LDS President Gordon B. Hinckley dies at age 97

"I have been personally acquainted with all the general authorities and worked with them in a way that few young men have had an opportunity to do. These wonderful men have been my tutors. They have given me responsibility and freedom to fulfill it, and they have blessed my life. I honor them as the Lord's chosen and anointed and have counted it a rare privilege to work with them. It is an even greater privilege now to be more closely associated with them."

At the October 2005 General Conference, he announced two new temples planned for the Salt Lake Valley.

President Hinckley dedicated the 280,000-square-foot Joseph F. Smith Building on the BYU campus, the new home of the university's two largest colleges, the College of Family, Home and Social Sciences and the College of Humanities in September.

On July 22, 2005, President Hinckley's 95th birthday was commemorated with a gigantic celebration in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City that featured in a 90-minute concert a sampling of the diverse musical excellence to be found among Latter-day Saints.

On April 19, 2005, The First Presidency announced in a letter to priesthood leaders that two new quorums of the Seventy had been created. The Seventh Quorum was organized from a division of the Fourth Quorum and the Eighth Quorum was created by dividing the Third Quorum. A total of 195 Area Authorities are members of the Third through Eighth quorums.

During March, President Hinckley and his counselors, President Thomas S. Monson and President James E. Faust, had "a conversation with the media," described by the Church president as "a rather historic occasion" to note the 10th anniversary of their administration as the First Presidency.

President Hinckley funeral reportedly planned for Saturday

Funeral services for President Gordon B. Hinckley will reportedly be held Saturday at 11 a.m. The location for the services and additional details have not yet been announced.

Reports indicate President Hinckley's body will also lie in state in the Conference Center Thursday and Friday, although no details have yet been released.