Yesterday (Sunday) in Stake Conference we sustained President Hinckley. Interestingly, however, sometime during the day I thought how sad it will be when he passes, knowing that he really couldn't go on forever. While we were watching Mansfield Park, Maren called from AZ and told us that she had received word from Gavin's sister that the prophet had passed away. Within a few minutes we were able to confirm that on the internet. It wasn't really surprising, but still left us feeling saddened, not for him, but for us.
I felt "safe" with him leading the church. I was always confident that he wouldn't say or do anything that would cause discomfort. He had a way of representing us and explaining us without making us seem kooky. He was funny and made me laugh; never a trace of sanctimoniousness. As Anna said, he made improvement seem possible, asking us to take it just one bite at a time. He wasn't afraid to ask us to repent, but never made us feel like we were unacceptable. He was so blessedly human, yet so good.
I loved his prophetic vision manifest in the Perpetual Education Fund, temple design, and for that matter, design in general. He saved the beautiful Hotel Utah and turned the Vernal Tabernacle and Copenhagen Meeting House into sparkling temples through adaptive restoration. He rebuilt the Nauvoo Temple. The design of the Conference Center, the restoration of the Tabernacle, and the Main Street Plaza were highlights of his tenure. He really seemed to care about design, which made me happy, and as mentioned above, confident: things were in very good hands.
As a missionary, I met him in Brazil on his way home from Japan. A few years ago I also spent an evening with him and Sister Hinckley in their apartment on South Temple across from the Governor's Mansion. They were planning to move to the current apartment on State Street in order to be closer to work. The move was also to help facilitate security. A couple of our best students were invited to present a design for their new home and we were invited into his apartment for the presentation. He was so personable and jovial and insisted that Sister Hinckley serve us ice cream. They visited as if they had nothing else to do with an evening at home.
I loved his modest life style. He told us that we don't need big houses and their modest little home beneath Mount Olympus where the Hinckleys raised their family exemplified that philosophy. For me, he really seemed to embody all that was good, both temporally and spiritually.
He was just so easy to love. And I did.
OXO
D.
