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Gordon HinckleyHead of the Mormon Church
Date of Birth: 23.06.1910
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Biography of Gordon Hinckley
- Early Career
- Leadership Roles
- Presidency of the Church
- Public Life and Recognition
- Personal Life
Biography of Gordon Hinckley
Gordon Hinckley was the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving from 1995 to 2008. He was born into the family of Bryant Stringham and Ada Bitner Hinckley. One of his ancestors, Stephen Hopkins, arrived in America on the Mayflower, while another was known for serving as the Governor of Plymouth Colony from 1680 to 1692.
Early Career
Hinckley began his career as a newspaper carrier for the Deseret News. He graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Arts degree and then served as a full-time missionary in the United Kingdom for two years. At the end of his mission, he was called as an assistant to the European Mission president. After completing his mission, he received an assignment from President Heber J. Grant to establish the Church's public affairs department. In 1937, he became a member of the Sunday School general board and spent 20 years leading the Church's public relations efforts.
Leadership Roles
In 1951, Hinckley was appointed as the executive secretary of the Missionary Committee, overseeing all missionary activities of the Church for seven years. He also served as the president of the East Millcreek Stake in Salt Lake City and on April 6, 1958, he was called as an assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, becoming part of the Church's highest leadership. On October 5, 1961, he was ordained as an apostle. He supervised Church operations in Asia, Europe, and South America, inspecting temples, overseeing missionary work, charitable services, priesthood operations, and visiting Church members who were serving in the military.
Presidency of the Church
Hinckley's presidency began on March 12, 1995. As a member of the First Presidency, he played a significant role in both spiritual and temporal matters of the Church. During his tenure, over 10 million people in 160 countries joined the Church. He traveled around the world multiple times and dedicated more temples than any other Church leader before him. He was the first Church President to visit Spain, where he dedicated the site for the construction of the Madrid Temple, as well as various countries in Africa, where he met with Latter-day Saints in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
Public Life and Recognition
Hinckley was frequently interviewed by major secular media outlets, including the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and CBS 60 Minutes. In September 1998, he appeared on the popular CNN show Larry King Live, where he was interviewed by renowned television host Larry King. He also held various leadership positions in several major corporations. In 2004, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, by President George W. Bush. He also received multiple awards in the field of education from the University of Southern Utah and the University of Utah. Hinckley was an honorary doctorate recipient from Westminster College, Utah State University, the University of Utah, Brigham Young University, and Southern Utah University. He was awarded the Silver Buffalo Award by the Boy Scouts of America and was honored by the National Conference (formerly the National Conference of Christians and Jews) for his contributions to promoting tolerance and understanding worldwide.
Personal Life
Hinckley married Marjorie Pay in 1937, and they had five children together. Sister Hinckley passed away on April 6, 2004.
