this is how i spent my Vday weekend. reading that book to write this paper that you will see next .. though the papper is the one i turned in, but the one that i liked better -- this paper would have been a B+ my teacher told me. though i have come up with another way, a better way i should of writen the paper but to late now right, turned the paper in last friday!
Go Forward With Faith
Gordon B. Hinckley – A Great Leader
“You shall not only become great yourself but your posterity will become great, from your loins will come forth statesmen, prophets, priests and Kings to the most high God. The priesthood will never depart from your family, no never. To you posterity there shall be no end…and the name of Hinckley shall be honored in every nation under heaven.” Bryant Hinckley’s patriarchal blessing had promised him and his wife Ada this and they couldn’t have even in any way been able to predict how much their first child together, Gordon Bitner Hinckley, would fulfill this prophesy and become a great leader to many.
Go Forward with Faith is a biography about Gordon B. Hinckley written by Sheri Dew. She is a Latter-day Saint leader, an inspirational speaker, a writer, a White House delegate to the United Nations, and she is also the president and chief executive officer of Deseret Book. As an author Sheri Dew has written the authorized biographies of two LDS Church presidents, Ezra Taft Benson and Gordon B. Hinckley. She has also written the biography of 1986 Miss America Sharlene Wells and also four inspirational volumes: No Doubt About it; No One Can Take Your Place; If Life Where Easy, It Wouldn’t Be Hard; and God Wants A Powerful People.
President Hinckley didn’t want a biography written about him. He would have rather his story go untold. When Sheri Dew brought him the first third of the manuscript he told her “I am sick, sick, sick of reading about Gordon Hinckley. There is too much about Gordon Hinckley in this manuscript.” He didn’t want this book to describe him as something he wasn’t. She had a hard time understanding him; he wanted the book to show him as an ordinary man. Leadership isn’t about the person in the front saying “Look at me!” A leader could be someone in the back who doesn’t want to show off. Gordon Hinckley didn’t want everyone to praise him for what he did, he did it because it was asked of him and was what he was called to do.
In his childhood he learned from his mistakes, he learned valuable lesions and made promises to himself, strengthened his character. Growing up he was never too enthused about school and would always try to avoid it. The year he and his friends were moving out of the elementary school into the Jr. high his class was moved back to the elementary school for another year. In rebellion, along with a group of friends, he went “on strike” and skipped school. When returning to school they were not let back without a written note explaining their absences from their parents. Ada Hinckley wrote "Dear Mr. Stearns please excuse Gordon’s absence yesterday. His action was simply an impulse to follow the crowd." He was ashamed for he was one of whom came up with the idea and got others to join. He then made up his mind that he would never again do anything to just “follow the crowd”. President Hinckley spoke numbers of time to youth of the church on following the crowd and on peer-pressure and how important it was to not fall into those things.
In school he had one of the most competent grammarians in the state as a teacher, he was a stickler but Gordon learned the intricacies of grammar and took naturally to his tutoring. Another of his teachers was ruthless in his critiques in writing, but Gordon found it stimulating and motivating. Throughout his schooling he had gained a great knowledge and was able to converse intelligently. His vast knowledge of writing and speech gave him the skills he needed to fulfill his duties throughout his life, for he did much, much speaking to many people all over the world. People were moved by his words and way of conversing and how he got his point across. Skilled in arguments and negotiating, he knew how to make others feel and understand what he was saying and believe in its truth. Faith, hope, love, and charity were qualities he held and used in communication.
He was loved and admired by many. He visited and spoke to people all over the world. He the people he came in contact with. He was the first general authority to visit some places, the people loved and respected him, and they could see how much he truly cared. Through his words the people could see his true compassion for them. It was once said “Gordon has magnificent gifts of written and oral expression. His judgment stands up in every situation. His insight into human character and situations is rich and meaningful. He knows when silence is better than utterance. He has a sense of humor that endears him to all.
He said is in his first address as a consular in the First Presidency. “And now a new assignment has come. … This sacred calling has made me aware of my weaknesses. If I have offended at any time, I apologize and hope you will forgive me. Whether this assignment be lengthy of brief, I pledge my best effort, given with love and faith.” He told everyone that he was not perfect, and wanted them to all know that if he makes a mistake or disappoints anyone that he was sorry. Something that takes a true leader to say.
“Thou shalt grow to the full stature of manhood and shall become a mighty and valiant leader in the midst of Israel…The Holy Priesthood shall be thine to enjoy and thou shalt minister in the mist of Israel as only those who are called of God. Thou shalt ever be a messenger of peace; the nations of the earth shall hear thy voice and be brought to a knowledge of the truth by the wonderful testimony which though shalt bear.” Gordon B. Hinckley, blessed by God to be a leader to the world.
Its been BEAUTIFUL the past few day!! saturday we went ice skating and thought we were going to fall through the ice bc it was so warm it would melt! but it was fun!! Spring is deffintly in the air -- and hoping it will stay like this!! it has to have been in the 40s short sleve weather!! we have basicly has to swim to class as well!! the iceburg is melting and floding the sidewalks and streets and parking lots! its amazing to see this becuase last winter the only day it was like this was the day of the temple dedication. ITS AMAIZING!!
ummmmmmmm....lets see what else is there... not much else i guess, i live in my room and have just been trying to pass classes, i am guessing by next week i will be out of food. sad day i know .. well i could eat oatmeal for every meal but i kinda want that to last me for my mornings .. dont know how much longer that will last .. but i know the Lord is watching out for me.
i am starting to get into my calling a bit more ... though i am still just kinda arg bc i thought i was done with it when i left TX but its the only way to keep me in RS. i am trying to put my all into it now and its hard. thinking of the thoughtful or perferfect things to do for my 5min music, and its kinda frusttating as well when the girls just dont sing the hymn like they should, they dont share my passion that i keep trying to share with them, its sadening. but i keep trying!!
i think thats all gunna read some history notes for a bit and pray i pass my quiz and test i have to take tomorrow!! yay!! --not--hah!!
<3 Erin Christina
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