the seduction of veneration

Hinckley... took his message of normalcy to other countries as he dedicated temples there. He launched a series of "cultural nights" where members in the region could gather in giant stadiums to show off their unique traditions and talents. Such giant public events helped mute the suspicion of this American church.

It also elevated Hinckley in the eyes of local members.

When Hinckley entered those arenas - or, indeed, in any large gathering of the faithful - the crowd instinctively stood up and grew suddenly silent.

Yet such hero worship had its downside. He could never take a stroll on Salt Lake City's Main Street Plaza or a city park without being besieged. As he recovered from his 2006 surgery in a Salt Lake hospital, he was virtually imprisoned in his room to protect him from well-meaning intrusions.

To the end, Hinckley faced head-on the seduction of veneration.

"Adulation is a disease I fight every day," Hinckley said.



"Gordon B. Hinckley: A lifetime of faithful service " by Peggy Fletcher Stack The Salt Lake Tribune, Jan. 27, 2008, quoted by "Mormon president can do no wrong to religion's members" Peggy Fletcher Stack, Religion News Service, March 31, 2011