Clinton meets with LDS leaders
E-mail story
It's easy. Send a link to the story you were just reading to a friend. Just fill out the form on this page and we'll send it along.
Your name and e-mail address are transmitted to the recipient. Otherwise, it is considered private information; see Privacy policy.
Democratic Presidential candidate Bill Clinton made a courtesy call Sept. 15 on LDS Church leaders. Before concluding their meeting, which lasted about 20 minutes, President Gordon B. Hinckley, first counselor in the First Presidency, presented the presidential candidate a porcelain seagull and related the story of how seagulls swept in to devour crickets that were destroying the crops of the early pioneers.
After the formal meeting, President Hinckley escorted Clinton, governor of Arkansas, into the Church Administration Building's reception area, where national and local photographers and television camera crews waited.During the photo opportunity, President Hinckley related the history of the Administration Building and also briefly explained to the governor the Church's welfare plan, which he stated is a well-established organization to help people, both Mormons and non-Mormons.
Gov. Clinton earlier in the meeting had commended the Church for the service rendered by its members in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. In addition, President Hinckley described the practice of members fasting and contributing fast offering funds equivalent to or greater than the amount that would have been spent on the two meals missed during the fast.
"The Church," President Hinckley stated, "uses that money to assist the needy of the Church as well as to help those in serious distress in various parts of the world."
