SOUTHAVEN, Miss. — A century and a half ago, the lower Mississippi River was the pathway to Zion for hundreds of converts who traveled the waterway on their journey to Nauvoo, Ill., and, later, to the Salt Lake Valley.

Photo by Greg Hill

Ryan Smith and wife, Karla, second from left, drove from Jonesboro, Ark., with daughters Chelsey and Courtney.

Photo by Greg Hill

President Gordon B. Hinckley and his wife, Marjorie, accompanied by, at left, Elder Gene R. Cook and his wife, Janelle, attend member meeting near Memphis, Tenn.

Faithful members again descended on two of the river's primary cities March 1 and 2 to listen to the counsel of President Gordon B. Hinckley. He spoke to more than 10,000 people during a trip to Memphis, Tenn., and New Orleans, La., during the weekend.

He told the congregation at his first stop — with a second meeting in New Orleans the following day — that he was a little surprised. With a free weekend coming up, he had asked his secretary where he hadn't been before. "And he said, 'You have not been to Memphis.' Well, I thought we were coming to Memphis, but I find we are not in Memphis. We came all the way down here to find that we are in Mississippi."

The meeting was held in the Desoto Civic Center in a rural area of Southaven, Miss., just across the border south of Memphis and a few miles from the river. The location near where Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas come together was central for the gathering of members from stakes in those states. Many who had traveled for hours to be there that Saturday evening arrived early and had to wait in the cold under overcast skies until the doors were opened. But their expressions, though chilled, demonstrated the joyful anticipation of being in the presence of the leader of their Church.

President Hinckley was accompanied by his wife, Marjorie; Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve and his wife, Barbara; Elder Gene R. Cook of the Seventy and president of the North America Southeast Area, and his wife, Janelle; and Elder Jon M. Huntsman, an Area Authority Seventy, and his wife, Karen.

President Hinckley used 1 Peter 2:9 as his theme: "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light," and taught several gospel principles from that theme.

He said, "Live up to the great and wonderful opportunity that is yours," then referred to one of the advertising signs surrounding the hockey arena that said: "Grab life by the horns." He said: "I would like to suggest to you that you grab life by the horns and do not let life grab you by the horns. You take control of your lives. You do that which you might do to make the world better; to be better fathers; to be better mothers; to be better children, sons and daughters; better citizens of the community; better neighbors; better friends; better employees and better employers, my brothers and sisters. . . .

"Do not let life control you; you control your lives. Take charge. Rise to the divinity that is within you."

At the beginning of his address, President Hinckley delighted the congregation by inviting Sister Hinckley to join him at the pulpit. "This is my sweetheart," he said. "We have been married 66 years. . . . we have walked the road of life together all these many years. I do not know how long we are good for, but we are going to keep going as long as we can, right?" Answering with a smile, Sister Hinckley said, "Right."

Also speaking during the meeting were Elder Ballard, Elder and Sister Cook and Elder Huntsman. Elder Cook conducted the meeting. Music was provided by a multi-stake choir. Invited to attend were members from five stakes: Memphis Tennessee, Memphis Tennessee North, Little Rock Arkansas and Tupelo Mississippi. Others visited from beyond those boundaries, as far away as Fayetteville, Ark., more than 300 miles to the west.

About 6,000 attended in the arena that apparently became available on that date when a concert by a rap singer was canceled, according to Mark Efros, president of the Memphis 4th Spanish Branch, who noted the drastic contrast between the Church president and performer. He and Bishop Gerald Ryan of the Memphis 2nd Ward, Memphis Tennessee Stake, said it was great blessing to have President Hinckley come, the first Church president to visit anywhere near there since President Spencer W. Kimball traveled to Jackson, Miss., in 1980.

Speaking of the Church, President Efros said, "I think the South is ready to take off." Bishop Ryan agreed, adding that President Hinckley is "here to prime the pump."

Ryan and Karla Smith of the Jonesboro (Ark.) Ward were happy to spend Saturday traveling and attending with their teenage daughters to the "largest gathering of saints these girls have known."

Lee Palmer of the Hot Springs Ward, Little Rock Arkansas Stake, who left at 11 a.m. to attend the 6 p.m. meeting, said it was worth it because "this will be a significant memory for us. President Hinckley is a wonderful man."

E-mail: ghill@desnews.com