At a press conference on March 13, 1995, shortly after he became president of the Church, President Gordon B. Hinckley said that the focus of his administration would be to "carry on."

"Our theme will be to carry on the great work which has been furthered by our predecessors who have served so admirably, so faithfully and so well," President Hinckley declared. "Building family values, yes. Fostering education, yes. Building a spirit of tolerance and forbearance among people everywhere, yes. And proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's His name which becomes the name of this Church and whose teachings and ideals we seek to emulate and promote and will continue to do so."

A little more than five years later, and at the time of his 90th birthday, President Hinckley continues in a seemingly tireless commitment to that focus. If ever there should be a theme of his administration certainly it must be, "Carry on."

No one has a better understanding of the scope of President Hinckley's administration than his counselors, President Thomas S. Monson, first counselor; and President James E. Faust, second counselor.

"President Gordon B. Hinckley is truly a prophet for our time. His entire life has prepared him for this dynamic period of worldwide growth of the Church," President Monson said in an interview with the Church News. "Temples dot the lands. Certainly, the explosion of temple building will bring an emphasis of spirituality to all who enter them. President Hinckley is a builder of temples. He is a friend to all and a leader who inspires spirituality. His outreach on an international scale is unprecedented."

President Monson spoke of President Hinckley's desire to go out among the members of the Church throughout the world: "The whole Church marvels at President Hinckley's abundant energy and unflagging spirit. He outworks all of us. He seems driven from a heavenly source to extend the greetings found in his prophetic calling to the people in the far reaches of the Church. They would sing, 'We Thank, Thee, O God, for a Prophet,' but many had never had the opportunity to see a prophet in person. President Hinckley has changed all this. I don't know of many places in the world which he has not visited in the years of his presidency. I know this: Wherever there are two or more gathered in the name of the Lord, he is anxious to be with them. Sometimes it is in a chapel, other times in a temple, frequently at an airport, but he is ever conscious of the one.

"Throughout the Church people learn through the Church News and other media the extent of President Hinckley's travels and the effect of his dynamic leadership. It is rare to see anyone even approaching his age go at the pace that our prophet does. He is truly on the Lord's errand and reflects in his service and in his actions the Lord's influence. He seems to return from his travels more refreshed than before he left.

"He is at home in every part of the world. The members on each continent and in each nation feel they are special in the heart of President Hinckley, and they are correct, for the heart of this great prophet encompasses the world and all who live thereon."

President Monson described President Hinckley as "a very tender-hearted man. It is not unusual to see a tear form in his eye as he blesses a child, as he visits with a family which has undergone sickness or stress. He empathizes with the down-trodden and those who sometimes are without hope. He is a very prudent administrator and recognizes that the tithes of the Church, even the widow's mite, are to be husbanded and utilized with every care. I have never seen him be anything but generous in caring for the poor, clothing the naked, feeding the hungry and sheltering the homeless. He follows the example of the Savior."

President Faust said he considers it a special privilege to have had been influenced by President Hinckley for more than 40 years. "When I first met him, I recognized him as a person of extraordinary faith and ability," President Faust said. "Over the years the Lord has magnified and honed those exceptional gifts and deepened his spiritual under- standing.

"His interests are broad and varied. He loves to care for flowers and plant trees. He possesses unusual mechanical ability. He is interested in every aspect of building — the structural, the architectural, and especially the finish work. In each temple he visits, he looks carefully at the miter joints. President Hinckley has a brilliant and far-reaching great mind. He loves fine literature and good music, and he is a gifted writer and communicator. His wonderful sense of humor makes him a delightful conversationalist.

"Overarching and undergirding his whole ministry is his love for the Savior and his deep faith. This is manifest in his loving concern for all of God's children everywhere, especially for those who are in distress. When he hears of people suffering anywhere in the world, he wants to reach out and help them. He has been blessed richly with the gift Solomon prayed for: 'Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart.' (1 Kings 3:9.) He is tireless in his efforts to move forward the work of the Lord. I believe as spoken of Jeremiah, that before he was born the Lord said, 'I knew thee . . . and I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.' " (Jeremiah 1:5.)

President Faust said, "President Hinckley has spent much of his life interfacing with the media and is uniquely qualified to bring the Church out of obscurity. This is part of his ministry which he has accomplished in a marvelous and miraculous way. Despite his 90 years of age, I know of no one more committed, more devoted, more energetic than President Gordon B. Hinckley is to his great calling as prophet, seer, and revelator and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

E-mail: gerry@desnews.com