Gordon B. Hinckley

Gordon B. Hinckley was the fifteenth President of the LDS Church, serving from 1995 to 2008. Born in Salt Lake City, Hinckley graduated from the University of Utah and served a mission to England during the Great Depression. He then began a lifetime career with the church, initially heading the church’s missionary literature and media efforts.

Hinckley was particularly adept at public relations and media. He appeared on Larry King Live and 60 Minutes, gave interviews to major publications, and cultivated the church’s image with skill. His personable, optimistic demeanor made him the most publicly visible church president to that time. His signature phrases included “carry on” and his optimistic outlook on life.

Under Hinckley, the church constructed temples at an unprecedented rate—he dedicated or rededicated over 90 temples. He introduced smaller temples that brought temple worship to more members worldwide. He also built the Conference Center in Salt Lake City and oversaw the controversial Nauvoo Temple reconstruction.

His presidency was not without controversy. He famously stated in a 1997 Time magazine interview that the teaching “As man is, God once was” wasn’t necessarily doctrine, confusing members familiar with Lorenzo Snow’s couplet. His handling of the Mark Hofmann forgery case earlier in his apostleship remained controversial.

Hinckley was known for his tireless travel and administrative energy even into his 90s. He died in 2008 at age 97.