Republican and fellow Mormon . `` His wit , wisdom , and exemplary leadership will be missed by not only members of our faith , but by people of all faiths throughout the world . '' Hinckley married Marjorie Pay at the Salt Lake City temple in 1937 . They had five children , 25 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren . Marjorie Hinckley died in 2004 . `` I 've been blessed so abundantly that I can never get over it , '' Hinckley told CNN 's Larry King in 2004 . `` I just feel so richly blessed . I want to extend that to others , whenever I can . '' Hinckley was the 15th president in the 177-year history of the Mormon church . President Bush awarded him a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004 . Watch Hinckley receive medal , share his views '' According to a church statement , Hinckley was the most-traveled president in the church 's history , visiting more than 60 countries . He also oversaw a massive temple-building program , doubling the number of temples worldwide to more than 100 . Hinckley spent 70 years working in the church and is considered
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Mormon leader Gordon B. Hinckley died Sunday night at age 97 , the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced . Gordon B. Hinckley , 97 , president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , died Sunday . Hinckley had `` been in failing health for some time and his passing is due to age , '' said church spokesman Bruce Olsen . `` He was speaking in public as late as two to three weeks ago and had a full schedule in his office as late as last week . '' Hinckley became president of the Salt Lake City-based church in 1995 , at age 84 , and had been a member of its top leadership since the 1960s . Mormon church presidents serve for life . The church has about 13 million members worldwide and has experienced 5 percent annual growth in recent years . He died about 7 p.m. Sunday with his family by his side , church officials said . `` His life was a true testament of service , and he had an abiding love for others , '' said U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch , a Utah