Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008)

Truly Inspiring

It should surprise no one that those with an implacable hatred for the religion of the author will manage to find ways to dislike this book. There is, however, much in its pages to edify persons of good will, no matter what their religious affiliations. Far from merely listing virtues, Hinckley describes virtues he thinks are in short supply, explains how their increased practice would benefit the nation and the world, and instills the reader with hope that, in fact, things show more can get better. The picture he paints of a world in which virtue prevails reminds me of the depiction of Shalom in one of my other favorite books: _Not the Way It's Supposed to Be_ by Cornelius Plantinga, Jr. show less

Just reading the introduction gives me a thrill as I see how clearly he understands the ills of our time and that the banishment of the name of God from the United States is deeply tied into the problems we are facing. As Margaret Thatcher said: "'You use the name of Deity in the Declaration of Independence and in the Constitution of the United States, and yet you cannot use it in the schoolroom.' Her words are a rebuke and an indictment of America." (Page xviii)

"If we are to continue to show more have the freedoms that came of the inspiration of the Almighty to our Founding Fathers, we must return to the God who is their true Author." (Page xi) "Today we face challenges the Founding Fathers could not have possibly imagined or conceived; our societal challenges would have horrified them." (Page xviii)

"I am more deeply concerned about the growing moral deficit than I am about the monetary deficit." (Page xix)

Or, as Hinckley put it on the next page: "People who cary in their hearts a strong conviction concerning the living reality of the Almighty and their accountability to Him for what they do with their lives are far less likely to become enmeshed in problems that inevitably weaken society. The loss of this conviction, the almost total secularizing of our public attitudes, has been largely responsible for the terrible social illnesses now running rampant among us." (Page xxi)

"Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you" (Philippians 4:8-9; emphasis added) (Page xxiv)

"Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel once made a statement to the effect that those who do not read history will have to repeat it. How sobering a thought!" (Page 75)

"That which comes from God is light, and the person who receives and invites this light into his or her life will receive more light. It is that simple. it is that profound." (Page 79)

"What might become of this land if we spoke less of its weaknesses and more of its goodness and strength, it's capacity and potential? (Page 117) "Cynics do not contribute, skeptics do not create, doubters do not achieve." (Page 118)

"Cal Thomas in the Los Angeles Times wrote ... 'While Americans Throw Religion Out of Schools Russians Want it Back.' " (Page 133) This reminds me of something that my wife learned in her High School in Seattle - that there are five things needed to define a culture: Food, Shelter, Government, Religion, and Aesthetics. "Neglect not the cultivation of the spiritual. To do so is to eventually reap bitter fruit." (Page 133) "What shall it profit a man though he gain the whole world and lose his own soul, or what shall a man give in excahnge for his soul?" (Mark 8:36-37)

Marriage
The first cornerstone: Mutual respect and loyalty to one another. (Page 157)
The second cornerstone: The soft answer. (Page 161)
The third cornerstone: Financial honesty. (Page 163)

Family
"The evils of the world will continue to escalate unless there is an underlying acknowledgment, even a strong and fervent conviction, that the family is an instrument of the Almighty. It is His creation. it is also the most fundamental and basic unit of society. And it deserves - no, it demands our combined focus and attention." "We go to great lengths to preserve historical buildings and sites in our cities. We need to apply the same fervor to preserving the most ancient and sacred of institutions - the family!" (Page 169-170)

"... ten specific things we might do to help such a turnaround." (Page 170-192)
1. "Accept responsibility for our role as parents and fulfill our obligations to our children."
2. "Get married and stay married."
3. "Put the father back at the head of the home."
4. "Recognize and value the supreme importance of mothers."
5. "Celebrate and treat children as our most priceless treasures."
6. "Discipline and train children with love."
7. "Teach values to children."
8. "Teach children to work."
9. "Read to and with children." (I especially like this section.)
10. "Pray together."

So that I can remember them the chapters are:
1. Love: The Lodestar of Life
2. Where there is Honesty, Other Virtues Will Follow
3. Making a Case for Morality
4. Our Fading Civility
5. Learning: "With All Thy Getting Get Understanding"
6. The Twin Virtues of Forgiveness and Mercy
7. Thrift and Industry: Getting Our Houses in Order
8. Gratitude: A Sign of Maturity
9. Optimism in the Face of Cynicism
10. Faith: Our Only Hope
Part TWO: The Guardians of Virtue
- Marriage
- The Family
- Epilogue: The Loneliness of Moral Leadership

What an uplifting book. In his life he was the most positive person that I knew of. Though he is well aware of the evils and problems in the world his positive outlook prevails in this book. I felt a desire to be a better person as I read this book. There are some books that are just good. Other books are very good. Those very good books we want to cherish. We want to reread them so that we continue to be nourished by what is in them. This is one of those books. show less

I love President Hinckley and I remember many of these sermons and talks that he gave. He was so direct but caring in his delivery. He seemed to me like a wise grandpa over the whole church. His testimony of Joseph Smith and the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is clear throughout the lessons. The last lesson on faith is very powerful. He gives a prayer at the end of one of his sermons asking that we can all increase in faith, stating that the thing we need most is more faith in show more this world, which seems very apparent to me in this world.

Another of my favorite lessons Chapter 16: The Power of the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon has brought me closer to Christ and I believe will continue to sustain me in my relationship with him throughout my life. Christ shines forth from the pages of his holy book, and it brings me great strength to read from its pages each day.

I am so grateful that God prepared President Hinckley, and that we had him with us for so many years. show less

A beautifully written book about core values. Clear and precise, yet filled with loving advice, "Stand for Something" encourages the reader to gently probe one's own motives.

President Hinckley was an amazingly strong and wise man with the joy of a child. You will thank yourself for reading this book before you formulate your New Year's resolutions.