Bidding farewell
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A public viewing was held for President Gordon B. Hinckley with more than 57,000 people attending during the two days prior to his funeral services Saturday, Feb. 2. President Hinckley, who oversaw the Church through a remarkable growth period, attracted an unprecedented gathering at his viewing and funeral that could be accommodated only in the spacious Conference Center.
Viewing hours were 7 a.m. on Thursday for Church employees and, for the public, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday and Friday, though lines stretched out of the building well after closing time Friday night. Every guest willing to stand in line for one last glimpse of the prophet was permitted to stay.
Some waited as long as five hours, considering it a privilege to pay their last respects.
Among those attending the viewing Friday was Simi Mailei of the Liberty 3rd Ward, Salt Lake Utah Tongan Stake, who commented on her first encounter with President Hinckley when he visited Tonga in 1983 to dedicate the temple there. She was the server at his table during one of the dinners and recalls that he has always been "very kind" and taught members to "live kindly."
She said, "He left behind so much for us to follow and our little family, with our grandchildren, want to witness this evening. Whether we make it in there or not, we are on holy ground paying our tribute and our gratitude to all the services he has rendered."
By mid-afternoon, the wait was so long part of the line was being seated in the Conference Center auditorium before being taken up to the viewing area. Sisters Kathleen H. Walker and Virginia H. Pearce, daughters of President Hinckley, were so impressed by the thousands who were willing to sit and wait that they went to the auditorium to thank the people and shared anecdotes about the prophet and the Hinckley family.
Those still outside would have to decide whether to go home or brave the cold (a biting 18 degrees F. on Friday) in their Sunday dress. Santos Limon, visiting from Mexico with his family, decided to wait.
Brother Limon, who was baptized in 1999, has never known any other prophet. "To be here, whether we make it or if they close the doors on us, it doesn't matter, to be here is something marvelous for us."
Emily Maher, 19, of the South Jordan 10th Ward, South Jordan Parkway Stake, had just undergone surgery the previous day for a tumor and was in line in a wheelchair Friday evening. "You'd think President Hinckley would be out of touch with the youth just because of the age difference but I think the youth is who he impacted the most," she said.
Her sister Rachel, 18, said, "A lot of my testimony has come from him." With some emotion, she shared how it wasn't until she heard the prophet testify of how much the Savior loved the youth that she really came to believe it.
Not one person had been turned away when finally the last person made it through at 11:30 p.m. Friday.
E-mail to: cmorales@desnews.com
