They Spoke to Us

Report from the 165th Annual General Conference, April 1–2, 1995

President Gordon B. Hinckley: This is a season to be strong. … It is a time to do what is right regardless of the consequences that might follow. It is a time to be found keeping the commandments. It is a season to reach out with kindness and love to those in distress and to those who are wandering in darkness and pain. It is a time to be considerate and good, decent and courteous toward one another in all of our relationships. In other words, to become more Christlike.

President Thomas S. Monson, First Counselor in the First Presidency: We have sustained this day President Gordon B. Hinckley as the President of the Church and the prophet, seer, and revelator of God. I know that President Hinckley has been called of our Heavenly Father as the prophet and that he will lead us along those pathways the Savior has outlined. The work will go forward and the people will be blessed.

President James E. Faust, Second Counselor in the First Presidency: I have had the great privilege of associating in various Church assignments with President Gordon B. Hinckley for forty years. I know his heart. I know his soul. I know of his faith. I know of his dedication. I know of his great capacity. I know of his love of the Lord and God’s holy work. I have a great personal affection and regard for him. I also know that he has been foreordained and marvelously prepared to be the President of this church in our day and time.

Elder David B. Haight of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: President Gordon B. Hinckley now wears the mantle given to the Prophet Joseph Smith. He was foreordained to this high and holy calling in premortal councils.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: When we rightly describe him as having good judgment, good humor, goodwill, and as being a good listener, the common adjective is good. Goodness is thus the key to so much of what makes up President Hinckley, whom I am delighted to sustain as our President, prophet, seer, and revelator.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: I bear my witness that President Hinckley has been foreordained, raised up, prepared, and called of God “to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life.” I have been well-acquainted with him since my early youth and have observed firsthand that the fabric of his noble character contains not a single shoddy thread.

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: There has always been a desperate need for the steady and reassuring voice of a living prophet of God: one who will speak the mind and will of God in showing the way to spiritual safety and personal peace and happiness. … I testify that President Gordon B. Hinckley is … our prophet today.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: In a stake priesthood meeting … the then twelve-year-old Gordon B. Hinckley stood in the back of the old Salt Lake Tenth Ward building—his first such stake priesthood meeting as a newly ordained deacon—feeling just a bit lonely and out of place.

But upon hearing the men of that stake sing … “Praise to the Man,” this young boy, who would one day be a prophet himself, had it borne upon his soul that Joseph Smith was indeed a prophet of God, that he had “communed with Jehovah.” … Yes, some of the preparation for this morning’s solemn assembly began when a twelve-year-old deacon heard faithful, experienced, older men sing the hymns of Zion in a priesthood meeting.

Elder Eduardo Ayala of the Seventy: We are fortunate this day to be able to sustain a new prophet [President Gordon B. Hinckley] and his counselors, whom we love and support. In the coming days, in nearly all the nations of the earth, even in the most remote towns and villages, our members will also have the privilege of raising their hands joyfully to sustain them as we have today.

Photo by Tamra Hamblin