Prophets

of the Restoration

Gordon B. Hinckley

Timeline of Life Events

23 June 1910

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Bryant S. Hinckley and Ada Bitner.


28 April 1919

Baptized by his father, the first future prophet baptized in a meetinghouse font.


4 June 1932

Graduated from the University of Utah, having studied English and journalism.


July 1933

As a missionary in Britain, received a letter from his father with the advice “forget yourself and go to work.”


22 August 1935

Hired as executive secretary of the Church's recently formed Radio, Publicity, and Mission Literature committee.


29 April 1937

Married Marjorie Pay in the Salt Lake Temple.


1937

Called to Deseret Sunday School Union general board.


1943

Rejected by the Navy because of his allergies; contributed to the World War II effort by working in the railroad industry.


1946

Called as counselor in the East Millcreek Stake presidency.


1951

Assisted in introducing uniform missionary lessons while working on the General Missionary committee.


1954

Supervised the making of the first temple film, dubbed into multiple languages for use in the Bern Switzerland Temple.


28 October 1956

Called as president of the East Millcreek Stake.


6 April 1958

Sustained as an Assistant to the Twelve.


5 October 1961

Ordained as an Apostle by President David O. McKay.


February 1962

With his wife, Marjorie, made the first of many trips to Asia as an Apostle.


10 October 1975

Met with Hirohito, emperor of Japan, in San Francisco.


1 June 1978

Participated in the meeting in which the Twelve received a confirmation of President Kimball's revelation on the priesthood.


6 April 1980

From the site of the Church's founding in Fayette, New York, read a statement for satellite broadcast commemorating the Church's 150th anniversary.


23 July 1981

Called as an additional counselor to President Spencer W. Kimball to assist the President and his two counselors.


2 December 1982

Called as Second Counselor in the First Presidency.


10 November 1985

Called as First Counselor to President Ezra Taft Benson.


5 June 1994

Called as First Counselor to President Howard W. Hunter.


12 March 1995

Became President of the Church.


23 September 1995

Issued “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” during the general Relief Society meeting.


7 April 1996

Appeared on the CBS program 60 Minutes with Mike Wallace.


1996

Visited Saints in Mexico, the Philippines, Asia, Europe, and the United States.


26 May 1996

Dedicated the Hong Kong China Temple, the first of more than 70 temples to be dedicated during his presidency.


2 November 1996

Announced the establishment of LDS Charities to enhance the Church's worldwide humanitarian outreach.


1997

Visited Saints in Central America, South America, Australia, and the Pacific.


5 April 1997

Organized three additional Quorums of the Seventy.


4 October 1997

Announced a plan for smaller temples to be built where appropriate.


1998

Visited Saints in Africa, Canada, and around the world.


3 October 1998

Warned against rising consumer debt.


21 February 1999

Called on the Church to integrate new members better.


1 January 2000

Shared “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles.”


1 April 2000

Presided at first general conference held in the new Conference Center.


6 April 2000

Dedicated the Palmyra New York Temple.


12 November 2000

Prayed for the youth of the Church during a special fireside.


31 March 2001

Announced the creation of the Perpetual Education Fund.


8 February 2002

Welcomed visitors from around the world to Salt Lake City during the Winter Olympics.


27 June 2002

Dedicated the Nauvoo Illinois Temple.


September 2002

Visited Saints in Russia and Ukraine.


11 January 2003

Addressed local leaders through the first worldwide leadership training broadcast.


8 February 2003

Spoke to one million Primary children via satellite broadcast to celebrate the Primary’s 125th anniversary.


6 April 2003

Gave his 200th general conference talk.


6 April 2004

Death of Marjorie Pay Hinckley.


22 July 2005

Celebrated his 95th birthday with a special program in the Conference Center.


31 July 2005

Went on his last major international trip, visiting Saints in Asia and Africa.


24 January 2006

Was hospitalized for the first time in his life.


12 March 2007

Had served 12 years with his counselors, Presidents Monson and Faust, the longest-serving First Presidency in Church history.


26 June 2007

Announced that Church membership had surpassed 13 million and that the one-millionth missionary had served since the Church was organized.


6 October 2007

Pled with Church members to be slow to anger.


27 January 2008

Died in Salt Lake City, Utah.