One last goodbye
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As President Gordon B. Hinckley's funeral procession made its way from the Conference Center to the Salt Lake City Cemetery, hundreds of people lined the streets, waving handkerchiefs and canes — in remembrance of how he often waved a white handkerchief as a farewell gesture while leaving member meetings throughout the world and how he used his walking stick in friendly acknowledgment of congregations assembled for general conferences and other gatherings.
On Feb. 2, people came from many parts of Utah and elsewhere to wave one last goodbye amid tears of joy and gratitude for his life of service as well as tears of sadness at his passing.
At the cemetery, a quiet stillness prevailed during a five-minute graveside service as more than 350 family members, General Authorities and their spouses, and close friends assembled to pay their last respects to President Hinckley.
A bitter wind served as a reminder of the winter weather, although snow from recent storms was cleared around the grave site, which was adorned by dozens of floral arrangements.
President Thomas S. Monson, who served as first counselor to President Hinckley, maintained an optimistic demeanor as he gave brief remarks about the prophet and noted, "In our presidency — of President Hinckley, President Monson and President Faust — two out of three are on that (other) side."
He also said President Hinckley never left anything undone, noting that "nearly 10 years ago President Hinckley was given a box containing genuine Lancashire soil and that soil has been placed in the grave. Therefore, President Hinckley's final resting place will not only be on U.S. soil but also on that of his beloved England where he served the Lord with distinction as a missionary."
Elder Richard G. Hinckley of the Seventy dedicated his father's grave, which lies next to that of Sister Marjorie Pay Hinckley, who passed away on April 6, 2004. In the prayer, Elder Hinckley petitioned that the site "be a hallowed place, a sacred place, that as people come to pay respects that they may do so with reverence and with gratitude to Thee, for Thy Son."
After the prayer, a lone bagpiper, Andrew Morill, approached the grave site playing "Danny Boy," a tune very dear to President Hinckley's heart ever since his days as a missionary when he heard it in Ireland while en route to England. The piper also played "Amazing Grace" and "Praise to the Man."
President Monson excused all General Authorities to allow the Hinckley family to pay their final tribute to "their loving and stalwart father and grandfather." As he was leaving, President Monson turned back, saying he wanted to thank the Hinckley family; he returned to the sons and daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and shook hands with each one.
A monument at the grave is made of Little Cottonwood granite, the same material President Hinckley insisted be used for construction of the Conference Center and described by Brigham Young while the Salt Lake Temple was being built as "the finest material the Rocky Mountains could provide." It has inscribed on it the names of President Gordon Bitner Hinckley as the 15th president of the Church and Marjorie Pay Hinckley, "beloved eternal companion."
E-mail to: cmorales@desnews.com
