In tribute.

For some reason I feel the need to join thousands of other bloggers in documenting the passing of President Gordon B. Hinckley, 15th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the church to which I belong...and work for...and buy my cars from...and...um, anyway.

You know, I thought I would be sadder when I found out, but one can't help thinking that it's quite a relief for him--a relief and a joyful homecoming. Last night, as we tried to confirm the rumors of what we heard, my friend's 4-yr. old nephew said, "Yeah...he was prob'ly just old...or maybe he was bit by a wolf....maybe." It's tough to say really...

Of all the appropriately cheesy things I thought of to say to memorialize this man who spent the greater part of his life in church service, the most fitting seemed to be this--his testimony:

"I hope that all of you will remember that on this Sabbath day you heard me bear my witness that this is God's holy work. The vision given the Prophet Joseph in the grove of Palmyra was not an imaginary thing. It was real. It occurred in the broad light of day. Both the Father and the Son spoke to the boy. He saw Them standing in the air above him. He heard Their voices. He gave heed to Their instruction.

"It was the resurrected Lord who was introduced by His Father, the great God of the universe. For the first time in recorded history, both the Father and the Son appeared together to part the curtains and open this, the last and final dispensation, the dispensation of the fullness of times.

"The Book of Mormon is all that it purports to be—a work recorded by prophets who lived anciently and whose words have come forth 'to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations' (Book of Mormon title page).

"The priesthood has been restored under the hands of John the Baptist and Peter, James, and John. All the keys and authority pertaining to eternal life are exercised in this Church.

"Joseph Smith was and is a prophet, the great Prophet of this dispensation. This Church, which carries the name of the Redeemer, is true.

"I leave you my testimony, my witness, and my love for each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

--April 1, 2006, Sunday morning session of the 176th Annual General Conference

Nothing more needs to be said.