The Great Reunion in Heaven

We received word tonight that President Gordon B. Hinckley passed away this evening at 7 pm MST. I wonder how it happened. I hope we hear more in the next few days about his final hours. I told Lisa how we both commented on the way he looked during the October conference and that we didn't think it would be much longer, but I don't think we thought it would be quite this soon.

I was talking with Julie tonight about it and she made a comment about how it was so sad. I don't feel sad at all. I am mourning for the world's and church's and his family's loss, but I am not sad. I look at it more with an eternal perspective and the knowledge and testimony that I have that he is in the presence of God the Father and His son, Jesus Christ, as well as Joseph Smith, the other prophets who have served before him, his wife, Moses, Noah, Moroni, Nephi, and all those who have gone before him.

But beside our Savior and our Heavenly Father, I bet the people who were most excited to see him were those whom he didn't even know - those who have died throughout the eons of time, and who have now been able to accept for themselves, through proxy, the Lord's Gospel via all of the beautiful temples which President Hinckley ensured were built here upon the Earth. I bet he's still shaking hands with people and greeting them and feeling their gratitude. I wondered why it was raining so hard today...the heavens were weeping with joy that this son was about to return to his father's presence. How glorious it was that he was able to return home on a Sunday - the Lord's day of rest!

I don't feel any anxiety about there not being a current president of the church. My testimony of the greatness of this work helps me know that there is a process in place and shortly the man that has been chosen to fulfill this role will be announced. I think we all know it will likely be President Monson, but even still, whoever it is, will be who God wants it to be. But until that time, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will lead us in the direction our Heavenly Father wants us to go.

P.S. Update on the pancakes issue from earlier today...I was so craving pancakes tonight for dinner! I went to go make them and alas, no pancake mix! I'm sure I could have made them from scratch, but I just didn't feel like it. Oh...and although even though I was craving them and I said "I" wasn't pregnant, I found out tonight that I'm going to be an auntie again! My youngest sister, Julie, is pregnant again after 9 years. I'm very happy for her. I told her it's a girl this time...she doesn't think so, but I do and I'm usually right. I also heard that Kevin and Jodi are trying again (SUPER-YEAH!). Oh, I so hope they are pregnant soon too! Ang...feel like making it a trio again?