Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Here is the Plan

We will gather along West Temple (South of North Temple, please as the cortage will be exiting from underground on West Temple and we don't want to obstruct that in any way) and South Temple (to about N Street) starting at about noon. Parking is limited downtown, so it is best to carpool or take UTA. The closest Trax station is the City Center Station on Main Street and South Temple. You can also visit http://www.rideuta.com/ to find out information on buses that will take you along South Temple.

Please line up only along West Temple and South Temple. As the graveside services are private, we want to remain a good distance from the cemetery.

The suggestion has also been made that in addition to canes, we should also wave white handkerchiefs, as he was greeted around the world with a wave of white handkerchiefs. So bring either a cane or a white handkerchief.

We also ask anyone participating in the tribute to respect the residents along the procession route. Please do not block roads or driveways, and please do not trespass in yards or other private property.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

IMHO...I don't think this would be something he would want. He was never about fanfare and show and neither is our church.

Anonymous said...

I second that! I dont think he would want the "show" either. That is just not what we do in the church

Anonymous said...

I think it's a wonderful idea, and I think President Hinckley would think it's great (he has to know how funny he was waving that cane instead of using it!

Brian and Jane said...

Whoever you are- THANK YOU!!!! What a fitting tribute to our beloved Prophet. I don't think this is about show or fanfare, it's about showing our love and respect for a man we deeply love and will miss.
Thank you again!

Anonymous said...

I also think it's an excellent idea.

President Hinckley did this out of a spirit of playfulness and with a sense of humor.

I agree that we should be averse to unnecessary showmanship.

But this would be an excellent way to send off our beloved Prophet.

Anonymous said...

I like the idea mentioned in the other comments about donating the canes after the fact. I wouldn't need my cane after the funeral and would not want it to go to waste.

Anonymous said...

President Hinckley has done so much for so many. I honor him as a prophet, and friend. He specially loved the youth of the church. He has been a super optimistic in the face of some of the most troubling times this world has ever faced.

I found a site honoring him, where anyone can go to and leave a message in tribute to his memory.

The site is:
http://honoringpresidenthinckley.blogspot.com/2008/01/honoring-president-gordon-b.html

Anonymous said...

I'm a reporter with KUTV 2News. Could whom ever is behind this tribute give me a call as soon as possible? I am under a deadline. We would love to do a story on it and help get the word out.


Thanks,

Jennifer Stagg
KUTV 2
801-973-3070 station

Anonymous said...

What ever turns you on, but shouldn't you be using hand carved canes made from genuine home grown walnut? Contrary to what some people must think, he isn't the only president the church has ever had.

Anonymous said...

The beauty is, for those who feel waving a cane is too much fanfare, don't do it. For those that want to do it, I'm sure it will be viewed by most as a loving gesture in his memory. There will always be those who don't agree with what you want to do, so carry on. I wish I could be there to feel the love of those lining the streets to pay their respects for President Gordon B. Hinckley. I know he will be near to witness this incredible outpouring of love on his behalf. He will be missed dearly.

Anonymous said...

To the two anonymous posts that don't think this would be something he would want. You obviously don't know President Hinkley very well...

Anonymous said...

So, if we happen to get into the funeral, where should we stash our canes? ;-) Seriously though...I love the idea & want to participate but plan on being in line very early for tickets to the funeral. Do you suppose a cane is considered a weapon? hah!

Anonymous said...

I have a very important question for everyone: When we wave a white handkerchief at all Temple Dedications do we consider that fanfare or showing off? When we wave a cane as President Hinckley did so many times in the past to greet and recognize and honor people was he showing off or creating fanfare? FIREWORKS = NOW THAT'S FANFARE AND SHOWING OFF. I was under the impression that as a Church we don't dismally carry out funeral processions. When we organize funerals we do it out of love, appreciation, respect, and honor to celebrate and honor the life that has passed. I agree that this is an excellent way to honor and revere our passing Prophet. This should be done at all funeral services for every Prophet. I also like the idea of donating the canes as well. Now, that's something President Hinckley would do. It is an excellent way to show our love, reverence, respect, appreciation, and honor for such a wonderful Prophet of God.

Kay said...

I hope with all my heart that all of you who will be lining the route with your canes and hankies will do so with respect and reverence; in other words, with quiet dignity with smiles on your faces and tears in your eyes (and in my eyes) without shouting and wailing of any kind. Please! Please! Please!

Anonymous said...

I was watching the coverage of the funeral when suddenly I saw Kristen Smith talking about how much fun the funeral was, and that despite the sad occasion, that "you could still have fun". I found this inappropriate and insulting. Misguided contributions can often ruin the moments that are important to others.

Anonymous said...

I agree that 'Misguided contributions can often ruin the moments that are important to others', but let's not forget that taking comments out of context is equally as disturbing. You completely misunderstood and misconstrued what Kristen Smith said. I was standing there when she was interviewed and it was never said that ‘the funeral was fun’. What she was talking about was that President Hinckley had a way of expressing serious matters in a fun way and that the cane wave tribute was a fun way to show our love for him during a serious time.

It is obvious that whoever posted the last comment was not at the cane wave tribute, so let me just fill you in. We were all gathered on the street waving our canes and handkerchiefs with a mixture of emotions. There were those with tears and smiles and laughter and the feeling of excitement was almost tangible. It was more of a celebration of the life of this dear Prophet whom we all loved.

There were those singing 'God Be With You Till We Meet Again' with tears running down their cheeks and smiles on their lips. There was also an entire family gathered to say their farewells, after the grandmother had seen it in the newspaper that morning and called all of her children to come and join in this tribute. I’m sure this is something that all of the children in attendance will never forget.

One of the neatest things about it was that those in the procession rolled their windows down and waved handkerchiefs back at us with smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes as they mouthed the words ‘thank you’ to all of us. So, please do not diminish our experience just because it was not exactly like yours.

Anonymous said...

If you watched the press conference of Thomas S. Monson being made President of the Church, you would have heard him share with everyone his feelings about the funeral of Gordon B. Hinckley. He mentions those of us that lined the streets waving canes and how wonderful it was. That's enough for me to know that the Lord was please, as would President Hinckley would have been. To see the family roll down their windows and thank us, to see the apostles do the same, was an experience I'll always remember. Not all people view funerals the same way. Some view it as a happy time, some a sad time... regardless, the prophet was pleased with our tribute, and that's enough for me.

Anonymous said...

They buried him already right? lets move on. That is what the prophet would want us to do and that is good enough for me!

Anonymous said...

I respected president Hinckley a great deal. he was a chosen man, not a "cute teddy bear" that needed his face squeezed. People will grieve in different ways. however telling people that watching the funeral on TV is not a way to day goodbye is an awful, insensitive thing to say.

I appreciate the tribute because i thought it was organized by teenagers. I too saw that interview and it had a desperate, look at me feel to it. He was a greater man than all this grandstanding and preaching.

I use quotes below so there is no interpretation as to what was said:

He's the kind of guy you would want to run up and pinch his cheeks and tell him how cute he is before security got to you."

"We decided watching the funeral on TV — that's not really a way to say goodbye..."

these are direct quotes form this 36 year old teenager. Very respectful.