A Life Worth Studying

President Hinckley taught me to lighten up and never look down at motherhood

Serving as a missionary for the LDS Church in Tokyo many years ago, I attended a conference where President Gordon B. Hinckley, recently passed president of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife had come to speak. After the meeting, all the missionaries filed through to shake their hands. As I approached President Hinckley, I looked into his eyes — clear, warm and fully comprehending. I then shook Sister Marjorie Pay Hinckley’s hand. As I did, I was filled with such a feeling of love that tears came. At the same time, she teared and said to the effect, “Thank you for all you missionaries do.” We spontaneously embraced.
I’ve never been much of an I-know-who person or I-have-a-signed-napkin-from-so-and-so. This was something very different. Just having the opportunity to feel of the love and warmth of these two amazing, humble and loving people was something I will always cherish. Being around them and watching how they lived their lives inspired not only me but millions to change.
The many principles and practices that President Hinckley has spoken on have changed my life for good. Some things have been light, and have helped me to lighten up especially at times when I might have been unduly hard on myself or others. I remember Sheri Dew, CEO of Deseret Book, sharing in a talk CD that she had told President Hinckley of a decision she had made. I’m paraphrasing here, but she felt she had waited too long to make the decision and said to him, “President Hinckley, I just wish I was smarter.” To which he responded, “I wish you were smarter, too.” His quick humor helped me remember not to take myself too seriously and remember that doing my best was the most important thing.
His teachings on family life have been a compass during difficult decisions. This is one of the main reasons that all LIFEChange coaches and staff are only part-time, so that we can focus first on our families and still do something to help others.
His emphasis on the sanctity of motherhood showed me how it will affect not only my family’s lives but the lives of others. It has helped me feel the dignity and value in what I do everyday in raising my children. In his passing, as I considered what I might do to live more fully and to help others, the thought came, “You are a mother.”
The practice of being more kind and tolerant of others’ convictions (which President Hinckley taught by word and example) has helped me more confidently find connecting similarities within other faiths. A dear friend with whom I hadn’t conversed in several years, who is of another faith, shared with me a terrible accident her family had suffered because she had fallen asleep at the wheel. Through our shared beliefs of common doctrines we were able to feel comfort and understanding, which strengthened our friendship in a new way.
President Hinckley’s ability to be real and genuine, even with the pressure of being a prophet, has given me courage to be my real self, especially when I would rather be impressive. A few years ago, as a radio host for KSL/Bonneville, I was attempting to be and look professional. One day I unintentionally showed up with two different shoes on. The confidence came to share that embarrassing moment with the listeners, with wonderfully connecting results!
Living with integrity, President Hinckley’s example has stirred me to do my best in that area also, even when it means doing the difficult thing. Just the other day I had to tell my husband that I was the one who had unsuspectingly backed the car into a rock.
It’s these small and simple, yet far-reaching principles and practices that give me pause to thank President Hinckley for his example, his life-long living of solid principles and practices, and the change it has caused in my life for good.

Connie Sokol is an at-home mother and president of LIFEChange, a program to enhance women’s lives. For more information, visit www.lifechangeprogram.com.

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