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Hinckley lighted a fire in this
student's mind
By Natalie Archibald
February 4, 2008 | The minute I heard Gordon B. Hinckley
passed away I felt a rush of mixed emotions. I felt
sad because he has been the only prophet I've known
and I will miss him, I also felt happy because I know
he is in a better place. As I was thinking of everything
I learned from him, I realized what a huge impact he
had on my life.
One of the greatest things I learned from Gordon B.
Hinckley was to gain a good education and to get as
much education I possibly can. He inspired me to attend
college and earn a degree. When I was entering high
school, I never thought about college, I didn't really
have a plan. I was going to go where ever the wind blew
me.
In 2001, Hinckley gave a talk titled "A Prophet's
Counsel and Prayer for Youth." I was hit by a ton
of bricks during this talk with the realization that
I wanted and needed to go to college to get a good education
and to get as much as I could.
"You need all the education you can get. All around
you is competition. There can be no doubt, none whatever,
that education pays. Do not short-circuit your lives,"
said Hinckley.
So here I am at college, getting an education and
I am graduating in the spring, I never imagined I would
graduate from college but I am so grateful to Hinckley
for giving me the courage to succeed.
Because of Gordon B. Hinckley's great impact in my
life, I have been thinking about getting a masters degree.
Hinckley stressed the importance of young men and young
women getting as much education as they can. I never
thought that applied to me until now, I have the option
of getting a master's degree or working after I graduate.
Receiving a master's would definitely be as much education
as I could get.
Hinckley was such an advocate of education he set
up a worldwide Perpetual Education Fund. This helps
missionaries from all around the world who can't afford
college to help pay for their education after church
service. Hinckley said "this is not a welfare effort,
it is an educational opportunity."
Gordon B. Hinckley was a great man trying to make
the world a better place. I look up to him very much
and I admire his energy and determination to strengthen
people and help them become the best they can be. He
left a lasting legacy and I will always remember him.
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