Mormons themselves think of Gordon Hinckley’s achievements as well as his personality when they reflect on his administration as President of the Church. He is renowned for building scores of temples all over the world, and Mormons appreciate the thought behind all that construction. Hinckley aimed to make everything that was available to Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City available to Church members in Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro. He expended a great deal of Church money to make a full Mormon life possible in every corner of the earth.
Personality counted for a lot. He communicated in a new way for a Church president. From Joseph Smith on, Church presidents proclaimed the Gospel. Proclamation was fitting for the prophets they claimed to be. Hinckley engaged in conversation. Perhaps because he once planned to be a journalist, he had no fear of the press. His TV interviews put Church public relations on a new footing, initiating a new age of conversation. The openness extended to the darkest moment in the Church’s history, the slaughter of an innocent party of western migrants at Mountain Meadows in 1857. He saw that whole grisly story was recounted in the official Church paper and personally expressed his deep regret for the horrors of the incident.
Much of his effectiveness arose from his persona. Near the end of his life he spoke in a croaking voice but always with authority. He came across as the embodiment of grandfatherly wisdom and kindness while avoiding sanctimony and sentimentality. He lamented the decay of morals and faith without descending into pessimism. He was ever hopeful that good would prevail.
Gordon Hinckley intensifies the Mormon puzzle. How can a religion whose beliefs seem so bizarre produce sane, gentle, strong people like him? Mormons would have people think that belief and personal character are connected. But in this case, how could that be true?
Please e-mail On Faith if you'd like to receive an email notification when On Faith sends out a new question.
Email Me | Del.icio.us | Digg | Facebook
