Gordon B. Hinckley

Gordon Bitner Hinckley served as the 15th President of the Church between 1995 and his death in 2008. He was born on June 23, 1910, as the first child of Ada and Bryant Hinckley, who raised him in a large, close-knit family in Salt Lake City, Utah, and fostered in him a love of learning and resilient faith. As a child, Gordon was not especially robust (once considered a “spindly, frail boy”), but he learned diligence and a strong work ethic while exploring and laboring on his family’s farm in the East Mill Creek area of the Salt Lake Valley. He graduated from high school in 1928 and immediately enrolled at the University of Utah. After the United States stock market crashed in 1929, unemployment in the Salt Lake area shot up, but he managed to keep a job as a maintenance worker and continue to fund his schooling.¹ Tragically, his mother Ada passed away from cancer a year later, when Gordon was 20, ushering in a period of “emptiness.” He graduated with a degree in English in 1932 and looked forward to a career in journalism.

Although relatively few young men were called to serve full-time missions during the Great Depression, Gordon’s bishop approached him with “a shocking suggestion,” as Gordon remembered it, to embark on a mission. The bank that had held Gordon’s savings account had failed recently, but Gordon’s father Bryant pledged to “do all we can” to fund the mission. The way was cleared for Gordon to accept a call thanks to a little savings his mother left behind from her spare change from grocery shopping. He guarded his mother’s coins, he said, “with my honor.” He left for an assignment in the European Mission headquartered in London, England. Initially discouraged by the challenges of sharing the gospel during a time of global economic hardship, Gordon’s resolve was fortified by guidance he received from his father to “forget yourself and go to work.”² This inspired him to dedicate himself fully to his mission, leading to a profound change in his outlook. In early 1934 he was transferred to work in the mission’s offices alongside Elder Joseph F. Merrill of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who presided over the mission. For the rest of his mission, he fielded press inquiries as well as submitted his own letters, editorials, and informational articles to newspapers in the hope of countering erroneous reporting about Latter-day Saints and the Church.

Gordon B. Hinckley as a missionary, preaching in Hyde Park, London, July 1934.

Soon after returning home from his missionary service in 1935, Gordon was invited to meet with the First Presidency to discuss ways of improving resources and materials for missionaries. His presentation led to his appointment as executive secretary of the newly formed Church Radio, Publicity, and Mission Literature Committee, a position that required full-time work as a Church employee. Setting aside his plans to enter graduate school, he accepted the position and began writing radio programs and missionary pamphlets, as well as opening media partnerships and researching Church history. His work on the committee placed him in daily collaboration with senior Church leaders during a time of expanding missions and broadcast media throughout the world.³

In 1937, Gordon married Marjorie Pay, a neighbor from across the street while the two were growing up. They moved into the Hinckleys’ summer house in East Mill Creek, where they eventually raised their five children. As parents, they strove to create a loving environment where their children could witness their parents’ faith and dedication. Marjorie believed in trusting her children and saying “yes” as often as possible, setting few rules but maintaining high expectations. The family cherished laughter, trying every day to find humor and cheerful interactions.

After a brief stint during World War II as an assistant superintendent for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, Gordon resumed his earlier responsibilities at Church headquarters and was soon appointed to manage the beginnings of what later became the Missionary Department. Together with Elders Henry D. Moyle and Stephen L Richards and President David O. McKay, he led an effort to streamline the Church’s mission operations and enhance procedures for developing missionary candidates, supporting mission presidents, and bringing missionaries home when their service ended.⁴

In 1958, President David O. McKay extended to Gordon the call to serve as an Assistant to the Twelve, a calling that made him a General Authority in the Church.⁵ Elder Hinckley’s responsibilities took him to Asia, a region about which he knew little. He quickly developed a deep love for the people there and maintained close relationships with missionaries, envisioning great opportunities for future stake growth. After three years in this calling, President McKay asked Elder Hinckley to serve in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He continued to supervise the work in Asia for the next seven years, followed by similar assignments in South America and Europe.

In 1981, President Spencer W. Kimball called upon Elder Hinckley to serve as a third counselor in the First Presidency, a departure from the usual two counselors due their collective health challenges.⁶ President Hinckley took on significant responsibilities, including the day-to-day work of the First Presidency and major efforts to build and dedicate temples. The age of multimedia brought added public scrutiny, but President Hinckley urged Church members to keep their focus on the larger picture. His pace of travel intensified as President Kimball’s and other counselors’ health worsened, and he quickly recognized the necessity of delegating responsibilities to regional leadership. He was instrumental in the creation of Area Presidencies and in devising international adaptations to Church programs.

Between 1981 and 1985, Gordon B. Hinckley frequently presided at general conference alone due to the health challenges of other members of the First Presidency.

After the death of President Howard W. Hunter in 1995, President Hinckley was set apart as President of the Church. His presidency was known for its energetic progress and innovation. President Hinckley prioritized improving the Church’s visibility in the media and conducted interviews on national television and held press conferences around the world. He embraced technology and directed Church departments to use emerging internet and multimedia opportunities to advance the work of the gospel, including especially broadcasting meetings and enhancing family history tools.⁷ In 1995, he introduced “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” and championed collaborations with other churches and organizations to further social support for the family. In 1997, President Hinckley led a churchwide celebration of the 150th anniversary of the pioneers’ arrival to the Salt Lake Valley, emphasizing the faithful foundation those first Latter-day Saints laid for all Church members, regardless of individual pedigree.⁸

President Hinckley emphasized not only seeking out new members through rigorous missionary work but also nurturing and shepherding them with individual attention and support. Inspired by the Perpetual Emigrating Fund that had helped many pioneers travel to Utah, President Hinckley directed the launch of the Perpetual Education Fund to provide funding for Latter-day Saint students seeking higher education.⁹ Temple building was another core priority, particularly with a vision to bring temples closer to Church members throughout the world. He made and executed plans for smaller temples, and by the end of the year 2000, the Church had over 100 operating temples.¹⁰ Under his leadership, the Conference Center was built in downtown Salt Lake City, and at the time of its dedication in 2000, it was one of the largest indoor auditoriums in the world.

Two days after general conference in April 2004, Marjorie Hinckley passed away. President Hinckley publicly acknowledged his grief and celebrated Marjorie’s “love, encouragement, and faith.” Over the following four years, he kept an active pace even while his own health steadily declined. In January 2008, he quietly passed away at home, surrounded by his five children and their spouses. His extensive travels and leadership style endeared him to Church members, civic leaders, and general audiences worldwide.

For more information about the life of Gordon B. Hinckley, see the Prophets of the Restoration videos on history.ChurchofJesusChrist.org or in the Gospel Library app.