For hundreds of employees at Church-owned Beehive Clothing, Salt Lake Printing Center and Salt Lake Distribution Center, the afternoon of Nov. 8 was going along like most others - until they looked up from their work into the smiling face of President Gordon B. Hinckley.

The president - accompanied by Bishop H. David Burton, first counselor in the Presiding Bishopric - toured the three facilities "as part of a feeling of responsibility to be out among the people and to know firsthand what's going on with Church operations."He seemed to have a lot of fun in the process.

While walking briskly through the facilities, all three located a few miles west of downtown Salt Lake City, President Hinckley popped in and out of work stations to shake hands and to thank people for their efforts. More than a few employees did double-takes in startled surprise upon seeing the prophet. They would then smile, wave and call out their greetings.

He asked a training supervisor at Beehive Clothing what he would have to do to qualify for employment there. When told he would need to pass a sewing test he responded, "I think I'll disqualify myself right now."

Referring to a long, sharp blade from a huge fabric cutting machine being shown him by another employee, President Hinckley said, "You know they won't let you take that on an airplane."

He called out to another group, "Good work!"

After a vigorous 45-minute walk-through at Beehive Clothing, where he was given a briefing concerning equipment and procedures, President Hinckley made a few brief comments over the public address system:

"We are here seeing what happens in this great facility. It's been a wonderful experience to go through this big, modern plant. All of us leave here with a greater appreciation for what happens, and with a greater appreciation for each of you who work here.

"Thank you for all you do, and may the Lord bless you and your families. Thank you for this opportunity to be with you."

Beehive receiving clerk Sandra Balle seemed to summarize the feelings of the employees there and at the other two facilities: "I think it's a great honor and so exciting to see the living prophet of God right here. It's wonderful! They told us there was a special guest coming, but they didn't say who it was. Several of us had a feeling it was going to be President Hinckley."

After the president's group reached the printing center, a similar scenario unfolded there, with the same sense of excitement and greetings as experienced at Beehive Clothing. The prophet was led through the huge production and storage facility, wherein is printed most literature, forms and scriptures produced by the Church.

Systems Manager Stephen Chamberlain provided a computer demonstration of color separation and photo enhancement work. President Hinckley also was shown a copy of his book "Truth Restored," printed in Braille, which obviously pleased him.

"It's a great facility," he said, speaking knowledgably throughout the visit about the pre-press and printing process.

Moving from the Printing Center into the Distribution Center warehouse, President Hinckley approached a group of "pickers" who were selecting items off of conveyors, and humorously asked a supervisor: "Are you the head picker?" He thanked the group for their good work and posed with them for a picture.

Walking into the Distribution Center store, President Hinckley moved quickly and easily among workers and patrons as customers stepped out of checkout lines to say hello and shake his hand.

"Are you buying or selling?" he asked one young man. "I'm stocking," was the quick reply.

Bishop Burton noted that it was exciting for the Presiding Bishopric, plant management and employees to "showcase" these operations that "bless peoples' lives. It's exciting to have President Hinckley come to these facilities so he has firsthand knowledge about what is taking place here and so the employees can know of his interest in them."

After spending about two hours at the three facilities, President Hinckley had nothing but praise for the operations and for the people who run them:

"These are tremendous facilities which the Church operates with great efficiency to handle the needs of our people across the world. They are staffed by dedicated employees who know what they are doing and do good work. All of this results in a highly efficient operation, which means lower costs for those who desire the products that come out of these operations.

"It's nice to come here and see these people who work here and to feel of their spirit. There's a good spirit among them, a good attitude."