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Carole Mikita Reporting 6th Top Story of 2007
Last January, President Gordon B. Hinckley, the world leader of twelve and a half million Latter-day Saints, underwent cancer surgery at age 95.
Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1995: "I spent one night in the hospital in my life. I was past 75 when that occurred."
After nearly 11 years of vigorous leadership, a routine health exam, at the end of January 2006, revealed a cancerous growth on his intestine. They removed a diseased portion in surgery that same day. He was 95.
Just six weeks later, President Hinckley traveled thousands of miles to Chile for the rededication of the Santiago Temple.
President Hinckley: It went well, very well. Every session was full. The temple is rededicated. Glad I came."
A couple of weeks later, President Hinckley conducted his church's Annual General Conference.
And this church president never stops. On his 96th birthday in June, he broke ground for a new BYU visitors' center and alumni house named for him.
President Hinckley: "I suppose Brother Samuelson concluded I was only half dead, and we could go forward accordingly (laughter)..."
During General Conference sessions in October, President Hinckley wished to put the record straight and stop speculation about his health.
President Hinckley, October 1: "Last January I underwent
major surgery. It was a miserable experience... Following this, the question was whether I should undergo further treatment. I chose to do so. My doctors have called the results miraculous."
He proved them right just weeks later, traveling half way around the world to Helsinki, Finland... meeting with Latter-day Saints from six nations and dedicating a new temple.
President Hinckley: "It's really kind of a fake, this is soil...they've moved in...(all laugh)"
And on a snowy, cold December morning, President Hinckley again put some muscle behind a shovel and turned the dirt at groundbreaking for another new temple in the Salt Lake Valley.
His work continues. President Hinckley says he feels well and will simply go forward with faith.
President Hinckley has at least one more public appearance before the end of the year. He has invited young people of his faith to spend part of New Year's Eve with him. That meeting will originate in the Conference Center.
