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Milestones in the Presidency of Gordon B. Hinckley
In Memoriam: President Gordon B. Hinckley


“Milestones in the Presidency of Gordon B. Hinckley,” Ensign, Mar. 2008, 13

Milestones in the Presidency of Gordon B. Hinckley

During his years as President of the Church, Gordon B. Hinckley:

• Saw Church membership grow from just over 9 million to 13 million.

• Dedicated 63 temples, including those in Palmyra, Nauvoo, and Winter Quarters and many smaller temples, whose building he first announced in 1997.

• Made more than 90 visits to countries outside the United States and numerous trips within the country to visit with Latter-day Saints. Traveled more than a million miles as President of the Church.

• Introduced to the Church and to the world, with the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” (Liahona, Oct. 2004, 49; Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102) and “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles” (Liahona and Ensign, Apr. 2000, 2–3).

• Saw six quorums of the Seventy—the Third to Eighth—added to the Church’s leadership.

• Saw general conference broadcast in over 80 languages, the Liahona published in 51 languages, and the Book of Mormon or selections from it translated into 106 languages and added to a large commercial publisher’s offerings.

• Oversaw construction of and dedicated the Conference Center, which more than tripled the number of people who could watch general conference in person. He also dedicated the renovated Tabernacle.

• Met numerous times with heads of state and other government leaders from presidents of the United States to the king of Tonga and the president of Ghana.

• Instructed priesthood leaders in global leadership training sessions broadcast via satellite.

• Announced establishment of the Perpetual Education Fund.

• Appeared on nationwide television in the United States and Australia several times.

• Asked Church members to read the Book of Mormon in the final months of 2005, resulting in more people reading the book than at any other time in history.

• Authored several books that sold throughout the United States.