Like many, I've been thinking a lot about President Hinckley this week, especially today. I served in the D.C. Branch on my mission and we ate lunch every couple weeks with sweet Sister Hardy. She was elegant. She lived in this beautiful apartment building in Chevy Chase and taught us how to properly set a table (she taught for years at a finishing school for girls). Anyway, Sister Hardy went to high school with President Hinckley and often told us stories about "Gordon." They were at a reunion dinner one night and she was seated at his table. She said that she would never forget how his skin glowed and looked so young. She explained that later she was talking to her son (Elder Ralph W. Hardy Jr. - he was serving as an area authority Seventy when I was in D.C.) about it and he turned in the scriptures to Doctrine & Covenants 84:33: "For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies." Elder Hardy had testified to his mother that President Hinckley's body had literally been renewed because of his faithfulness. I'm so thankful that our dear prophet's life was preserved because he chose to be faithful in the priesthood and to magnify his calling. He seemed to recognize this gift - even though he often joked about still being around =) - and was such an example of truly living each day. I'm grateful that he was renewed so that he could build temples and the conference center, travel the world to strengthen the church, and challenge us to study the Book of Mormon. His actions bore witness that he recognized the Lord's hand in his life, particularly in extending it. I have no doubt that he's still working hard and loving every minute.
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