A Lesson I Will Never Forget by President Gordon B. Hinckley

While on my mission to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1987), my companion and I were asked to attend a Leadership Training Meeting. The speakers were L. Tom Perry and Gordon B. Hinckley, then Second Counselor to the First Presidency. I shall never forget the words I heard this man of God speak on that day. I am now 44 years old, and this experience happened over 25 years ago. I am grateful that I was there to hear the words of a man who would become our Prophet, Seer, and Revelator!

President Gordon B. Hinckley talked about a recent experience in his life at that time. He was asked to speak to a large gathering commemorating the 150-year anniversary of the Church in England. Seeing how President Hinckley served a mission to England when he was a boy, and he was very familiar with the Church’s history there, he was delighted and honored. He said that he had prayed for weeks for inspiration on what to talk about. He knew that there would be a big congregation, and many leaders from government and business in attendance. He said that he continued praying until that very day, and he still did not know what he would say. It came to the day for the talk, and he said that the only thing he could think of was the first article of faith: “We believe in God the Eternal Father and in His Son Jesus Christ and in the Holy Ghost.”

He said that after he had delivered his address, he felt like he had failed. He said that while taking the train back to catch his flight, he cried in the arms of his wife and told her that he let the people down, that they had come to hear a great speech, and that he wasn’t up to the task. He wished that he had done a better job.

Some time later, President Hinckley said that he attended a sacrament meeting (I believe it was a testimony meeting). One Elder who had recently returned from his mission to England told a most interesting story. He said that he and his companion were teaching a man who was a theologian (a pastor) and well-respected in his church. As I recall, he also spoke several languages and was very versed in the scriptures with degrees and honors. The man was meeting with the missionaries because he was doubting his faith and was searching for greater light and knowledge.

The missionaries promised this man that if he would attend the conference of the 150th anniversary of the Church in England and listen to a living Apostle, his questions would be answered. The missionaries accompanied the man to the conference, and they were fasting and praying that the Lord would fulfill their words. After the conference ended, the man declared that his questions were answered, and that one of his biggest issues with his current church was the doctrine of the Trinity. He questioned how God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost could be one and the same. The power of the words of Gordon B. Hinckley led to this man’s conversion, and the Elder said that this man was baptized as a direct result of hearing President Hinckley speak.

President Hinckley went on to say that he thought he had failed, but that the Lord knew what he was doing, and that even in his weakness, the Lord made his efforts strong. Even though it is 25 years later, and I have never read of this experience in any Church magazine or in any conference, this remains one of the strongest memories of my life about the power of our prophets and apostles.

President Hinckley was a tireless worker; it was obvious that he was tired and had been on a whirlwind tour visiting many people, and in many meetings at the time he spoke at this Leadership Training Meeting. He was an example for all of us to emulate. I love President Gordon B. Hinckley, and I will testify to all the nations of the earth that I know that he was a prophet of God. He was an instrument in the hands of the Lord and a special witness of Him. I am also a witness, and I hope in some small way I can share the gospel to those who are seeking for it.