I was fortunate enough to work for the Church Office in the Philippines in my younger years. Because of my assignment in publication, I would usually cover the general authorities as they would visit and talk to members of the Church in my country. I'd like to tell you that I covered your father and your mother several times during their visit with members of the Church in various parts of the Philippines. I'd like to tell you father inspired me what with his unique mastery of speech! My eyes would well with tears every time he would speak because he speaks with the power of the Spirit! I also love it when you mother would give a talk. She sure has a sense of humor. What I consider best coverage of all was during the dedication of the Manila Temple. There President Hinckley recited the dedicatory prayer that would later prove prophetic. In part I remember him saying that if the Filipino people would be obedient to the Lord, their freedom would not be taken away from them! That promise was fulfilled in 1986 when, as a people, we kicked out the dictator, and in 1989 when we tried to protect our freedom from those who wants to snatch it away from us! Your father has referred to us as the "Miracle of the Philippines." He rededicated the Philippines for the preaching of the gospel in 1961 at the American Memorial Cemetery in Fort Bonifacio, Makati. Missionaries of the Philippines Manila Mission still hold their testimony meeting there until this day to reminisce that moment. From a handful of members, the Philippines now has close to 800, 000. I was working in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 1996 when your father had that interview with Mike Wallace and Larry King. One of our American members was able to record the show from his home in the America, brought the tape with him, and we viewed it after our meeting. We were whooping it, literally, after your father, our beloved prophet, fielded question after question from these hard-nosed journalist - with aplomb! We were never as proud to be as Latter-day Saints than on that day! Lately, I watched a devotional wherein the wives and daughters of the First Presidency spoke. I tell you it was so cool! This is way too long. I don't know if they will publish this at length. But then I'd like to say that my family and me LOVED your father!
Georgeanna JohnsonFebruary 26, 2017
How I loved your father-my father, Ross Ward served with your father in England and were companions at one time. Through the years he and Dad interacted at many reunions and shared some great memories. He was so gracious in remembering our family on several occasions. This one of my favorite memories.
Bob SpielFebruary 26, 2017
How we all loved your father. Our lives are forever blessed because of his faith -- and works. This sweet story is reminiscent of something a friend said to me years ago: God is never late. He knew of your father's ongoing discouragement, and held him in the refiner's fire until the very moment when the letter from your grandfather, combined with his personal reading that morning, would collide in a celestial way to impact him (and us) forever. Thank you for sharing him with us for so many years!
Kalevi Rasi-KoskinenFebruary 23, 2017
Dear Kathleen - We had read and heard the story about your fathers experience in England during his mission but to read your article about it again, brought a flood of memories to us about this great man. My wife, Dianne (Steckler) was his secretary and also has many memorable experiences of getting to know him quite personally. At the time, while I was working on the Finnish temple film, I had to go to his office quite often for consultation. One day as I left his office, he came behind me and told Dianne, "There is the young man you should stick your foot out for and trip". Little while later he married us in the Logan Temple. Your father was a great man and a devoted servant of our Heavenly Father. He always had a very special place in our family.
George OlsonFebruary 23, 2017
I, too, am touched. President Hinckley back in 1959 took my case to court to get me a military deferment as my draft board was trying to draft me. He was successful and as I found out later he did the same for other missionaries. He was a great man and prophet!
Debrah RoundyFebruary 23, 2017
And from that point onward our church had it's own Energizer Bunny. He never wore out in the service of God until he was called home!
Holly BowenFebruary 22, 2017
I feel so much gratitude for your father and the sharing of this particular story. When my own son wrote home with similar thoughts and feelings, I used your grandfathers inspired words, Forget yourself and get to work! and he did and is happier for it. I am sure I am not the only one who is profoundly grateful that we had these words to fall back on when we needed it. I will always love Gordon B. Hinckley!
Jayne JonesFebruary 22, 2017
And look at the impact your father had on millions of church members throughout the world because of this. What an example of faith and good works.
Alec AndrusFebruary 22, 2017
We were all so profoundly blessed by President Hinckley. His kindness, wisdom, faith and sense of humor lifted us all and he always inspired me to want to be a little better. His voice and smile resonate in my mind. Thank you 15 Wadham Road.
Leonard BoydellFebruary 22, 2017
Dear Sister Walker.
Strangely you have been on my mind the last few days. I am reading Pres. Hinkley's Biography and am just exhausted by the work he put into serving in the kingdom. My wife and I were with you and Pres. Walker in the MTC prior to going on our mission to Albania in 2012, so your article has been particularly poignant. We have also been sharing with family members our personal experiences of opportunities we had to meet with your father on a number of occasions.
Thank you so much for adding to the story and for your wonderful leadership and example in the Preston MTC.
P.S. Albania was fantastic.
Elaine RasmussenFebruary 22, 2017
I loved your sharing! Your father helped define our Church's history!
The story of your father's sharing reminds me that as we each share our own spiritual, even our defining moments more, with our own posterity, what a strength it will be to them. I hope and pray to do that more, through your sharing with us, this story.
Roxanne UdyFebruary 22, 2017
Thank you, Sister Walker, for this sweet, inspiring story!
Bonnie CaldwellFebruary 22, 2017
I'm teary eyed as I read this beautiful account. What a remarkable story and what a remarkable man! I am serving with my husband in the mission where I served as a young woman and I remember some pivotal moments from my first mission, but nothing so profound as this story. thank you for sharing!
Comments | Return to Story
Rafael OsumoFebruary 27, 2017
I was fortunate enough to work for the Church Office in the Philippines in my younger years. Because of my assignment in publication, I would usually cover the general authorities as they would visit and talk to members of the Church in my country. I'd like to tell you that I covered your father and your mother several times during their visit with members of the Church in various parts of the Philippines. I'd like to tell you father inspired me what with his unique mastery of speech! My eyes would well with tears every time he would speak because he speaks with the power of the Spirit! I also love it when you mother would give a talk. She sure has a sense of humor. What I consider best coverage of all was during the dedication of the Manila Temple. There President Hinckley recited the dedicatory prayer that would later prove prophetic. In part I remember him saying that if the Filipino people would be obedient to the Lord, their freedom would not be taken away from them! That promise was fulfilled in 1986 when, as a people, we kicked out the dictator, and in 1989 when we tried to protect our freedom from those who wants to snatch it away from us! Your father has referred to us as the "Miracle of the Philippines." He rededicated the Philippines for the preaching of the gospel in 1961 at the American Memorial Cemetery in Fort Bonifacio, Makati. Missionaries of the Philippines Manila Mission still hold their testimony meeting there until this day to reminisce that moment. From a handful of members, the Philippines now has close to 800, 000. I was working in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 1996 when your father had that interview with Mike Wallace and Larry King. One of our American members was able to record the show from his home in the America, brought the tape with him, and we viewed it after our meeting. We were whooping it, literally, after your father, our beloved prophet, fielded question after question from these hard-nosed journalist - with aplomb! We were never as proud to be as Latter-day Saints than on that day! Lately, I watched a devotional wherein the wives and daughters of the First Presidency spoke. I tell you it was so cool! This is way too long. I don't know if they will publish this at length. But then I'd like to say that my family and me LOVED your father!
Georgeanna JohnsonFebruary 26, 2017
How I loved your father-my father, Ross Ward served with your father in England and were companions at one time. Through the years he and Dad interacted at many reunions and shared some great memories. He was so gracious in remembering our family on several occasions. This one of my favorite memories.
Bob SpielFebruary 26, 2017
How we all loved your father. Our lives are forever blessed because of his faith -- and works. This sweet story is reminiscent of something a friend said to me years ago: God is never late. He knew of your father's ongoing discouragement, and held him in the refiner's fire until the very moment when the letter from your grandfather, combined with his personal reading that morning, would collide in a celestial way to impact him (and us) forever. Thank you for sharing him with us for so many years!
Kalevi Rasi-KoskinenFebruary 23, 2017
Dear Kathleen - We had read and heard the story about your fathers experience in England during his mission but to read your article about it again, brought a flood of memories to us about this great man. My wife, Dianne (Steckler) was his secretary and also has many memorable experiences of getting to know him quite personally. At the time, while I was working on the Finnish temple film, I had to go to his office quite often for consultation. One day as I left his office, he came behind me and told Dianne, "There is the young man you should stick your foot out for and trip". Little while later he married us in the Logan Temple. Your father was a great man and a devoted servant of our Heavenly Father. He always had a very special place in our family.
George OlsonFebruary 23, 2017
I, too, am touched. President Hinckley back in 1959 took my case to court to get me a military deferment as my draft board was trying to draft me. He was successful and as I found out later he did the same for other missionaries. He was a great man and prophet!
Debrah RoundyFebruary 23, 2017
And from that point onward our church had it's own Energizer Bunny. He never wore out in the service of God until he was called home!
Holly BowenFebruary 22, 2017
I feel so much gratitude for your father and the sharing of this particular story. When my own son wrote home with similar thoughts and feelings, I used your grandfathers inspired words, Forget yourself and get to work! and he did and is happier for it. I am sure I am not the only one who is profoundly grateful that we had these words to fall back on when we needed it. I will always love Gordon B. Hinckley!
Jayne JonesFebruary 22, 2017
And look at the impact your father had on millions of church members throughout the world because of this. What an example of faith and good works.
Alec AndrusFebruary 22, 2017
We were all so profoundly blessed by President Hinckley. His kindness, wisdom, faith and sense of humor lifted us all and he always inspired me to want to be a little better. His voice and smile resonate in my mind. Thank you 15 Wadham Road.
Leonard BoydellFebruary 22, 2017
Dear Sister Walker. Strangely you have been on my mind the last few days. I am reading Pres. Hinkley's Biography and am just exhausted by the work he put into serving in the kingdom. My wife and I were with you and Pres. Walker in the MTC prior to going on our mission to Albania in 2012, so your article has been particularly poignant. We have also been sharing with family members our personal experiences of opportunities we had to meet with your father on a number of occasions. Thank you so much for adding to the story and for your wonderful leadership and example in the Preston MTC. P.S. Albania was fantastic.
Elaine RasmussenFebruary 22, 2017
I loved your sharing! Your father helped define our Church's history! The story of your father's sharing reminds me that as we each share our own spiritual, even our defining moments more, with our own posterity, what a strength it will be to them. I hope and pray to do that more, through your sharing with us, this story.
Roxanne UdyFebruary 22, 2017
Thank you, Sister Walker, for this sweet, inspiring story!
Bonnie CaldwellFebruary 22, 2017
I'm teary eyed as I read this beautiful account. What a remarkable story and what a remarkable man! I am serving with my husband in the mission where I served as a young woman and I remember some pivotal moments from my first mission, but nothing so profound as this story. thank you for sharing!
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