Memories of a beloved prophet — and his wife

Sayer said whenever President Hinckley would be sitting in a general conference session, he would often pass his hand over his forehead. "He was praying," he said. "He embodied the counsel to 'pray always.'"

Sayer had had experience working on the railroad before he joined Church Security. President Hinckley had a love of the railroad and would often grill Sayer on railroad terms. Once he reflected that he and Sayer were probably the only brethren who knew the answers to those railroad questions.

Of Sister Hinckley, Sayer said she was the quintessential plucky grandmother. Once a 10-year-old girl came up to President Hinckley for an autograph. Sayer said, "Sorry, you can't do that." The little girl ran back to her mother and burst into tears. Sister Hinckley went over to the girl and asked, "What's the matter, my dear?" The girl pointed to the "big mean man" — Sayer — and Sister Hinckley told her to come along. As she brought the girl to President Hinckley, the girl gave Sayer "the worst look! If looks could have killed!"

When they would arrive at various destinations, Sayer would help Sister Hinckley out of the car first. Once, President Hinckley said he would get out first and open the door for Sister Hinckley. Sayer said President Hinckley grabbed one of her arms and started to pull her out. Sister Hinckley quickly responded: "Never mind, Gordon! Let David do that!" Sayer said he always helped her out of cars from then on.

SALT LAKE CITY — David Sayer recounted some of his fondest memories serving as President Gordon B. Hinckley's bodyguard, to institute students at Westminster College, recapturing the spirit and spunk of the late Mormon prophet.Sayer now serves as an area security manager for the LDS Church, responsible for the safety of missionaries, historic sites, temples, etc., in the United States east of Colorado. He was called as bishop in the Lakeridge 9th Ward in Magna, Utah, in 2006.Sayer has spent 24 years in Church Security — 17 as President Hinckley's bodyguard."We criss-crossed the earth together many, many times," Sayer said.Sayer said what he learned from President Hinckley above all else was a lesson in genuineness."He was the same person during the week or when we were traveling on a plane," Sayer said. "He greeted custodians the same as he would greet a queen or king."To the students, Sayer expressed a desire for them to emulate President Hinckley's approach and be the same person in institute, in college classes or when out with friends. To be that same person requires sensitivity to the promptings of the spirit.When acting as bodyguard, Sayer said he had to be tuned into what was going on around him 24-7."The Lord takes care of our prophets, but we have our parts to play," Sayer said.In 1997, Sayer was traveling to Central America with President and Sister Hinckley. They stopped in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; there, Sayer saw a marquee for another church that read, "Be still and listen."The phrase stuck in Sayer's mind as they traveled from Florida to Nicaragua. In Nicaragua, he was driving with the Hinckleys. They stopped at a stop sign before driving through an intersection.Sayer noticed a small truck zooming toward them carrying iron beams. Suddenly Sayer had a feeling that the truck was going to collide with them and shouted to President and Sister Hinckley to duck.There was a huge crash, the iron beams scattering all over the place."President and Sister Hinckley were in the backseat, covered in glass," Sayer said.Sayer suspected the worst, but they were unhurt. "I thought to myself, 'What did I miss?'" he said.He tried to determine if there was something he could have done to prevent the accident. But in the end, he realized he had done all he could. "We have to rely on the Lord to do the rest," he said.Sayer suggested it is difficult to be still when there is so much noise constantly drowning out spiritual promptings. While it is important to be aware of the world, he said we should pay less attention to the secular so we can be in a position to hear the Holy Ghost.When embarking on trip to Fiji in 2000 to dedicate the Suva Temple, President Hinckley asked Sayer on multiple occasions if he thought it was safe to go as there was a coup going on at the time.The trip took place without incident. Sayer realized that President Hinckley had known they would be safe, but wanted him to come to his own conclusion — to be able to discern the presence of the spirit.Once Sayer stepped into an elevator with President Hinckley, who told him, "David, stand up straight! Put your shoulders back, and let's walk forward!""He was always about moving forward," Sayer said. "If all of us committed to increase our spiritual dedication by just 1 percent, what would happen? I believe it would be absolutely profound."