Our Prophet Has Died

Tonight President Gordon B. Hinckley died at home with his family at the age of 97. It's really not a surprise, especially at his age, but still shocking news. He kept going until Friday when he didn't go into work. I am joyful that he is now with his eternal sweetheart, but how I'll miss him!

When President Hinckley became the 15th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints our family consisted of seven children. So much has happened! Just a week after our youngest was born, President Hinckley spoke at the Salt Lake Boy Scouts of America Scout-A-Rama at the Utah State Fair Park. One of the scouters that I worked with, Tom, knew how things would go that morning, so he led the children and I to a place where we would see President Hinckley as he climbed into the car when he left. It was exciting, overwhelming, to be just a few feet from the prophet of God! He waved at us.

Our family was present at the Sunday morning conference when President Hinckley received the message that the U.S. had bombed Afghanistan. He was very sad that other means could not resolve the issues of the day. We all left that conference session very solemn.

I have loved how we have been invited via satellite to so many temple dedications over the years from Palmyra, Nauvoo, Winter's Quarters, and Bountiful. These experiences helped us to share spiritual moments with our family. Recently he attended our stake conference and many others via satellite. In fact, when I miss him, all I need to do is visit lds.org and click on the archives and will find many videos of his conference and other addresses.

I have also loved his sweet encouragement to "work a little harder and 'be' a little better." His guidance has helped me to keep focused on what is most important in life, living the gospel and caring for my family.

It has been President Hinckley who has let us know that even though the world is in turmoil around us we will find peace in the gospel.

In his honor the youth of the Church are dressing up for school tomorrow. I plan to do the same. I also plan to work a little harder and be a little better each an every day. How grateful I am for a prophet!

An Important Day

It wasn't until I was seated in room A410 in the Harris Fine Arts Center that I understood what I was privileged in witnessing. Before me was my daughter auditioning for the violin studio of the School of Music of Brigham Young University. When it hit me what might happen as a result of that moment, I was overcome with emotion and had to fight to keep from weeping. I often cry when she plays because it is so beautiful, but in a flash at that moment, I saw her life from the time she was that happy baby, to an energetic toddler, to a curious student and a young woman. In my mind, I saw her as a young girl who took up the violin to express so many things she found deep inside. She started lessons much later than some of our other children as our family was quite overwhelmed financially when she was little. I wasn't available to oversee her practicing, as I had her older brothers and sisters, but she didn't need me. She was always quite diligent to practice on her own. In fact, even after getting home late from a long, busy day, she is known to spend time with her violin before she settles down to sleep.

Although she was nervous she did quite well playing the pieces that she had memorized and sharing with the two professors the answers to their questions. So many years and so many hours of practice coming to fruition right before my eyes.

We won't know for a few weeks the results of those ten minutes, but I do know that she belongs at Brigham Young University.