Firmly offering spiritual counsel and warmly - at times emotionally - expressing his love, President Gordon B. Hinckley spoke to about 2,000 members in Victoria as he began an eight-day, 12-city Canadian tour.

"A while back, I said to myself, `Those are good people up there. You

ought to go up and look them in the eye and say hello to them,' " President Hinckley said to those gathered at a sporting arena in Victoria on the southern portion of Vancouver Island. "And here we are, in this beginning of a journey that will take us into 12 cities, where we'll have meetings and meet with the people and talk with them, all in eight days."And I imagine when we're through, we'll be tired," he added, bringing chuckles from the congregation.

At each member meeting in British Columbia, the warmth and spirit of the occasion was almost tangible as members began gathering several hours early for a chance to hear the prophet speak in person - many for the first time. For those in Victoria, this was the first time a Church president had addressed members of the Church in this coastal city.

Speaking in Victoria, President Hinckley said the gospel brings joy, love and happiness. He animatedly declared: "These are the last days and this is the time to so live that we stand blameless before God. My heart is filled with gratitude tonight, with appreciation . . . for this glorious work and what's happening to it. Never before has the Church been so strong. Never before has its reputation been so good. Never before has it been so well received. It is a great and glorious season in the history of this work."

The Church president held three meetings in two days in British Columbia, and then traveled east into Alberta. He was accompanied by his wife, Marjorie, and President Boyd K. Packer, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve, and his wife, Donna. In British Columbia, he was also accompanied by Elder Glenn L. Pace of the Seventy and president of the North America Northwest Area, and his wife, Jolene.

After he left Victoria, the Church president traveled across the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver, where he addressed more than 6,000 the next day on Aug. 1 in General Motors Place, a sports arena in downtown Vancouver. President Hinckley thanked the members for coming. "It's nice to see so many of you here this Saturday morning - to get up this morning and clean up and put on your very best attire and travel to this hall and worship the Lord here together."

During his address, President Hinckley asked the congregation what the Lord expects of them. "What does He expect of you men? He expects that you will be honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous and that you will do good to all men. He expects you to be kind and considerate husbands. He expects you to be gracious and gentle fathers who rear His children in kindness and love. There is no place for wife abuse. There is no place for child abuse anywhere among the men who hold the priesthood of God. . . . Brethren, look inside yourselves. Are you living as the Lord would have you live?

"You women, what does He expect of you? He expects of you to live as Latter-day Saints, to be virtuous and true and kind. Those of you who are mothers, to rear your children in righteousness and truth. Those of you who are wives to be kind and gracious and good because if there is not happiness in the home, there cannot be peace in the heart."

He also admonished children to love and honor their parents and for young people to avoid drugs. He counseled all to live the Word of Wisdom and to pay an honest tithing.

Leaving Vancouver, President Hinckley traveled north about 300 miles to Prince George. Many of the 1,600 who attended the member meeting here had traveled up to eight and nine hours to hear President Hinckley speak. The boundaries of the Prince George stake include an area approximately the size of Utah.

"I hope you are comfortable and happy," he declared. "You have the Book of Mormon, the Bible, the sermons of the Brethren and the Church magazines. You are not isolated from the Church although you are scattered."

One of the most tender moments during President Hinckley's tour through British Columbia occurred in Prince George. At the conclusion of his address, he said, "When winter comes and it is dark and snowy, remember that I love you. God be with you till we meet again."

Then, in a poignant gesture, after the benediction, instead of leaving the building, the Church president again approached the pulpit. He called for everyone to join with him in singing the hymn, "God Be with You Till We Meet Again." As he sang with the congregation, he was joined by Sister Hinckley, who rose from her chair, stood by her husband and held his hand. There seemed not a dry eye in the arena.

Offering brief remarks at these meetings were President Packer and Elder Pace. President Packer reminded members that the gospel is one of repentance. "I think that may be one of the most beautiful expressions in all of scripture - the idea that we can retain a remission of our sins. Seven times the revelations tell us that no unclean thing can enter the presence of God. We must be clean to enter there. That cleansing, that spiritual cleansing, begins with baptism by immersion for the remission of sins. We renew the covenant of baptism by partaking of the sacrament on Sunday. . . ."

Elder Pace, who will leave the Northwest Area this month to serve in the Africa West Area presidency, expressed his admiration for the beauty of British Columbia. Speaking of traveling with President Hinckley, he added: "What a wonderful way to conclude our ministry in this beautiful part of the Lord's vineyard."

Also present at the member meetings in Victoria and Vancouver were Canada Vancouver Mission Pres. Kenneth Knight and his wife, Nancy.

At the conclusion of each meeting, the people were visibly reluctant to have President Hinckley leave, and he appeared just as reticent.

In Victoria, as the meeting ended, the choir, directed by University of Victoria music professor Susan Young, who is LDS, sang a powerful rendition of "Battle Hymn of the Republic." Many were fighting tears.

New member, 16-year-old Sarah Butler of the Duncan Ward, Victoria stake, told the Church News before the meeting that she was so excited for the event that she didn't get to sleep until 4 a.m. that day. "I know this is going to be one of the most spiritual moments since I've joined the Church," she said.

In Vancouver, Surrey stake Pres. Alan Herrington said the joy of the occasion overshadowed any challenge that preparing for the visit of a Church president presented. He said electronic translation services were provided for Chinese- and Spanish-speaking members, as Vancouver is known for its multi-cultured society. "Everybody chipped in," Pres. Herrington added, speaking of the committee that planned the needed physical facilities, translation and ushering.

The spirit attending each meeting seemed to be felt by young and old alike. Alison Smith of the Vancouver 1st Ward said her 21/2-year-old son, Benjamin, began singing the Primary song "Follow the Prophet" as soon as he woke up that morning.

"He didn't stop singing until he could see President Hinckley."

Many seemed to hold a song in their hearts long after President Hinckley left to continue his journey.