[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 13 (Monday, January 28, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S371-S373]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      DEATH OF GORDON B. HINCKLEY,

  Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, as the majority leader noted, last night 
Gordon B. Hinckley, the oldest serving president of the Church of Jesus 
Christ of Latter-day Saints in the history, passed away. He was 97 
years old. Many might think that in lasting until 97 he passed away as 
a wasted, worn-out man. That is not true. President Hinckley was 
energetic and enthusiastic and fully engaged within just a day or two 
of his passing. With my senior colleague Senator Hatch, I have had 
meetings with him and the other leaders of the church and was always 
amazed at how well connected he was. He read the papers. He watched the 
television. He knew what was going on in the world outside the church 
every bit as much as we did. His memory was phenomenal. There are many 
people who were 20 to 30 years his junior who could not remember 
current items of news as well as he could.
  So it is appropriate we take a moment or two to comment on the 
stewardship and contribution of this great man at the time of his 
passing. We do not mourn for him. He has joined his wife, his parents, 
and those others who have gone before him who may have a little sense 
of ``Gordon, what took you so long?'' But he stayed at his job and he 
fulfilled his stewardship in an impressive manner. The mourning we have 
on this occasion is mourning for ourselves, for the loss we have 
sustained in seeing this great and good man go on.
  I have made mention of his energy. I should also mention his 
enthusiasm. He had a great zest for life. He was always looking forward 
to the next activity and the next opportunity. Along with his energy 
and enthusiasm, he was a man of humility and humor. You were never 
quite sure when he stood at the pulpit to speak if he was going to say 
something that would put you at ease and make you laugh, because that 
happened much more often than it did with some others who were a little 
more serious in their message. His messages were always serious, but 
they always had that touch of humor.
  The last message we heard from him, speaking to the entire world in 
general, and to the church specifically, was his sermon of last 
October. I am sure he did not know that would be his final sermon to 
the members of the church. But it started out again with a touch of 
Hinckley humor. He noted, as he stood to speak, that singers will sing 
the same song over and over again, as people ask them to perform; 
orchestras will play the same symphony over and over again; but 
speakers are always expected to say something new. He said that 
bothered him a little, as he was going to repeat a sermon he had given 
before. After we smiled at his early comments, we heard a lecture on 
anger. He talked about the toxic effects of anger and how we should do 
our very best, both in our personal lives and in our professional 
lives, and, if I may, here in the Senate in national dialog, to do away 
with the sense of anger.
  I have just returned from the annual session in Davos, Switzerland, 
where I heard a lot of people who could benefit from that sermon, as 
there was a lot of anger people had toward other governments and other 
government officials.
  I will not in any way attempt to capsulize what President Hinckley 
had to say about anger, except to demonstrate that this was his 
benediction prior to his death to the members of his church, telling 
them not to be angry with their families, not to be angry in their 
communities, and not to be angry with the world.
  A former Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul, spoke in his letter 
to the Corinthians about the three most important attributes of a 
Christian: faith, hope, and charity. Gordon B. Hinckley spoke of these 
same attributes and lived them in his life. But he put them, if you 
will, in modern terms: optimism, confidence, and love. A sermon telling 
us not to be angry with our fellow men is a fitting capstone to the 
stewardship of this man. It is a modern way of saying Paul's term 
``charity'' or the pure love of Christ. We shall miss him.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Utah, Mr. Hatch, 
is recognized.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I may speak 
for about 5 minutes on Gordon B. Hinckley.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I associate myself with the remarks of my 
colleague from Utah, Senator Bennett.

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He basically stated in very articulate terms how important President 
Gordon B. Hinckley was, not just to Senator Bennett and myself, but to 
people all over the world.
  I express my deepest empathy, sympathy, and love to the family of 
Gordon B. Hinckley. I agree with Senator Bennett, that President 
Hinckley in dying was happy to go and again be with his beloved eternal 
companion, Marjorie, whom he missed, who died about 4 years before him, 
and to be with others he has known here on this Earth, and others he 
would like to know who helped to make this country the greatest in the 
world, and many others as well. I extend my deep sympathy to his 
family--a wonderful family; they are terrific people.
  President Hinckley was as ecumenical as a person could be. He led a 
worldwide church, the fifth largest church in America, the Church of 
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He basically taught all of us to 
understand that all religions are good and that we should work 
together. I don't think there has been a humanitarian mission or a 
major disaster anywhere in the world where the Church of Jesus Christ 
of Latter-day Saints--nicknamed the Mormons--hasn't cooperated with 
Catholic charities and other Christian charities--especially Catholic 
charities--to immediately go into action and provide the needed food, 
clothing, pharmaceuticals, et cetera, all over the world. These two 
charities have done so much. He made sure our members--13 million 
strong around the world--participated in each humanitarian concern. In 
fact, we have thousands and thousands of humanitarian missionaries all 
over the world. Many are older people who are retired and are giving 18 
months, or even more, of their time--and some less--to be able to bring 
humanitarian help to people all over the world. This man led that. He 
was also a great business leader. Imagine, we had a man like this run 
this very important worldwide church.
  Senator Bennett mentioned his sense of humor. You hardly heard a set 
of remarks by President Hinckley where he didn't very wittily make his 
points even better than he would have if they were just stern and 
tough. He was never stern and tough, unless it was essential. He was 
always kind and loving. He was kind to me. Elaine, my wife, and I 
personally love him and we are going to miss him very much. He traveled 
all over the world. I have traveled all over the world, and generally 
have done it on military planes with military liaisons helping us and 
carrying our bags, doing everything to make it a reasonable trip. I 
come back beat every time. In every case, I wanted to kiss the ground 
when I got back here. He traveled extensively all over the world, 
almost a million miles. In that regard, I pay tribute to Jon Huntsman, 
Sr., who made it possible in his later years for him to have a very 
good airplane that I think extended his life for a longer period of 
time for the benefit of mankind all over this world. It was a wonderful 
thing.
  He had love for all human beings and he expressed that love not only 
through his words but also through his actions.
  I might add that, as Senator Reid mentioned, he established the 
perpetual education fund where members of our faith donate millions of 
dollars every year to help unfortunate young people in these foreign 
lands to be able to go to school and raise their educational level so 
they can become leaders in their own country, and so they can make 
great contributions. I think it is one of the most inspired things I 
have ever seen. We have thousands of young men and women who are now 
leaders in their countries--teachers, doctors, lawyers, and others--all 
because of the vision of this great man, whom we call a prophet.
  I might mention that in his travels he dedicated dozens of temples, 
the most of any president of the church, all over the world. To LDS 
people those temples are extremely important. We believe marriage is so 
sacred and it is for all eternity, not just this life. Frankly, we try 
to live that way. Many do. These temples are extremely important to us. 
He went all over the world doing it.
  I can truthfully say this is a man I loved. He was a profound 
influence on Senator Bennett, me, and millions of others. He was a man 
who got along with leaders of other faiths. He taught us we must 
respect everybody.
  Today I add my voice to those of 13 million other members of the 
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in bidding farewell to our 
beloved prophet, President Gordon Bitner Hinckley. His death late 
yesterday in his home in Salt Lake City has reminded us that all good 
things must come to an end. It is a sad day for all Utahns. We have 
lost our friend, our leader, and our fellow servant. President Hinckley 
lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people, 
leaving behind him a fame and a name which will be known for 
generations to come.
  In our effort to follow in President Hinckley's footsteps, Latter-day 
Saints found they had to lengthen their stride to keep up with him. 
Even into the sunset of his life, President Hinckley was indefatigable. 
He set a vigorous pace, traveling the world and sharing his message of 
service, love, and compassion with millions of all faiths. Everywhere 
our prophet traveled, he succored the weak, lifted the hands which hung 
down, and strengthened the feeble knees. When I think of the blessing 
President Hinckley was to those around him, I am reminded of the words 
from the great Mormon hymn, ``Every day some burden lifted, every day 
some heart to cheer, every day some hope the brighter, blessed honored 
pioneer.''
  President Hinckley was born to humble surroundings on June 23, 1910, 
in Salt Lake City, UT. He attended public schools, and graduated with a 
bachelor's of arts from the University of Utah. His first job was as a 
newspaper carrier for Utah's Deseret News. This modest start with a 
newspaper was a prelude of things to come. President Hinckley became 
the most media savvy leader the LDS Church has ever known, sharing his 
warmth and spirit with countless reporters, cultivating great 
friendships with notables like Larry King and Mike Wallace. Wallace 
once described President Hinckley as ``a man I admire and I love 
really, because he's just an extraordinary guy.''
  As many Latter-day Saints do, Gordon B. Hinckley served a mission for 
the church while he was young. President Hinckley served in Great 
Britain in the 1930s, sharing the gospel's message of peace and hope 
during a time of great political and economic turmoil. Discouraged by 
the lack of receptivity he found among the Britons, he confided his 
dismay to his father, who instructed the young Gordon to ``forget 
himself and go to work.''
  Young Gordon did, both in Great Britain and in the 70 years of 
service that followed.
  His love of God fueled his love of country. President Hinckley 
carried the torch of patriotism, and the spirit of America burned in 
his heart. He once said, ``I love America for [its] great 
constitutional strength, for the dedication of its people to the peace 
and the prosperity of the entire earth. I love America for the 
tremendous genius of its scientists, its laboratories, its 
universities, its researchers, and the tens of thousands of facilities 
devoted to the improvement of human health and comfort, to the 
extension of life, to better communication and transportation. Its 
great throbbing and thriving industries have blessed the entire world. 
The standard of living of its people has been the envy of the entire 
Earth. Its farmlands have yielded an abundance undreamed of by most 
people of the Earth. The entrepreneurial environment in which has grown 
its industry has been the envy of and model for many other nations.''
  President Hinckley's patriotism inspired him to great acts of civic 
service, in addition to his church duties. He was a chairman or board 
member of many businesses and educational entities. He received 
honorary doctorates from five colleges and universities, the 
Distinguished Service Award from the National Association for the 
Advancement of Colored People, the Silver Buffalo Award from the Boy 
Scouts of America, and special recognition for his contributions to 
tolerance from the National Conference of Christians and Jews.
  President Hinckley's ministry earned him national prominence. In 
2004, President George W. Bush awarded our prophet with the 
Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation's highest civil award. 
President Hinckley was one of the spiritual leaders President Bush 
invited to the White House following the

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September 11 attacks. It was a great honor, both for him and our faith, 
that the President invited him to that gathering. A few months later, 
on the eve of the Winter Olympics in 2002, President Bush said, 
``President Hinckley represents a great religion, he is a strong part 
of the American scene.''
  But President Hinckley never let his love of the United States 
obscure his vision for the rest of the world. Prior to becoming the LDS 
president in 1995, Hinckley supervised the church's organization in 
Asia, Europe, and South America. During his tenure, the number of 
members living inside North America was surpassed by those living 
outside of it. The nations of the Earth heard his voice and he brought 
them a knowledge of the truth by the wonderful testimony which he bore.
  As president, he administered to both the ecclesiastical and temporal 
needs of the church, whose 13 million members are spread over some 160 
nations and territories. President Hinckley lifted his voice on every 
continent, in cities large and small, from north to south and east to 
west across this broad world. One global vision President Hinckley had 
for the LDS Church was a perpetual education fund, whereby members in 
wealthier nations could donate to the education of those in developing 
nations, thereby empowering them to help themselves and strengthening 
the infrastructure in struggling parts of the world, particularly Latin 
America.

  When he became president of the church in 1995, the church had only 
47 temples, our special meeting houses such as the magnificent one in 
nearby Kensington, MD. Thanks to President Hinckley's vision of 
expansion, today there are 124 in operation, and 12 more are under 
construction.
  One of his first messages upon becoming our prophet in 1995 was a 
proclamation to the world, declaring the divine nature of the family 
unit and providing direction on how to nurture strong family 
relationships. There is no greater duty or privilege among the Latter-
day Saints than to serve our families. President Hinckley admirably 
demonstrated that service as a grandfather, father, and husband to his 
eternal companion, Marjorie, who walked side by side with him for two-
thirds of a century.
  Now he and Marjorie are walking together in the fields of paradise, 
enjoying a richly deserved peace in the Lord. I am sure at this time he 
would remind us that death is the great equalizer. No matter what a man 
or woman may accomplish in this life, this final inevitability is 
waiting for them. Shortly before his own passing, perhaps seeing the 
end was nigh, President Hinckley told church members, ``A man must get 
his satisfaction from his work each day, must recognize that his family 
may remember him, that he may count with the Lord, but beyond that, 
small will be his monument among the coming generations.''
  Our heads are bowed now, as we bid him farewell. Gordon Bitner 
Hinckley joins the ranks of departed prophets, on whose shoulders he 
stood and in whose mighty company he can now proudly mingle. God be 
with you, our friend, till we meet again.
  I have to say, he stood for everything that was good, and I love him.
  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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