Gordon B. Hinckley Biography

Deathplace: Salt Lake City, Utah

Gordon B. Hinckley was the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for 12 years. He was a leader in the church for a total of 46 years and led Mormonism during a period of worldwide expansion, dedicating 95 of the church’s 124 temples. While he was president, the church grew to include 12 million members worldwide. Hinckley had a popular personality that drew large crowds and helped the church’s public relations. He appeared on “Larry King Live,” and “60 Minutes,” and guided the church outreach program during the Salt Lake City Olympic Games. Hinckley was also responsible for making the church’s library of genealogical records available to the public over the Internet. For his many achievements, George W. Bush awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004.