Our Beloved Prophet

I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the impact that President Hinckley has had on my life. When I heard the news, my first reaction was sadness, because I had lost such a great leader. Those feelings quickly turned to joy as I imagined the sweet reunion of the Prophet and his eternal companion. I have no doubt where our prophet is and who he is with.

One of my favorite things about President Hinckley is his upbeat and positive attitude. He was always the optimist amidst a world of chaos and turmoil. His message was always one of encouragement, to "stand a little taller". That's what I want to focus on this year. To do a little bit better tomorrow than I did today.

I had the opportunity to teach in Elder's quorum today, and the discussion centered on President Hinckley and on the restoration of the gospel. During the prophet's funeral services, I couldn't help but notice that the first thing that was mentioned in the opening prayer was thankfulness for the restoration. The restoration was mentioned numerous times throughout the service. Having a testimony of the first vision and the prophet Joseph Smith is central to being a member of this faith.

In his last two addresses, the prophet bore strong testimony of the restoration. The prophet said "To you, this day, I affirm my witness of the calling of the Prophet Joseph, of his works, of the sealing of his testimony with his blood as a martyr to the eternal truth. Each of you can bear witness of the same thing. You and I are faced with the stark question of accepting the truth of the First Vision and that which followed it. On the question of its reality lies the very validity of this Church. If it is the truth, and I testify that it is, then the work in which we are engaged is the most important work on the earth."

Thank you President Hinckley for your life, for your tireless work in building the kingdom of God. I have come to know more of the Savior by listening to your council and applying it to my life. God be with you til we meet again!