"We mourn with the people of Israel," President Gordon B. Hinckley said Nov. 6 in remarks at a Salt Lake memorial service for Israel's Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated Nov. 4 at a peace rally in Tel-Aviv.

President Hinckley and his counselors in the First Presidency, President Thomas S. Monson and President James E. Faust, were greeted at the memorial service by Rabbi Frederick L. Wenger of Congregation Kol Ami. Also representing the Church was Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve. Marjorie P. Hinckley, Frances J. Monson, Ruth W. Faust and Patricia T. Holland accompanied their husbands.As the General Authorities and their wives entered the synagogue's sanctuary, the Brethren wore black kippots or yarmaulkes, head coverings traditionally worn by men at such Jewish gatherings. They joined about 500 people in paying tribute to the slain leader who was hailed as a hero and peace maker.

Rabbi Wenger described the gathering as "a simple service expressing our feelings and our prayer for peace." In addition to President Hinckley's remarks, the program included tributes by Utah Gov. Michael Leavitt, who was represented by Lt. Gov. Olene Walker, and Salt Lake Mayor Deedee Corradini.

President Hinckley said he was honored by Rabbi Wenger's invitation to "make a statement in behalf of our people on this solemn occasion. We greatly value the friendship and feelings of mutual respect that have marked the relationship of our people and the Jewish people of this community over a very long period of time. We hope this attitude of mutual tolerance, respect and friendship will continue through all the years to come."

President Hinckley further said: "We mourn with the people of Israel. We mourn with Jewish people throughout the world. We mourn with all who deplore murder, violence and terrorism, as we join with you in expressing sorrow over the death of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. What an unnecessary and tragic thing this has been, and how great has been the loss, not only to Israel but to the entire world. We deplore violence in any form or of any nature as a protest against the legal processes under which we live. There are peaceable ways to settle questionable matters, and violence of any kind in a civil society is out of order and is to be condemned.

"In his pursuit of peace Mr. Rabin stood not only as the leader of his nation, but in a larger sense as a friend of those of all nations who hope and pray for peace."

President Hinckley said that he arose at 5 a.m. Nov. 6 and watched the funeral service broadcast by television from Israel. "As I listened to King Hussein of Jordan and President Mubarak of Egypt pay tribute, I sensed more fully the import of what has been accomplished thus far largely due to the efforts of Mr. Rabin in bringing together the divided children of Abraham. As I listened to Mr. Rabin's granddaughter, I realized also that in the loss of a distinguished head of state, there is an even more poignant personal tragedy that strikes the family of him who is snatched away. We have sent an expression of sympathy to Mrs. Rabin and her family and we will remember them in our prayers as we pray for the victims of hatred wherever they may be.

"With you we sorrow over the passing of this unique and distinguished leader - a man resolute in war whose greatest victory became the establishment of peace with his neighbors, and who with magnanimity brushed aside the bitter and long-nurtured prejudice of the past to usher in a new and brighter day. Before his sacrifice we stand in reverence, respect and sympathy."

Rabbi Wenger said, "It is so very heartening that friends come forward and ask for the privilege of sharing our mourning. We often say that to be a Jew means you never mourn alone."

He said that the world and Jews mourn Prime Minister Rabin "not only as a great leader and a noble prince of our people, not only as a human being who has fallen victim to an age of violence. We mourn him as a hero in an age suffering a famine of true heroes. We mourn him as one who was worthy of his ancestor and his namesake, the biblical Isaac whose saga we read during the week that Yitzhak Rabin was taken from us."

Cantor Laurence D. Loeb and his daughter, Roni Loeb Richter, sang "Song of Peace." This is the song that Mr. Rabin had just finished singing at the peace rally; he had stuck the words of the song in his breast pocket moments before he was shot.

The memorial service at Congregation Kol Ami included other numbers by Cantor Loeb, and readings from scriptures in Hebrew and English. It concluded with Rabbi Wenger offering the kaddish, a Jewish hymn of praise traditionally recited as a mourner's prayer.