Monday, January 28, 2008
The Passing of a Prophet
Every day I read the Deseret News online, mostly to keep up with the Utah Jazz and BYU sports. This morning as I was walking down the hall toward my office to start the day, I thought, "Oh, the Jazz played in Houston last night. I hope they won." So when I fired up my computer, after checking my email (where one of my best friends from high school told me that his father had died yesterday; I sent a response of condolence), I went to desnews.com.
Usually I just scan the front page of the website and proceed directly to the sports section. But today was different: President Gordon B. Hinckley passed away last night, and that, of course, was the top story.
I had a very immediate emotional response. I choked up, reached for my cell phone to call Shelly, and meanwhile ran to close the door of my office so my coworkers wouldn't see the tears that were already on their way. I found myself, for a good while, really, truly saddened by his death, without reading anything more than the headline. Although he was 97 years old, it felt like he would live forever. Moments before, I had told my friend that I was sad to learn of his dad's passing -- and I was -- but when I learned of President Hinckley's passing, I was shaken.
One non-Mormon co-worker mentioned that he had heard the news today, but as I dealt with other people throughout the day, I sometimes felt a weird sensation of knowing something vitally important that they didn't know. A prophet died last night. A prophet of God. Sure, it made the front page in the Salt Lake papers, but in the grand scheme, very few people noticed.
My testimony of the prophet was strengthened today. I learned, by the way my spirit and body reacted to the news of the death of this great man, that I knew -- almost literally, deep down inside -- that he was a man of God. His death renewed my resolve to live more like him. He was as unfailingly optimistic and happy as he was unfailingly funny. He was a hard worker who sacrificed a lot of personal comfort in order to make others happy and to get the job done. He was well-educated and well-read and well-informed. Most of all, he was a man who knew God and knew how to follow his commandments and lead others down the same path. I, along with millions of others, will miss him dearly.
Usually I just scan the front page of the website and proceed directly to the sports section. But today was different: President Gordon B. Hinckley passed away last night, and that, of course, was the top story.
I had a very immediate emotional response. I choked up, reached for my cell phone to call Shelly, and meanwhile ran to close the door of my office so my coworkers wouldn't see the tears that were already on their way. I found myself, for a good while, really, truly saddened by his death, without reading anything more than the headline. Although he was 97 years old, it felt like he would live forever. Moments before, I had told my friend that I was sad to learn of his dad's passing -- and I was -- but when I learned of President Hinckley's passing, I was shaken.
One non-Mormon co-worker mentioned that he had heard the news today, but as I dealt with other people throughout the day, I sometimes felt a weird sensation of knowing something vitally important that they didn't know. A prophet died last night. A prophet of God. Sure, it made the front page in the Salt Lake papers, but in the grand scheme, very few people noticed.
My testimony of the prophet was strengthened today. I learned, by the way my spirit and body reacted to the news of the death of this great man, that I knew -- almost literally, deep down inside -- that he was a man of God. His death renewed my resolve to live more like him. He was as unfailingly optimistic and happy as he was unfailingly funny. He was a hard worker who sacrificed a lot of personal comfort in order to make others happy and to get the job done. He was well-educated and well-read and well-informed. Most of all, he was a man who knew God and knew how to follow his commandments and lead others down the same path. I, along with millions of others, will miss him dearly.
Comments:
HI Matt,hope you are doing ok. I think we all had the exact emotions you did, followed by a comforting moment through the knowledge of the plan that he still lives on. Then also came the conviction that we all need to be like him.
So with that said, are you doing the Hinckley Challenge. You and Shelly better...
Ren.
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So with that said, are you doing the Hinckley Challenge. You and Shelly better...
Ren.
