President Hinckley

Monday as I was reading cnn.com, I clicked on the article about President Hinckley's death. CNN reported, "Mormons believe the president of the church is a living prophet and apostle. They considered his words divinely inspired." Yes, we do. The prophet's words are divinely inspired and they offer inspiration. Unfortuantely, CNN thought it was only important enough to quote the prophet on the church's stance on homosexuality and the role of women in the home. I think they should have looked at more of President Hinckley's divinely inspired words, including the following:

• On death: "All of us have to deal with death at one time or another, but to have in one's heart a solid conviction concerning the reality of eternal life is to bring a sense of peace in an hour of tragedy and loss that can come from no other source under the heaven."

• About faith: "There is no obstacle too great, no challenge too difficult, if we have faith."

• Live kindly: "Let us, each of us, watch ourselves. Whenever we have within us a little temper, go outside, breathe some fresh air, and come in with a smile and throw your arms around your companion and tell her you love her. Look to your children and let them know that you love them. Live with them kindly and graciously, as Latter-day Saints should do."

• Temple attendance: "Attend the temple. You will be blessed for so doing. Every man or woman who goes into the house of the Lord leaves there a better man or woman than he or she was when he or she entered the house of the Lord. The house of the Lord will have a refining effect upon you. It will cultivate unselfishness within your lives. It will build righteousness. It will impress upon you the importance of doing what you ought to do. Go to the house of the Lord."

• Importance of books: "How marvelous a thing is a book.... Books represent the accumulated workings of the human mind, the endless treasure of man's thoughts as he has contemplated himself and the phenomena with which he is surrounded. How grateful I am for books and for those who have tenderly watched over and guarded them through the centuries."

• Missionary work: "What a wonderful program to take a young man at the most impressionable time of his life and, at a time when he is most prone to think of himself, send him out in the world to lose himself in the service of others. That's a tremendous thing in its own right, this great (missionary) program."

• On education: "Education unlocks the door of opportunities. You will rise according to your education. Work at it. Sacrifice for it. Do it. Pray about it, and the Lord will bless you. You will see yourselves rise and become men and women of strength and capacity."

• Be good parents: "(The Lord) expects us to be good parents, fathers and mothers, husbands and wives. He expects husbands to treat their wives with deference and respect. He expects wives to treat their husbands with kindness and helpfulness. He expects us to be good parents to our children."

• Peace, friendship, respect: "I don't like bigotry. I don't like hate. They are so incompatible with the spirit of the gospel and the teachings of the Lord. I like peace. I like friendship. I like mutual respect. As we have these things, I don't think that is going to slow down the growth of the church — it may enhance it. I believe that we can do much, and I think we are doing much. I think we are making very substantial headway."

• Catastrophes across the world: "I don't know the reason for many of the catastrophes (across the world) but I do know this, that the God of heaven has imposed upon us as Christians the responsibility to look after those who become the victims of these terrible disasters. ... If we are followers of the Christ, we will follow him in doing what he would have us do as his followers in our daily living."

• Women: "Let me say to you sisters that you do not hold a second place in our Father's plan for the eternal happiness and well-being of his children. You are an absolutely essential part of that plan. Without you the plan could not function. Without you the entire program would be frustrated. . . . Each of you is a daughter of God, endowed with a divine birthright. You need no defense of that position."

• Prayer: "Be prayerful. Get on your knees. Speak with the Lord in prayer. He is the God of the universe but he will hear and answer your prayers if you will seek after him. Pray about the important things of your life — about attending school, about going on a mission, about the girl you will marry or the boy you will marry. The Lord will bless you and guide you."