Spencer Woolley Kimball (1895-1985)

Spencer W. Kimball (1895-1985)

Apostle and 12th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Vital Stats

 * Son of Andrew Kimball (1858-1924) and Olive Woolley (1860-1906)
 * 1895-Mar-28 : Birth in Salt Lake City, Utah USA
 * 1914-1916 : Missionary in LDS Central States Mission
 * 1917-Nov-16 : Marriage to Camilla Eyring (1894-1987) in Pima, Graham Co, Arizona.
 * 1938 : Called as President of the newly created Mount Graham Arizona Stake of the LDS Church
 * 1943-Oct-07 : Ordained Apostle in the LDS Church
 * 1973-Dec-30 : Ordained President of the LDS Church
 * 1978-Jun-08 : Revelation of the Priesthood
 * 1985-Nov-05 : Died in Salt Lake City, Utah and buried 4 days later in the Salt Lake City Cemetery

Ancestry
Kimball's grandfather, Heber C. Kimball, was one of the original Latter Day Saint apostles and later served as first counselor to Brigham Young in the First Presidency of the LDS Church. Through his aunt Helen Mar Kimball, he was a nephew of Joseph Smith, Jr..

Biography
His tenure at Apostle and Church President was noteworthy for the 1978 Revelation on the Priesthood which extended the opportunity to receive the priesthood to all worthy male members of the LDS Church.

The number of missionaries also greatly increased and a burst of temple building occurred. His book The Miracle of Forgiveness is one of the best-known church books within the LDS Church.

Early Years
Kimball was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory to Andrew Kimball and Olive Woolley, sister of Mormon pioneer and eventual Mormon fundamentalist John W. Woolley. When Spencer was three, his father was called to preside as president of the St. Joseph stake and his family relocated to the town of Thatcher in southeastern Arizona.

During his childhood, Kimball suffered from typhoid fever and facial paralysis and once nearly drowned. Four of his sisters died in childhood, and his mother died when he was eleven.

After graduating from high school in 1914, he was called to serve as a missionary in the Germany-Swiss Mission, but due to World War I, was reassigned to the Central States Mission until 1916.

In 1917 he attended the University of Arizona, but received an army draft notice later that year. Despite several imminent departures, each was delayed and he was never called up.

Career and Vocation
During this time he courted Camilla Eyring, sister of the famous chemist Henry Eyring, and they married civilly on November 16, 1917 in Pima, Arizona. Seven months later, on June 7, 1918, the couple were sealed in a marriage ceremony in the Salt Lake Temple. They eventually had four children: Spencer L., Olive Beth, Andrew E., and Edward L.

Shortly after marrying, Kimball received employment in banking. After working for several different banks, in 1927 he started his own insurance and real estate agency. Additionally, he made a significant portion of his income as a debt collector. This he continued until his call into full time church service. Kimball was also actively involved in PTA, city council, Red Cross, Boy Scouts, and elected statewide leader of the Arizona Rotary Club in 1936.

Church Services

 * Stake President - Thatcher Arizona Stake

On July 8, 1943 Kimball was extended the call to be a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles by J. Reuben Clark of the First Presidency. He was ordained an apostle and set apart as a member of that quorum on Thursday, October 7, 1943 in the Salt Lake Temple by church president Heber J. Grant.

Children

 * 1) Spencer Levan Kimball (1918-2004) -
 * 2) Olive Beth Kimball
 * 3) Andrew E Kimball
 * 4) Edward L Kimball - a now-retired law professor at Brigham Young University, m. Evelyn Madsen.