By Jackie Springgay
After being completed in only one year, Elder Richard G. Hinckley of the Quorum of the Seventy dedicated the Gordon B. Hinckley building Saturday, President Gordon B. Hinckley?s birthday.
The Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center was named in honor of the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gordon B. Hinckley.
?This building will change the skyline of BYU just as Gordon B. Hinckley changes the skyline of world,? said Cecil Samuelson, president of BYU.
President James E. Faust and President Thomas S. Monson, counselors in the First Presidency, both spoke at the dedication highlighting President Hinckley?s life.
President Faust said he has known President Hinckley about 52 years and has had the opportunity to see how the Lord has prepared him to become the prophet of the LDS church, President Faust said. He has seen how Heavenly Father works through a prophet quite literally, he added.
President Hinckley is a strong advocate of education.
President Faust said the prophet added ?be smart? to the ?b?s? because the Lord wants to people to educate their mind and hands and seek for the best.
The life of the prophet is a wonderful gift to the world.
?He has dedicated his life to do doing good,? President Monson said. ?I have been a witness to his prophetic calling.?
President Hinckley is dedicated to the gospel and has a great work ethic, Monson added.
?He is a man of optimism,? President Monson said. ?He says it can be done, let?s get at it.?
The prophet spoke after his counselors about the remarkable building.
It is a large building to carry the name of a small man, President Hinckley said. Without the unfailing support of his wife, he would not be here, he added.
The building is a ?significant and noteworthy thing? he said, and he is grateful for all the generosity.
The building, completely paid for by donors, contains four levels and is approximately 83,000 square feet.
Elder Richard G. Hinckley, President Hinckley?s son, gave the dedicatory prayer and asked Heavenly Father to preserve and protect it.
After the dedication ceremony, a short time capsule ceremony was held.
President Hinckley added his cuff links, his hammer, and a signed copy of his book ?Way to Be!?
President Hinckley then tightened bolts on the time capsule, closing it for the next 50 years.
The audience sang ?Happy Birthday? to President Hinckley after he closed the time capsule.
After the time capsule ceremony, tour guides gave tours of the building, and a reception followed. The reception included a birthday cake celebrating President Hinckley?s 97th birthday.
Many people were able to attend or watch the dedication at the Hinckley center at other buildings on campus, on television or radio through KBYU-TV, KBYU- FM, BYU television and BYU radio.
?I really liked that we were involved in the dedication,? said Kasey Hansen, a freshman from Fredericksburg, Va. ?It was cool to watch it and know that it was broadcast from all parts of campus. I?m excited to have this building on campus and remember that I can go to church-related school.?
The dedication will be rebroadcast on KBYU-TV on Sunday, July 1, at 10:30 a.m. Other rebroadcast times may be scheduled. Visit byubroadcasting.org for more information.
