"Brethren and Sisters, you will never be happy if you go through life thinking only of yourself. Get lost in the best cause in the world ~ the cause of the Lord. The work on the quorums, and of the auxiliary organizations, temple work, welfare service work, missionary work. You will bless your own life as you bless the lives of others."
 

 "As the Church moves forward on its divinely appointed mission, I do not anticipate any dramatic change in course. Procedures and programs may be altered from time to time, but the doctrine remains constant. We are dedicated, as have been those before us, to teaching the gospel of peace, to the promotion of civility and mutual respect among people everywhere, to bearing witness to the living reality of out Lord Jesus Christ, and to the practice of His teachings in our daily lives."
 

GORDON B. HINCKLEY was born on June 23, 1910 in Salt Lake City in Bryant Stringham Hinckley and Ada Bitner Hinckley. After attending Salt Lake City schools and graduation from University of Utah in 1932 President Hinckley served a two year mission to Great Britain.

His church service has been extensive. He was called as a member of the Sunday School General Board in 1937, two years after returning from his mission. For twenty years he directed all Church public communications. In 1951 he was called as executive secretary of the General Missionary Committee, managing the entire missionary program of the Church, and served in this capacity for seven years. He was President of the East Millcreek Stake when he was called as an Assistant to the Council of the Twelve Apostles on April 6, 1958.

President Hinckley was named to the Council of the Twelve Apostles on October 5, 1961. On July 23, 1981 he was called into the First Presidency to serve as Counselor and on December 2, 1982 he was named as Second Counselor to President Spencer E. Kimball. He served as First Counselor to President Ezra Taft Benson from November 1985 to May 30, 1994, On June 5, 1994 he was called as the First Counselor to President Howard W. Hunter in the Churches First Presidency. He was also ordained and set apart as the President of the Council of the Twelve Apostles. On March 12, 1995 he was ordained and set apart as President of the Church…

As a General Authority his church assignments have taken him around the world, and he has dedicated more temples than any other leader in the history of the Church. He has written and edited several books and numerous manuals, pamphlets, and scripts.

In addition to his church duties, President Hinckley has been active in community and business affairs, serving as chairman and board member of a number of business corporations. He has been the recipient of many educational honors including: The Distinguished Citizen Award from Southern Utah University, Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Utah, and Honorary doctorates from Westminster College, Utah State University, University of Utah, Brigham Young University and Southern Utah University. He has received the Silver Buffalo Award of the Boy Scouts of America and was honored by the Utah Region of the National Conference of Christians and Jews for his promoting of "understanding and respect among all races, religions and cultures through advocacy, conflict resolution and education."

He and his wife, Marjorie Pay Hinckley, have five childern.