PHOTO ESSAY

President and Sister Hinckley and Elder and Sister Maxwell arrive at the Kirtland Stake Center.

Being around the Prophet and his wife is always uplifting.

The Prophet is pleasant, happy and always radiates a contagious smile.

President Hinckley never misses a chance to make the young people laugh.

President and Sister Hinckley enter the Kirtland Stake Center for a member meeting on Saturday evening, May 17, 2003.

After the meeting the Prophet, his wife, daughter Jane and granddaughter Sarah leave the chapel.

President Hinckley is greeted by Karl Ricks Anderson at the Kirtland Temple.

Sister Kathleen Woodbury greets President Hinckley at the Kirtland Temple.

Sister Hinckley makes her way to the temple. Karl Ricks Anderson welcomes Elder Neal and Sister Colleen Maxwell.

Producer Ed Payne ‘rolls tape’ as President Hinckley turns to walk towards the Kirtland Temple.

President Hinckley, always conscious of the presence of the media, pauses for the photographers.

Elder and Sister Maxwell accompany the Prophet to the Kirtland Temple.

President Hinckley and Karl Ricks Anderson share a few moments on their way to the steps of the Kirtland Temple.

President Hinckley is greeted by Lachlun MacKay, Director of Historic Sites for the Community of Christ (RLDS), the caretakers of the Kirtland Temple.

Sister Marjorie Hinckley and granddaughter Sarah emerge through the doors of the Kirtland Temple.

Sister Marjorie Hinckley poses with her daughter, Jane Hinckley Dudley, and granddaughter Sarah in front of the Kirtland Temple. When Maurine saw this picture she exclaimed, “Don’t you just want to hug them all—they are so cute!”

President Hinckley also comes out of the Kirtland Temple. The doors have just been recently painted back to their original color.

President Hinckley, just 36 days shy of 93 years old in this photo, doesn’t seem to slow down for anything.

It seems that President Hinckley uses his cane more to point and make points than for balance.

President Hinckley walks along the lovely grounds of the Kirtland Temple.

President Hinckley greets Elder and Sister Osborne and others on the outside of the Kirtland Temple.

President Hinckley seems to be constantly aware of those around him. Here he waves at four sisters who see him from a distance.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Twelve gives a familiar friendly greeting and wave to those gathered by the Kirtland Temple.

Karl Ricks Anderson took the Prophet to the very lot the Prophet’s ancestor, Azra Judd, once owned. Don Staheli and Jane Hinckley Dudley look on as Brother Anderson explains how the lot was laid out.

President Hinckley said he wanted to get some “mud on his shoes” from the lot his ancestor owned. Here he poses for a picture on that lot.

Three generations pose on the lot of their ancestor. President Hinckley, daughter Jane and granddaughter Sarah smile for the cameras.

President Hinckley assessed the situation of his ancestor and thought the deal for this lot wasn’t very good. He said, “Never buy real estate when it is covered in snow or when you haven’t seen it.” A man to the side of us said, “I just doubled my real estate knowledge.”

President Hinckley and his wife, daughter and granddaughter, with Don Staheli, get ready to be driven to the new water-powered sawmill and the ash

Elder Maxwell enjoys the ride on the wood chip trail to the new sawmill. The sawmill and the ashery were restored to their original foundations.

The Prophet enters the new water-powered sawmill in Kirtland. In these precious moments with him he asked lots of questions. He wants to know all about everything.

Dixon Hyde, construction foreman, explains to President Hinckley and group the workings of the sawmill. The waterwheel was turning and the saw was cutting a beautiful plank while we all looked on in awe.

President Hinckley delighted in Dixon Hyde’s commentary about the sawmill. This Prophet loves to build (he’s the greatest temple builder in the history of the world) and he wanted to know everything about the processes of the sawmill.

President Hinckley looks out at the stream chase that comes into the waterwheel to drive the saw. He noted how everything worked, and delighted in the same.

President Hinckley is a hands-on person. He felts the texture of the wood being worked her in the mill. He seems to take in every moment to its fullest.

Dixon Hyde shows the Prophet what happens when the saw gets to the end of a large log. Here is a man who at nearly-93 is constantly curious and constantly learning.

Elder ‘Beau’ Woodbury, director of the Kirtland Visitors Center, gives President Hinckley and Elder and Sister Maxwell an executive briefing on the newly restored Ashery.

As President Hinckley gazed into the vats in the Ashery there was almost a look in his eyes that said, “I’d like to do some work in this place.” He seemed to thoroughly enjoy every part of Kirtland.