His ability to communicate was legendary, he said, remembering a visit by an Islamic cleric named Abdurrahman Wahid, who was later elected as president of Indonesia. The two formed a friendship, and President Hinckley was later a guest of honor at a dinner given by the Indonesian president.

"I have regarded this power of communication and charm in President Hinckley as brotherly love and humility. It was always apparent whether he was with laborers on a dusty road, or a banquet in a presidential palace."

He attributed much of the growth he saw in President Hinckley to Marjorie Hinckley, who was patient with a man always on the go who knew that the doctrines of Jesus Christ are synonymous with family.

That was one of the things President Hinckley understood best, he said. Paying tribute to his family, "they can be described as ideal. They, like their father, are unassuming. Whatever prominence has come to them does not show anymore than it was visible in him."

Elder Earl C. Tingey, of the Presidency of the Seventy, spoke of the church leader's "footprints in the sand," as an example to all of personality traits they can follow.

He recalled how he once held the elevator in the Church Administration Building for the president, who was approaching with his cane. As he came to the door, he looked at Elder Tingey and said, "Earl, go ahead and ride the elevator. I'm taking the stairs." Feeling rather small, he rode the elevator while "the prophet of the Lord climbed the stairs to his office."

At one meeting with general authorities, dressed in dark suits, white shirts and conservative ties, his trademark humor was evident: "You all look like a bunch of penguins," he quipped.

Educational and cultural opportunities for Latter-day Saints grew exponentially under his leadership, particularly for more than 30,000 members in developing nations who have had been educated through the Perpetual Education Fund he established seven years ago.

Perhaps his most important footprint was his love of people. "Thank you for letting us know you loved us. We are better because of you."

Bishop H. David Burton said President Hinckley was the only prophet young Latter-day Saints have ever known, and lauded their love for him when they used text messages after his death on Sunday urging each other to wear Sunday best to school on Monday as a tribute uniquely their own.

"To use their vernacular, he was awesome! He connected! Because of him, they know what it means to 'stand a little taller,' 'do your best,' 'raise the bar,' and what the 'six B's' are: be grateful, be smart, be clean, be true, be humble, be prayerful."