This is where the rubber hits the road. As a Mormon, I believed this doctrine, but I don't think I ever felt comfortable with it.
Quite frankly, the evidence suggests that Gordon Hinkley believes it, but it is clear that is is not comfortable with it. In fact the Time Magazine article suggests that he is actually embarrassed by the doctrine. But alas, he's getting a bit too old to get a Revelation rescinding this damnable heresy. Perhaps the next "prophet" will.
Mormonism desperatately wants to be accepted as a legitimate Christian religion, but this doctrine and the "Jesus is Satan's big brother" nonsense are the two big obstacles to any acceptance, even by such abberrant groups as the Episcopal Church (which would probably never accept Mormons because they (as a group) are so "intolerant" of gays).
“This is where the rubber hits the road. As a Mormon, I believed this doctrine, but I don’t think I ever felt comfortable with it.”
You obviously see the problem. I believe, through experience, that certain Mormons (Harry Reid being one) end up believing they “got their planet early” and their egos expand indefinitely. That is my difficulty with a Mormon at the presidential level. My Governor here in Nevada is Mormon and seems to be trying to do a creditable job, but the man-God thing can cloud the judgement.