President Hinckley passed away last Sunday, and I've spent the past few days reading articles about him. Most sites and newspapers offered a timeline of his life and a list of his accomplishments, but there was an article in the Salt Lake Tribune that is my favorite so far. Its title : The Wit and Wisdom of Hinckley. Here are a few excerpts:
- Asked about the secret of his longevity, Hinckley's favorite reply was: "The idea I try to follow is to go to bed every night and be sure you get up in the morning."
- In a 1995 interview for "60 Minutes," reporter Mike Wallace said: "There are those who say: 'This is a gerontocracy. . .this is a church run by old men."
Hinckley: "Isn't it wonderful to have a man of maturity at the head? A man who isn't blown about by every wind of doctrine?"
Wallace: "Absolutely, as long as he's not dotty." Hinckley: "Thank you for the compliment."
- After Apostle Russell M. Nelson gave a laudatory speech about Hinckley at LDS General Conference in 1997, Hinckley returned to the podium and quipped, "I thought we were conducting General Conference. It's turned out to be a funeral."
Hinckley continued: "He's taken extreme liberty. I challenge him to a duel down in the basement of the tabernacle after this session."
At the end of the session, Hinckley apparently thought better of the idea.
"I've repented," he said. "Thank you for your kind words. We'll postpone the duel."
- "I wish to be up and doing. I wish to face each day with resolution and purpose. I wish to use every waking hour to give encouragement to bless those whose burdens are heavy, to build faith and strength of testimony. If in the process I should die on some distant strand while speaking to my friends in the church, it would be better than if I were to spend my days, looking out languidly upon the world without purpose or design."
Thank you for your love, guidance and example, our dear prophet.
- Asked about the secret of his longevity, Hinckley's favorite reply was: "The idea I try to follow is to go to bed every night and be sure you get up in the morning."
- In a 1995 interview for "60 Minutes," reporter Mike Wallace said: "There are those who say: 'This is a gerontocracy. . .this is a church run by old men."
Hinckley: "Isn't it wonderful to have a man of maturity at the head? A man who isn't blown about by every wind of doctrine?"
Wallace: "Absolutely, as long as he's not dotty." Hinckley: "Thank you for the compliment."
- After Apostle Russell M. Nelson gave a laudatory speech about Hinckley at LDS General Conference in 1997, Hinckley returned to the podium and quipped, "I thought we were conducting General Conference. It's turned out to be a funeral."
Hinckley continued: "He's taken extreme liberty. I challenge him to a duel down in the basement of the tabernacle after this session."
At the end of the session, Hinckley apparently thought better of the idea.
"I've repented," he said. "Thank you for your kind words. We'll postpone the duel."
- "I wish to be up and doing. I wish to face each day with resolution and purpose. I wish to use every waking hour to give encouragement to bless those whose burdens are heavy, to build faith and strength of testimony. If in the process I should die on some distant strand while speaking to my friends in the church, it would be better than if I were to spend my days, looking out languidly upon the world without purpose or design."
Thank you for your love, guidance and example, our dear prophet.
