We thank thee, O God, for a Prophet

This is how I'd rather remember my Prophet; "knighting" Elder Eyring, quoting Shakespeare, and telling me he loves me with tears of sincerity in his eyes.

OK, so that last one was in a speech to the students at BYU-Idaho before I was a member of the Church. But I know that when I listen to that talk, and I hear that dear, sweet man begin to weep, I know the love reaches through time and space to be with me--and for that, I know I am blessed.

The interesting thing about living on the east coast is that news travels rather slowly from the west.

President Hinckley passed away Sunday night around 7pm in Utah, and I didn't get the news until almost 7pm EST. (You can do the math if you'd like, because I'm not going to.) Boyfriend sent me an e-mail, which I received while I was at the public library. I did start to cry, but I really don't like to show that much emotion in front of strangers. And ever since then, life has been going on around me too quickly for me to express everything that I'm feeling. The sentiment, "I'll cry when I have time and space to feel," comes to mind--which tends to be how I deal with things, even though it doesn't make sense to people.

I did get emotional in front of my mom when she came and got me from the library. She didn't know exactly what to say, so she gave me a few moments to regain my composure. Then she moved on in conversation to something else that made me laugh, so I could tuck my sadness in my pocket for when I was ready for it. She and I may not talk a lot, but the older I get, the more I realize it's because we don't need words.

I went to leave for school this morning, and she told me, "I have an article from the newspaper for you." She gave it to me this evening; the press release from The News Journal about President Hinckley's passing. It's gestures like these that remind me of how supportive she has been of my conversion. She may not know too much about President Hinckley, but she knows how important his life was to me, and how much I wish I could express what I feel about his death. By handing me that newspaper clipping, she wasn't just helping me to keep a memory; she was giving me her blessing to be myself.

President Hinckley taught me everything I ever needed to know about family--how it's the sacred, inspired unit of God that He uses to reach His children. How remaining faithful to gospel principles would teach me how to be the kind of person my family needs me to be. How faith in Heavenly Father and His Son would provide a way for all of us to be whole again.

And while I never got a chance to thank him in person for being such a caring, comical, sacrificing, wise vessel for the Lord, something tells me that if I remember what he taught me, I'll see him again.