Goodbye President Hinckley

I'm so happy President Hinckey is with his beloved wife and eternal companion again. Since his death I have been thinking about how glad I am that he's with her, after waiting to be for awhile. Also, I have thought about how I know that he was told "Well done thy good and faithful servant" by his Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. And, what a joyuous reunion it must have been! Him knowing he had truly done his very best he could do on this earth - and God and Our Lord Jesus being so thankful for all that he did.

Today I was able to watch his funeral on t.v. and I was so touched by the Spirit during all of the wonderful talks and enjoyed every word

(that I was able to hear - I'm glad I taped it since Kev's at work today, now I can hear more when I watch it with him, tonight.)

I have to admit that during the closing song when they had the video of him I lost it. It was the first time I had seen him since I heard of his death and with the beautiful music and everything, the Spirit and my emotions took over me. I love to feel the Spirit and try to (and depending on the day or week - usually do) often. But once in a while - there are moments and experiences that allow you to feel it in an overwhelming, powerful way that just takes over your whole body. Today was one of those days. I am so glad and thankful to be able to have had that experience and let the tears flow during it as I reflected on his life. Like one of the talk's theme of footprints in the sand - I am such a better person becauase of this man and his teachings than I would be without his life.

Another thing I wanted to mention was that I was watching it on a local news channel at first until the Presiding Bishop started talking in 3-4 different languages other than English all at once. After about 2 minutes of this, I switched to KBYU and there were no technical problems so I left it there. But I do admit it hit me - there are millions and millions of people all over this world who loved this man as much as me! What a widespread legacy he is leaving!

One more thing I want to add is that Audrey is the same exact age I was when President Spencer W. Kimball died. I remember the day my mom told me he died. I remember it was over breakfast and I remember I cried. Now Audrey has never cried over President Hinckley's death, but she has mentioned how she knows he's in heaven. Today during the funeral she was pretty attentive during the beginning and ending of it's airing. I hope she realizes some day what a special Prophet she had in her first 6 years and 4 months of her life. I was also thinking about how the next Prophet will probably live long enough to be as big of an influence to her as President Hinckley was to me. What new changes and stricter standards of the church will we see in the next 20 years or so? Look at all President Hinckley did. Look at how the world changed one way as he asked us to make changes the other way. Wow, today is just one of those thought-provoking days for me and I am so thankful for the Gospel and my testimony of it! I will follow our next Prophet in faith just as I followed our beloved and now "late"

President Gordon Bitner Hinckley!