Years ago, a colleague took a foreign ambassador to visit President Gordon B. Hinckley. During their meeting, President Hinckley suggested that the ambassador could accomplish big things and have a distinguished career.
The ambassador laughed. He was, he pointed out, already in his mid-50s. His life and career were plainly winding down. I was told that President Hinckley responded, “Fifty doesn’t count for much around here. Do you know how old I am?”
The reply from The president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints exemplified the sunny optimism that characterized his own remarkably long and active life. But it also illustrates a central gift of the atonement and gospel of Jesus Christ, which are very much about rebirth, new beginnings and limitless possibilities.