Compiled
by Dennis B. Horne
Editorial note: the below excerpts from President Kimball’s journal were selected because I find them to be extra uplifting and edifying, or otherwise special in some way. I did not include a date with them because when I encountered and chose them I was interested in precious spiritual experience and insight, not scholarship. Some of these items can be found by using the index and links previously posted as “Precious highlights in President Spencer W. Kimball’s Journal.” Below is what I judge to be some of the cream of the cream in his diary. These tidbits make my soul sing and reinforce within me how grateful I am to be a member of the Restored Church of Jesus Christ. This apostle and prophet became celestial material indeed. I include a little introduction of a few words to each excerpt to give some context:
Elder Kimball on Elder Harold B. Lee:
“Elder Lee and I caught the Los Angeles Limited at six
o’clock for Los Angeles. We had a delightful visit on our way down and I
appreciated very much discussing the Gospel with him and getting his reaction
to problems which have come to me recently from many people. Elder Lee is very
wise, sagacious for his experience and age, and the Lord has made of him a
great character.”
Pres. Kimball doctrinally corrects a friend:
“Lawrence Maloy came for me. . . . He had a problem and
we went far away from the haunts of men and fasted from Sat. morning till
Monday night and did considerable praying and studying. He had many erroneous
ideas and concepts and I hope that we have him straightened out now. He had
been very critical of the Savior and the Bible feeling that the Lord was a
tyrant. I hope we had showed him that God is Love and that Jesus was perfect
and that when we cannot so accept him there is something wrong with us. It
seemed that he did not understand the scriptures and many passages might on the
surface give license to his thoughts. I hope we have helped him.”
Gives good answers to questioner:
“My first appointment was with Elder [name removed]. . .
. He had filled a splendid mission, I am sure. He asked me many questions about
procedure, doctrine and discipline. After I had answered him and he had gone, I
sought an interview with Elder Joseph Fielding Smith to check up my answers and
found that in every case I had been correct, so it helped me to know that I was
learning the work. (Dec. 22, 1943)
Meeting in Council:
“In our meeting there were points of doctrine came up for
clarification and I felt almost overwhelmed to think that I, so humble, was
among those to determine and work out policies and programs for the whole
church.”
Caution:
“I received . . . also the report of Darrell Warnick of
the 2nd Ward in Pocatello Stake, returning from the Central States
Mission. He had had quite a remarkable vision or dream and I cautioned him to
keep it sacred and not tell it promiscuously. In other words, not to cast his
pearls before swine.”
Elder Kimball calls a bishop:
“The High Council approved brother Horace J. Ritchey and I
interviewed him for the position. Because of financial difficulties he was
reluctant to accept the call. . . .
“We met the High Council early, interviewed Brother Ritchey
and tho he had been reluctant he indicated later that he was willing to accept
the call tho he was in very bad financial circumstances. I felt impressed that
the Lord would strengthen him financially if he had the faith to accept this
call, and so expressed myself to him after he had accepted it.” [Years later]:
“Looking toward the reorganization of the San Jose Stake we continued with our
interviews. . . . After much prayer and contemplation we decided to call as President,
Horace J. Richie. This man I ordained a bishop in the San Francisco Stake some
years ago. We found him very pleasant with a splendid personality and a good
insight and much vigor and reasonable youth.”
Calls a stake president:
“When Bro. Gunderson came up from downstairs he was
visibly affected emotionally and his voice was unsteady. He received the call
most humbly, expressing his willingness but his feeling of weakness. When he
had regained his composure he said he was not surprised. That when he returned
Wednesday night from our interview with him, and as he ascended the stairway
from his basement a voice clear and distinct said to him: ‘You will be the
President of the new Stake.’”
Calls another stake president:
“Having been sent to reorganize the . . . stake, we began
our interviews. . . . When High Councilor [name removed] came in, I was deeply
impressed that he was to be the president of the stake. I did not close my mind
but we went forward and interviewed all the other brethren. . . . After
considerable deliberation and much prayer, we chose Brother [name removed] to
be the President of the stake. . . . He accepted the call graciously but
without the surprise element which we often meet. We interviewed him carefully
and found as we expected that he was worthy and that all was well. We mentioned
he would now need to give thought to Counselors and he said immediately, ‘I
suppose it is a little unusual for a man to have his counselors selected before
his call. I’d like to have [names removed].’ We were surprised but pleased. . .
. Hours later as we went home, I said, ‘Brother [name removed], we were
surprised at your quick decision. Would you like to tell me about it?
“’Six years ago,’ he began, ‘When I was in the temple one
day . . . I received the assurance that I would be the successor to President
[name removed] when he was finally released. Since that day, I have been
secretly and quietly doing my utmost to be prepared for it.’ Then I asked,
‘What would you have thought and felt had we called another man to this
position as stake president?’ He promptly replied, ‘I would have wondered how I
had failed. I would have held to my inspirational experience but would have
realized that it was I who had not measured up.’
“Accordingly, we felt very happy that this confirmed the
strong feeling which I had with regard to his call.”
And another made known:
“After looking through the temple, I retired alone to one
of the sealing rooms and importuned the Lord to advise me whom He had selected
for the President of the South Idaho Falls Stake. As I came out of the temple,
I was sure in my mind and felt composure and ease.”
And another:
“We returned to and completed our interviews with the
bishops and the stake presidency and high council members. I had prepared the
two counselors for release. I was sure as I began to deliberate that Brother
[Sterling W.] Sill was eager to make the First Counselor the President of the
Stake. He discussed the matter at great length and argued logically, however, I
had some very definite feelings in the matter and having done considerable
praying about it, I felt to follow what I felt was inspiration.
“As each
of the brethren had come in for interview, I had felt rather barren and
unresponsive, but when Bishop Call came in, I had a different reaction and felt
that here was an excellent possibility for a President. There were several
other good men who came in during the afternoon but I continued to feel
responsive toward Brother Call and finally, we got him back from Fairfield and
called him to the Presidency of the Stake. He was very humble about it but
accepted graciously.”
And another:
“We then continued on until about 2:30 or 3:00 with our
interviews of the leaders of the Greenbrae, San Rafael and Novato Wards of the
San Francisco Stake. These three are to be annexed to the Santa Rosa Stake in
its division. About 3:00 we decided on Brother Weston Roe as the president, and
we went to his office at the cemetery and called him to the work. We were very
pleased with him. We had been somewhat disturbed that we had felt so unsettled
in the whole matter, but when President Roe came in to be interviewed both of
us felt like light had penetrated the darkness.
And another:
“We began very early, about 7:30, interviewing our
possible leaders. We spent some time with our new President, Richie R. Boyack.
We had learned that he had planned to retire from his employment in the U.S.
Army, in charge of the draft in this area, a colonel, a very prominent and
important man. We found that he would be retired in July of 1960 and that he
had plans to move back into the further west, possibly Utah, to spend the
balance of his days. We invited him to be the President of the Stake and he
accepted readily with the understanding that he would set aside his own
ambitions and plans for the future and would serve the Lord. His devotion and
consecration to the work, and his dedication caused me to exclaim within myself
the words of the Savior to the Nephites: ‘So great faith have I never seen
among the Jews.’” (3 Nephi 19:35).
And another (extra special):
“I had some interviews and then at 8:00, we held the
regular meeting with the Presidency and the High Council and the Bishoprics. .
. . We released the High Priests Presidency and the three high councilors who
were going to be in the new stake presidency. We sustained as the Presidency of
the stake, Russell Marion Nelson, a doctor who is an eminent heart specialist;
his First Counselor, Albert Reeder Bowen, the son of Brother Albert E. Bowen of
the Council of the Twelve; and Joseph Bitner Wirthlin, the son of the former
Presiding Bishop Joseph L. Wirthlin; and they were sustained also as the
Presidency of the High Priests Quorum.”
“Boyd told me this story. My close friend Boyd K. Packer.
Peru:”
“In a western South American nation in a Sacrament
meeting, the sacrament was in preparation. He was a little ragamuffin. His two
shirts would hardly make one, so ragged they were and torn and dirty. Unlikely
that those shirts had ever been off that little body since they were donned.
The little feet which brought him in the open door up the aisle and to the
sacrament table were calloused, bearing dark and dirty testimony of deprivation,
want, unsatisfied hungers—spiritual as well as physical. Almost unobserved, he
came to the sacrament table and with a seeming spiritual hunger, he leaned
against the table and lovingly rubbed his unwashed face against the cool,
smooth, white linen.
“A woman
in the front seats outraged by the seeming intrusion caught his eye and with
her motion and frown, sent the little ragamuffin scampering down the aisle and
out into his world, the street.
“The
little ragamuffin came stealthily, cautiously down the aisle again, wondering,
ready to run and escape if necessary.
“Elder
Packer caught his eye and beckoned him and opening big, welcoming arms, they
were quickly filled as the little ragamuffin nestled comfortably, his head
against a great warm heart—a heart sympathetic to waifs, and especially to
Lamanite little ones.
“Month
later, Elder Packer sat in my office and in tender terms, rehearsed this
incident as he sat forward on his chair, his eyes glistening, and he said ‘in
my mind, this was not a single little Lamanite in my arms. It was a nation, a
multitude of nations of deprived, hungering souls, wanting something they knew
not what—a humble people yearning to revive a seeming memory of ancestors
standing wide-eyed, open mouthed, expectant and excited, looking up and seeing
a holy, glorified being descend from celestial areas and hearing a voice say:
“Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth
and all things that in them are. . . . And in me, hath the Father glorified his
name. . . . I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the
beginning and the end.’”
Elder Kimball on a talk by Pres. Smith:
“We attended the sunset services of the Bonneville Stake
MIA and Elder Joseph Fielding Smith spoke strongly on the Last Days and the
living of the commandments. It was a real masterpiece. I wanted to get up and
remind those thousand or more people that they had this day heard a prophet of
God who spoke inspired words to them.”
A member gains a witness:
“In the [stake] Conference session given over to
testimonies in part, Brother Walter Canals, 1st councilor in
the Union Branch Presidency sat in the audience. I saw his eyes were wet and
glassy from where I sat. He was evidently enjoying a spiritual experience. When
he gave his testimony he said he had always believed, but only this morning did
he know positively. He testified that he knew I was a divinely called Apostle
of the Master; the divinity of the work; that Joesph Smith was a real prophet.”
Elder Kimball on preparation of a General Conference
talk:
“Today is my day [speaking] at the conference. I was very
greatly concerned about my talk and Tuesday morning, I decided that my talk on
faith without works or by grace are ye saved, wasn’t exactly what I wanted to
give. It was all prepared and finished and ready so I then got up real early
Tuesday morning and wrote up a talk on revelation continuous. . . . I was the
first speaker in the afternoon and was not crowded for time. I think I used
about 19 minutes. My talk seemed to be well received. I am grateful to the Lord
for it seemed to me that I had unusual help in this matter.”
Elder Kimball blesses George F. Richards [Pres. of
Twelve]:
“Brother Cowley and I went to the apartment of Pres.
George F. Richards and administered to him at his request. He was dressed,
lying on the lounge but feeling miserable. Had not been able to sleep all night
nor today but had been up and around. In the blessing I told him of our great
love for him and asked the Lord, consistent with His will, to relieve him of
his pain and heal him for as long as was His desire. About 11 pm Pres. Richards
died, with only a few minutes of severe distress.”
GFR’s Funeral:
“In Elder Lee’s address he told of the manifestation of
Pres. Richards when in dream or vision he saw the Lord Jesus Christ. Pres.
Richards had told us of some of his very sacred manifestations when we had been
in our Quarterly meetings of the Council of the Twelve. Truly he was a great
and good man and about as nearly perfect as a man gets on the earth.”
Elder Kimball sees mantle come on Pres. McKay:
“I had an unusual experience, my first of its kind. As
President David O. McKay began his introduction statements concerning the
status of the Church and the need for reorganization of the Presidency, a
strange feeling came over me. He appeared in his majesty and power. I saw him
as the President of the Church. Of course I had known he would be, but this
moment without my having given thought to this, a very pronounced feeling came
to me of the MANTLE. For me the mantle fell upon him that moment. There was no
doubt in my mind. It was a soul satisfying feeling. It was hardly a light—it
was more like a sudden flood of warmth and into my mind came the thought: ‘THE
PROPHET’S MANTLE’. I was grateful for it for two reasons: if there could have
come any doubt that doubt was thus dispelled—and it gave me the feeling that
perhaps the Lord might be pleased to a small extent with my work, attitudes and
myself to be so kind to me. This has given me a deep sense of gratitude and
exultation. Oh! How I love the Lord, and His Church, and His work. Oh! HOW
GRATEFUL I AM FOR HIS GOODNESS TO ME. If I can only endure unto the end in
total faithfulness!!!”
More on Pres. McKay:
“Today, is President McKay’s 90th birthday.
He has been celebrating it for about a week.. Many people and organizations
have been feting him and paying tribute to him. What a great man he is. What an
inspired man he is.”
Pres. J. Reuben Clark confides in Elder Kimball:
“I spent an hour with Pres. Clark who became very
confidential with me. He told me of his call to the First Presidency by Pres.
Grant who had not seen him more than a half dozen times and had heard him speak
only once. Pres. Clark was Ambassador to Mexico. When the letter came from Box
B, Salt Lake City, he knew what it would be (he said). He was awed but could
not tell anyone. Bro. Melvin J. Ballard was later visiting the Mexican Mission
in Mexico City and became acquainted with Bro. Clark and when he made his
report in the Council meeting in the temple he remarked that he had met a young
man in Mexico City who because of his integrity, testimony, power and ability,
could someday be used in the higher councils. This brought a smile from the
Apostles for in his absence this very man had been called to be a Counselor to
Pres. Grant.
“He confided to me some of the difficult situations which
had presented themselves when Pres. Grant died and especially when Pres. Smith
died and when President McKay chose Stephen L. Richards of the Council of the
Twelve for first Counselor and himself (JRCJr) as second and many situations
that had arisen since. He spoke to me of some of the problems facing us in the
leadership positions of the Church. He became a bit emotional when he recalled
and lived again the awesome memories of those days in Mexico when he was called
from Government work to Church work. This was a priceless hour with him.”
Pers. Smith to Elder Kimball:
“Today President Joseph Fielding Smith came down the hall
and put his arm around me and said ‘I think a lot of you—I love you Brother
Kimball.’ These were precious words—priceless. To have the approval and appreciation
of a man of his stature and goodness!!! Brother Lee invited me to his home for
dinner and as we rode along, he said he was hungry to visit with me and as he
got older he felt to lean on his brethren more and more. I was so grateful for
his appreciative expressions. I told him he was fast approaching the place of
first seniority in the Twelve. He would surely be the President and that I
would sustain him with all my heart. There are great compensations to me for
these occasional expressions of the thanks and appreciation.”
Angels:
“In all the time I have performed [marriage] ceremonies I
never felt a sweeter influence than I did today as I performed these
ceremonies. I felt that angels were near while I was sealing Mark’s wife to
him.”
Pres. Smith’s teachings to Twelve:
“We went into the quarterly meeting [of the Twelve]. . .
. The testimonies were delightful and the explanations and dissertation upon
gospel topics by President Smith were most excellent.”
Elder Kimball on Elder Albert E. Bowen of Twelve:
“What a great man he was! How just! I should like Bro.
Bowen to plead my case if I were being tried, he is so fair and just. When he
finally spoke, words of wisdom and good judgment flowed out.”
Special Witnesses:
“Our quarterly meeting was about the most impressive yet.
President Smith spoke for a half an hour or more on the Gospel, particularly
upon our being special witnesses and the meaning thereof. Brother Lee followed
with somewhat the same trend, and each of the Brethren spoke feelingly and with
great spirit, and I came away from the meeting determined more than ever to
perfect my life and to be more worthy of the great blessings that were mine.”
Elder Matthew Cowley’s death:
“There was a knock on the [hotel room] door and Sister
Cowley, who with her husband Elder Matthew Cowley, had been occupying the room
adjoining, knocked at our door and said: ‘I think Matthew is dead’ Camilla and
I both rushed in, in our night clothes and found him dead, lying peacefully on
his bed. Sister Cowley was hysterical. I tried to revive him—rubbed his arms
and then called to the operator to get a house doctor quickly. There was none,
…”
Bro. Kimball on Hugh Nibley:
“At Tremonton we were so much interested in the
discussion with Brother Nibley regarding the recent finds of important
documents in the caves in Palestine that I took the wrong road and went clear
to Malad before I realized that we were diverted. I turned around and went
back…”
Pres. McKay to Twelve:
“The Christian sects are, shall I say, disintegrating.
That is a little strong, but they sense their inadequacy to represent our Lord
and Savior. In fact, they are not recognizing Him as the Savior of the world,…”
Elder Kimball talks to an apostatizing returned
missionary:
“At my desk at the office I had a long interview with
[redacted], a returned missionary of some years who is attending [college] and
whose faith seemingly has been shattered and who is much disturbed over the
Negro question, over revelation and over all the other matters which affect
those who begin in their apostasy. I talked to him earnestly and did my utmost
to help him to get back to correct thinking. He worships the scientists and
would accept nothing he could not prove. I felt depressed all day, feeling that
I had done him little good and disturbed greatly for his future.” (Sept. 19,
1954)
About a book meant as a church manual:
“I spent much of the afternoon at the home of Brother
Adam S. Bennion who has been ill, and we discussed the matter of the Obert Tanner
manuscript for the Sunday School. . . .
“[A few days later] At 8:30 President David O. McKay
called me and asked me to come down and we had a long interview, some 2 hours,
President McKay and myself with George R. Hill, superintendent of the Sunday School
sitting with us. We went carefully over the proposed manual written by Obert C.
Tanner “Christ’s Ideals for Living,” which as chairman of the Publications
Committee, I have read through and through. I found many, many places where
there seemed to me to be errors in doctrine, encouragement to higher criticism,
the race problem pertaining to the Negro, and that the book from beginning to
end reeked of sectarianism. The President told me that he thought I was extreme
in my criticisms, and with some few corrections he felt that it should go
forward to publication.”
Pres. McKay blesses Elder Kimball:
“President McKay gave Camilla and myself blessings. He
blessed her that she would not need to worry about our loved ones. They would
be protected while we were in the work of the Lord, … In my blessing he blessed
me that I might set in order the missions of Europe—the districts and branches.
Three times he blessed me to have discernment, protection in trains, ships, and
in the air, to go and come safely. I felt much more at ease and at peace when
the blessing was given. President McKay sat on the corner of the table and
reminisced remembering my father, his visit in our home, . . . It was good to
get that close to President McKay.”
Elder Kimball’s conference talk:
“I think I have never been conscious of such universal
approval. President McKay had added, when announcing my address, that I had
been called six months ago to tour the European missions. Now the meeting was
over. Many of my Brethren expressed their approval as had Brother Lee, my
seatmate during the closing of the meeting. President Clark came up and grasped
my hand: ‘I am usually careful with my words, but I want you to know that was
excellent. . . ‘ Then President Richards said as he took my hand, ‘I have been
waiting to hear your report and have expected much and have not been
disappointed. . .’ And as he spoke, I felt two great arms from the rear. They
enveloped me and closed in front, and there was a tight embrace and it seemed
to me his head was pressed against mine. I looked up to find the Prophet of the
Lord embracing me and saying, ‘that was a masterpiece.’ What ecstasy! In my
silly sensitiveness I had felt that my intense work of the past months was not
known nor appreciated—that it was more or less passed over or ignored—that it
had sunk almost into oblivion under the glare of the more spectacular choir
tour and the temple dedication. I whispered to him, ‘thank you President McKay.
I shall never forget that.’ And I later wrote to him: ‘If I could live to merit
the smiles of my Lord so that sometime in the far future He might shake my hand
or embrace me in His arms, then and then only then would I ever be lifted up to
greater ecstasy than I was on Saturday afternoon when I felt your strong arms
around me and heard your word of approval.’”
Reflections on organizing several new stakes alone:
“It has been like a whirlwind of almost tornadic
proportions as we have moved from place to place [Australia and New Zealand].
The stakes are now all organized and we are deep into the touring of missions.
It has been an unheard of experience. I think that never before in our
experience has one of the Twelve been entrusted with such responsibility and I
have been very close to my Lord. I think never before has one member been given
five stakes to organize, one after the other. Generally two of us go to
organize one stake. I have shaken with awesome responsibility through these
days and have prayed much and earnestly, and have felt the presence of my Lord
and His guidance, and have relied so completely on Him I feel that the work has
been done about as it should be.”
Unprepared for a commencement address:
“We were already about 10 or 15 minutes late for the
graduation exercises of the Institute students there. The Institute building
was filled. . . . Our month has been so crowded that I have had no moment to
study—merely to meet schedules, talk to missionaries, hold the meetings, and
sleep a few hours a night. Now I am faced with the speaking at a commencement
exercise without immediate preparation. I prayed mightily to the Lord for help
since I have been doing all I could for Him and have been unable to do this.
Brother Burton gave me a cue and I proceeded on it. I do not now know what I
said. It seemed to be beyond myself. I tried to recover it and have been unable to do so. I know the Lord was
kind to me and made my address there satisfactory to these young people.”
Pres. Smith to Elder Kimball:
“As I left he embraced me in his arms and said ‘I want you
to know that I love you.’ I was happy to have the affection of so great a man.”
Pres. McKay to the Twelve:
“The Savior is at the head of it [the work] and I think
he has been with us as we have deliberated and presented to him the problems
that we are facing and the need of his continual guidance.”
On Pres. Moyle:
“He spoke about 20 mins to the people with great power,
and especially on the missionary program. I have never heard Brother Moyle
speak like this before. I am sure the mantle of his calling is falling on his
shoulders.”
Holy Spirit:
Our quarterly meeting was held this morning. . . .
Brother Benson was with us, which is unusual. The spirit was unusually warm and
good. I think I have never felt the holy influence more than in these four
hours in the temple.”
Pres. McKay to the Twelve:
“President McKay said he felt impressed to say a word to
the Brethren in appreciation of their labors, speaking for the First
Presidency. He addressed the Brethren as follows:
“I think that the Quorum of the Twelve is setting an
example to all the Church in efficiency and devotion and unity, spreading the
gospel as the Council of the Twelve should. Personally, I wish to express
appreciation and gratitude for your efforts, your interest, your capabilities,
controlling the Church and putting it in order, and setting in proper order the
branches, stakes, wards and missions of the Church; with all my heart I say,
‘God bless you.’ Never before, so far as I know, have we had a Quorum of Twelve
Apostles and General Authorities of the Church who were more devoted in doing
their work, and who were performing it more efficiently than the General
Authorities of the Church at the present time. I want you to know that that is
the feeling of the First Presidency towards this group especially, and your
associates.”
Elder Kimball’s feelings about Pres. McKay:
“The Prophet is so wonderful, his eyes light up and when
he smiles, it fills your heart with gladness. He has such a great grasp of all
of the many problems in the Church and is so kindly and so inspired. It was
good to be with him.”
Prayer in temple meeting:
“I was called on for the prayer which now is a
combination prayer of our opening prayer and the prayer at the altar. . . . I
was certain moments before I was called on that I would be called on for this
prayer. I seemed to feel it as I have many times, especially in this meeting.”
Elder Kimball on his service on a committee and on Pres.
McKay:
“I have just been released by the First Presidency as the
Chairman of the Committee on Publications and the Reading Committee of which I
have served for several years. They indicated this release was because of being
over tied with numerous other responsibilities, and especially in light of the
fact that I have just recently been appointed as chairman of the Executive
Committee of the Missionary work. . . . It has been a most strenuous and
difficult assignment and though I have appreciated the privilege of serving in
it, I am grateful now to be in the missionary work and leave this to Brother
Lee who has been appointed to take [my] place. I see this as quite an inspired
change since the missionary work is my loved field and since Brother Lee is the
Chairman of the Great Correlation Committee and, therefore, through his
sub-committees he can have all of this work done by the specialists in those
special fields of adult and youth and children work.
“President
McKay has begun to come back to the first part of the Temple meeting and we are
deeply grateful that he is well enough to do this. He has lost some vigor since
the last conference and it is noticeable that this slight stroke which he had
in October has given him further limitations but he is still genial and happy
and wonderful and alert mentally and he makes a great contribution to our
meeting and gives it great stature and dignity.”
More on Pres. McKay:
“The President was in good form in spite of his
near-ninety years. His legs are shuffling a little and sometimes his words come
with a little difficulty but in general, he does remarkably well and he is
extremely alert mentally. He is a marvelous individual and has the traits and
qualities of the Master in a large degree.”
And more:
“It was so good to be with the Brethren in the temple and
to have all the Presidency present. Pres. McKay still steers the ship with firm
hands. He is 85. He is still the leader, kind, understanding, sweet, much
loved. He is getting old. It is evident. Not quite so quick, not so steady but
increasingly loveable. . . . The 9 am meeting was our semi-annual meeting. All
dressed for the prayer. We were fasting and had the Sacrament and testimonies
were had from the Patriarch, one of the Bishopric, one of the Seventies, one of
the Assistants, one of the Twelve and all of the Presidency. It was a glorious
occasion and should assist us spiritually in preparation for the Conference.”
Thin veil in temple:
“When I had completed the ordinance work, I walked over
to the table at the side of the room to make a few notes so that I would not
forget them. As I finished my notes, there came an unusual feeling like someone
was near me. There was no feeling of shock nor curiosity nor fear. I did not
look around but there came over me a calm, sweet feeling of a presence. It was
sweet and warming and I had a feeling that the [deceased] man, [redacted] to
whom I had just restored incomparable blessings was not far away. I felt warm.
Sometimes I have felt a presence and have wanted to turn around quickly to
identify the incomer, but not this time. I felt that here was approval and
gratitude. It seemed to me that all the morning and in fact all the day that a
sweet spirit was with me more than usual.”
Elder Lee’s impression:
“Yesterday, in our meeting, Brother Lee whispered to me
again as he had done last Sunday on the stand at the Conference that he had the
rather strong feeling that some unusual change was coming immediately, rather
soon to President McKay. He did not seem to have an impression whether it was
President McKay or whether it was his wife but he felt it rather strongly.”
Pres. McKay to Elder Kimball:
“As President McKay passed me going out of the
Tabernacle, at noon, I shook hands with him and said ‘You were wonderful, Pres.
McKay’ to which he said ‘YOU were wonderful and always are.’ This of course
pleased my vanity, thrilled me beyond expression since Pres. McKay does not
often so speak and is never effusive.”
Elder Lee on Elder Kimball:
“I was highly elated when Brother Lee spoke in high terms
of the work that I had been doing. He indicated that as late as Thursday, the
President of the Church had complimented me on the work that we had done for
the Indians. And, Brother Lee said that perhaps I would go down [in church
history] as the great Indian defender. He was very complimentary—I was
embarrassed but appreciated it since I did not know that he had felt that way.”
About Boyd K. Packer:
“Also, approval was given for the call of Boyd K. Packer,
one of our Committee, to be the President of the New England Mission. The
President asked some questions; asked each one of us pointedly if we knew
Brother Packer as a man and our reports were all favorable. He then approved.”
Pres. McKay again:
“This morning, I had a rare privilege. I called on
President McKay . . . and he was ready and very gracious. His smile is
captivating. He makes one feel that his greatest pleasure is to meet one, and
that each one is very special. . . .
“And when I shook hands goodbye, he drew me to him and
embraced me and said, ‘You go with my blessing.’ This was a glorious
experience—to be in his presence; to have his undivided attention; to have him
consider with me our program for the Indian.”
Spiritual experience:
“As these nine Lamanites’ souls stood before me in the
dedication prayer, I seemed to see them standing there representing the
Lamanite nations, all Lamanites. . . . I seemed to feel a multitude of nations
reaching for something heretofore unobtainable, listening for a familiar voice.
I seemed to hear the chanting voice of millions, trying to bring back that
which was lost; an urgent, plaintive pleading for something lost centuries
ago.”
Some
priesthood blessings:
“We
went to administer to a sister who was flat on her back for numerous years and
had to use oxygen all the time to keep herself alive. When we went in and
visited and I asked her if she wanted a blessing, and she said, ‘I want to be
healed.’ And then I explained to her that I had no power to heal but that the
priesthood which we held could heal her if her faith was sufficient and it was
the will of the Lord. She thought she had sufficient faith but I believe she
was anxious for us to exercise the faith and do the job. We gave her a
blessing. . . .
“The Quarterly meeting was put aside and today all of the
General Authorities met in the temple for the usual testimony meeting and fast
meeting, usually held before the General conference. All of the General
Authorities were there. . . . President McKay called on several of the brethren
and surprised me by calling on me. I spoke of the administration incident
referred to last Sunday [above]. I told the story of Gwen Johnson and then of
my own experience in New York when I was operated on and my vocal cords largely
removed, and President McKay was visibly touched by my experiences. I felt that
the Lord had inspired me since I spoke of things which I had not had any
thought of doing and it seemed to be a proper thing to do.
“For my posterity, I will rehearse the experience of Gwen
Kimball Johnson:
She had
filled a mission, had married Norman Johnson, had then contracted the
supposedly incurable disease which shriveled her body and made of her nearly a
skeleton. In 1943, when we came her father, Crosier, who is my first cousin,
invited all of our family, five of us, to dinner at his home in Draper, where
his large family assembled. We were all fasting in anticipation of an
administration to Gwen for her healing. Sometime after noon, when we had been
fasting since the day before, the dinner was ready and so we all got on our
knees and fervently prayed and then we administered to her and I was voice. . .
.
“Apparently, Gwen, who had been told by her doctor she
could never conceive and have children, had expected an instantaneous healing.
She came into my office a few days later and said substantially this, ‘Cousin
Spencer, nothing happened and I have not been healed, and I am very much
disappointed, and I am just going to give the Lord another year to heal me.’
“This shocked me beyond expression and I said, ‘Gwen, who
are you to demand anything of the Lord? Who are you to tell the Lord that He
must heal you and when it must be done? Gwen, this is a state of apostasy and
you must repent, or you can never expect anything from the Lord and you will
lose your faith. I insist you must repent and change your attitudes.’ Her
belligerency began to subside.
“Some time passed; perhaps it was months, and she came in
again and still she was shriveled and shrunken—but her spirit was changed. She
was modest and submissive and seemed full of faith and I blessed her again.
“I think it was other months, probably three or four,
when she came in again and was joyful and happy and announced to me that she
was pregnant, was going to have a baby and already her face was filling out and
her body was building up and the scarecrow picture was changing.
“She became well and strong and really quite good looking
and has lived a normal life and has had three or four children.” (September 29,
1965)
And another:
“We administered to an Olsen baby whose Father I had
blessed in the hospital some years ago in isolation when I nearly had to force
my way through the cordon of nurses and doctors. I had told them I was the
boy’s minister; that he had asked for me to come; that I knew regulations
permitted such visits; and that I was going to see the boy in spite of their
protests if I had to go to their superiors. They masked and covered me and I
gave him a blessing. He is now a great stalwart man, teacher in the school and
with five little boys.
Pres.
McKay to Elder Kimball regarding throat cancer:
“Today
. . . I had a visit with Pres. McKay who said he had prayed about my problem
and believed that the advice he was going to give was right. He felt I should
take advantage of all the skill that was obtainable, saying that the Lord
expects us to do all we can in our problems. He seemed to feel that a
laryngectomy would not be necessary, at least he so hoped, but even if it came
to that he impressed me with the thought that I could still make a life and
service with writing or other means. . . .
“In the visit with Pres. McKay Wednesday he indicated he
had wondered why I had gone ahead with a serious operation without consulting
the brethren but my letter cleared it [up]. Thursday at the conclusion of our
visit he said, ‘We are closer today than we have ever been before.’”
Pres.
Smith letter to Elder Kimball regarding throat (vocal cord cancer) surgery:
“More
than anything else it is my humble prayer that the operation has been
successful and that you will be permanently healed.
“Jessie and I have been praying for you daily and we hope
for a complete recovery. We know that it is within the power of the Lord to
accomplish this result and I hope that the faith of your brethren and the
members of the Church will be strong enough to appeal to the Lord to bring
about this result. We know that he has the power to do this and if he is
willing it can be done. The past few days I have taken time out. . . . While up
there I read through the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and some
other parts of the scriptures. I marvel at the great power of our Lord, and
what he did for people in distress. There is no doubt in my mind in relation to
all that he performed, and I know that the same power is here, but our faith
does not always rise to such heights. We, of course, do not know the mind of
the Lord in all things, but I am sure that he has the power to answer our
prayers, and so we are praying.”
Pres.
Smith to the Twelve regarding Elder Kimball:
“President
Jospeh Fielding Smith reported that yesterday, Wednesday Aug. 21 the Twelve met
in their quarterly meeting in the Temple. The Brethren came fasting in the
interest of the restoration of Brother Kimball’s health [throat/voice]. A very
fine time was had by those present.” . . . “That same day a telegram was
sent to Elder Kimball, assuring him of our faith and prayers for God’s
overruling power in his behalf.”
Pres.
McKay to Elder Kimball gathered with First Presidency and Twelve:
“Pres.
McKay expressed the gratitude of the brethren to have Brother Kimball with them
this morning, and to hear him, and to share his thanksgiving that the Lord has
heard our prayers, for, said Pres. McKay ‘There is no doubt in our minds that
He has blessed you, beyond even the doctors’ fondest expectations. The Lord be
praised.’
“For
the time being, President McKay said he thought Brother Kimball should follow
the doctor’s advice especially until he is entirely healed. President McKay
said: ‘It is glorious to hear your voice—just glorious! Here in this upper room
[of the temple] we express not only vocally as we did this morning, but in our
hearts, thanksgiving for the blessings of the Lord.’
The Prophet:
“President David O. McKay came to our meeting this
morning for two and one half hours; he seemed a little weaker physically than
usual but very alert mentally. Some decisions he made this morning certainly
were inspiration and revelation. We all felt it. I have great confidence in his
spiritual vision.”
Former deceased brethren:
“President McKay became somewhat emotional as he
expressed his affection for the brethren, and his appreciation for their
unanimity and faithfulness and brotherly love. . . .and he shed a few tears as
we sang and as he spoke to us of his affection for us, his brethren. He
indicated two or three times that he felt that the other brethren with whom we
had served through the years were very near and watching us in our work.”
And more from the prophet:
“We have never been nearer to our Lord than we are this
morning. I think the brotherhood of this group has never been dearer than it is
this morning. I love you. I am sure the Lord is with us and will always be with
us. This groups of men are more precious than any other group of men that has
ever occupied the Twelve.”
And more:
The President was there and expressed his love for the brethren
and said, among other things, ‘You don’t know how noble you are and how
grateful I am to be with you.’”
Sweet spiritual meeting:
“The Quarterly meeting was from 8:00 until 12:00. It was
an unusually sweet spirited meeting—all the brethren being present but Brother
Benson who is ill, and the testimonies and the experiences and the discussions
were intensely interesting and very spiritual. . . . [Jan. 13 remembering Jan.
12]: We spent from 8:00 until 12:00 in our Quarterly meeting bearing testimony
and visiting and discussing matters as we chose. It was a glorious time. These
are wonderful brethren with whom I work.”
A memory:
“President ____ ___ was there and met me and reminded me
of the time when I had my first stake conference as a General Authority.
President George Albert Smith had taken me with him and then in the early
evening, he had become ill and gone home and left me with the responsibility. I
was almost terrified, not knowing exactly what to do and how to do it.”
Blessed by Twelve:
“Then President Lee, having mentioned that I was having
some [health] troubles, Elder Benson prayed valiantly for me. Now I was seated
in a chair and all the Brethren circled around me. President Tanner anointed me
with oil and President Lee gave to me a sealing, and it was a marvelous
blessing. He was given me many blessings and many others have in time of need.
I have assisted all the Brethren in many administrations. I think never have I
heard a more beautiful comprehensive pleading and prayer and administration and
dedication than this. There was dedication in his payer, and though it had some
fearsome aspects, it was soothing and gave me peace.”
Prayer and blessing for Elder Kimball:
“The opening prayer was offered by Brother Marion G.
Romney and was a prayer such as only he can give and it was in my special
favor. President Tanner explained that this was a special meeting for all of
the General Authorities and the prayer circle and all were in my behalf. He
explained a little concerning my problems and my concerns. Edler Harold B. Lee
was mouth [voice] at the alter. He gave a wonderful prayer as he is able to do
very feelingly. I felt a wonderful spirit; at the conclusion of the prayer
circle in which everybody participated, I sat on a chair in the middle of the
floor and President Tanner called on Elder Gordon B. Hinckley to anoint me with
oil and his prayer was considerably more than an anointing; as he placed his
hands on my head, there was a tremble through my whole body and it continued
and there was a holy refining sweet influence through the whole meeting, and
then President Tanner sealed the anointing and gave a marvelous blessing to me.
Only the Twelve placed their hands on my head and all the other brethren
followed the prayer as they [were] seated in the circle around, and at the
conclusion of the prayer, Elder Lee took me in his arms and embraced me.
Several others of the brethren came and put their arms around me and expressed
their thanks. There was a great outpouring of the spirit and for some time
during the dressing period and otherwise, the brethren expressed what a great
blessing had come to all of them by reason of their unified purpose and their
spiritual experience and indicated that it would be wonderful more frequently
for all the brethren to unite on a single purpose for the spirituality that it
developed.”
Pres. Lee prophecy regarding N. Elden Tanner [1960]:
“Elder Lee then whispered to me: ‘I have had the feeling
this morning that he will one day be one of us.’ [a member of the Twelve]
Brother Lee indicated that Brother Tanner needed a little further humbling in
the matter of faith, but that he would someday be a great man.”
The President choosing counselors and a new apostle:
All of the Twelve were present and it seemed good to have
all Twelve of us. It has been many months. . . . We were all excitedly waiting
for the announcement of the President. Last week, he had us all send in
confidentially two names. He indicated that he might choose one of the Twelve
for his Counselor and that our recommendations might be to fill the Council of
the Twelve and maybe the Assistant. . . . Then the President announced to us
his choice. I had whispered to Brother Lee, who is my immediate senior and with
whom I have worked now for twenty years side by side, that I hoped that he
might be called into the [First] Presidency. But, my human calculations were
apparently not quite correct and I realize that man proposes and God disposes.
President McKay then announced that he had chosen Brother Hugh B. Brown to be
his First Counselor and Brother Nathan Eldon Tanner to be his Second Counselor.
This was not wholly a surprise. I suppose my eagerness to see that Brother Lee
received the training which he will need as he becomes the President of the
Church, which is almost certain, and I felt that experience would be good for
him but apparently if he becomes the President he will receive his training
from the Lord. I feel good about it and feel certain the Lord knows what He is
doing and that the President who had spent some time in the Holy of Holies
yesterday on his knees in communion with the Lord, received the right
inspiration.
And:
“The tabernacle was filled quite to capacity. There was
much eagerness and some speculation on the part of the people as to who might
be called. . . . President McKay gave the first talk which was excellent and
then President Brown presented the General Authorities and Auxiliary
Authorities for sustaining vote. He was sustained as First Counselor, Brother
Nathan Eldon Tanner as Second Counselor and Thomas Monson as the twelfth member
of the Council of the Twelve. I have been with Brother Monson, visited with him
in the mission field in Toronto and have had a high regard and affection for
him the many years. He was one of the two whom I had recommended to the
President as a member of the Council of the Twelve. I was very pleased that I
seemed to be in line with the President’s thinking and the Lord’s thinking.”
Prayer for Pres. Smith; angels present at Conference:
“Today was our Temple day and it was my turn to pray at
the altar. I expressed thanks to the Lord for the great Conference; for the
spirit of the people; and, for the satisfactions that seemed to have come and
the security and the assurance. I thanked Him for the mantle that had fallen on
the Prophet Joseph Fielding Smith. I thanked the Lord for the calmness in the
Conference and that it seemed ‘as though a legion of angels with drawn swords
had been hovering over us in the conference and giving protection to us.’”
Blesses Pres. Lee:
“It was my unbelievable opportunity to be mouth as the 13
Apostles laid their hands upon the head of Elder Harold B. Lee to authorize him
to use all the keys of the Kingdom and to give leadership to the Church as its
President, Seer, and Revelator and Prophet. I was very much frightened. I hope
that what I said was the right thing to be said.”
Health and vigor self-assessment:
“This is my birthday. I am today 69 years of age. I feel
like I might be 49 or 50. I am well and vigorous and strong and putting in long
hours and I am grateful to my Heavenly Father that I am so well preserved. I am
beginning to find old men and old women everywhere I go who have no more years
than I. After my heart attacks of the past, and after my cancer of 1957 and the
many problems to know that I am vigorous and strong and have a good voice, at
least a strong voice, though it may not be so pleasant to hear, I am grateful
more than I can express to my Lord for his goodness to me and my preservation.”
Pres. McKay’s health decline:
“At 10:00 three of the Presidency came in—President McKay
on the arm of his Councilor with his cane and looking very weak. He greeted us
all and then sat down. . . . He excused himself and left the meeting. He left
us with a [feeling] of sorrow and apprehension. He is getting so weak, and he
is passing most of his work to his Counselors and they are really doing an
excellent job handling the numerous details and my admiration increases for
President Brown and President Tanner.”
Temple testimony meeting:
“This was the first Thursday of the month and the
Brethren came fasting. . . . The sacrament was administered and the regular
program blessing and prayer at the altar. President Lee called on me first to
give my testimony. He called on various ones to follow and the spirit grew
warmer until he finally concluded the meeting with his feelings and all the
brethren seemed to feel that this was about the greatest meeting that had ever
been held here.”
Meets Dallin H. Oaks:
“This morning . . . we held a meeting with the Board of
Education, Board of Trustees of BYU, and met the new President Dallin Oaks who
will succeed Brother Ernest L. Wilkinson of the Brigham Young University. He is
a very personable young man and has every promise of being a great president
for the University.”
A new secretary:
“Brother James Paramore
came in to consider further the possibility of his being employed [as my
secretary] and he accepted the call, or rather, the employment. We talked about
the demands upon him and the services that he would render. He seemed very
happy to accept this work and indicated that he had had a dream or presentiment
that he would be working with me. He will be an excellent help.”
Regarding Mathias F. Cowley:
“In one of our meetings recently Brother Bruce R.
McConkie indicated that Brother Mathias F. Cowley, former apostle [and father
of Elder Matthew Cowley], was the bailiff in his father’s court (Oscar W.
McConkie) when he would have been the President of the Council of the Twelve
Apostles had he remained totally in line.”
Pres. of the Twelve:
“Then in July 1972 when President Smith passed away,
Brother Lee became the President of the Church, and I became the President of
the Council of the Twelve. This has been a glorious period. The brethren have
been kind to me. The members of the Twelve are quite differential and
cooperative and loyal and so today I begin my 31st year.”
Experience at Carthage Jail:
“We went over to Carthage
where Brother and Sister Allen are caretakers and guides and found it in
excellent shape and the presentation was most impressive. As we sat in the ‘death
room’ and saw the manikins and heard the story from Brother Allen and also from
a recording, my heart was touched and I did not want to leave. I was
emotionally stirred and I felt a presence of a spirit not always with me and a
great reassurance came to me of the divinity of this great program [gospel]
restored through the Prophet Jsoeph Smith. It was a very pleasant experience.”
Pres. Lee advice to Pres. Kimball:
“I was close to Brother Lee as we moved up in the
seniority of the Council. One day I said to Bro. Lee: I wish I could speak as
Bro. Bowen speaks with such power. And at another time I expressed the wish
that I could speak with such eloquence as Brother Stephen L Richards. Pres. Lee
looked at me with a little disappointment, I thought, and said, ‘Spencer, be
yourself—use the talents the Lord has given to you.’ I have never forgotten that.”
Sees deceased father:
“During the night of June 13, and it was most likely
early morning of June 14, while half asleep trying to work out my problems,
especially of the sermons I am to give in June Conference, I looked up and my
father, Andrew Kimball, came toward me. He was tall and well built, and I
recognized him and rushed to him and embraced him. That was all, but it left a
warm, good feeling with me.”
Visits brother:
“We went to see Gordon and Clara again, my oldest
brother, and he is still in bed and very miserable indeed. I gave him a
blessing and encouraged him and told him of my experience in a vision or a
dream when Father came to me ostensibly to encourage me in my work.”
On
Pres. Lee’s passing:
“When I
went home . . . I felt like the world had fallen in on my shoulders. I knew
what was coming, that I was now no. 1 Apostle on the earth. I knew the program
of succession; I knew now in a small measure what the responsibilities would
be.” (Dec. 30, 1973)
Pres. Kimball on Dr. Russell M. Nelson:
“Dr. Russell M. Nelson who performed surgery on me two or
three times, especially the open heart surgery, called and asked if he could
come and be of help to me, worrying for fear it would be too great a shock for
me. I told him I thought I was all right but he insisted on coming anyway and
found me feeling secure. He has been a real friend as well as my surgeon. I am
making a part of this journal his handwritten letter to me of December 30,
1973, which he brought to my home.”
On
becoming President:
I felt
extremely humble in sitting in the middle chair where all the Presidents of the
Church had sat and more particularly the ones that I knew. . . . I felt most
humble indeed. . . .
When we
got back to the office, . . . I moved down to the room where the Presidents
have had their office. Again I felt I was treading on sacred ground and was in
a holy place.
On Dr. (now President) Nelson:
“Russell Nelson, my beloved doctor who gave me the open
heart surgery, came in to see me and to check my pulse and my blood pressure
and to check with me.”
Help writing Conference talks:
“Jeff Holland and Bruce McConkie and [Neal] Maxwell asked
for [gave some] help in preparing conference talks. It is a great help to get
their thoughts and suggestions on some of the subjects I plan to talk about.”
Testimony:
“I leave with my children and others my testimony. I
know. How more completely could I know anything! I know that it is true and
divine. And as I face the end of my days I say it again and again without fear
and in total honesty. I know that it is true, That God lives; that Christ
lives; that Christ is our Redeemer and Savior; that revelation is a reality in
our own day; that revelations have come not only to the great prophet Joseph
Smith, but to all his successors and associates. I know that I myself have
received revelations from my Lord and I have been guided many times; more in
waking hours than in sleeping ones and that my associates have also been so
blessed. I know too that this is the saving gospel and only through it and the
Atonement of our Lord can any person return to our Heavenly Father in
exaltation. This I know. And so it is.”
And:
[To the Twelve:] ”And now may I write what I cannot
speak, that through the silent hours I have had a chance to weigh, and ponder,
and evaluate, and through all these experiences my vision has been expanded, my
love deepened, my determinations to grow more like our Savior increased and my
knowledge fortified that mortality is but one important incident in life, that
the Plan of Salvation and exaltation is a positive reality, that our Lord
speaks constantly from the heavens, that this is His work, that we are His
unprofitable servants and that the rewards are sure. That is the way it is.
That I know.
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