Tag Archives: Gordon B. Hinckley

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Gordon B. Hinckley View the Gordon B. Hinckley Church Leader profile →

LDS prophet (1995-2008) known for media savvy and temple building. Made controversial statements in interviews.

Men Of Their Times

Church leaders assert that they directly follow God’s guidance, exempting themselves from apologies and social pressure, like for example addressing racism within church doctrine and culture. Apologists claim that church leaders are merely “men of their times” and can’t be judged by today’s standards. These two ideas don’t work together. Either the leaders are led …

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A few years back, the church excommunicated some dissidents. Is the church large enough to put up with having a loyal opposition? Hinckley: "We believe in education, in thinking, in doing things. But when somebody goes out and publicly fights the church, opposes the church, then we move in." - LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley in 1997 Interview with SFGate | wasmormon.org
A few years back, the church excommunicated some dissidents. Is the church large enough to put up with having a loyal opposition? Hinckley: "We believe in education, in thinking, in doing things. But when somebody goes out and publicly fights the church, opposes the church, then we move in." - LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley in 1997 Interview
People are curious about the Mormon Church temple rites, and why they are kept so secret. Hinckley: "Sacred." Sacred, but closed off to outsiders. I can't think of any other religion that has such secrecy about its temple rites. “When we build a temple, we invite people to come... After it's dedicated, then it becomes endowed with a particular sanctity, as we view it, and it becomes available then only to those who are qualified to enter the temple.” - LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley in 1997 Interview with SFGate | wasmormon.org
People are curious about the Mormon Church temple rites, and why they are kept so secret. Hinckley: "Sacred." Sacred, but closed off to outsiders. I can't think of any other religion that has such secrecy about its temple rites. “When we build a temple, we invite people to come... After it's dedicated, then it becomes endowed with a particular sanctity, as we view it, and it becomes available then only to those who are qualified to enter the temple.” - LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley in 1997 Interview
Mormons believe that God was once a man? Hinckley: "I wouldn't say that. There was a little couplet coined, "As man is, God once was. As God is, man may become." Now that's more of a couplet than anything else. That gets into some pretty deep theology that we don't know very much about." - LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley in 1997 Interview with SFGate | wasmormon.org
Mormons believe that God was once a man? "I wouldn't say that. There was a little couplet coined, "As man is, God once was. As God is, man may become." Now that's more of a couplet than anything else. That gets into some pretty deep theology that we don't know very much about." - LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley in 1997 Interview with SFGate
What about gay people who feel God made them that way? You're saying they must lead a celibate life? Hinckley: "Well, yes, I suppose, essentially. A lot of people live a celibate life. Lots of them. A third of the people in the United States are now single. Many of them live a celibate life." - LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley in 1997 Interview with SFGate | wasmormon.org
What about gay people who feel God made them that way? You're saying they must lead a celibate life? Hinckley: "Well, yes, I suppose, essentially. A lot of people live a celibate life. Lots of them. A third of the people in the United States are now single. Many of them live a celibate life." - LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley in 1997 Interview
How do you receive divine revelation? What does it feel like? Hinckley: "Let me say first that we have a great body of revelation, the vast majority of which came from the prophet Joseph Smith. We don't need much revelation. We need to pay more attention to the revelation we've already received." - LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley in 1997 Interview with SFGate | wasmormon.org
How do you receive divine revelation? What does it feel like? "Let me say first that we have a great body of revelation, the vast majority of which came from the prophet Joseph Smith. We don't need much revelation. We need to pay more attention to the revelation we've already received." - LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley in 1997 Interview
The church has issued a statement concerning the campaign for legal recognition of same-sex marriages in Hawaii and other states. And the church has asked its members to write to their legislatures opposing this. Hinckley: "Yes. We've been involved in some action against same-sex marriages." - LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley in 1997 Interview with SFGate | wasmormon.org
The church has issued a statement concerning the campaign for legal recognition of same-sex marriages in Hawaii and other states. And the church has asked its members to write to their legislatures opposing this. "Yes. We've been involved in some action against same-sex marriages." - LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley in 1997 Interview

The Lord Is At The Helm?

Despite the fact that church leaders remind us constantly that the Lord is at the head of the church, Uchtforf’s refreshing frankness here clarifies that it’s really men running things, and not the Lord. Once you see it, it’s clear that church leaders are merely men doing their best and stumbling along. They are not …

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60 Minutes: Gordon B. Hinckley Interview Transcript

The following is the transcript of the interview with Gordon B Hinckley, LDS Church President, Bill Marriott, Marriott Executive, Orrin Hatch, Utah Senator, Steve Young, Professional Football Player and an unnamed BYU Student. The original segment aired on April 7, 1996.

Hinckley: We know [heaven] is there. We have an assurance of that. Wallace: There’s a lot of us that don’t. Hinckley: Yeah, I know that. But you could. Wallace: I’ve thought about it. I’ve not been able to persuade myself. Hinckley: Well, you haven’t thought about it long enough. - LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley on 60 Minutes | wasmormon.org
Hinckley: We know [heaven] is there. We have an assurance of that. Wallace: There’s a lot of us that don’t. Hinckley: Yeah, I know that. But you could. Wallace: I’ve thought about it. I’ve not been able to persuade myself. Hinckley: Well, you haven’t thought about it long enough. - LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley on 60 Minutes
Wallace: From 1830 to 1978... blacks could not become priests in the Mormon Church, right? Hinckley: That's correct. Wallace: Why? Hinckley: Because the leaders of the church at that time interpreted that doctrine that way. Wallace: Church policy had it that blacks had 'the mark of Cain'. Brigham Young said, 'Cain slew his brother and the Lord put a mark upon him, which is the flat nose and black skin,' Hinckley: It's behind us. Look, that's behind us. Don't worry about those little flicks of history. - LDS Church President Gordon B Hinckley interviewed on 60 Minutes | wasmormon.org
Church policy had it that blacks had 'the mark of Cain'. Brigham Young said, 'Cain slew his brother and the Lord put a mark upon him, which is the flat nose and black skin,'"It's behind us. Look, that's behind us. Don't worry about those little flicks of history." - LDS Church President Gordon B Hinckley interviewed on 60 Minutes

Church Leaders and Initials

When referring to church leaders, the church is sure to always use an initial to ensure the leader’s full name is used. For example, the church will never refer to Gordon Hinckley, but always Gordon B. Hinckley. They will never reference Russell Nelson, but Russell M. Nelson. This presumably is in order to give the …

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Byron Marchant, Accused Dissident, Unjustifiably Excommunicated for Opposing Priesthood Ban in 1977

Among the first votes of dissent in the modern Mormon church occurred in 1977, in opposition to the church doctrine banning blacks from any priesthood ordination and temple endowment. A member voted opposed to sustaining church leadership in General Conference 1977 and was subsequently excommunicated. Then less than 1 year later the church downgraded the …

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Mixing Tithing Funds and Investments Maybe Legal But Doesn’t Mean Its Right

James Huntsman filed a lawsuit in 2021 against the church claiming that he was duped into believing that his tithing contributions were going to charitable work, while in fact, they are used to pad the coffers of the church investment accounts. He filed the fraud complaint against the church and states that “this is not …

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