Historical Summary

This book is not a history; rather, it is a compilation of gospel principles as taught by President Spencer W. Kimball. The following chronology provides a brief historical background of his life and a framework for his teachings. It omits many significant events in both Church and secular history. It also omits many important events in President Kimball’s personal life, such as the births of his children.

1895, March 28	Spencer Woolley Kimball is born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Andrew Kimball and Olive Woolley Kimball.
1898, May	Moves with his family to Thatcher, Arizona, where his father presides over the St. Joseph Stake for the next 26 years.
1906, October 18	His mother dies.
1907, June	His father marries Josephine Cluff.
1914, October	Begins service as a full-time missionary in the Central States Mission in the United States. He had been called to the Swiss-German Mission but was unable to go because of World War I.
1916, December	Released from his full-time mission. Soon after, attends the University of Arizona.
1917, November 16	Marries Camilla Eyring.
1918	Called to be stake clerk of the St. Joseph Stake. Enters the banking business as a clerk and teller.
1923	Joins the Rotary Club, a service organization in which he will participate for the next 20 years, including as a district governor.
1924, August 31	His father dies. About a week later, as part of the reorganization of the stake presidency, Spencer is called as second counselor. He is ordained a high priest by President Heber J. Grant, the seventh President of the Church.
1927	Becomes president-manager of the Kimball-Greenhalgh Realty and Insurance Company.
1938, February 20	Called as president of the Mount Graham Stake.
1943, October 7	Ordained an Apostle by President Heber J. Grant.
1948	Suffers and recovers from a severe heart ailment.
1950	Loses his voice through a serious throat ailment. His voice is restored following a priesthood blessing.
1957	Undergoes an operation for cancer of the throat; one and one-half vocal cords are removed.
1969	The Miracle of Forgiveness is published.
1970	Becomes Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
1972, April 12	Undergoes open-heart surgery.
1972, July 7	Becomes President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
1973, December 26	President Harold B. Lee dies.
1973, December 30	Becomes President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with President N. Eldon Tanner as First Counselor and President Marion G. Romney as Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
1974, November 19	Dedicates the Washington D.C. Temple.
1975, October 3	Begins the reconstitution of the First Quorum of the Seventy.
1976	Oversees the addition of two revelations to the Pearl of Great Price. These revelations are later included in the Doctrine and Covenants as sections 137 and 138.
1977, August 24	Dedicates Poland for future Church work—the first visit of a President of the Church behind what was then known as the Iron Curtain.
1978, June 8	With his counselors in the First Presidency, issues a letter announcing a revelation making all the blessings of the priesthood available to all worthy members, without regard for race or color.
1978, October 30	Dedicates the São Paulo Brazil Temple.
1979	Oversees the publication of the LDS edition of the King James Bible.
1979, October 24	Dedicates the Orson Hyde Memorial Garden in Jerusalem.
1980	Oversees the establishment of the consolidated meeting schedule, which places sacrament meeting, ward priesthood meetings, Relief Society meetings, Young Women classes, Sunday School, and Primary in a three-hour block on Sunday rather than scheduled throughout the week.
1980, October 27	Dedicates the Tokyo Japan Temple.
1980, November 17	Dedicates the Seattle Washington Temple.
1981	Oversees the publication of a new edition of the triple combination, with an updated footnote system and index.
1981, July 23	Calls President Gordon B. Hinckley to serve as an additional counselor in the First Presidency.
1981 to 1985	Oversees the dedications of 17 temples.
1982, October 3	A subtitle for the Book of Mormon is announced—“Another Testament of Jesus Christ.”
1982, December 2	Reorganizes the First Presidency, with President Marion G. Romney as First Counselor and President Gordon B. Hinckley as Second Counselor.
1984	Area Presidencies are established.
1985, November 5	Dies in Salt Lake City, Utah.