Paul Simonson remembers when Gordon B. Hinckley gave a speech at Utah State University.

“He didn’t bring notes; he just kind of talked,” Simonson said.

Simonson, a graduate student, remembers Hinckley as an optimistic, down-to-earth guy who did great things for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Church of Latter-day Saints in Urbana mourned the death of Gordon B. Hinckley, former president and prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who died Sunday at the age of 97.

Lynn Erickson, president of the Illinois Peoria Mission, said he also remembers Hinckley as a wonderful man who committed years of service to the church.

“He’s just been a man of great humility, charity and compassion and has had a great vision of what the Lord wanted to happen with his church,” Erickson said.

Simonson and Erickson are just two of the 13 million Mormons whom Hinckley oversaw as president of the Mormon Church.

During his nearly 13 years in service, Hinckley oversaw the administration and organization of the church and encouraged an increase in overseas missions.

Dan Laxman, a graduate student, went on one of these missions, spending two years serving in Brazil.

Laxman was raised a Mormon in Salt Lake City, and Hinckley’s youth programs inspired him.

“His firesides for youth were very changing for me,” Laxman said.

Firesides are speeches delivered every first Sunday of the month by leaders of the church. The speeches are broadcast all over the world via satellite.

Laxman said he particularly remembers Hinckley’s speeches detailing the six “be’s”: a series of speeches that outlined values for Mormons which include being clean, smart and responsible.

Laxman said Hinckley focused on a lot of things that make this nation great, including hard work, strong family ties and strong relationships.

Laxman said he plans to return to Brazil after he graduates and he wants to do research there to fix some of the problems caused by the poverty he has seen on his visits.

As for the future of the church, its next president will likely be Thomas S. Monson, who is the longest-serving man in the group of apostles who lead the church.

Since the church was founded, the succession of the presidency has worked this way. Mormons see this process as a divinely revealed one.

“He may have different focuses, but for the most part it will be a smooth transition,” Simonson said.

In the move from apostle to president, Monson will acquire more authority within the church than he had before. He will be officially ordained in a ceremony called “the laying-on of hands.”

But no official announcement on the next president will be made until Hinckley is laid to rest.

For now the Mormons remember Hinckley’s time on earth.

“It’s a sad day for us all. It’s a somber time for the church,” Erickson said. “(But) it’s sure a good time to rejoice; to know that God loves his children.”