless Gordon Hinckley was as passionate about SharePoint as you are, it would be more appropriate to post your comments about religion to a personal blog rather than one that is affiliated with Microsoft and is targeted to those of us who visit it for the useful and very much appreciated SharePoint information.
Sorry to hear that. Though I wish I get to 97 with such a resume!
More accurate - I wish I get to 97...
And about "We also shared in common the interest of travel and meeting people around the globe" - The Holy Land is still waiting...
Joel,
What a nice memorial. It was nice to read about the impact President Hinckley has had on your life. I'm proud and lucky to have you as a brother.
Tam
Wow! Your tribute looks similar to mine! I think we were at the same conference. I was 13 when I went to that conference in Souther Idaho. I grew up in Burley.
Check out my post on President Hinckley here:
www.graceforgrace.com
Thanks Tam, it was a tough decision to put this out there, but glad I did.
Anonymous,
I realize I don't need to acknowledge your comment, but it is something I debated.
I understand why you'd be thrown off by this post. I have tried to keep this blog 90% about SharePoint. I do throw in info on world wide conferences and travels if you look through the archive.
I met with the Church CIO a few months ago and attended an all hands meeting where SharePoint was mentioned a dozen times. It's an amazing product and look forward to seeing it help the church in it's three fold mission.
Whether or not we share your faith, we can all learn from great men like Gordon B. Hinckley. Thank you for your very appropriate tribute.
I greatly appreciate your 'standing for something' and posting your feelings in this blog. He was and is a great inspiration to me and I am excited to learn from our new 1st presidency!