Hands have an eloquence all their own. They are viewed as an extension of heart, mind and soul.

Hands evoke spirituality, call down the powers of heaven, witness of Christ.These are the hands of President Ezra Taft Benson, etched Aug. 4 with 93 years of mortal experience.

His hands speak volumes about years of noble living and of contentment that reward the numbered days. They speak of conservatism and refinement, of giving, honing, principle, and poise, of wisdom and discipleship to Christ - clean hands echoing the pure heart that knows God.

Here in repose upon the holy scriptures rest the hands of a prophet, a seer, a revelator - God's chosen shepherd over His earth children.

A man must be called by prophecy and by the laying on of hands that he may be an instrument in the hands of God.

These hands provide the peaceable things - cupping hands to cradle a baby's head, secure a lamb, or bind a sheaf of wheat; hands shaped to put away a woman's grief, reassure a sinner's forgiveness, press hope, strengthen the feeble knees, lift up the hands that hang down, bless birth, promise life, usher release; hands that touch in fellowship, in shared mirth, in heart's love, and on occasion a chastening hand.

These hands and God's power do His work each day.

None can stay the hand of the Lord. None can stay the work of the Lord handled on earth by those with His authority. And by the laying on of these hands people have been blessed, named, confirmed, ordained, healed, and set apart.

These hands have been raised among God's people today in sacred sessions, public meetings, private chambers to testify, sustain and vote and declare, swear an oath, witness truth, salute the flag, affirm allegiance, creed, or covenant, grip in recognition.

These hands are instruments of exploding life and sacred service, of cherished family love, honored public duty.

These hands grew strong in the work of the farm - noble work of God's earth.

Athlete's hands that held the champion's ball.

Scouter's hands busy with knots and grub and counsel.

Serving hands sifting the corn to feed post-World War II Europe.

Preparation for a prophet.

Stretching hands to the poor, the sick, the afflicted, the homeless.

Helping hands for the handicapped.

Signing hands to reveal doctrine and policy, to autograph a book.

Signaling hands: "Peace be unto you!" "Come back! Come back!"

Shaking hands with royalty, celebrities, political and military leaders, the potentates of religions, quorum members, new converts.

Praying hands to open President Eisenhower's first Cabinet meeting, to close a conference, comfort a congregation, dedicate a temple, invoke the Holy Ghost.

Gentle hands and jubilant - a patriarch's loving hands for the needs of his devoted wife, Flora, and their six faithful children. His family, his real wealth. He, like Alma, acquired "much riches by the hand of his industry."

Deft hands copying the symbols of the scripture student, drafting the documents of the United States Cabinet member, signing the correspondence of the apostle, the leader, the prophet.

His handwriting on the wall: "Read the Book of Mormon!"

Hands doing the bidding of the heart. The call is low key yet persuasive - humble and incredibly loving to good people in their efforts, their great or small endeavors.

With his knowing hands, with tactile sense matching spiritual insight, he applauds Heavenly Father's children everywhere.

These dear familiar hands - elegant, work-worn but ungnarled, aristocratic fingers tapering sharply at the tip.

The hands of President Ezra Taft Benson - once tiny and smooth, folded snugly and tight, the palms at birth were forever lined in a unique, personal pattern only his. Though folds of flesh now drape sinews' strength, the palms still are forever his alone, an inimitably lined road map of his life.

And he confesses the Lord's hand in all things.

This prophet's hands in times of age and weakness are steadied in love and power by his counselors, the one on one side and the other on the other side - like Moses. For it is written:

Moses' hands were heavy . . . they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. (Ex. 17:12.)