Thousands pack funeral for Mormon leader

updated 5:14 p.m. ET Feb. 2, 2008

SALT LAKE CITY - Gordon B. Hinckley was remembered as a "prophet to the people" on Saturday as tens of thousands of faithful Mormons gathered to say goodbye to the church's longtime president.

The funeral at the conference center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints capped a week of mourning for Hinckley, who died Jan. 27 at age 97.

Hinckley's children and closest advisers chronicled his lifetime service to the faith, including unprecedented growth during his 13 years as president.

"He was our prophet, seer and revelator. He was an island of calm in a sea of storm," said Thomas S. Monson, a friend for more than 50 years, a close advisor and likely to be Hinckley's successor. He called him a "prophet to the people."

Unprecedented growth for church
During Hinckley's tenure, the church expanded to 13 million members from 9 million in 160 countries. He established an education fund to help returned missionaries, expanded the church's humanitarian work and built more than 75 temples around the world.

On Feb. 8, the church will dedicate its 125th temple, in Rexburg, Idaho.

"Disciplined and courageous, with an unbelievable capacity for work, he believed in growth," daughter Virginia H. Pearce said. "He was a marvel to watch."

The 90-minute service was mixed with eulogies and soothing hymns from the world-famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir at the nearly full 21,000-seat conference center.

The grandson of Mormon pioneers, Hinckley was born in Salt Lake City and spent much of his youth on a family farm.

He had his eye on a journalism career, but instead went to work for the church in 1935 to establish a public relations department. He was credited with seeing the potential of media and technology to spread the church message.

"Gordon B. Hinckley was the great communicator," church elder Earl C. Tingey said, adding to the long list of the late president's attributes celebrated Saturday.

Henry B. Eyring, promoted last year to Hinckley's leadership circle, called him an optimist who was undaunted by difficult challenges and often responded with a smile and a simple phrase: "Oh, things will work out."

Hinckley was driven by his desire "to bless individuals with opportunity," Eyring said. "Always he thought of those with the least opportunity, the ordinary person struggling to cope with the difficulties of everyday life."

Hinckley loved to be among the faithful, visiting 150 countries and logging more than 250,000 miles.

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