We will miss you.

I doubt anyone turns to this blog for breaking news, but as we turned on the TV tonight we were shocked to learn of President Hickley's passing at the age of 97. It seems like he's been in the First Presidency forever, but maybe that's just because he became a counselor to President Kimball when I was not quite 7 years old. He was instrumental in the explosion of temple building across the globe, in providing education funding to thousands that might never have otherwise had a chance at a higher education via the Perpetual Education Fund, and many many other accomplishments that are really too many to list. I'm not trying to write an obituary here, just throwing down some thoughts. Really, this was the last thing we expected to see as we turned on the news tonight.

So this means that President Monson now leads the church, and I imagine the First Presidency will be reorganized in a matter of days. We'll probably have to wait until April Conference to fill the vacancy in the Quorum of the 12. As one who admired President Hinckley, I am sad to see him go, and I am equally excited... not only for President Monson's "administration", but also for President Hinckley's chance to now be with his beloved wife, who died almost 4 years ago.