|
Summarized by Kent Larsen
Hinckley Still An Energetic Leader at 90
Salt Lake Tribune 22Jun00 N2
By Bob Mims: Salt Lake Tribune
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- Attending yesterday's news conference where
LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley announced the changes to
Ricks College, veteran Salt Lake Tribune reporter Bob Mims was very
impressed by President Hinckley's vigor. The news conference was held
just one day after Hinckley returned from an 11-day tour of the Far
East covering some 22,000 miles, yet he was at the press conference
early Wednesday morning "energetically pumping hands." Hinckley will
be 90-years-old on Friday.
"No, I don't feel 90. I never dreamed I'd be 90, that I'd live that
long," Hinckley said. "I'm here; I'm still here. I don't know how
long. Neither do you."
Mims observes that the trip had to be difficult. Hinckley spent 47
hours in the air, keeping 17 appointments, including the dedications
for four new temples. When asked how he did it, Hinckley re-used a
quip he used earlier this spring at the National Press Club, "My
answer is that you go to bed at night and get up the next morning,"
During the news conference, President Hinckley also spoke of the
Church's progress. He tood pride in the Church's humanitarian aid
efforts, saying, "We are reaching outside our faith." He said the
Church would continue to seek ways to cooperate with other churches.
"We have common ground with some other churches, and we can work with
them on many items of public concern and interest," he said. "But we
don't have to give up our theology. . . . We respect them and we hope
they will respect us.
Refering to the tendency of some Christians to label the LDS Church
as non-Christian, Hinckley said that this is just a misunderstanding,
"Misunderstandings come of ignorance. When people get to know you and
what you are doing, they respect you," he said.
|
