517 Spencer W. KimballPresident of the Church, 19731985 Because of surgery on his vocal cords, President Kimball had a quiet voice, but his life spoke loudly of good works. He inspired Church members worldwide: "Put your shoulders to the wheel, lengthen your stride, heighten your reach, increase your devotion" (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [1982], 564). He was an example of action. On his desk was a plaque with the motto "Do It." "The Lord will not translate one's good hopes and desires and intentions into works," he wrote. "Each of us must do that for himself" (The Miracle of Forgiveness [1969], 8). On Sabbath worship, he instructed: "We do not go to Sabbath meetings to be entertained or even solely to be instructed. We go to worship the Lord. If the service is a failure to you, you must have failed. No one can worship for you; you must do your own waiting upon the Lord" ("The Sabbath—A Delight," Ensign, Jan. 1978, 45). Under his direction, temple work expanded rapidly worldwide. The Church dedicated temples in Australia, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Guatemala, Mexico, the Philippines, the United States (five locations), South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, Tahiti, Tonga, Samoa, and Japan. New temples were announced for Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, South Korea, and the United States (three locations). 1895 | Born on 28 March in Salt Lake City to Andrew Kimball and Olive Woolley Kimball | 1903 | Age 8, baptized on his birthday by his father in the hog-scalding tub that the family also used as a bathtub | 1906 | Age 11, his mother dies | 191416 | Ages 1921, called to serve in the Swiss-Austrian Mission, but because of World War I he is reassigned to the central United States | 1917 | Age 22, marries Camilla Eyring on 16 November; she dies in 1987 | 1943 | Age 48, ordained an Apostle on 7 October by President Heber J. Grant | 1946 | Age 51, receives an assignment from President George Albert Smith to work with the American Indians | 196467 | Ages 6972, supervises missionary work in South America; begins missionary work among the Indians of the Andes | 1974 | Age 79, sustained as President of the Church on 6 April (having been ordained on 30 December 1973), with N. Eldon Tanner and Marion G. Romney as counselors | 1978 | Age 83, receives a revelation to extend the priesthood to all worthy male members | 1979 | Age 84, new edition of the Bible published | 1981 | Age 86, new edition of the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price published | 1985 | Age 90, dies on 5 November in Salt Lake City after nearly 12 years as President of the Church |
SummarySpencer W. Kimball, 12th President of the Church, told the members of the Church, "Lengthen your stride." His life was an example of good works and action. On his desk was a plaque with the motto "Do It." Under his direction, temples were built in many areas of the world. © 1997 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA |
