President Hinckley's funeral set for Saturday

Sam Penrod reporting Millions of people around the world are preparing to honor their beloved leader, President Gordon B. Hinckley of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His passing Sunday night ends a remarkable era in the history of the Church.

The love and respect people have for him will be expressed during his funeral, which will take place Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake. Holding the funeral there will break tradition. The funerals of every president of the Church, going back to Brigham Young, have been held at the Tabernacle.

As President Hinckley concluded the October 2007 general conference, he said, "We look forward to seeing you again next April. I'm 97, but I hope I am going to make it."

Church members held his hope that he would be there again in April. Now those members will gather on Saturday to pay tribute to his 50 years as a general authority and nearly 13 years as the president of the Church.

Plans are being finalized for his funeral at the Conference Center. After the funeral, President Hinckley will be buried beside his wife, Marjorie, in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. She passed away in April 2004.

A granite marker was installed not far from their graves a couple of years ago, honoring President Hinckley's service as the 15th president of the Church.

After President Hinckley is laid to rest, the process of re-organizing the leadership of the Church can begin. Upon the death of a Church president, the Church's First Presidency is dissolved, and President Hinckley's two counselors take their places of seniority in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The Church is now led by that quorum, and the senior member, Thomas S. Monson, is in line to succeed President Hinckley.

President Monson, who is 80 years old, is very familiar to church members. He served side-by-side with President Hinckley in the Quorum of the Twelve beginning in 1963, and together in the First Presidency since 1985. Traditions suggests the Quorum of Twelve will meet in the Salt Lake Temple within days after the funeral, and ordain a new church president.

An announcement of the new president and his counselors will likely come the following day, and the new president would then be formally sustained in the Church's general conference in April.

The public will have the opportunity to pay its respects later this week, as President Hinckley's body will lie in state at the Church Administration Building. The viewing will run from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on both Thursday and Friday.

Saturday's funeral will be broadcast via satellite in 69 languages to more than 6,000 church buildings around the world.

Here's an overview of KSL's coverage associated with the funeral this weekend.

KSL 5: Passing of a Prophet
Saturday, Feb. 2

10 a.m. Eyewitness News Special Report
11 a.m. Funeral Services from LDS Conference Center
12:30 p.m. News Coverage
1 p.m. Interment
2 p.m. President Hinckley Biography
3 p.m. A Faith for All Seasons

On Saturday, KSL TV will start Eyewitness News Special Report at 10 a.m., and then cover the funeral services live from the Conference Center. Coverage will continue through President Hinckley's interment, after which KSL 5 will air two documentaries: President Hinckley's Biography, and "A Faith for All Seasons."

KSL Newsradio 102.7 FM/1160 AM

You can also listen to the funeral service and live team coverage Saturday on KSL Newsradio 102.7 FM/1160 AM.

KSL 5: Passing of a Prophet
Sunday, Feb. 3
10 a.m. President Hinckley Biography

President Hinckley's Biography will be rebroadcast Sunday at 10 a.m.

The Church has also announced that this weekend's planned dedication of the new Rexburg, Idaho, temple will be postponed by one week. The cultural celebration and temple dedication will be held Feb. 9 and 10.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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