Memory of Gordon B. Hinckley

I woke up at 4:00 am this morning with a personal experience of Gordon B. Hinckley running through my head, which I had never recorded and had all but forgotten about. I couldn't get back to sleep until I had gotten up and written it down. Then I could sleep again. I decided while I was writing it that the reason I was doing so was to share it with my children and grandchildren. So here it is. Please share it with my grandchildren.

Annandale, Virginia

February 3, 2008

As you may know, I am a collector of sorts. I collect handshakes. They are great things to collect. It doesn’t take much room to store them, and you never have to dust them. I have in my collection not one, but two, Gordon B. Hinckley handshakes. I would like to tell you about them.

In the spring of 1996 or 1997, not long after he had become President of the Church, Gordon B. Hinckley came to Washington, DC to speak to the annual dinner of the Washington DC Chapter of the BYU Management Society. The dinner was held in the J. W. Marriott Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue. Literally thousands of people came to see the Prophet. There was a reception line so that people could greet him. As was often the case, we were later than we intended to be and were way back in the line, which was very long. The scheduled time for the reception line to end came and went. Still President Hinckley continued to shake hands. Finally, our turn came. I took his hand and briefly said “We’re so glad you would come; we pray for you.” Then, knowing that the time was far spent and that there were still many others in line wanting to meet the Prophet, I attempted to move past him quickly. After all, I was not a person of any consequence, and there was no reason why he should be interested in me. Suddenly I heard his voice say, “Wait a minute brother; come back here.” He took my hand again (the second of my two Gordon B. Hinckley handshakes) and said “What is your name?” Fearing that I had somehow earned a rebuke, I managed to stammer out “I’m J. D. Evans, sir.” Then he kindly said, “Well Brother J. D. Evans, I want you to know that I am glad you would come.” Then with a wink of his eye and a wave of his hand, he sent me on my way and turned to give his full attention to the next person in the line. But I had learned an important lesson. I may not have thought myself very important, but I was important enough to him that he wanted to know my name. Such was his concern for each individual. I testify that Gordon B. Hinckley was not only a great leader, he was a great model of Christ-like love. He was like a beloved Grandpa to the whole Church.

When I heard he had died on January 27, 2008, I shed tears. But they were not tears of sorrow, they were tears of gratitude. How could one be sorry for his great and good life? How could one be sorry that he was spared a lengthy period of incapacity suffered by so many of his predecessors? How could one be sorry that he was now reunited with his beloved Marjorie, whom he obviously missed so very much? Like Brigham Young said of Joseph Smith, I feel like shouting “Hallelujah!” whenever I think that I ever knew Gordon B. Hinckley. I am immensely grateful to have had the privilege of living in the days of the prophet Gordon B. Hinckley and for the influence his personal optimism, positive leadership and powerful example have had on my life.

J. D. Evans