FBI probed Gordon B. Hinckley in 1951

SALT LAKE CITY — Long before he became president of the Mormon church, the U.S. government investigated the background of Gordon B. Hinckley.

An FBI file released last week shows that in 1951 the FBI conducted a background check on Hinckley as part of an application for a government job with Voice of America, a radio network run by the U.S. State Department.

FBI agents interviewed leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and looked at Hinckley's academic record, noting he had above-average grades. The records show Hinckley was praised as a hard worker and loyal American by those interviewed.

The bureau also looked for an arrest record, but didn't find one. It's not clear whether Hinckley was offered the job and there's no mention of it in his biographical information.

Hinckley died on Jan. 27 at age 97.