of gordon b. hinckley, 97, dies; president of mormon church

Gordon B. Hinckley, 97, Dies; President of Mormon Church: The 15th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gordon B. Hinckley, has died at age 97. Hinckley died Sunday of complications arising from old age, church spokesman Mike Otterson said. Hinckley was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie Pay Hinckley, whom he married in 1937. She died in 2004. Survivors include five children and dozens of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.[photo link]

Hinckley, a grandson of Mormon pioneers, was president for nearly 13 years. He took over as president and prophet on March 12, 1995, and oversaw one of the greatest periods of expansion in church history. The number of temples worldwide more than doubled, from 49 to more than 120 and church membership grew from about 9 million to about 13 million.

Other links:
- Gordon B. Hinckley, 97: Mormon church president
- U staff and students remember Hinckley
- Romney Remembers Mormon Leader
- Romney On Death Of Mormon Church President