Celebrating 97 years at BYU dedication
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PROVO, Utah — Celebrating his 97th birthday, President Gordon B. Hinckley placed items significant of his life and work — a tool from his workshop, cuff links worn on Church business, and a book he authored — into a time capsule that will be part of the new BYU building bearing his name.
The BYU Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center, constructed with small and large donations from more than 70,000 Church members and built in a phenomenally short 12-month period, now stands as a tribute to President Hinckley and his many accomplishments.
"President Hinckley, as you have changed the skyline of the Church throughout the world, so has this beautiful building changed the skyline of Brigham Young University," said BYU President Cecil O. Samuelson of the Seventy.
Surrounded by BYU officials, family, and Church and community leaders, President Hinckley's oldest son, Elder Richard G. Hinckley of the Seventy, dedicated the new building June 23. During the event, broadcast live on KBYU and BYU Television, President Thomas S. Monson and President James E. Faust, first and second counselors in the First Presidency, lauded President Hinckley as "a model to follow" and a "man for all seasons."
"If I had known so many nice things were going to be said, I would have had a party like this 10 years ago," said President Hinckley.
He thanked the numerous donors who funded the project. The building was constructed and will be maintained entirely by donations, he said, adding that no tithing funds were used. President Hinckley also expressed appreciation to the architects, contractors and crews that completed the building twelve months to the day after ground was broken for the project.
The 83,000-square foot building contains 53 miles of electrical wire, 49,865 concrete roof tiles, 153 windows, and 4,573 cubic yards of interior and exterior concrete.
"Now this is a very large building to carry the name of a small man," said President Hinckley.
His father, Bryant S. Hinckley, may be more deserving of this honor, he said. Bryant Hinckley moved to Provo when he was 16, where he studied under Karl G. Maeser and later in life served as president of the BYU Alumni Association, organized the Emeritus Club and taught at the institution.
Speaking of another family connection to BYU, President Hinckley talked about the endowed chair in Social Sciences named for his late wife, Sister Marjorie Pay Hinckley, "without whose unfailing support I would not be here."
President Hinckley said he hopes the artifacts placed in the building through gift or loan will express his legacy. They include samples of the books he loves, including his old university Greek textbook, and medals and honors he has received, including the Medal of Freedom awarded him by the president of the United States.
"One thing was missing, in all of this, and that was my much-used tools. I have wonderful tools, some of them dating back to the days of my childhood — coping saws, keyhole saws, handsaws, table saws and radial saws. I have planers, drills of various kinds, screwdrivers, pliers, a wonderful vise, an electric grind stone, and squares and levels of various kinds. It may seem strange to you, but these have occupied my time on those Saturdays when I was free; so one of my hammers, a small one, will be placed in the time capsule.
"My life has been one of many interesting facets, with family, friends and associates. What more could one ask for? Nothing, is my reply.
"Now, as I creep into old age with hardware to keep going, including eyeglasses, hearing aids, a pacemaker, I sit back and think of the days that have come and gone. I have now served as the oldest living president of the Church. It has been a wonderful honor and a great responsibility. I thank the many who have blessed my life. I never could have made it alone. My family and many friends have all made it possible. I am profoundly grateful."
President Monson spoke of President Hinckley's reverence for the history of the Church and the leaders who preceded him.
"He is prodigious in his work ethic and is totally dedicated to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is a friend to one and all and a leader who inspires spirituality. His outreach on an international scale is unprecedented. He is truly a prophet for our time.
"President Hinckley is a man of optimism. I cannot count the times I have heard him say, in essence, 'It can be done, and let's get at it.' He does not rush to judgement, nor does he take counsel of his fears. He is a man of gifted intellect, a man of compassion, a man of capacity, a man of God."
Offering a capsule view of President Hinckley's many accomplishments, President Monson noted his presidency includes a worldwide expansion of Church membership, temples that dot the land, the magnificent Conference Center, humanitarian efforts and the Perpetual Education Fund.
President Faust said his long association with President Hinckley has given him the opportunity to see how the Lord prepared him to serve as a prophet.
"I have time to highlight only one or two of the many remarkable accomplishments President Hinckley has achieved since he became the President of the Church," President Faust said.
He spoke of President Hinckley's desire for the Church to construct temples in remote areas of the Church that have small LDS populations and of his 1998 announcement that the Church would construct an additional 30 smaller temples that would bring the total number of operating temples in the Church to 100 by the year 2000. On Oct. 1, 2000, President Hinckley dedicated the Boston Massachusetts Temple, which was the 100th operating temple President Hinckley said the Church would have, said President Faust.
"President Hinckley's warm personality and keen sense of humor were very ably demonstrated in his landmark national television interview with Mike Wallace in 1995," he said.
"President Hinckley continues to be strong mentally and spiritually. This strength will be used to help him accomplish the great work he has yet to do."
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