“President Gordon B. Hinckley, Prophet, Seer, Revelator,” Friend, Feb. 2001, 40
President Gordon B. Hinckley, Prophet, Seer, Revelator
The duty of the President … is to preside over the whole church (D&C 107:91).
What does it mean to be the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? What does it mean to be a prophet? Just what does President Gordon B. Hinckley actually do?
Well, as a prophet, his work is to “act as God’s messenger and make known God’s will” and to teach “men about God’s character, … denounce [publicly condemn] sin and foretell its punishment, and … be, above all, a preacher of righteousness.”*
As President of the Church, he presides over it. This means that he is its leader—he is in charge. He holds all the keys of the priesthood, including those of spiritual blessings and the ministering of angels. He guides the Church’s members. He testifies of the Savior, receives direction from Him, and tells us what the Lord wants us to do. He also represents us, the Church, and the Savior when he talks to people who are not members of the Church.† Pick up any Ensign or Liahona and turn to “News of the Church.” You will find that President Hinckley has been doing all those things in many different places—at local and general conferences, firesides, temple dedications, even on television programs. At each one, he testifies of Jesus Christ and tells people of His love and how we should live so that we and our loved ones can live with the Savior and Heavenly Father for eternity.
Activity: The Prophet
Instructions: Remove page 41 from the magazine, mount it on lightweight cardboard, let it dry, and cut it out. Connect the numbered dots, then color the picture. With a paper punch or a very sharp pen or pencil, carefully punch holes around the picture where marked. Cut a piece of yarn 4′ (1.2 m) long. Wrap one end tightly with tape so that it will go through the holes. Starting at the top in the middle and leaving an 8″ (20 cm) tail in the back, lace the yarn through the holes. When finished, tie a knot at the back, then tie the ends of the yarn together to form a loop for hanging.
