Gordon B. Hinckley Biography, Life, Interesting Facts

Childhood And Early Life

President and prophet of the Church of Latter-day Saints Gordon B Hinckley was born in Salt Lake City on the 23 June 1910. His father Bryant Hinckley baptized him on 28 April 1919. Hinckley was raised in Salt Lake City where his father ran a business college and was involved in the real estate industry.

Hinckley was a descendant of a governor of the Plymouth Colony. His grandfather had joined the Mormons in 1839 after fleeing from Missouri to Nauvoo, Illinois. After anti-Mormon forces killed the church’s founder (Joseph Smith) and banished his followers from Illinois, Hinckley’s grandfather was one of those who trekked across the Great Plains to Utah.

Education

Hinckley did a degree at the University of Utah with the intention of becoming a journalist but instead became a missionary and traveled to England where he used to preach in Hyde Park, London.

Rise To Stardom

After two years missionary work in London, Hinckley returned to Salt Lake City. He served as the Executive Secretary of Church Radio, Publicity, and Literature committee, heavily involved in how to present the church’s teachings to would-be converts. After working in publicity for the church for twenty years, he was then put in charge of the missionary program for seven years. Hinckley also served as a counselor to three church presidents: Kimball, Benson, and Hunter.

Church President 1995-2008

On the 12 March 1995 Gordon B Hinckley was appointed Church President. During his tenure as president, the church saw the most intense temple building programme in its history. He also traveled the world to meet church members and used television and press publications to put the message of the church across. Under his leadership, ninety-five new temples were dedicated.

Awards And Achievements

During his more than four decades in leadership roles, Hinckley was the 15th President for twelve years as well as being the oldest president in the history of the church.

Personal Life

Marjorie Pay Hinckley, his wife, died in 2004. They had been married for sixty-seven years.

Gordon B Hinckley died on the 27 January 2008.