Prophets of Our Day: Spencer W Kimball

“No father, no son, no mother, no daughter should get so busy that he or she does not have time to study the scriptures and the words of modern prophets.  None of us should get so busy that we crowd out contemplation and praying.  None of us should become so busy in our formal Church assignments that there is no room left for quiet Christian service to our neighbors.”

Deeply rooted in the gospel and a heritage of faith Spencer Woolley Kimball was born March 28, 1895 to Andrew and Olive Kimball.  He was born in the Gila Valley of Arizona.  Andrew Kimball dedicated his son to the Lord and taught him to be a hard-worker, to be happy, and the important lessons of the gospel.  Andrew knew that Spencer was going to be a great man in the church someday and reared him in the Lord's way.  

Spencer was taught the value of work.  Although there family had meager means, Spencer never knew that they were poor.  They ate food that they grew and harvested and from the animals that they raised.      

Spencer's mother did not believe that children were mature enough to start school until they were 7 years old and so he started school a year behind his fellow classmates.  He would spend his lunch break running as fast as he could the 3 blocks to his house and do his chores.  He would pump water and give it to the animals, he would feed the pigs, eat his lunch and then run back to school.  One day he had run home and his mother was surprised to see him so early.  When he realized that it was only recess and not lunch, he ran back as fast as he could.  Everyone laughed except for the teacher who told the class that Spencer was doing so well that he now was moving into the second-grade.  

At age 9, Spencer started to memorize the Articles of Faith, the 10 Commandments, and almost all the hymns in the hymn book.  All while watering the horses and milking the cows.  

At age 11, Spencer 's mother died.  He learned that you can overcome any trial given to you with faith.  His father remarried and his new stepmother brought patience and stability in his life.  

When Spencer was a deacon his father made sure that nothing interfered with him taking the horse and buggy and gathering up collections to take to the bishop.  If his companion didn't show, Spencer would go alone and made sure that the job was done.  His priesthood callings became very important to him and he grew in the gospel.

Age 15, became stake chorister.  He did not take to playing the piano very well.  Spencer claimed that his fingers were short and chubby but he practiced until he could play with confidence.  He later would take turns playing in meetings of the Quorum of the 12.

He worked for his father as his secretary while in his youth helping him to write on average 6 letters a day.  He would dictate the letters and then type them.  

In 1914, Spencer graduated from Gila Academy.  While in the opening exercises of the graduation his father announced, unknown to Spencer, that Spencer was called on a mission.  To earn money for this mission traveled Globe, Arizona.  Here Spencer found himself away from home and in a settlement were there were no members of the church.  He found that he would be himself, would live up to the standards set by the church, and make friends.  His co-workers gained respect for him and threw him a party in Spencer's honor when he left.

From October 1914 to December 1914, Spencer served his mission in the Central States.  One of his brothers, his step-mother, and his father all served in the same mission at different times.

 “While tracting in St. Louis he noticed a piano through the partly opened door, and he said to the woman, who was in the act of shutting the door in his face, ‘You have a nice-looking piano.’

“‘We just bought it,’ said the woman, hesitating.  

“‘It’s a Kimball, isn’t it? That’s my name, too. I could play a song on it for you that you might like to hear.’

“Surprised, she answered, ‘Surely, come in.’

“Sitting on the bench, Spencer played and sang, ‘O, My Father.’

In 1917, Spencer was reading an article in the newspaper about a new teacher had moved to Gila Valley to teach economics at the Academy.  As he was reading he was determined that he was going to marry her.  He met her at a bus stop, sat by her, and then received permission to call on her.  Camilla Eyring's parents loved Spencer and after 31 days became like a member of the family.  The couple wanted to get married.  Due to World War I, Spencer was contracted to stay in Thatcher, AZ in case he was drafted.  On November 16, 1917 the couple was civilly married.  June of 1918 the couple was able to take the long awaited journey to Utah and be sealed in the temple for time and all eternity.  They had 3 sons and 1 daughter.
He became a bank clerk, a life insurance agent, and a real estate agent.  He helped organize the first local radio station, was an active member of the Rotary Club, and eventually held the position of district governor.  During the Great Depression the Kimball's financially struggled but had faith that all would be well.
In 1924, Andrew Kimball died.  Heber J Grant was sent to reorganize the stake that Andrew served as Stake President for nearly 30 years.  Spencer was called in his place.  During his calling his stake was divided and he became the Stake President of the new stake.  A flood also came and washed away several homes, he worked closely with Elder Harold B Lee whose responsibility was the welfare program.
July 8, 1843 J Reuben Clark called Spencer and told him that he was called to one of the two vacant seats of the Quorum of the 12.  Spencer felt extremely inadequate of the assignment but knew there was only one way to answer the call of the Lord.  October 7, 1943.
He would serve as an apostle for 30 years before becoming President of the Church.  During that time he was called to a special assignment by George Albert Smith to take interest in the descendants that lived upon the earth of the Book of Mormon.  He worked to bring peace and rid the world of oppression of the poor and needy and racial prejudices.  He gave long and poetic sermons many which touched on things that were of a serious nature.  He wrote The Miracle of Forgiveness which spoke eternal truths that when you are sincerely repented you can receive divine forgiveness from our Father in Heaven.
Spencer W Kimball had many illness over his life span.  Two great illness came when he was an apostle.  In 1957, he became very hoarse after going to the doctor it cancer was found in the throat.  An operation removed one complete vocal chord and part of the other.  For 6 months he did not speak.  Elder Boyd K Packer relates a story of the first time since his surgery that he spoke to a congregation.  Fearful that he would not be able to say the things the Lord impressed upon him, he went back to Arizona where he had been a stake president and among people that would have been loving and kind to an apostle who did what the Lord asked him to do despite his insecurities in himself.
After many heart attacks, in 1972, Spencer W Kimball underwent heart surgery.  Elder Russell M Nelson was his heart surgeon and knew that Spencer would live to become the Prophet of the Lord.
On December 26, 1973 Harold B Lee died and Spencer W Kimball was given all the apostolic keys of the gospel.  Many were shocked of this outcome including Spencer who thought that he would not have lived longer than President Lee with health concerns of Spencer.  Harold B Lee was ordained an apostle just 2 1/2 years before Spencer W Kimball.
“I felt absolutely certain that I would die, when my time came, as president of the Twelve. … I said at President Lee’s funeral that no one had prayed harder than Sister Kimball and I for his restoration when he was ill and for his continuation while he was well.”
In the 1974 April conference President Spencer W Kimball was sustained as Prophet, Seer, and Revelator of the world and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  His first sermon to a congregation was in a meeting for church leaders.  He asked all members to lengthen their stride and do all that they could to help build the kingdom.  He prepared for doors to be open and opened up several nations for the church to supply a missionary army preaching the message of God's love and gospel.  He enlisted to all young men that they should do their duty serving a mission and that young women (who wouldn't be under the same obligation) to offer their time and talents to serving missions.  There was also a call for senior couples as well.
In 12 years the missionaries sent out increased by 13,000 and Church membership grew almost another 3 million (6 million members).  Temples began to dot the earth during his administration.  15 temples were in operation when he started and 36 temples were in operation when died.  He reorganized Church government, to better help Church growth.  2 revelations became scripture and are now known as Doctrine and Covenants 137 and 138.  In 1979, the LDS edition of the King James Bible was published.  In 1981, triple combinations were published.  Scriptures became to curriculum of Sunday School.  Church meetings (Relief Society, Priesthood, Sunday School, and Sacrament) were simplified from being on various days of the week to a 3-hour block meeting.
In my opinion, Spencer W Kimball is best known for the revelation of the Priesthood given to all worthy men.  The following is an account published in Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W Kimball

On June 1, 1978, President Kimball, with other members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, met in an upper room in the Salt Lake Temple. President Gordon B. Hinckley, who was present on that occasion as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, later reported:

“The question of extending the blessings of the priesthood to blacks had been on the minds of many of the Brethren over a period of years. It had repeatedly been brought up by Presidents of the Church. It had become a matter of particular concern to President Spencer W. Kimball.

“Over a considerable period of time he had prayed concerning this serious and difficult question. He had spent many hours in that upper room in the temple by himself in prayer and meditation.

“On this occasion he raised the question before his Brethren—his Counselors and the Apostles. Following this discussion we joined in prayer in the most sacred of circumstances. President Kimball himself was voice in that prayer. … The Spirit of God was there. And by the power of the Holy Ghost there came to that prophet an assurance that the thing for which he prayed was right, that the time had come, and that now the wondrous blessings of the priesthood should be extended to worthy men everywhere regardless of lineage.

“Every man in that circle, by the power of the Holy Ghost, knew the same thing.

“It was a quiet and sublime occasion. …

“… Not one of us who was present on that occasion was ever quite the same after that. Nor has the Church been quite the same.”³

It was released on June 8, 1976.  It is know known as Doctrine and Covenants Official Declaration 2

Spencer W Kimball died when I was only 3 years old, November 5, 1985.  He is a prophet who has been close to my heart as I have studied and learned of his words.  He was a great man of the Lord and was a great example of who we are, what we are, and how we should be as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  May we all lenghten our stride to build the kingdom of God is my prayer...