Richard G. Hinckley
Encyclopedia
Richard Gordon Hinckley (born May 2, 1941) has been a general authority
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 2005. In 2011, he became an emeritus
general authority. He is the son of Gordon B. Hinckley
, who was the fifteenth President of the Church.
. When Richard was 16 years old, his father was called as a general authority of the church. From 1961 to 1963, Hinckley served as a missionary
of the church in the Central German
Mission
. While serving in Germany, his father was ordained an apostle and became a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Following his missionary service, Hinckley obtained a degree in economics from the University of Utah
and an MBA from Stanford University
.
, grandfather
, and great-grandfather
were also stake presidents in the church. Hinckley also served as a sealer in the Salt Lake Temple
. From 2001 to 2004, Hinckley was the president
of the Utah
Salt Lake City Mission of the church.
by the church as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. His father, who was President of the Church at the time, preemptively disavowed any involvement his son's calling in a sermon given later that day:
When Richard Hinckley delivered his first general conference sermon a year later, he joked that he "was likely the only General Authority in the history of the Church to be sustained by the members in spite of a disclaimer by the prophet!"
On October 1, 2011, Hinckley was released from the First Quorum of the Seventy and given general authority emeritus status at the LDS Church's semi-annual general conference
.
in 1967; the couple have four children.
General authority
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a general authority is a member of certain leadership organizations who are given administrative and ecclesiastical authority over the church...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 2005. In 2011, he became an emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
general authority. He is the son of Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death...
, who was the fifteenth President of the Church.
Early life, mission, education
Hinckley was born in Salt Lake City and was raised in East Millcreek, UtahEast Millcreek, Utah
East Millcreek was a census-designated place in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States, that has since been consolidated with neighboring Millcreek CDP. The population was 21,385 at the 2000 census, a minute increase over the 1990 figure of 21,184. It was originally proposed to be included in the...
. When Richard was 16 years old, his father was called as a general authority of the church. From 1961 to 1963, Hinckley served as a missionary
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
of the church in the Central German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
. While serving in Germany, his father was ordained an apostle and became a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Following his missionary service, Hinckley obtained a degree in economics from the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
and an MBA from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
.
Church service
Prior to his call as a general authority, Hinckley was a bishop (twice), a stake president and was a member of two other stake presidencies. Hinckley's fatherGordon B. Hinckley
Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death...
, grandfather
Bryant S. Hinckley
Bryant Stringham Hinckley was an American author, religious speaker, civic leader and educator. He served as a prominent mid-level leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the early 20th century. His books were primarily designed for a Latter-day Saint audience.Hinckley was...
, and great-grandfather
Ira Hinckley
Ira Nathaniel Hinckley was an early Latter Day Saint leader who supervised the construction and maintenance of Cove Fort, a strategically placed fortification located about half-way between Salt Lake City and St. George, Utah. He was the father of author Bryant S. Hinckley and LDS apostle Alonzo A...
were also stake presidents in the church. Hinckley also served as a sealer in the Salt Lake Temple
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
. From 2001 to 2004, Hinckley was the president
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
of the Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
Salt Lake City Mission of the church.
General authority
At the April 2005 general conference of the church, Hinckley was acceptedCommon consent
Common consent is a democratic principle established by the Latter Day Saint movement's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr., who taught in 1830 that "all things must be done in order, and by common consent in the church, by the prayer of faith." As it is most frequently used by the Church of Jesus Christ of...
by the church as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. His father, who was President of the Church at the time, preemptively disavowed any involvement his son's calling in a sermon given later that day:
I make it clear that I did not advance his name. That was done by others whose right it was to do so. I feel extremely sensitive about the matter of nepotism. As the lawyers say, I recused myself from participating. However, I believe he is worthy and qualified in every respect. In the first place, he had a great and wonderful mother. I wish I could recommend his father.
I mention this only because of my sensitivity concerning the matter of nepotism. Please do not hold it against him for his relationship to me. He’s powerless to help it.
When Richard Hinckley delivered his first general conference sermon a year later, he joked that he "was likely the only General Authority in the history of the Church to be sustained by the members in spite of a disclaimer by the prophet!"
On October 1, 2011, Hinckley was released from the First Quorum of the Seventy and given general authority emeritus status at the LDS Church's semi-annual general conference
General Conference (LDS Church)
General Conference is a semiannual world conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held in April and October, where members gather in a series of two-hour sessions to listen to instruction from Church leaders...
.
Family
Hinckley married Jane Freed in the Salt Lake TempleSalt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
in 1967; the couple have four children.