POPS QUOTED IN THE TIMES-NEWS 02FEB2008

Locals react to news of Hinckley's death

By Loretta Burkhart Times-News correspondant


Pauline Parker was caught off guard Sunday evening when she received word that Gordon B. Hinckley had died. The president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints died of natural causes at age 97."I was stunned," said 82-year-old Parker, who converted to the Mormon faith when she was 18.

After hearing of the death, the Castleford woman never went to bed. Instead, she spent the night on the couch listening to callers on talk radio express their views about the man who held, she said, that "we're all children of God (and) I'm no more important than anyone else.""I just listened and listened," said Parker, a retired elementary school teacher.

Hinckley, president and prophet of the church, was the oldest president in the church's 148 years of history. Although his travels were worldwide and took him to some 60 countries to dedicate 95 of the church's 124 temples, his impact in the Magic Valley was nonetheless formative: The site of the Twin Falls Temple - still under construction - was personally chosen by Hinckley in 2004.

"It takes a powerful foundation to reach out to the world and be comfortable with all people," Parker said. And though she is saddened "because he was a big part of my life," she said she is not left with sadness, "because I believe that life is eternal."

Terry McCurdy, the LDS spokesman for southern Idaho, regards Hinckley as an example of graciousness: "If I could pattern my life after him, I would be a much better person. He was very down-to-earth, so kind, and so perceptive."According to McCurdy, Hinckley was also up-to-date."He read four or five newspapers every day - and could see the big picture," McCurdy said.In Twin Falls, his legacy will be the temple, McCurdy said. "He knew that Twin Falls was the right place for a temple â€- and was able to see exactly what had to be done."

Dale Quigley, also an active member of the LDS faith, had hoped for a little more time under the prophet's influence."I knew that (his death) was forthcoming, but it happened a little sooner than I thought. I was hoping that he would be able to be with us - in good enough health - to dedicate the temple," Quigley said.While his sentiments are not that of "huge sorrow and mourning," for Quigley the president's passing is nonetheless painful."I do have some very tender feelings about him," said Quigley, who said his tears were mixed with gratitude for a long life of service. "I'm at peace with that."

Longevity factored into Doug Maughan's initial reaction to the news of Hinckley's demise, as well."My first reaction was, 'What a good, long life he lived,'" said Maughan, public relations director at the College of Southern Idaho, who also belongs to the LDS church.As for Hinckley's guidance of the church? Maughan said he exemplified timeless leadership.The principles by which Hinckley led the church - established in 1860 - were rooted more in the 19th than the 21st century, Maughan said, noting that "steadiness and firmness go very well with a light touch and a sense of humor."

The Rev. Brian Thom at Twin Falls' The Church of the Ascension was likewise impressed by Hinckley's style of leadership."Some leaders can be pretty stiff," said Thom, an Episcopalian, but "by all reports, Hinckley was a down-to-earth sort of person."Impressed by Hinckley's ability to lead a worldwide congregation "with such ease," Thom said it takes an exceptional person to maintain that style of leadership as long as Hinckley did.

Sean Christensen, 31, will miss that special type of leadership from the person who has been a major part of his adult life.Christensen, owner of Idaho Diagnostic Sleep Center in Twin Falls, met Hinckley in California more than a decade ago while the younger man was serving a mission for the LDS church. Christensen remembers standing near Hinckley and observing the manner in which the church leader addressed a gathering of young missionaries.As Hinckley spoke of the responsibility that comes with spreading the gospel, "he was positive and uplifting," Christensen said. Hinckley was a nice person, "and he genuinely cared," Christensen said.

Loretta Burkart may be reached at lorettaburkhart@onewest.net or 734-3990.