lds.org
At 96 years and a few months, President Gordon B. Hinckley is the oldest living prophet in this dispensation.

If anyone knew, it would be President Gordon B. Hinckley.

President Hinckley is the oldest prophet to have lived in this dispensation as he turned 96 years and 132 days old on Nov. 2.

Before becoming prophet, he served as executive secretary of the Church Radio, Publicity and Literature Committee, apostle of the Lord and counselor to three different presidents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“He embarked on a lifetime of service for the Church” after his mission, which service has now totaled over 70 years, according to www.lds.org.

But President Hinckley looks at his service as just doing his duty.

“I have done nothing more than try to do what has been asked of me, and I’ve tried to do it the best I could,” said President Hinckley to Sheri L. Dew as she was writing his biography, Go Forward with Faith: The Biography of Gordon B. Hinckley.

Through the years, many different factors such as his family, mission and marriage prepared President Hinckley for his years of service, said Elder David B. Haight in the April 1995 general conference when the church sustained President Hinckley as the prophet.

“President Hinckley is not only a man for all seasons — but for all the world,” Elder Haight said.

And he has been. Throughout his 31 years as an apostle and prophet, President Hinckley has visited members of the Church all around the world.

He has also given many conferences and interviews to many different news organizations and reporters such as Larry King and Mike Wallace.

At President Hinckley’s 95th birthday celebration last year, Wallace said, “He has been tireless. But from his point of view, it’s been worth it to help build the organization he loves by building the people that he loves so much.”

President Hinckley has also been a builder of temples. According to www.lds.org, President Hinckley “has directed the most intense temple building program in the history of the Church in an effort to extend temple blessings to more members.”

Out of the 124 operating temples today, 77 have been dedicated since President Hinckley became prophet with 10 more announced or under construction, according to www.lds.org.

“We shall not stop [after 2000]. We may not build at the same pace, but we shall go on for as long as the Lord wills that it be done,” President Hinckley said in his welcome address to the October 1999 general conference.

In order to know the will of the Lord, President Hinckley has besought the Lord through prayer.

President Russell M. Nelson said in a 1997 October general conference address, “Often I have heard [President Hinckley] say, ‘I don’t know how to get anything done except getting on my knees and pleading for help and then getting on my feet and going to work.’”

President Hinckley just keeps working, believing the “best lies ahead,” as he told 1995 seminary graduates at Salt Lake City West High School.

In the same address he said: “It is a wonderful time to be alive. It’s a great time to be a member of this Church when you can hold your head up without embarrassment and with some pride in this great latter-day work.”