Comments:
Arza Hinckley (1966-1969) President Arza A. Hinckley was born on June 26, 1910 in Hinckley, Utah. He was among the youngest of thirteen children. At age eleven he moved with his family to Salt Lake where he finished his education in the Salt Lake City Schools and went on to the University of Utah. He was called to be a missionary in the Northwestern States Mission (which, at the time, included British Columbia). Upon his return, he married Erma Taysom of Afton, Wyoming. They were married for 57 years until Arzas death in 1992. They have eight children.
President and Sister Hinckley, along with three of their daughters, arrived in The Alaskan/Canadian Mission in July of 1966. They were met at the airport by a large group of missionaries who immediately set about orienting them in what their lives would be for the next three years at mission headquarters located at 5055 Connaught Drive in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The Hinckleys loved their missionaries; the young sisters and elders, the older singles, and couples all of them who came to offer their faith, talents and devotion to the work. The Hinckleys served with about 500 missionaries during their three year mission. Most of these missionaries were true Latter-day Saints who knew that what the world needed most was the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They were eager to give their best in sharing the gospel message.
There were many areas of the mission which had not yet been organized into wards and stakes. The wonderful people who lived and served in these areas were very much loved and appreciated.
The Hinckleys found the scope and diversity of the Alaskan/Canadian Mission to be fascinating: the Eskimos, Indians, Orientals, British, Canadians, and the dyed in the wool Alaskans all took a place in the heart and mind of the Hinckley family as they lived and served among them.
President and Sister Hinckley loved and appreciated the mission supervisors from Salt Lake. Their visits were very much anticipated. These supervisors were LeGrand Richards and William J. Critchlow, followed by Richard L. Evans and Theodore Burton.
The Hinckleys experienced much of what all Mission Presidents experience and they will forever be mindful and supportive of Mission Presidents everywhere. One of the sad duties they had was telling a fine elders that his mother had passed away.
The mission was excited when the Latter-day Saint golfer, Billy Casper, came to Vancouver to play in the Canadian Open. He was invited to an open house at the mission home where the media and many important sports figures met with and interviewed him. Brother Casper spoke to several Latter-day Saint groups while in Vancouver and helped our missionary efforts by talking about his membership in the Church. He said that he felt his golfing had become a vehicle for spreading the gospel.
A fond memory for the Hinckleys was the news headline which read: Mormon Church Buys Catholic Church. With a little urging the Mormon Church did buy a Catholic chapel on the Island and remodeled it into a fine, adequate L.D.S. chapel. One of our elders was chosen to climb to the top of the steeple to remove the Catholic cross.
Since their mission, President and Sister Hinckley have seen the truth of the statement: "However a missionary fulfills his mission, generally, shows what his future is." At the last mission reunion before President Hinckleys death, a tally showed seven Stake Presidents among the missionaries, many Bishops and numerous High Councilmen. One would be called to serve as a Mission Present several years later.
Upon returning home in 1969, President Hinckley was called to be a Patriarch in the Ensign Stake and a Sealer in the Salt Lake Temple. He served in these callings until his death on February 16, 1992. Many missionaries attended his funeral.
The Hinckleys will, forever, be grateful for a call to serve the Lord in the Alaskan/Canadian Mission. |
