The Passing of a Prophet

I have just been informed that Gordon Bitner Hinckley, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Saints, of which I am a member, has passed away.

I am deeply saddened but greatly consoled. I admire President Hinckley more than any other living man, except perhaps my own father. Even though a prophet to millions, even to the world, I always felt as if his counsel was directed straight from God to me. I listened and tried to follow each and everything that he said. Rather than trying to find exception to the doctrines he expounded on, I tried to find reason why I should also follow his counsel.

I did not do nearly as well as I might have at all of that, but I am so comforted that I tried. I know that any person who follows the counsel of President Hinckley and now of his (extremely likely) successor, Thomas S. Monson, will find greater joy, peace, freedom (yes, very much freedom), and even power in their lives. I know this because I live that counsel as best I can, and it works. Beyond that anecdotal evidence, I have almost 12 million other such cases, and the witness of God to my very soul. I know that those who follow the counsel of these people, who are prophets, will have life more abundantly- that, is, be happier and more free for longer.

I loved President Hinckley like a father, in a certain way. He was the Prophet of my youth, and he helped me through more than one difficult spot. I remember when he called all the youth of this church together for a huge teleconference. He prayed for us. I can't remember all the words, but I remember the occasion. I remember how I felt- deeply peaceful and pricked to the core. That was one of the times when I went through a lot of changes in my life, and I've felt the dividends of making those changes. They good, Let me tell you!

Having declared in all solemnity that I know the President Hinckley was a Prophet and that his successor will be one, and that their words are true and of God, I move on to a lighter note.

I feel a little odd having the address of my Blog be Magus of Darkness and testifying of God and Light, but I suppose it's from a habit I picked up a while ago- even though I love humorous pretentiousness, I hate sincere forms of it. I love to Roleplay at MUDs and such, but I decided I couldn't roleplay what I'm actually trying to be- a good and honest man. I know I'm really just a silly fellow, but I needed to do something to make it so I wouldn't set myself up as a light, rather than pay respect to the real light- God. I think that's part of why I love President Hinckley so much (love and not loved, yes, that's right- he's not really all that far away)- I don't think there was a pretentious bone in that man's body. He loved and learned and grew and led, but all without making me ever, ever feel , from anything he said, wrote, or did, that he looked down on all us wee little mormons at the bottom of the tree.

In the end, this Church will go on because it is true and God has set it up right, so that no one man will cause its fall, but president Hinckley, gone to join his dear sweet Marjorie, will be sorely missed among us. His humor, his wit, his intelligence, his wonderful tolerance, peace, and joy, ans especially the twinkle in his eye will be missing for a little while. But God will give the next prophet exactly the direction the Church needs for the coming times- there will certainly be trying times to come, but when your forebears already lived through frozen death, starvation, mob killings, tarring and feathering, all in the name of religion, like ours and so many other have, you feel okay to go through whatever life throws at you.

President Hinckley taught me that. Or rather, God taught me that, through his prophet- which means 'mouthpiece'- Gordon Bitner Hinckley.

God bless you, Brother Hinckley, and Rest now for awhile.
I can almost see the smile on your face at seeing Marjorie again. :-)