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Memory Lane Sunday of the Month

I don’t know about you, but I have never been especially star struck. With the exception of U2’s lead singer, Bono, there really is no one (at least in the glittery Hollywood world) who I would particularly care to meet. I am totally disenchanted with people who are preoccupied with their own self-importance… You all know the kind I’m talking about…. Perhaps you went to highschool with a few…

Anyway, that being said, there is one person who I have always wanted to meet... that would be President Gordon B. Hinckley. Have such a great respect for that man and considering his recent passing, I thought it would be a fun memory to write down; as it has everything to do with him. (Not that he was aware of any part of it.)

Now there have been a few instances when I have been in the presence of the Prophet, so trying to meet him never seemed totally far-fetched to me. My very good friend, Erin, and I actually may have had the opportunity years ago in June of 1997. We didn't really try to meet him then... there are always so many people around and there's a general understood respect for the Prophet...

So the story starts a few years ago, after I had graduated from the BYU, and I moved home to Arizona for a year. During that year I went back to Utah a couple of times... this particular time I came to see my very good friend Erin. And it was October 2002.

Before my flight back to Arizona on Monday, and since we had a couple of hours to kill, Erin and I thought that, hey, if we asked to meet the prophet, there's a chance we would be able to, right? I mean, members of the church back in Joseph Smith's day could meet the prophet... And not to mention, a very good friend of mine (after being informed by a maid in the Hotel Utah as to which room was his) got to meet President David O. McKay. Now that was years ago, but it seemed perfectly logical to us that it was at least possible...

So we went to downtown Salt Lake. Well, first of all, if one wanted to meet the Prophet, one would more than likely need to know where he was. We didn't have a clue. After inquiring in the Church Office Building (the most logical place to ask) the people at the front desk told us that the offices of the First Presidency are in the Administration building. (The building next to the Joseph Smith Memorial). Sweet. So we walked over there and went inside. (Here's where it gets good)

We walk into the Administration building on South Temple and there was a guy sitting at a desk. I'm thinkin, here's our chance. So I say, "Um, we were wondering if we could meet the Prophet." (I know, I know, it doesn't get more suave than that, does it?)

This very nice man looks at me and says, "Do you have an appointment?"

How 'bout that. An appointment. Hm. No. I look at him and say, "No, how do you get one of those?"

He says (now with a little bit of a smile), "From your Stake President."

Oh. Darn. Fresh out of a Stake President referral. I'm sitting there thinking, who gets an appointment with the propeht from their stake president. Crazy people? (Now, why would crazy people get an appointment with the first presidency? But that didn't stop me from asking my next question...)

So I say, "And how do you get an appointment from your stake president? Do you have to be crazy?"

He looks at me with a full smile now and says, "Does that include you?"

We all started laughing. It was hilarious. Sooo funny. We had a good chuckle for a minute and then Erin and I left. I love people with a good sense of humor...

So there you have it. If you want to meet the prophet, too bad. And no, I'm pretty sure that they do not let crazy people have appointments with the first presidency.

That memory always makes me laugh.

So, have you ever met the Prophet?

A Man For All Seasons

taken from remarks by President Thomas S. Monson at the funeral of President Gordon B. Hinckley. February 2, 2008

Photo of President Gordon B. Hinckley taken by Boyd Ivey

President Hinckley.

This man has had signifcant impact on my life.

Who he was, what he believed in, what he stood for.

I will miss him.