SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley has died. He was 97 years old. President Gordon B. Hinckley, world leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was ordained and set apart as the 15th President of the Church on Sunday, March 12, 1995. He had earlier served 14 years as a counselor in the First Presidency, the top governing body of the Church, and as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for 20 years prior to that. President Hinckley married Marjorie Pay in the Salt Lake Temple in 1937. They have five children. Sister Hinckley passed away 6 April 2004. The exact cause of President Hinckley's death was not immediately released, but his health has been declining over the past two years due to a bout with cancer and complications of old age. Church officials later told ABC 4 that President Hinckley died of natural causes related to old age at his apartment in Salt Lake City at about 7:00 p.m. Sunday, surrounded by members of his family. Leadership of the church now falls to the Quorum of the Twelve, with Thomas S. Monson as president of the quorum.  Hinckley's successor will be chosen through revelation to members of the quorum. History has shown that the successor will most likely be the longest serving member of the quorum, who is in this case President Monson. Funeral arrangements have not been released.
Comments from prominent leaders concerning the passing of President Hinckley
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Bob Bennett (R-Utah) today issued the following statement after learning of the passing of President Gordon B. Hinckley, the 15th prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “I have been privileged to know President Hinckley since my early 20s and the thing that has impressed me the most about him has been his humility. He always viewed his assignments, no matter how great or small, as opportunities to serve rather than positions of prominence. “He stayed fully engaged and completely up to date right to the end and his legacy will be remembered long after all the rest of us are gone.” 
Below is a statement from Congressman Rob Bishop regarding the news of the passing of President Gordon B. Hinckley:
"It seems each leader brings his own personal dimension to the Church which is needed at that particular time, and I believe President Hinckley's service was certainly an example of that. His influence will be felt for a long time to come. His spirituality, optimism and encouragement will certainly be missed by a world that is so in need of those types of qualities."
-Rob Bishop
Washington D.C.—Congressman Jim Matheson released the following statement upon learning of the death of LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley:
“I am saddened to learn of President Gordon B. Hinckley’s passing. In my experience, he was a man of tremendous foresight, with a keen awareness of current events and of the challenges and opportunities facing the people of the LDS Church, of the state of Utah and of our country. I will remember him as a devout, compassionate spiritual leader, who showed much warmth and humor. I express my sincere condolences to his family.”
Washington - Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) issued the following statement upon news of the passing of President Gordon B. Hinckley, leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. "I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of President Gordon B. Hinckley. He was a beloved Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His life was a true testament of service, and he had an abiding love for others. His wit, wisdom, and exemplary leadership will be missed by not only members of our faith, but by people of all faiths throughout the world." "He was an articulate leader and defender of our Christian principles; and had a unique gift and way about him to communicate with people from all walks of life, and all religious persuasions. I truly loved this wonderful man. I know that he is happily reunited with his sweet wife, Marjorie, who he has greatly missed. I am sure there is a loving reunion in heaven with Marjorie and with so many others with whom he has served. Elaine and I feel deeply privileged to have known such a remarkable man and been touched in so many ways by his life and example."
Utah Episcopal Bishop Carolyn Tanner Irish’s statement on the occasion of President Hinckley’s death
Hearing of President Hinckley’s death this evening I find it difficult to imagine the world and its faith communities without him. Leading the LDS Church for decades, he has been its heart and soul to many millions—members and non-members alike.
Like so many others, I have been deeply touched by his generous wisdom, kindly voice and delicate humor. In my youth and when I returned to Utah to lead another church, he has always been the quintessential ‘good neighbor.’
I pray for his family and close friends who must feel this immediate loss so keenly. His journey here was long and his faith so strong, that his very presence made us all want to embrace life as fully and well as he did.
John L. Valentine, President of the Utah State Senate offered his heartfelt condolences, "Karen and I were heartbroken to hear of the passing of this great leader, wonderful man, and servant of God. He inspired us to be kinder and more compassionate in our daily lives. We will remember him not only as a man of God but as a world leader. His words and his legacy will continue to bless and encourage all of us for generations to come.
"We were very fortunate as Utahns to hear one of President Hinckley's last public addresses when he rededicated the newly restored State capitol Building on Jan 4th. May we rededicate ourselves to all the good he left us by word and example."
Statement from Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker:
I extend my deepest sympathy to the family of President Hinckley and the millions of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I appreciate the great care and concern President Hinckley had for our city. He has guided an unprecedented investment in downtown Salt Lake City that will be an example and catalyst for our future. He was truly one of Salt Lake City's greatest ambassadors. His compassion, sense of humor and wisdom will be deeply missed by our community. As the Mayor of Salt Lake City, I hope all of us will follow President Hinckley’s example of reaching out as individuals to serve our neighbors.
NAACP sends condolences in the death of President Gordon B. Hinckley
Salt Lake City, Utah – Jeanetta Williams, President, NAACP Salt Lake Branch and President of the NAACP Tri-State Conference of Idaho-Nevada-Utah upon hearing of the death of Gordon B. Hinckley, President of the LDS Church sends condolences from the NAACP to the family of President Hinckley and Church Members. “President Hinckley was always concerned about the way people treated one another, and each time that he and I spoke, he always asked, how I was being treated by the people in Utah and on my job,” said Jeanetta Williams.
Williams first met with President Hinckley shortly after he became President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She holds fond memories of their working relationship. President Hinckley was such a caring man, and he will be missed.
May God’s peace, kindness and blessing be upon you.
With deep regret and great sadness we at the Islamic Society of Greater Salt Lake City learned of the passing of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, Gordon B. Hinckley. He will be forever remembered for his tireless dedication, devotion, inspirations to millions, his humanitarian aid, and disaster relief to various parts of the world under stress.
On behalf of the Islamic Society of Greater Salt Lake City and on my own behalf, I wish to extend our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, its devout followers, and his bereaved family in their grief.
Sincerely,
Tarek Nosseir
President
Islamic Society of Greater Salt Lake
WASHINGTON DC - Congressman Chris Cannon (R-UT) released the following statement last night upon learning of the death of Gordon B. Hinckley, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
"The passing of President Hinckley is a monumental loss. He was a man of sharp intellect and sharp wit and he is now enjoying the fruits of his earthly labors. He is reunited with his wife and many friends.
"His legacy includes his unique ability to draw appropriate attention to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its doctrines without diluting our beliefs. His legacy also includes fending off attacks on the Church in particular and people of faith generally through reaching out to critics and telling the occasional humorous anecdote. Whether shepherding the amazing growth of the church or dealing with attacks, President Hinckley saw the church through ups and downs with grace, charm, and faith. He will be missed by all who knew him."
Cannon continued "President Hinckley touched my life personally in many ways. Even as a child, he would remember my name when I saw him. How many names can one person remember? I suppose it derives from how much a person cares for others, and President Hinckley cared more than any other man I have ever known. He introduced my mother to my father. Our Cannon family tradition of marrying above ourselves was facilitated in my father's case by President Hinckley, and I suspect he recognized and took pride in the fact that he helped my father do so well.
"Touching stories of this wonderful man will pour out in coming days, but common among all will be the view of President Hinckley as a person of abiding faith, humble heart and kindly soul. No doubt President Hinckley has already heard the words, 'well done, thou good and faithful servant.'"
BYU President Cecil O. Samuelson issued the following statement about President Hinckley, who served on the BYU Board of Trustees for more than 45 years, including more than 12 years as chair:
³BYU has been very blessed by its significant association with President Gordon B. Hinckley. As the long-time chair of the university¹s board of trustees, he has set the vision for BYU and the high expectations we strive to meet. The magnificent building on campus that bears his name could never be sufficient to match the legacy he has established for us. By having the faith and courage to show the world that great secular learning can be combined with an atmosphere that actively supports faith, President Hinckley has made an indelible mark in higher education, not just within the Church but worldwide.² -- President Cecil O. Samuelson (January 27, 2008)
Statement of the Most Reverend John C. Wester,
Bishop of Salt Lake City
On behalf of the Catholic people of Utah, I express condolences to the family, First Presidency and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the death of their beloved President Gordon B. Hinckley. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you at the loss of such a kind and faith-filled gentleman. Our esteem for President Hinckley is profound. While faithful to his religious beliefs, he respected believers of other denominations. He sought to find the common ground that all might work to strengthen the values that we share. His commitment to build a better world, with respect for diversity, fostered good will and community harmony.
In meetings with President Hinckley we encountered his keen sense of humor and his personal humility. His was a wise perspective on the world that included interest in issues of common concern. The world and this community have been enriched by his life. It is our prayer that President Hinckley finds peace in the heavenly kingdom. We will certainly miss his presence among us.
Statement on President Hinckley’s Passing
by Lane Beattie, President & CEO, Salt Lake Chamber
Today we honor President Gordon B. Hinckley’s legacy of faith and service. As the prophetic leader of a worldwide church and head of one of the state’s largest corporations, Pres. Hinckley stood tall for our community as a pillar of strength, a giant in spirit, an exemplar of humility, a mainstay of kindness, and an example of exuberance and energy in making this world a better place.
In all things, he stood on solid ground, lifting those of his faith and others to a higher level of human dignity. His energy in service, love for life, and commitment to goodness transformed us and contributed to the betterment of this world.
He was a builder and a visionary, working on a broad scale to develop an international church, and on a local scale to transform Temple Square, invest in a prosperous capital city and build houses of worship throughout our state. Under his tutelage, we have seen not only a renewal and commitment to traditional Church properties, but also a visionary commitment to the long-term strengths of our core business district, retail environment and downtown living.
It was with great affection that in 2003 the Salt Lake Chamber honored Pres. Hinckley as A Giant in Our City. At the time, he reflected on his love for Utah’s capital city:
First let me say that I love this city. I think I have been in most of the great cities of the world. Each has its attractions. Each has a character of its own. But I am always glad to get home. Home this is. I was born here. I was educated here. I have worked here. I was married here. And I shall be buried here.
Now is a time for us to reflect on our love for him, a man of immense character and human dignity. We are all better having known him. We thank him for standing for our community and ask that the blessings of heaven attend to his family and this world as we mourn his loss, celebrate his legacy, and honor his name.
A statement from Wayne Holland, Chair of the Utah Democratic Party on the death of LDS President Hinckley
It is customary for organizations to release short statements of condolence at the death of prominent community leaders. Upon learning of the death of Gordon B. Hinckley, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I found it impossible to sum up the Utah Democratic Party’s feelings about his leadership in a few short words. Utah Democrats appreciate his contributions to the world and our community too much to let his passing be memorialized with a one paragraph statement.
Utah Democrats embrace diversity as a source of strength in our community rather than a reason for division. President Hinckley exemplified this principle more than any other Utahn. He did more than just outreach to people around the world. In various LDS temple dedications and other services, he celebrated our cultural differences and, in doing so, helped us all discover the common humanity that we share. President Hinckley demonstrated this value with his good works around the globe and here at home in Utah.
Utah Democrats are constant advocates that access to government services be as widespread as possible. This principle is reminiscent of President Hinckley’s commitment to improving the access of LDS Church members to facilities where they could participate in sacred temple ordinances without undue travel and financial hardship aiding many LDS faithful who previously had little hope of ever attending far-away temples. Again, the work of his life demonstrated our common values.
President Hinckley wrote two books that many Utah Democrats cherish. Democrats in Utah and around the country are familiar with his 2000 book “Standing for Something.” The book speaks to people of all political persuasions and all faiths expounding on common personal virtues that bring us together as a community and help uplift us. The Democratic nominee for Vice President of the United States, Sen. Joseph Lieberman, was featured on the dust jacket of that book. While the book focuses on ten specific values, it provided Democrats in Utah with another virtue – courage, the courage to stand for their convictions which are based on the ten virtues that he did write about.
The other book of importance to Utah Democrats was President Hinckley’s biography “James Henry Moyle: The Story of a Distinguished American and an Honored Churchman” published in 1951. James Moyle was the first Chairman of the Utah State Democratic Party and our party’s nominee for governor and the United States Senate in the first two decades of our State’s history. He served on the Democratic National Committee until 1932. Mr. Moyle was a prominent attorney who went to law school in Michigan with George Sutherland, who later became a Supreme Court Justice. Moyle would serve in the Treasury Department of two national administrations for Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. This book is an important historical document for the Utah Democratic Party and we are grateful to President Hinckley for his work on this important text.
Another thing we need to mention is President Hinckley’s dedication to openness both with the news media and in the political process though establishment of the Public Affairs Committee. The establishment of this important Church committee institutionalized a method of communication between the Church and the secular world. He used it masterfully, empowering the committee to meet with local and national officials and arranging numerous interviews with the national and local news media, increasing transparency about the LDS Church and its positions.
As an example: For years, politicians and the news media have treated political statements coming from the LDS Church administration as though they were delivered in some code that could only be discerned by the worthy. One particular instance took place in May of 1998 when Elder Marlin Jensen speaking for the LDS Church made its strongest public statement to that date about the need for political diversity among members, while expressing concerns the Republican Party is becoming the “church party.” The statement was immediately dismissed by then Congressman James V. Hansen who insisted that if the LDS Church really meant what Elder Jensen had said it would have come from President Hinckley. So, at a later date when President Hinckley was asked at the National Press Club, “Given the platform and positions taken by the Democratic Party, can you be a good church member and a Democrat?” He answered, “Yes, I think so.” He thus put an end to the debate.
Finally, on a personal note, I will always appreciate the words of comfort that he brought to the family and friends of former Congressman Wayne Owens by speaking at his funeral services. Congressman Owens was a close friend and mentor to me. I will never forget President Hinckley’s comment that, “Any man who is engaged in the cause of peace is engaged in the cause of Christ. That was the essence of Wayne's life.” President Hinckley offered his comfort to thousands of others in a similar manner that I know will always be appreciated.
The world has lost an irreplaceable role model who taught us how to reach out to one another and appreciate our diversity. He showed us the importance of access to the facilities and services that are important to conducting our lives in a fulfilling manner. He taught us to stand for something and live our virtues. He gave Utah Democrats an important text telling of our Party’s history. And, he was a community leader, who brought some openness and transparency through his willingness to talk to the public. We thank his family for sharing him with us and supporting his efforts. We thank the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint for providing us with such an inspiring leader. At this time our prayers are with them.
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