Reader comments
Prophet had skills to be some writer

Great column Lee.

It is beautiful prose, and a beautiful subject---Cec Baker. A wonderful guy, a wonderful coach.

I would like to see the entire article.

Cheers, and best wishes,

Joe

Knowing that President Hinckley was a prolific reader, I'm not surprised that he was an accomplished writer. There is a direct correlation between reading and the ability to write well. And, young people, the ability to write well is not improved by being able to score high on "Guitar Hero!"

Lee, This was a masterful story about two wonderful men. I forwarded it to my children in California, Nevada, and Utah. This is the type of story, which only adds to the stature of a magnificent man and prophet. These are the little things, which those of us who loved him. Little things like using his gardening shovel to break ground for the Conference Center and using his cherry tree to make the pulpit for the Conference Center. Thank you for adding an additional vignette to the Prophet's great life.
Ray Howarth

This is a marvelous tribute to President Hinckley, and showcases excellent writing from two sources. Thank you.

Thank you for connecting the dots of which I had wondered. From a 1950 Church directory I had read where President Hinckley was a counselor in the East Millcreek Stake Presidency with Cec Baker. Now I know Baker is the same man who was the head basketball coach at Utah State from 1950-61, of whom Ladell Andersen and LaVell Edwards spoke highly.

I have had the opportunity of meeting President Hinkley when I worked at a subsidiary of Bonneville Communications. I have sat in business meetings with him and attended a party or two where he was present. He spoke well on secular as well as religious topics. I have admired his ability to make people at ease when talking with him. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten. By the way it was a walnut tree, not a cherry tree.

Thank you, Lee, for your wonderful article about President Hinckley and my father. The original article written in 1950 by President Hinckley is very precious to me and my family. The connection between the two men and my family will always remain because of what he wrote.

Lee, Thank You for that knowledge that we needed it is great to hear of the camponship my great grandfather had with a living day prophet. I would like to see that article some day. Or see it where is can be taken care off. President Hinckley always had a thing for choosing good words and he knew how to use them.

Great article. Cec's grandfather was my great grandfather. They joined the Church in Australia not England in 1852, suffered much persecution there because of it and immigrated to Calf. then on to Utah in 1856. I had no idea that Cousin Cec was in the East Millcreek stake presidency with Pres. HInckly. I lived in that stake in the 1970. What a small world.