Medal for Pres. Hinckley is 94th birthday present

WASHINGTON — LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley received a rare gift for his 94th birthday Wednesday — a Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award.

"That's a wonderful birthday present, isn't it? Tremendous," the leader of the 11-million-member Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints told reporters after receiving the award from President Bush.

He was one of 13 recipients honored at an East Room ceremony. Others included such people as Pope John Paul II (who received his medal recently when Bush visited the Vatican), golfer Arnold Palmer, actress Rita Moreno, cosmetics company founder Estee Lauder and National Geographic Society chairman Gilbert M. Grosvenor.

"Millions of Americans reserve a special respect for Gordon B. Hinckley, who still works every day as president of the Mormon Church, and who, on this very day, turns 94 years old," Bush told those assembled.

"Mr. Hinckley is the grandson of Mormon pioneers and has given devoted service to his church since 1935. He's always shown the heart of a servant and the gifts of a leader.

"Through his discipline and faithfulness, he has proven a worthy successor to the many fine leaders before him. His church has given him its highest position of trust, and today this wise and patriotic man receives his country's highest civil honor."

President Hinckley, smiling and walking briskly, joked with Bush as he placed the gold medal around his neck. When President Hinckley was asked later what the two said, he responded, "I was so awestruck that I can't remember what he said."

President Hinckley insisted afterward that the award was more for his church than for him.

"The church has afforded me all of the opportunities and all of the responsibilities which have led to this occasion," he said.

And because it is the Medal of Freedom, he said, "it really belongs to those men and women who are engaged in the battle for freedom in other parts of the world."

When reporters told him that Pope John Paul II had said he was troubled by the Iraqi war when he received his medal, President Hinckley said, "Well, he may be troubled by the war in Iraq, but he cannot discount the bravery of the men and women who at the behest of the commander in chief are there in the cause of freedom."

To show how much the treatment of his church has improved since early persecution, President Hinckley contrasted his high honor Wednesday with how Joseph Smith, the first president of the church, was treated when he visited Martin Van Buren in the White House in 1839.