Update: June 23, 2000

L.D.S. Church President Gordon B. Hinckley turned 90 years old Friday. Friends and associates sang "Happy Birthday," earlier today. President Hinckley says he's received cards, flowers, and even toys from well-wishers.

The big celebration is tonight, when President Hinckley hosts a community entertainment event at the Conference Center.

You can see "An Evening of Celebration" broadcast live from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on KBYU Channel 11.

June 21, 2000

President Hinckley held a pre-birthday news conference with the Salt Lake media.

He turns 90 on Friday, when he'll host 21,000 guests at an entertainment gala at the Church's new Conference Center.

Here, in his own words, are responses to a wide range of questions.

Question: "I don't know what's it like to be 90...."

"JUST HANG AROUND FOR A WHILE AND YOU'LL DISCOVER."

Question: "You don't look 90, do you feel 90"

"NO, I DON'T FEEL 90. I NEVER DREAMED I'D BE 90. I NEVER DREAMED I'D LIVE THAT LONG.

BUT I'M HERE. I'M STILL HERE. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG I'LL LAST. NEITHER DO YOU!

I'D WISH FOR CONTINUED HEALTH. AND I'D WISH FOR THE CONTINUED PROGRESS OF THE CHURCH. THOSE ARE BASIC, I THINK.

TO GET OUT WITH THE PEOPLE IS A GREAT THING. I'D RATHER BE IN SINGAPORE THAN HERE. (laughter>

BUT WHEN YOU GET OUT AMONG THE PEOPLE YOU FEEL A LIFE AND A SPIRITUAL POWER THAT'S TREMENDOUS, WONDERFUL!

YOU CAN'T LOOK INTO THE FACES OF LIGHT AND DARK OF MANY NATIONALITIES, MANY CULTURES AND BACKGROUND, WITHOUT HAVING A TREMENDOUS EXPERIENCE WELL UP WITHIN WITH YOU.

On predicting his legacy:

I DON'T KNOW AND DON'T CARE! THAT'S NOT MY CONCERN. I'M NOT TRYING TO BUILD SOME KIND OF LEGACY OF SOME KIND. I'M JUST TRYING TO MOVE THE WORK FORWARD THE BEST WAY I KNOW HOW, AND AS I BELIEVE THE LORD WOULD HAVE IT MOVED FORWARD. AND LET THE FUTURE TAKE CARE OF ITSELF.

I'M VERY GREATLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DIVISIVENESS THAT WE FIND IN THIS COMMUNITY. I THINK MUCH OF IT'S ILL-FOUNDED. I'VE TRIED TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO REDUCE THAT DIVISIVENESS. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASON WE'RE PUTTING ON A BIRTHDAY FRIDAY NIGHT. IT'S FOR THE COMMUNITY.