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Pres. Hinckley gets citizen award

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Aragon | 5:01 a.m. Sept. 15, 2007

WELL SAID ANONYMOUS AND KIWI...

Pom in Kiwi Land | 6:58 a.m. Sept. 15, 2007

Congratulations Kiwi, your comments are what I've come to expect from your fellow country men. I find all these posts quite bemusing (sorry if that was mis-spelt, I'm English but haven't mastered it yet).

I'm delighted to read about President Hinkley getting recognised for his contribution to this world. However, I'm sure he wouldn't loose sleep if he wasn't. I personally have listened to his teachings and taken his advise and I'm a better father, husband and citizen for doing so. That for me is evidence enough that he is a man of God.

(Sorry if my english grammer doth offend !!!!)

Donna | 7:57 a.m. Sept. 15, 2007

Is is so funny how when something is said in a positive way about a person who's heart is genuine beyond measure, there are those who have to find fault with him or what was said. I was told you can find the worst in others and things, or you can find the best, it is all in what your outlook is. If you constantly want to look at life through pessimistic eyes then that is all you will see, but if you look at life like a optimist you might find a great amount of Joy.

There are great people all over this world who do great things, not asking for praise, and President Hinkley is one who never asks for praise for himself, but praise for our Father in Heaven, and Jesus Christ. If you see the man as a optimist you would see how he has a love for mankind in all ways and trys to do whatever he can with total guidance from our Heavenly father to make this world a better place to live.

When he speaks the Holy spirit tells me the truth about what he says, and I know for certain if you can find love in your heart and listen to the sweet spirit of the Holy Ghost instead of judging you to can know the truth of what the Lord needs for you to know. Try it you might be amazed and find some joy in life.

Comments continue below

Y John | 9:42 a.m. Sept. 15, 2007

If not a prophet of God then who? There is a reason campuses are erecting buildings that bear his name. Since becoming prophet, temples have been constructed all over the world, especially in Utah. Downtown Salt Lake City is renewed because of Hinckley. He has fought diligently to protect the church from greedy lawyers that want financial settlements for abuse. He has done all this by motivating a volunteer clergy to build a greater Church to benefit all God's children. His Proclamation on the Family will be a standard for mankind and the ban on gay marriage proves that President Hinckley was right. Governments around the world will use the Proclamation to promote straight marriage. Who else has done so much for God and His children? When President Hinckley was born, leaders of the church were still marrying into polygamous marriages. Compare that to how the church is today. This is an amazing leader that will continue to be honored when Jesus Christ returns to the United States and saves our Government. God Bless President Gordon B. Hinckley.

Rich | 5:33 p.m. Sept. 15, 2007

As president of the LDS church, what does one have to do to not receive awards? All one has to do is stay alive. Every LDS President has or will receive awards regardless of what they do.

BTW, it is not too tough to do much when you have a built in revenue stream. The real challenge will be to keep it going.

I don't expect this post to survive.

Alison | 6:41 p.m. Sept. 15, 2007

What does the disposition of tithes/offerings have to do with the remarkable contribution to humanity that Gordon B. Hinckley is? His humility and his profound service doesn't diminish the good others do; what's the point of envying others' recognition of his lifetime of service? Maybe some of you folks need to get out more.

The money I choose to pay in tithing and fast offerings is done as a demonstration of obedience to promises I have made to God. So if those receivers of that money then flushed it down the toilet, what is that to me?

The money isn't mine--it belongs to God. It always did. He gives me 100%, he asks but 10% in return, as a point of obedience--a way to humble me and make me teachable. For it he blesses me with more than I can receive.

What is it to me how or how much of my contributions are used? Frankly, it isn't anything to me. I exercise my free will to pay it as I promised to do. For me, that action constitutes faith in God. And truthfully, any who pay tithing, regardless of the denomination to whom they might pay it, are blessed by God for that obedience.

Oh...guess what happens to you when you don't pay your tithing.....NOTHING. No bills, invoices, reprimands, shunning, or any other negative thing. Tithing is a choice. Just like reading this comment board. You get what you get, and you don't throw a fit!

To Alison | 7:38 p.m. Sept. 15, 2007

Thank you for your post. You have put into words my thoughts and feelings exactly. Gordon B. Hinkley is a wonderful caring man that has a great sense of humor. God bless and good-night to all.

Temple | 6:24 a.m. Sept. 16, 2007

We love the leader!!!!

Bookaholic | 4:16 p.m. Sept. 16, 2007

President Hinckley is a wonderful, humble, loving servant of God. I love him and appreciate his continual counsel to be kind, tolerant, friendly, righteous and loving. He has a great folksy way of teaching at times that can really make one with an open mind listen and learn good things.

The church does untold good. It responds to every disaster around the world as it is able to do. Maybe it doesn't respond perfectly in every single situation, but it spends great amounts of money and effort to help people all over the world.

It is amazing how people can find fault with such a wonderful force for good. My guess is that these people perform very little service and give little of themselves financially. It's a lot easier to complain than stand up and do good yourself.

If my comments hit close to home, think about it. Who do you know that needs help, and what can YOU do? Now, act on it. Get off your backside and go help that someone. It will show you're sincerely concerned about the poor and downtrodden. Those acts will be of worth in bettering the world--far more than your kaveching about the church and it's members.

Anonymous | 6:37 p.m. Sept. 16, 2007

Read one of Mr. Hinkley's sermons, then read the comments of those against the Mormons. Tell me which one makes you want to be more like our Lord Jesus..... Whether you beleive or don't believe in Mormonsism, the Mormons are a heck of a lot closer to following Jesus than anyone I've ever heard that tears them down. My preacher tells me I can be kind and a friend to everyone even if I don't believe in what they teach. I love my Mormon friends. I know my lord Jesus will judge me when I die, so I say judge not less ye be judged likewise. Way too many negative comments in this thread. Hate is from the devil so turn to Jesus and forgive. Don't kick against the pricks.

John Lambert | 10:12 a.m. Sept. 17, 2007

I think President Hinckley would be outraged at the guy who said that he stands out more than anyone else on earth.
What President Hinckley has said is that his work is no more inportant in its sphere than that of any other church member.
On the other hand I see through some of these attacks on him. Like the praises they are not about the man but the office he holds. It is so clear from the person who ways that this is part of the "rebranding of the church as mainstream". It is obvious that he is a disgruntled person who hates the church.
President Hinckley has never claimed infalibility. Yes, President Woodruff said that the president of the church would never lead it astray, but that does not mean he can not give bad advice or that everything he says is absolutely true.
I would follow his advice. He told people to get out of debt in about 1998-1999, and those who did not listen then will tell you they wished they had.
It is really sad that there are people who will take such an article to attack the leaders of the church.

John Lambert | 10:14 a.m. Sept. 17, 2007

Seth Butterfield, you are ignoring the downtown parks that have been put into place while President Hinckley has been in office.
Also, you should remember that the main street plaza has beautified the city. The conference center has no commercial functions. There have been lots of changes that do not relate to shopping.

John Lambert | 10:56 a.m. Sept. 17, 2007

First off, Homer J, how can you know how much the church helps people when it does not release the figures?
What have you counted anyway? Did you include the PEF? Remeber that Institute teachers facilitate the PEF. There are so many ways the chuirch helps. What about the Family History Program? What about DI and the bishops storehouses and on and on. I don't have a clue where you get your figures, but I don't think they tell even half the story.
Punky, maybe the church did not help much in your town. However, can you expect the church to help everyone, everywhere? I guess you do, but there are limits to what it can do. Tell us where you are, because right now I am beganing to think your whole story is false.

John Lambert | 11:08 a.m. Sept. 17, 2007

Spirit Chi,
If you don't want to pay tithing, you don't have to. You can just stop coming to church. It will have a negative effect on your eternal salvation, well maybe, although as we learn in Moroni if you give a gift grudgingly it counts as if you did not give it.
However you are perfectly free to leave the church, stop paying tithing, fast offerings and the rest, and going off and doing your own thing.
If you don't want to live by the Lord's standards, you can just up and leave his kingdom, which is not an option with the government.
Another thing you are ignoring is that what was being specifically spoken of was the LDS Humanitarian service budget. No bishop will ever criticize you for not having donated to humanitarian services.

John Lambert | 11:14 a.m. Sept. 17, 2007

Punky,
You are whining because you are trying to prove that the fact that one town not getting huge amounts of relief from the LDS Church proves that they do not do major relief projects.
In case you do not realize it, your town was only wiped out 1/3 of the way. It is a blip, and it sounds like local resources were able to handle the problem. The church has sent aid to Aceh and other areas where local resources were overwhelmed.
Maybe the church should have provided better and more indepth help, but just because they did not does not mean that the church is not significant.

John Lambert | 11:16 a.m. Sept. 17, 2007

Gordon B. Hinckley leads a church, not a corporation.
Considering what the award is, I would not at all be surprised that similar awards are given to corporations.
As I have said before, President Hinckley started the PEF, designed to help educate students throughout the world.
The church has donate to all sorts of causes in Utah, including helping Latinos feel more part of the community by teaching them English, donating to the building of a new mosque and many other things.

Whatever | 12:06 a.m. Sept. 18, 2007

Don't kid yourself John Lambert, the church is a corporation. The church donates a mere three percent of it's tithing income to charity. I am sure if you donated ten percent of your income to any other "charitable" organization and found out that only three precent of your donation actually made it to the charitable cause you would be outraged!

Tithing isn't Charity! | 10:52 a.m. Sept. 18, 2007

Tithing was never meant to be charity! Tithing is to build the kingdom of God, namely, scriptures, churches, temples, hymn books, materials needed for church, etc.
Never, in any scripture, has tithing been for charity. The widow who gave her mite? It was an offering to the temple.
Church members are encouraged to give to charities and other organizations. They do so, not just through church channels, but separate ones. I know people who donate to causes pushed by the Catholic church, for goodness sake, and they are LDS!
Quit talking about tithing as if it is charity, because it is not, it is for use in the Kingdom of God.
And any good member of any religion will tell you the Kingdom of God, is his church on earth, which ever one you believe that is.

Town Heathan | 11:36 a.m. Sept. 18, 2007

Well, if Gordon Hinckley isn't the head of a corporation, then why does he and other General Authorities get paid for being on church owned boards? If he is accepting pay for being on a board...realated to business or property that the LDS church ownes, then he is indeed the head of a corporation. You call it a church...but in my book, if he's getting paid..then it's a business.

What everer happened to the "we don't pay our cleargy" in the LDS church. Apparantly that was a change "by God" to keep up with the times.

Sure hope they start paying that Bishop across the street....that poor guy deserves being on the corporation payroll too!!!

Alison | 7:22 p.m. Sept. 18, 2007

To Heathen....if it is true that the GAs are paid for their service on boards...and I don't know that it's true (because it's none of my business). But if they are paid...SO WHAT?!!

Do you get paid to do your job? Serving on an education board is not the same as ministering in the gospel.

But more to the point, how does someone being paid for work hurt you? How does it diminish Pres. Hinckley's life of service or have any bearing on his being given this award?

And is there something offensive about the Church using its resources to provide goods/services to people worldwide, and managing those services so expertly that they are stellar examples of thrift, wisdom, and sound business practices? What is it that has your panties so tightly wound?

How do you expect these GAs to fund their expenses when they retire from public life and commit their time to God and the Church? Is it even your business? Why don't you go out and serve someone and get a little happiness in your life? Sheesh.

Gus | 8:51 p.m. Sept. 18, 2007

Im pretty sure some general authorities do receive some pay. But, since it is a full-time responsibility and they all have families and other responsibilities they do need some help. However i know that only the ones that need help get it. If they are financially set, which most are, they dont get any money for their service to the Lord.

Daughter Of God | 12:44 p.m. Sept. 20, 2007

How sad to read some of these negative and judgemental comment's. What did this loving and unselfish man do to any of you? Even if he read what some of you have said about him and his beloved, not perfect, church he would still embrace you and call you his friend. And for that example alone he is truly a Man of God. I pray that everyone on this earth can follow the kind of example that this prophet has shown to us. And I also pray that anyone that is harboring any negative feeling's toward their fellow men, that you may also find a place of peace in your troubled heart's.

Kind | 9:33 a.m. Sept. 23, 2007

SAM HOFER said: "You can claim your [truth] and I can claim mine." It shuold be remembered by all of us that "truth is not determined by what people think, no matter how influential they are."

I am an evolutionary biologist, a Far Side lover and an extremely devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As such, I hope recognize the difference between absolute truth and experienced "truth" (also known as "attempts at truth"). All good men (Darwin included) have set their sights on finding truth. The real truth is, however, that for everything - EVERYTHING - there is an absolute truth which no man, no matter how wise or sincere, can ever change or ameliorate. Humble people (like President Hinckley, for example) will spend their lives, their eternities, in a sincere search for the absolute truth of all things. The rest of us will placate ourselves with dangerous ideas like those purported by Sam and others on this comment board: that truth is relative and "to each his own truth."

Punky | 5:52 a.m. Sept. 25, 2007

John,

The disaster in my town was significant enough to warrant constant CNN coverage for nearly a week this summer. CNN's broadcast team was camped out about five blocks away from my doorstep.

Much of my town had to evacuate for at least a few days due to lack of potable water. FEMA spent over a month camped out in my town distributing resources. The National Guard was here for several weeks as well. This was *not* a disaster covered by local resources. It was *not* small. It was one of the major disaster headlines in the US this summer.

And besides flood buckets that most found useless, LDS humanitarian services was not helpful. In fact, the United Methodist Church had to take on the left over flood buckets and make arrangements with the National Guard to ensure that those buckets got delivered.

Some people have minimized the scope distress and disaster in my city in order to make LDS Humanitarian Aid seem more important or relevant than it actually is in the greater scope of disaster management in our country. I can only guess at why they need to do this.

Joyce | 4:11 p.m. Sept. 25, 2007

Why do we live in a world that is getting so full of hate and never want to see good in anything. I am a member of The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It has brought of happiness to my life. But I respect others for there beliefs. As you should us. Pres. Hinckley has done alot of good for many people. Why try to discredit him? I feel sorry for you.

Punky | 6:57 p.m. Sept. 25, 2007

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