Milestones in the Presidency of Gordon B. Hinckley

During his years as President of the Church, Gordon B. Hinckley:

• Saw Church membership grow from just over 9 million to 13 million.

• Dedicated 63 temples, including those in Palmyra, Nauvoo, and Winter Quarters and many smaller temples, whose building he first announced in 1997.

• Made more than 90 visits to countries outside the United States and numerous trips within the country to visit with Latter-day Saints. Traveled more than a million miles as President of the Church.

• Introduced to the Church and to the world, with the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” (Liahona, Oct. 2004, 49; Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102) and “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles” (Liahona and Ensign, Apr. 2000, 2–3).

• Saw six quorums of the Seventy—the Third to Eighth—added to the Church’s leadership.

• Saw general conference broadcast in over 80 languages, the Liahona published in 51 languages, and the Book of Mormon or selections from it translated into 106 languages and added to a large commercial publisher’s offerings.

• Oversaw construction of and dedicated the Conference Center, which more than tripled the number of people who could watch general conference in person. He also dedicated the renovated Tabernacle.

• Met numerous times with heads of state and other government leaders from presidents of the United States to the king of Tonga and the president of Ghana.

• Instructed priesthood leaders in global leadership training sessions broadcast via satellite.

• Announced establishment of the Perpetual Education Fund.

• Appeared on nationwide television in the United States and Australia several times.

• Asked Church members to read the Book of Mormon in the final months of 2005, resulting in more people reading the book than at any other time in history.

• Authored several books that sold throughout the United States.