Honoring 'a great lady'

People from all walks of life paid respects Friday evening to Sister Marjorie Pay Hinckley, commenting almost universally on her positive approach to life, her pleasant smile, the example she set for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Her long and loving support for her husband, President Gordon B. Hinckley, led her — an unassuming, quiet woman — into esteemed recognition among church members across the world.

Friday's public viewing in the Relief Society Building was preliminary to her funeral today at 11 a.m. in the Tabernacle on Temple Square.

Those attending the viewing passed a gallery of framed pictures and artifacts depicting the long life and varied activities of Sister Hinckley, who died Tuesday at age 92. Numerous floral arrangements surrounded the brown casket in which she lay, including contributions from her family and the church's First Presidency.

"We're here not just to pay respects to Sister Hinckley, but to show our love for the prophet. We know she is in a better place; we want to show our support for him," said Simone Malan, a convert to the church from Brazil. With her children, Kiersten, 12, and Jordan, 13, she felt it was worth a 3 1/2-hour wait in line to be first to pay their respects. After the line dwindled, people kept arriving in a steady though reduced flow.

The opening of the building to the public, who queued up in a line that doubled back to the Church Office Building plaza, was delayed by a half hour as Hinckley family members and representatives of the General Authorities first offered their respects and condolences.

A spring squall, with tulip-flattening winds, dropped temperatures and sent spatters of rain through the waiting crowd, but didn't seem to discourage anyone. "She was a phenomenal person. It is worth anything to pay our respects," said Rhonda Stoker, who with her sister-in-law Carrie Stoker, was battling an umbrella while the storm breezed through. Like most of those who waited, Rhonda Stoker had never had any personal contact with Sister Hinckley, but "I enjoyed hearing her speak and I've read what she wrote."

Among Utah notables who took a moment to pause at the casket was Snow College President Mike Benson. His wife, Celia, is a granddaughter of the Hinckleys and he recalled Sister Hinckley as "always incredibly upbeat. She had a great sense of humor."

One of the multitude who had no personal ties, Quintin Hunte, a convert from New York City, simply wanted to remember Sister Hinckley "as the mother of our Relief Society. She was a good representative and leader of the sisters in Zion. She showed by example how to live in unity and support each other," she said.