Gordon B. Hinckley, 1910-2008

He is resting in peace.

Our Beloved Prophet, President Hinckley passed away.

Here are some excerpts from the CNN report. He is the headline story on CNN.com:

Hinckley became president of the Salt Lake City-based church in 1995, at age 84, and had been a member of its top leadership since the 1960s. Mormon church presidents serve for life.

The church has about 13 million members worldwide and has experienced five percent annual growth in recent years.

He died about 7 p.m. Sunday (9 p.m. ET) with his family by his side, church officials said.

"His life was a true testament of service, and he had an abiding love for others," said U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican and fellow Mormon. "His wit, wisdom, and exemplary leadership will be missed by not only members of our faith, but by people of all faiths throughout the world."

Hinckley married Marjorie Pay at the Salt Lake City temple in 1937. They had five children, 25 grandchildren and 38 great-grand children. Marjorie Hinckley died in 2004.

"I've been blessed so abundantly that I can never get over it," Hinckley told CNN's Larry King in 2004. "I just feel so richly blessed. I want to extend that to others, whenever I can."

Hinckley was the 15th president in the 177-year history of the Mormon church. President Bush awarded him a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004.

According to a church statement, Hinckley was the most-traveled president in the church's history, visiting more than 60 countries. He also oversaw a massive temple-building program, doubling the number of temples worldwide to more than 100.

Hinckley spent 70 years working in the church and is considered the architect of its vast public relations network. He worked to diffuse controversies over polygamy and to promote full inclusion of non-whites


Gosh, this man was our prophet. He's gone now. He's so much happier, I'm sure, but it's still sad for those of us behind.

We loved Gordon B. Hinckley and his teachings will be with us always.