President Gordon B. Hinckley, the oldest man to ever serve as president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, celebrated his 97th birthday today by attending the dedication of a new Brigham Young University building named in his honor.
“If I would have known so many nice things were going to be said about me,” remarked President Hinckley during the dedication, “I would have had a party 10 years ago.”
The Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center was announced one year ago today on President Hinckley’s 96th birthday with the goal to complete the 83,000-square-foot building in only one year. This was an assignment Span Construction and Engineering and Okland Construction happily accepted.
King Husein, president of Span Construction and a BYU alumni, was told he was “crazy” to think the building could be completed in that short of time. Husein, along with many others, was committed to the project’s completion.
“Workers on this project were not only members of the Church,” said Husein. “Once they found out this project was named for President Hinckley, the commitment level increased substantially. They wanted to give him the best birthday present, so they stepped up to the plate.”
Money used to build the alumni house was raised in only six months, with 70,000 people of all ages contributing anywhere from one dollar to millions of dollars. For Jeff and Lisa Parker, their love of President Hinckley was the only prompting they needed to donate.
“We thought this was a special opportunity and felt very strongly about being a part of it,” said Jeff, who is also a BYU alumni.
At the dedication, a 50-year time capsule was filled with some of President Hinckley’s personal items and a signed copy of his book Way to Be! Over 50 more items were added, including an iPod filled with videos from various campus productions, written messages from students and BYU keepsakes.
The building stands as a legacy of President Hinckley’s life and administration. Many of the artifacts on display came from President Hinckley himself. In the main entrance stands a shovel from his shed on which he engraved his initials. That same shovel was the one he used to break ground on the alumni house a year earlier.
Books from his personal collection will be placed in the alumni house library, reminding visitors of President Hinckley’s love of literature.
President Hinckley became the 15th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1995. He is considered the most traveled president of the Church, and his interactions have frequently been with people who are not members of the Church. They include journalists, civic and government leaders, heads of state and business professionals. During his administration the Church has passed significant milestones:
- Church membership has reached nearly 13 million, with more members living outside of the United States than in.
- Seventy-six new temples have been dedicated worldwide, with 12 more either announced or under construction, bringing the projected total to 136 temples.
- The number of missionaries serving worldwide has increased from 29,000 to more than 53,000.
- 27,000 students in 39 countries have received assistance through the Church’s Perpetual Education Fund.
- The Conference Center, a 21,000-seat auditorium, was built near Temple Square in Salt Lake City.
Speaking of the newly dedicated building, university president Cecil O. Samuelson said, “It is proper that this particular building be named for him as a token of love, respect and appreciation for all he has done, does and will do.”
At the dedication President Hinckley was joined by his family, including children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Church leaders in attendance included his two counselors in the First Presidency, Thomas S. Monson and James E. Faust.
The day was concluded with birthday wishes from the audience and a cake.