I don’t really care to post such sad news on my blog, however this is something close to home. President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gordon B. Hinckley, passed away this evening at 7 pm with the members of his family present. My heart is absolutely broken! I know that this is the way of life and we all came to this earth knowing that our time here would end with death, however the separation remains a tender one. President Hinckley has been the president of the church since the month I turned 7 (nearly 13 years ago) and is the president that I will surely remember best and love best. I remember when President Hunter passed away but was much too young to understand. I have forever been under the impression that he passed away in his office and I thought it was really sad but was far too babyish to mourn. I can’t express the full intent of my feelings. President Hinckley was the prophet of my youth and I never doubted him and the revelations he received directly from God. I felt much grief when Sister Hinckley passed away and I felt lots of peace when I knew that they have now been reunited. As I think of it now, no one that has been close to me has passed away since I have become an endowed member of the church. I’m so grateful to know the Plan of Salvation and to know what will happen when I die. And further to know that my husband will always be mine, for all eternity, and my children as well. I’m grateful to be a member of a church whose work President Hinckley furthered. What a wonderful man and someone to definitely pattern a life after. I will so miss him especially at conference, but I will never forget him. I look forward to the season when I will personally be able to thank him for the influence he has had on my tender testimony as a child. The only way that I can think to tribute him and to remember him is to retain his teachings in my heart and ensure that my home and family are pattern after the counsel that he gave. I look forward to the year that we can study his teachings and life in Relief Society. I hope that the members of this church remember that he has finished his work and received the glory of God. Although he will be missed how he must rejoice at the sight and touch of his wife. I hope that we may all fully accept, welcome, embrace and follow the next inspired prophet as closely, if not better, than we followed President Gordon B. Hinckley.