Top Mormon Leader Hinckley Dead at 97
Posted
Jan 28, 08 3:55 AM CST
in
Arts & Living,
US
(Newser) –
Gordon B. Hinckley, at 97 the longest-lived president-prophet in the history of the Mormon church, died yesterday of complications of old age. Hinckley, whose energy and extensive world travels earned comparisons to Pope John Paul II, oversaw his church for 12 years during an era of unprecedented growth, the Los Angeles Times reports.
During Hinckley's tenure, the church swelled in membership by 37% and undertook more than 400 building projects worldwide. Known as a brilliant public relations strategist, Hinckley embraced technology and brought to the American mainstream the message that Mormons "are not a weird people"—but managed to do so without taking away the church's distinctive identity, a scholar notes.
Sources
Los Angeles Times,
Associated Press
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