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No Comments [ Add Comment ]Teens band together to honor Hinckley in their own way
By BETH YOUNG and MITCH SHAWLAYTON -- Using the speed and convenience of cellphones, LDS teens found their own way to honor church President Gordon B. Hinckley on Monday.
Even before the media began reporting Hinckley's death on Sunday, teens received a forwarded text message telling them to wear a shirt and tie or a skirt in memory of the president of the LDS Church.
"I think he would have laughed by the way that we did it -- by texting everyone," said Clearfield High School senior Kylie Taylor. "I think he would just love it."
Many school administrators didn't know about the text message, but almost all of the students did, even non-Mormons.
"It wasn't requested by us, so it is student-driven," said Jill Thompson, Syracuse LDS Seminary support specialist.
"He is the prophet that they have grown up with and grown to love. It's neat that they have taken it upon themselves to honor him."
None of the students interviewed knew who sent the original message, but some said they got it as many as 42 times.
"I thought it was a good idea, so I passed it along to everyone in my phonebook," said Kara Shupe, Bonneville High School senior.
All of Davis and most Weber district high school officials reported that students dressed up -- some said as many as half the student body.
"I thought it was cool that so many people had that much respect to take the time to dress up," Shupe said. "I am really surprised."
Heidi Clark said her daughter, a senior at Syracuse High School, received the text. The mother said she was amazed by the number of students she saw dressed up Monday morning.
"I think it's awesome the way they have used technology," Clark said. "As I was driving away, I got teary-eyed. I think it's just great that they got together and realized the impact (Hinckley) had on their lives. I think he would be proud."
Taylor received about 10 texts, one from as far away as Logan. Her brother in junior high also got the text.
Taylor said the best part of the text-message campaign was that it was started by teenagers. She said if adults had told them to dress up, it probably wouldn't have happened.
She said she will always remember Hinckley's sense of humor and how he reached out to LDS youth.
Students at the Layton LDS Institute on Weber State University's Davis campus agreed that, even though Hinckley was 97, there was no generation gap.
Students in Institute Director Randall Bird's Monday class discussed their feelings about Hinckley.
"He made a big impact on a lot of people -- people of all ages and all religions and from all walks of life," Whitney Hunsaker said.
Bird said students in his classes shared their feelings about Hinckley's death and reflected on his life and accomplishments during his 13-year tenure as president of the LDS Church.
"The mood among the students in my class today has been pretty somber," Bird said. "At the beginning of one of my classes, a young girl got up to share a thought about President Hinckley and was too overcome with emotion to get through it."
Melissa Crow said when she first heard the news of Hinckley's death, she and her friends were surprised.
"When I first heard he had died, I was shocked -- I didn't think it was true," she said. "Even though he was 97, I don't think anybody was really expecting this."
Although the atmosphere in Bird's class was solemn, students said they also felt a sense of celebration for a life well lived.
"The life that he lived serves as a great example to everyone," said Kelsi Anderson. "He was inspiring, and he made you want to be a better person."
Jason Barrett said he takes comfort in his belief that Hinckley is in a better place.
"Just knowing what he did while he was on this earth and where he is now makes it easier," he said.
Bird, a 35-year veteran in the LDS Church education system, said one of the many things Hinckley will be remembered for is the way he treated others.
Bird recalled one encounter he had with Hinckley a few years ago at a park dedication in Salt Lake City.
Before dedicating the park, Hinckley gave a talk. After the dedication, Bird visited with the First Presidency.
"I mentioned to President (James E.) Faust how much I enjoyed President Hinckley's talk," Bird said.
"President (Thomas S.) Monson then asked me what his talk was about and it caught me off guard, so I said, 'You know, I can't really remember.' Then President Hinckley said, 'That's OK, we can't remember it either.'
"That's just the kind of person he was. He made people feel at ease."
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