President Hinckley Visits Members in St. Louis and New England

President Gordon B. Hinckley spent his first Easter as President of the Church testifying of the Savior to an estimated seven thousand members of the St. Louis Region.

“I know that my Redeemer lives,” said President Hinckley on April 16 at a regional conference in St. Louis, Missouri. “That is the great strength and power of this work, my brothers and sisters. The real strength of the Church lies not in the physical facilities which we own. … The strength of the Church lies in the conviction carried in the hearts of its members. …

“It is the privilege, it is the opportunity, it is the obligation of every Latter-day Saint to gain for himself or herself a certain knowledge that this is the work of the Almighty, that God our Eternal Father lives and watches over His children when they look to Him in faith; that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the Redeemer of all mankind, who rose from the dead to become the firstfruits of them that slept. That testimony … is the most precious possession that any of us can hold.”

President Hinckley encouraged any in attendance who didn’t have a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ to obtain one. “The Lord has said that He that doeth the will of the Father ‘shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself’ (John 7:17). That’s the way you gain a testimony. You do the will of the Father, and as certainly as you do the will of the Father you will know of the truth of the gospel, including the knowledge that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.”

Noting the overwhelming evidence for the Resurrection found in the New Testament and in the Book of Mormon, as well as from the Prophet Joseph Smith, President Hinckley said: “I add my own witness concerning this matter. I know that He lives. I know that God is our Eternal Father, that Jesus was His Only Begotten in the flesh, who was sent here by His Father as part of a great eternal plan for the blessing and benefit of all men, women, and children of all generations of time.”

In conclusion, President Hinckley encouraged those in attendance to make a “decision within ourselves to be a little better than we’ve been, a little kinder, a little more merciful, a little more outreaching, with a little greater desire to bless those in distress and need. … Think of some small way in which we might improve ourselves and draw nearer to our Lord.”

While in the St. Louis area, President Hinckley toured the site of the St. Louis Missouri Temple, located twenty miles west of downtown St. Louis. He also spoke to a group of area priesthood leaders and addressed missionaries serving in the Missouri St. Louis Mission.

Accompanying President Hinckley on the visit was Elder Henry B. Eyring, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Sisters Marjorie P. Hinckley and Kathleen J. Eyring also traveled with their husbands.

One week later, President Hinckley met with members in New England, where he bore testimony of the divinity of the Savior and the Book of Mormon to nearly eight thousand members of the Church at a regional conference in Boston, Massachusetts.

“Every man and woman in this church is entitled to a testimony of this work,” President Hinckley said. “I stand before you this morning, my brothers and sisters, as one who declares without equivocation that God our Eternal Father lives, an individual being, the Governor of the universe, the Almighty who is above all, whom we may approach in prayer, as His children; that Jesus is the promised Messiah, His Eternal Son, who wrought the Atonement on Golgotha’s lonely hill that you and I might have eternal life,” he testified.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Colleen, accompanied President Hinckley to the conference. Elder Maxwell spoke of the character of the Savior. “The most difficult aspect of discipleship is submission,” he said. Elder Maxwell also gratefully acknowledged the Savior for the atonement he brought about for us.

On April 22, a day earlier, President Hinckley addressed nearly six hundred priesthood leaders at the Boston stake meetinghouse and was interviewed by a representative of a local television station.

President Hinckley, Elder Maxwell, and Sister Maxwell visited some historical sites and places of personal significance to President Hinckley and Sister Maxwell. One of these sites was Plymouth Rock, where their common ancestor, Stephen Hopkins, arrived as a passenger of the Mayflower. Another was the site of the homestead and grave of Thomas Hinckley, governor of Plymouth Colony from 1681 to 1692. Both President Hinckley and Sister Maxwell expressed tender feelings and gratitude for their forebears during this outing.

Robert S. Wood, a regional representative in the New England area, described the visit as one of great importance, having a dramatic impact on the lives of the New England Saints.

“It is difficult to believe that President Hinckley is in his eighties when you see him in action; he is hard to keep up with—even for those of us who are younger,” said Brother Wood. “There has been a feeling or a sense growing in this land of Joseph Smith and of Brigham Young that this area will become an area of growth and strength in the coming years. To have the prophet and a member of the Twelve visit brought that feeling of expectation to a point among the members of the area,” he said.

“Attendance was remarkably high,” said Brother Wood, “considering that there are approximately fifteen thousand total members for the entire area and nearly eight thousand attended the conference.”

President Hinckley visits homestead of forebear. (Photo by Lowell Hardy.)

President Hinckley tours construction site of St. Louis Missouri Temple. (Photo courtesy of Church News, photo by Mike Cannon.)