Gordon B. Hinckley Biography Quotes 4 Report mistakes

Early Life and Education
Gordon Bitner Hinckley was born on June 23, 1910, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Bryant S. Hinckley and Ada Bitner Hinckley. He grew up in a Latter-day Saint family that valued literature, learning, and devotion to faith. The influence of his parents, particularly the example of his educator father and his resilient mother, set a tone of disciplined optimism that would mark his public life. He attended local schools and went on to the University of Utah, where he earned a bachelor's degree in English in 1932. The economic climate of the Great Depression shaped his early outlook on work, thrift, and service, themes he would later emphasize as a church leader.

Mission and Early Church Service
In 1933 he accepted a missionary assignment to Great Britain. The challenges of public misunderstanding and limited resources sparked his interest in communication and messaging. Upon returning in 1935, he met with Heber J. Grant, then president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who asked him to help modernize the church's public outreach. Hinckley became executive secretary of the church's Radio, Publicity, and Mission Literature Committee, a role that brought him into regular contact with senior leaders, including David O. McKay. He developed literature for missionaries, helped standardize teaching materials, and learned to translate doctrine into clear language for wider audiences. His work later included oversight of exhibits and films, most notably the production of "Man's Search for Happiness" for the 1964 New York World's Fair, a project that epitomized his lifelong commitment to engaging the public respectfully and effectively.

Marriage and Family
On April 29, 1937, he married Marjorie Pay in the Salt Lake Temple. Their partnership became one of the most visible and admired in Latter-day Saint life. Marjorie's warmth and wit balanced his brisk, businesslike style; together they emphasized kindness, education, and faith in their home. They raised children who pursued professional and church service; among them, Virginia Hinckley Pearce became an author and church leader for women and youth, and Richard G. Hinckley later served as a general authority. Marjorie's influence on his public voice was widely acknowledged, and her death on April 6, 2004, was a deeply personal loss he spoke of tenderly.

Rise in Leadership
Hinckley's administrative skill and steady temperament led to broader leadership responsibilities. In 1958 he was called as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and in 1961 he was ordained an apostle. During these years he traveled extensively, organizing church units, teaching, and working on missionary and public communications. His colleagues in the Quorum of the Twelve included Thomas S. Monson and Boyd K. Packer, men with whom he would collaborate for decades. As the church expanded globally, Hinckley gained a reputation for practical decision-making and for finding common ground in complex situations.

Counselor in the First Presidency
In 1981 he was called as a counselor to Spencer W. Kimball, joining a presidency that also included seasoned leaders N. Eldon Tanner and Marion G. Romney. As Kimball and others faced health challenges, Hinckley carried significant day-to-day responsibilities. He continued as a counselor to Ezra Taft Benson beginning in 1985 and to Howard W. Hunter in 1994. His closest associates in these years included Thomas S. Monson and James E. Faust, who would later serve as his counselors. These periods honed his capacity for delicate administrative stewardship, balancing tradition with the needs of a fast-growing, international church.

President of the Church
Following the death of Howard W. Hunter in March 1995, Hinckley became the fifteenth president of the church. He organized a First Presidency with Thomas S. Monson and James E. Faust, and later called Henry B. Eyring to the presidency after Faust's passing. Early in his tenure he presented "The Family: A Proclamation to the World", underscoring the centrality of marriage, parental responsibility, and moral standards. He advanced an ambitious temple-building program, introducing smaller, standardized designs that brought temple worship within closer reach of members worldwide. By the time of his passing, the number of operating temples had surpassed 120, a transformation in the church's religious landscape. He also presided over the reconstruction of the Nauvoo Illinois Temple and the dedication of the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, which became the venue for worldwide general conferences.

Humanitarian and Educational Initiatives
Hinckley announced the Perpetual Education Fund in 2001, a program designed to help young adults in developing countries obtain education and training through low-interest loans funded by donations. He widened the scope of humanitarian aid and public-service partnerships, emphasizing self-reliance, literacy, and local leadership. These efforts reflected themes he had carried since the Depression era: education as a path out of poverty, and private religious charity as a catalyst for dignity and opportunity.

Public Voice and Media Engagement
Known for clarity and courtesy, Hinckley became one of the most recognized public faces of the church. He sat for in-depth interviews on 60 Minutes with Mike Wallace and appeared multiple times on Larry King Live, where his measured answers and personal warmth conveyed transparency. He addressed the National Press Club and met with civic leaders around the world, including heads of state. In 2004, President George W. Bush awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, honoring his contributions to faith-based service and community life. His writing included widely read addresses and books such as "Standing for Something", which summarized the virtues he urged members and neighbors alike to cultivate.

Leadership Style and Relationships
Hinckley's style blended optimism with realism. He favored straightforward counsel, urging members to be honest, self-supporting, and engaged in their communities. He worked closely with counselors Thomas S. Monson and James E. Faust, and later Henry B. Eyring, delegating liberally but maintaining clear accountability. He showed deference to predecessors Spencer W. Kimball, Ezra Taft Benson, and Howard W. Hunter, often crediting their teachings as foundations for his own initiatives. His relationships with apostles and auxiliary leaders were marked by brisk efficiency and personal kindness; he was known to remember individuals' circumstances even amid heavy demands.

Global Reach and the Turn of the Millennium
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Hinckley traveled widely to dedicate temples, meet with members, and engage with journalists and officials. The church's center city faced intense attention during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, and under his guidance the church marshaled thousands of volunteers and opened cultural venues to visitors. The approach showcased a balance of identity and openness that mirrored his broader strategy: build and protect core beliefs while inviting understanding through service and conversation.

Later Years and Passing
In his later years, Hinckley continued to maintain an exacting schedule. He underwent surgery in 2006 to remove a cancerous growth and recovered sufficiently to travel and speak. After decades of public partnership, he mourned the death of Marjorie Pay Hinckley in 2004, often acknowledging her sustaining influence. Gordon B. Hinckley died on January 27, 2008, in Salt Lake City, Utah, at age 97. His funeral in the Conference Center drew church members, friends, and civic leaders, and he was laid to rest beside his wife. Thomas S. Monson, his longtime counselor, succeeded him as church president.

Legacy
Hinckley's legacy encompasses administrative innovation, a dramatic expansion of temple access, and a clear public voice that helped define his faith for a global audience. He emphasized character, education, and family life, and he demonstrated how a religious institution could speak with confidence while engaging respectfully across cultural and political lines. Those who worked closest with him, among them Thomas S. Monson, James E. Faust, and Henry B. Eyring, often cited his relentless work ethic and generous humor. To many members, he was the leader who brought the church visibly into the twenty-first century; to his associates and family, he was a disciplined, considerate man who believed that faith should be lived with cheerfulness, integrity, and service.

Our collection contains 4 quotes who is written by Gordon, under the main topics: Faith - Work Ethic - Family - Respect.