In Memory of Gordon B. Hinkley

While a kid, I always loved to listen to his talks during General Conference. Even though I was impressed, this was nothing to the day that I first saw him and heard him speak in person. It was August of 1986 in Columbia, South Carolina at a regional conference. We were in an arena similar to the Energy Solutions Arena and the house was packed to the rafters. It wasn't hard to understand why his humility in speach adorned with his sense of humor endeared himself to those who gave him an ear.

When he became President of the Church it seemed so natural. For so many years he was the person we would see presiding at General Conference as the senior counselor in the First Presidency.  I felt for the man when I would see the pictures of him as 3rd counselor in President Kimball's Presidency sitting alone on the stand. You could see the weight of the world in his face.