Footprints left by President Hinckley
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Alluding to a phrase by the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Elder Earl C. Tingey of the Presidency of the Seventy spoke of "footprints on the sands of time" that have been left by President Gordon B. Hinckley.
Among those "footprints" he cited were President Hinckley's role as "the great communicator."
Speaking during the Feb. 2 funeral for President Hinckley, Elder Tingey said: "He opened the doors to the world's media and defined the Church to a worldwide audience. Commencing as a young returned missionary, more than 70 years ago, he pioneered the use of filmstrips, movies, colored pictures, pamphlets and missionary literature to tell the story of our Church. These same techniques, continually being improved, are still used today."
Elder Tingey added, "The Hinckley era invokes the image of missionary work to all the world. In the almost 13 years of President Hinckley's presidency, over 400,000 missionaries have been called, representing over 40 percent of all the missionaries called since the Church was organized."
Perhaps the most recognizable "footprint" of President Hinckley, said Elder Tingey, is construction of approximately 75 new temples since he became president. "Every ordinance performed in these temples becomes a witness to the prophetic foresight and wisdom of President Hinckley to bring temples closer to the people."
Continuing, Elder Tingey said: "Perhaps the most personal and long-remembered 'footprint' of President Hinckley may be his love of people. Probably each of us in this vast worldwide audience has a special memory of President Hinckley.... For each Primary child, youth, young adult, member and friend, may I say, 'Thank you, President Hinckley. Thank you for your valiant life of service to the Lord. Thank you for your example of integrity and steadfastness. Thank you for your wisdom and judgment....
"'Thank you for the "footprints on the sands of time" you have left behind."'
