Gordon B. Hinckley Funeral

[Guest]

I'm a little surprised there isn't a thread on the funeral here, so I thought I'd start one. Maybe the mods will prefer to move it to the Celestial forum.

I thought it was a good funeral, with touching talks from people who knew him well, and lots of anecdotal humor. It was clear from the comments that he was sicker in the past couple of years than probably the general membership realized.

When all is said and done, while Gordon B. Hinckley might have been a leader, a prophet, a president, and a moral compass for about 13 million people, he was in the end a grandfather, a father, and a personal friend to many of those in attendance. And that's what it boiled down to for me. That was someone's father, someone's grandfather. And they were saying goodbye.

I was surprised they continued to televise the service through the graveside services, including showing the funeral cortege driving to the cemetery.

I'm old enough to remember when he was first called as an apostle, and have lived to see the administration of many of the LDS Church's 15 presidents. But for many watching today, he was the only "prophet" they knew, and had a significant impact on their lives. It appears Thomas S. Monson has assumed the mantle easily and the transition will be a smooth one.

I noticed Orrin Hatch, Harry Reid, Mike Leavitt and Mitt Romney and their spouses among the dignitaries seated together; I didn't notice who else was seated with them.

If anyone else has any comments on the funeral, I thought this might be a good place to put them (unless someone else has started a thread and I'm unaware of it).

[_Jason Bourne]

I'm a little surprised there isn't a thread on the funeral here, so I thought I'd start one. Maybe the mods will prefer to move it to the Celestial forum.

I thought it was a good funeral, with touching talks from people who knew him well, with lots of anecdotal humor. It was clear from the comments that he was sicker in the past couple of years than probably the general membership realized.

When all is said and done, while Gordon B. Hinckley might have been a leader, a prophet, a president, and a moral compass for about 13 million people, he was in the end a grandfather, a father, and a personal friend to many of those in attendance. And that's what it boiled down to for me. That was someone's father, someone's grandfather. And they were saying goodbye.

I was surprised they continued to televise the service through the graveside services, including showing the funeral cortege driving to the cemetery.

I'm old enough to remember when he was first called as an apostle, and have lived to see the administration of many of the LDS Church's 15 presidents. But for many watching today, he was the only "prophet" they knew, and had a significant impact on their lives. It appears Thomas S. Monson has assumed the mantle easily and the transition will be a smooth one.

I noticed Orrin Hatch, Harry Reid, Mike Leavitt and Mitt Romney and their spouses among the dignitaries seated together; I didn't notice who else was seated with them.

If anyone else has any comments on the funeral, I thought this might be a good place to put them (unless someone else has started a thread and I'm unaware of it).

Your summary is a good one. I know some here have poo pahed some emotions of LDS members being tied to a man they did not know personally. But I think such criticisms under estimate the attention active members give to their prophet. They here him speak numerous times per year, read many talks byt him and Ensign articles, may buy books by him and so on. I have been in the mans presence at least three times or maybe four at various stake conferenes, dedications and other events. For 25 years he has led the Church as either president or a strong member of the FP. He was humerous, seemed to genuienly care for the people and got out among them more then any other LDS Church president. He was the most strong and vibrant Church president in years as well. Not since President Kimball's early administration in the early to mid 70's did an LDS Church president get out so much. He was the most traveled LDS Church president as well. He is the peoples prophet for many in the Church.

So, yes I personally will miss him and yes I got a bit teary eyed a few times during the funeral service today as well. I know some here do not like him but I think he was a good man and yes, he was a husband, Dad and Grand dad as well.

[_Imwashingmypirate]

We see the broadcast tomorow. So I can't really say much.

[_the road to hana]

We see the broadcast tomorow. So I can't really say much.

It's a good 2 1/2 - 3 hours of broadcast. I wonder how much they'll show at your church. The funeral itself lasts about an hour-and-a-half, then they show a little film about President Hinckley and his life, and then show the funeral procession to the graveside service at the cemetery.

[_Yoda]

I enjoyed watching the funeral today. It was a very nice tribute. President Hinckley was a very good man. I felt like it was the end of an era. He has been a part of the First Presidency in some way for as long as I can remember.

And, yes, I do think we probably need to move this to the Celestial Forum. Thanks for the summary, Hanna!

:)

Liz

[_the road to hana]

I enjoyed watching the funeral today. It was a very nice tribute. President Hinckley was a very good man. I felt like it was the end of an era. He has been a part of the First Presidency in some way for as long as I can remember.

And, yes, I do think we probably need to move this to the Celestial Forum. Thanks for the summary, Hanna!

:)

Liz

Thanks, Liz. I'm afraid if it doesn't get moved it will turn into something other than what I intended, which was just to be a respectful discussion of the funeral.

[_Yoda]

I enjoyed watching the funeral today. It was a very nice tribute. President Hinckley was a very good man. I felt like it was the end of an era. He has been a part of the First Presidency in some way for as long as I can remember.

And, yes, I do think we probably need to move this to the Celestial Forum. Thanks for the summary, Hanna!

:)

Liz

Thanks, Liz. I'm afraid if it doesn't get moved it will turn into something other than what I intended, which was just to be a respectful discussion of the funeral.

Thanks, Hanna. Yes, unfortunately, one of our apologists attempted to turn this into a political thread. ;) Irony, anyone?

[_Imwashingmypirate]

Hey, guess what? The broadcast was live yesterday. I was given the wrong information. I don't know how much was shown, but I was told there were lots of limo's and the graveside dedication was nice.

[_why me]

I caught the end of the funeral. It was an emotional funeral for many who were present. Gordon B. Hinckley will be missed by the LDS that is for sure. He was a good man who brought the LDS church forward. His talks were also very human centered, in my opinion.

He will be missed.

[_the road to hana]

Hey, guess what? The broadcast was live yesterday. I was given the wrong information. I don't know how much was shown, but I was told there were lots of limo's and the graveside dedication was nice.

You can probably still watch it online if you want, pirate.

Check the church's website at http://www.LDS.org or BYU TV's website at http://www.byutv.com