January 26, 2004

Once-in-a-lifetime Moment

A number of us stood outside the temple housing where President Hinckley had been staying in Accra, Ghana. We were waiting to have a brief moment of contact before he would leave. The beautiful African Saints wanted to have one last touch with him. He and his wife, Marjorie, and daughter, Kathleen, came out. President Hinckley looked at us and in his exuberance and good humor he waved at all of us and said, "Buenos Dias!" Everyone laughed and waved back. He immediately walked over to this dear sister, Georgette Bagui, and her daughter, Sarhia. I loved the kindness of the Prophet and the love in the eyes of this sister from Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). I followed the Prophet right to his door, hearing his every word and greeting. The last thing he did was start singing, "Happy days are here again/The skies above are clear again..." You can't help but be uplifted around Gordon B. Hinckley.

Photograph by Scot Facer Proctor
Copyright 2004 Scot Facer Proctor