Remembering President Hinckley

President Gordon B. Hinckley died quietly in his home one year ago today. Texting fingers flew to send the news to friends. People grabbed their cellphones to call loved ones. Mere acquaintances instant messaged each other. E-mails were forwarded and posts sprang up as bloggers mourned their beloved and now departed leader.

I was monitoring the blogs, readying my first Bloggernacle Back Bench column and remember my mouth falling open in awe as I witnessed how technology helped spread the news across the world. Impressed, I felt grateful to have access to such wonders that allowed people in many geographical locations to spread the news, mourn together and remember a great leader.

So on this anniversary of President Hinckley's passing, here are some of the blogs that honored him in the hours after. I include some \"honorable mentions\" from the wonderfully descriptive comments, but be sure to read through all the amazing comments and observe the solidarity that comes from mourning together online.

First, here is a short note that announces \"In Memoriam: Gordon B. Hinckley,\" which is followed by 90 comments, including this honorable mention: \"although we won't forget Pres. Hinckley, we will come to revere the new prophet and feel the power of this mantle. When the prophet of God speaks, a listener can't help but take notice.\"

With a sweet quote of prophetic counsel, here is the announcement of \"In Memorial: Gordon B. Hinckley.\" Honorable mentions: \"I've been moping around a little bit this morning, but suddenly I had this thought that President Hinckley would probably disapprove of wasting my employer's time by reading effusive praise of him! So back to work with me.\" And another delightful comment: \"I can almost hear Hinckley saying, 'Don't blog about me. I'm dead!' and getting a good laugh from the audience.\"

\"Praise to the Man Who Communed with Jehovah\" includes a fitting scripture and a framed photograph. Honorable mention: \"We are 100% united as Mormons tonight.\"

Enjoy a sweet and poetic reworking of a familiar song in \"Praise to Another Man: Gordon B. Hinckley 1910-2008.\"  Honorable mention: Remember how \"youth all over Utah wore their 'Sunday best' to school today to honor President Hinckley. They organized the tribute via text message. I was really moved by that.\"