Gordon B. Hinckley Biography

Gordon Bitner Hinckley was a religious leader who served as the fifteenth and the oldest, president of ‘The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church)’. As president of the church, he was considered by its members to be a prophet. His presidency was noted for building of temples, including a reconstruction of the historic Nauvoo Illinois Temple, the building of the 21,000 seat Conference Center, the issuance of the Proclamation on the Family and the creation of the church's Perpetual Education Fund. Hinckley dedicated more LDS Church temples than anyone else - more than half of the current temples. By the time of his death, it was estimated that approximately one-third of the church's membership had joined the church under Hinckley's leadership. As president of the church, he was also chairman of the Church Boards of Trustees/Education. Hinckley was practical, imaginative and bold in his approach and understood the potential of technology and the media in advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ. He spent much of his time traveling the world and befriending members of other church and those of other faiths. He urged young men and women to be better human beings and believed in the sanctity of marriage and family. For his services to humanity, he was honored with many awards.