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Carole Mikita reportingHis story is rich with wisdom, humor and vision, so says President Hinckley's official biographer, Sheri Dew. She, too, is feeling the loss of someone dear.
President Gordon B. Hinckley had a well-known love for history and a vision for the future. His biographer says he pondered and prepared how to tell his faith's story his entire adult life.
Dew said, "This profound respect for the past and an uncanny ability, a gift really, it has to be a spiritual gift, of vision, to look forward and say, ‘Yeah, we oughta use satellite, yes, we ought to build a billion temples.'"
As a list of President Hinckley's accomplishments is compiled, the Conference Center ranks high. His funeral will take place there. "When you look at the Conference Center, you see a man with a vision who says, 'Listen, we need a building that reflects who we are, reflects our ability to reach out to lots of people. We want to have things here to which we want to invite all of our friends, whom we respect as brothers and sisters,'" Dew said.
President Hinckley named Sheri Dew president and CEO of Deseret Book, a position for which she says she felt unprepared. "'He just said in a very matter-of-fact way, 'Well, for heaven's sakes, Sheri, don't you know? That's why we're here on earth, to learn how to solve problems, OK? OK, what's your next issue?'"
President Hinckley's passing is difficult for Sheri Dew, but she says she always will be grateful for his wisdom. "I have thought this week, as we've all reflected about him, you can't help but feel a sense of loss. I wouldn't be surprised if when my life is over, if I look back and say, ‘One of the great gifts that God gave me was the chance to learn, kind of up close, from a truly remarkable leader,'" she said.
He's a man memorable to millions and a dear adviser and friend to the woman who wrote his life story.
