Mormon leader Hinckley dead at 97

Gordon B. Hinckley, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (a.k.a. the Mormon Church) died a few hours ago in Salt Lake City, Utah at the age of 97. Hinckley had served as the head of the church for 12 years. Prior to becoming president, he had served as a counselor under several previous church presidents, effectively running the church as these leaders became incapacitated due to age or illness. He was known for his skill in handling the media.

It is unlikely that that Mr. Hinckley's demise will have much impact on the upcoming election, although there is some speculation about whether Mitt Romney will attend the funeral, which will be held later this week.

Hinckley's successor will likely be Thomas S. Monson (the longest-serving apostle), as succession has traditionally been determined by seniority.

I pass this on as a newsworthy item, and regret that I must leave in a few minutes to fly from Marseille to Madrid to deal with a family medical emergency, thus precluding my being able to join in the ensuing discussion, if any discussion there be.

"Talk amongst yourselves."

•  tip jar nt

  by mofembot on Sun Jan 27, 2008 at 08:42:00 PM PDT

  •  thank you for the news alert

    so sorry about the family medical emergency - be well, mofembot.

    by Pandoras Box on Sun Jan 27, 2008 at 08:47:31 PM PDT

  •  Hope everything turns out ok with the fam

    Thanks for the news.

    I think it would be interesting; I think Mitt is in a no-win situation. He doesn't want to remind fundies he's not a "christian" but I think he'd be really expected to attend as the most visible Mormon in the nation.

    But the Mormons will likely vote for him regardless....

    by psycho liberal on Sun Jan 27, 2008 at 08:49:05 PM PDT

    •  The best rule for deciding what Mitt

      will do is the WWaCSD? rule: What would a chicken shit do?

      Answer: He'll run away from the funeral like the headless chicken he is.

      by benthos on Sun Jan 27, 2008 at 08:51:22 PM PDT

      •  Trollish and tasteless. Grow up.

        by Justice for All on Sun Jan 27, 2008 at 09:19:18 PM PDT

        •  I don't know if you've noticed,

          but Romney is simply incapable of taking a courageous stand on anything.  He changes his mind according to what the cool kids want him to do at the time.

          by benthos on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:19:01 PM PDT

    •  Governor Romney will attend the funeral.

      He knew the prophet personally.  The prophet knew Mitt's father, Governor George Romney, personally.  The prophet even knew Mitt's grandfather, President Marion G. Romney, personally.

      So of course Mitt will be there.  I don't think it helps him or hurts him.

      Those who hate Mormons will continue to hate.  Those who tolerate Mormons will continue to tolerate.

      by Justice for All on Sun Jan 27, 2008 at 09:26:23 PM PDT

    •  The fundies say that everybody else is "not"

      a Christian, no matter what, so he may as well go to the funeral if he's invited.  It's a sad day in America when you can't go to a funeral because you are afraid of what somebody else might think of it.

      by AmericanRiverCanyon on Sun Jan 27, 2008 at 11:49:14 PM PDT

  •  If you follow the link provided...

    Do take a look at some of the comments about Mr. Hinckley following the Salt Lake Tribune's writeup (linked in the diary). Gives an interesting view on how polarized Utah is (Mormon v. nonMormon).

    by mofembot on Sun Jan 27, 2008 at 09:01:36 PM PDT

•  Sad event and interesting timing

  I wonder what effect footage of Romney at the funeral would have?

  (I feel so much like this primary season is a swirling vortex of insanity, and is utterly unpredictable by me.  I am sorely missing Hunter S. Thompson.)

  by jbdigriz on Sun Jan 27, 2008 at 08:51:15 PM PDT

  •  No effect.

    No one should ever inject politics into a funeral.

    Let people grieve.  There will be plenty of time to fight once the funeral is over and the body has been laid to rest.

    by Justice for All on Sun Jan 27, 2008 at 09:23:39 PM PDT

    •  I wish

      Whether we want it to or not, religion does have an effect on politics.  The fact that Kennedy was Catholic was a huge issue at the time of his election.  

      And since Romney is a Mormon, a religion that many folks have feelings about (right or wrong), it is likely that highlighting his religion will have some effect.  Particularly since in recent history the Republican party has spent a great amount of energy appealing to a religious base, much of which is not Mormon and does not understand that religion.

      I say this as someone who was raised Quaker, and gets responses of "Like the guy on the oatmeal box?", or "So, you didn't use electricity?", or very occasionally "Like Nixon?", the last of which never fails to piss me off.  

      by jbdigriz on Sun Jan 27, 2008 at 09:38:32 PM PDT

    •  Agreed. Well said.

      by TheStormofWar on Sun Jan 27, 2008 at 09:46:55 PM PDT

•  Thanks for posting

  I haven't had the news on and missed it.

  Not that anyone asked me, but Monson seems to be a good choice.

  All the prominent members will be at the funeral and Romney will have to be there. And if some jerk has a problem with that, too bad.

  utahgirl

  by nio on Sun Jan 27, 2008 at 09:08:28 PM PDT

•  Thanks so much for this diary.

  President Hinckley was one of the kindest, most spiritual men to live in our day.

  He was far too concerned with the things of God to ever endorse any political candidate or party.

  He made sure that the Church kept a healthy distance between itself and partisan matters, only involving the Church in matters that directly affected its core principles: anti-gambling and for family values.

  He will join his dear sweet wife, Marjorie Pay Hinckley, on the other side where they will no doubt continue their work to benefit those who have spiritual and/or physical needs.

  by Justice for All on Sun Jan 27, 2008 at 09:22:21 PM PDT

  •  Agreed.

    Sad day for the LDS church.  Hinckley was a good man, AFAIK.

    by TheStormofWar on Sun Jan 27, 2008 at 09:28:11 PM PDT

    •  Yes, a good man BUT...

      ...The Proclamation on the Family was (and is) a huge step backward, in my opinion, as was his support of the proposed anti-gay marriage amendment.  

      Still, for a very old man, he was capable of being surprisingly progressive in how he dealt with other churches, other faiths, other cultures, etc.

      by monkee on Sun Jan 27, 2008 at 09:45:51 PM PDT

•  The Great Underwear Schism

  OK that really doesn't have to do with anything at all, but I thought it made an awesome subject line.

  Remember, when they asked Bill Clinton boxers or briefs? And the related joke asking Reagan the same thing and the answer was: Depends. Well, I think they should ask Mitt Romney: Boxers, briefs, or Mormon underwear? We could split the Mormon church on how he answers that.  If he doesn't wear MU (aka Temple garments) then the hardcore Mormons might not vote for him. It could be a wedge issue.

  by londubh on Sun Jan 27, 2008 at 09:47:26 PM PDT

•  Even as an ex-Mormon, I am saddened at the news

  R.I.P., Gordon Bitner Hinckley.

  by SleepingWillow on Sun Jan 27, 2008 at 09:50:06 PM PDT

•  Thanks for the diary

  Sad news, and news I had missed.

  I expect the passing of President Hinckley will have an effect on the campaign only if Romney fails to attend the funeral.

  by Califlander on Sun Jan 27, 2008 at 10:20:13 PM PDT