I Miss that Man...

Once again I had the opportunity to don my plastic-covered name badge and tromp around B.Y.U. campus from morning till night listening to inspiring, hysterical, encouraging, invigorating, enlightening, amusing, and well-educated speakers on a variety of topics.  Yes, Education Week, my long-last friend, and I were re-acquainted.  Karen and Mom were also able to attend, which made the experience that much more fantastic.  After a week of attendance, I feel like I can defeat the world- that I will be able to improve myself in so many ways I will hardly be recognizable, that my marriage will be an example to the world and the greatest love story ever written, and that each of my children will be in a near-translation state of being.  Then the Week comes to an end and the reality of my life smashes into my consciousness.  All of those idealistic goals come crashing down all too quickly.  My desire is that each year I can improve on even one thing.  If there is one thing that then becomes a part of my life that brings my closer to my Savior, then attendance has been worthwhile.

One of the classes we attended was a musical group that consists of three women who have been singing together for 25 years.  They were asked by President Hinckley to write a Primary song about prophets.  After the song was completed, they were invited to come and perform for President Hinckley. As they shared the details of this fantastic experience of singing about prophets to the very living prophet of our day, they also had photos to show.  As the picture of President Hinckley were shown on the screen, I became incredibly emotional.  I was over-come with the feeling of missing President Hinckley desperately- like he had been a close, personal friend whose absence has changed my every day life.  This experience brought to mind the "personal" experiences I have had with Gordon B. Hinckley.

The first was when I was attending the sesquicentennial celebration of the Pioneer Saints entering the Salt Lake Valley.  There was a program being held at B.Y.U. football stadium and we were able to secure tickets.  There were thousands of people in attendance and we were making our way through the crowds to our assigned seats.  I could see a golf cart not too far off, headed my way.  I was surprised how fast it was able to move in such a compacted crowd of people.  When it was close enough for me to recognize who the passenger was, I was speechless.  In my speechless state, the cart ran right over my foot!  But my first thought was, "President Hinckley, you can run over my foot in any mode of transportation any time you like!"  Yes, President Hinckley was being whisked away to wherever it was that he would be sitting for the program.  It wasn't a spiritual experience, but a personal one nonetheless.

The next time I remember being that close to the Prophet was during the Mount Timpanogos Temple Dedication.  I had signed up to serve as an escort and received a phone call from someone in charge of organizing the escorts that started with the statement, "I don't know what you did in the Pre-existence to deserve this, but I'm calling to see if you would be willing to serve as an escort in the Celestial Room."  He had no idea who I was, I had no idea who he was, but my name somehow was selected to be able to be in the Celestial Room of the Temple during the dedicatory service.

The day of the dedication each of the escorts I was with were giddy with excitement- it was like being a 7 year-old the night before Christmas, we couldn't even sleep!  As I was standing at my assigned door way, the main doors on the west side of the room opened up and in walked President Hinckley, President Monson, and Elder Eyring.  It seriously took my breath away to see these Men of God walk into the Celestial Room dressed in white.  Tears immediately came and I was completely overwhelmed by the experience.  Each time I attend the Timpanogos temple, I sit on the east side of the room and remember what it was like to see those men enter that sacred room.  It's one of those experiences that continues to be a blessing throughout my life.

President Jensen invited Tana, her sister Tricia, and me up to have lunch with his at the Church Office Building.  There is a cafeteria in the basement that we were able to dine with not only President Jensen, but President and Sister Hinckley, President Monson, Elder Eyring, and other of the brethren.  Eating was the last thing I wanted to do!  I was trying to stare at all of them while not looking like I was staring.  I wanted to see what they were eating and I wanted to hear what they talked about over lunch. 

There are a couple of stories that President Jensen shared with us about President Hinckley that I will always remember.  The first was after a weekend of traveling in Europe, it was all President Jensen could do to keep his eyes open on the flight home.  He felt like he could barely put one foot in front of the other when President Hinckley came and took him by the hand and said, "Marlin, go home and take a nap."  25 years his senior and he's telling him to take a nap!  President Jensen said President Hinckley NEVER stops working.  If they are on a flight, he is constantly writing and reading- no napping for him.  The Lord truly strengthens his Anointed.

The other story he shared was about a conversation President and Sister Hinckley were having and it was obvious they had a difference of opinion.  Sister Hinckley then said, "Well, whatever you want , Gordon."  President Hinckley then turned to the Jensens and said, "This is how a good marriage is run!"

Although not President Hinckley, there was an experience I had while at the B.Y.U. Jerusalem Center when President Holland and President Faust came to visit.  They and their wives stayed at the Center for about a week and it was fun to just "have them hanging around."  I wasn't one of the students always wanting pictures and to be up in their face, but one day I was walking down the hall with three of my best friends, who happened to be three guys.  President Faust came up to me and said, "What are you, the Pied Piper?  Look at how these guys just follow you around!"  We laughed, had some small talk, and it was awesome to see that Apostles live normal lives, too.