![]() In 1999 - 169 years after the Church was organized by its founder, Joseph Smith - the Church had 56 operating temples. In calling for 100 temples to be in operation before the end of the year 2000, the Church president committed the Church to a massive temple-building program. In recent years, a number of major developments in the Church reflected President Hinckley’s personal drive and direction. During the Salt Lake Olympics of 2002, his request that the Church refrain from proselytizing visitors was credited by media with generating much of the goodwill that flowed to the Church from the international event. ![]() He was a popular interview subject with journalists, appearing on 60 Minutes with Mike Wallace and on CNN’s Larry King Live, as well as being quoted and featured in hundreds of newspapers and magazines over the years. A profoundly spiritual man, he had a great fondness for history and often peppered his sermons with stories from the Church’s pioneer past. His quick wit and humor, combined with an eloquent style at the pulpit, made him one of the most loved of modern Church leaders. President Hinckley was known, even at the age of 95, as a tireless leader who always put in a full day at the office and traveled extensively around the world to mix with Church members, now numbering nearly 13 million in 171 nations. ![]()
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