Go Forward with Faith
By Sheri Dew

Category: Biography

Themes: Faith in God, love of family, service

Rating: 10 out of 10 

Who Might Enjoy This: Older teens and adults

Reviewed By: Tim Carver

If you, like millions of others, loved President Gordon B. Hinckley, you will deeply enjoy reading of the life and service. His life truly was an example of “going forward with faith”.

Sheri Dew does a masterful job writing the biography of a man who loved to work hard but always considered himself quite ordinary. She shares fun stories of his youth: having his mouth washed out with soap when he came home from school and cussed. She tells of the sorrow Gordon experienced over the early death of his mother. And she details the powerful influence of a loving father who would change Gordon’s life with a letter he wrote to him in the mission field.

The book provides insights as to how Gordon’s life was further shaped when he was asked by his mission president to meet with some of the lead brethren of the Church upon returning from his mission. His purpose was to explain to these brethren some of the needs of missionaries in the field. The interview was scheduled for 15 minutes but stretched into an hour and 15 minute meeting. These leaders quickly recognized the talent in this young man and hired him as one of the few employees of the Church at that time. Except for a brief time working for the railroad, Gordon B. Hinckley spent the rest of his life working for the Church.

You will deeply enjoy reading about the love of his life, Marjorie Pay Hinckley. Theirs was a life-long love affair, though his dedicated church service often kept them thousands of miles apart from each other.

You may be surprised to learn that he was the ultimate “do-it-yourselfer”, remodeling his home several times, delighting in his work with tools, trees, and home repairs.

Gordon Bitner Hinckley touched millions of lives. Yours will be touched again in the reading of his life.

Tim Carver

“The work of the Lord is done by ordinary people who work in an extraordinary way.”

President Gordon B. Hinckley