Spencer W. Kimball

Spencer W. Kimball

Spencer Woolley Kimball (March 28, 1895 – November 5, 1985) was an American business, civic, and religious leader, and was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The grandson of early Latter-day Saint apostle Heber C. Kimball, Kimball was born in Salt Lake City in 1895 but spent most of his early life in Thatcher, Arizona, where his father Andrew served as stake president, the highest local ecclesiastical officer. He served an LDS mission from 1914 to 1916, then worked for various banks in Arizona's Gila Valley as a clerk and bank teller. Kimball later co-founded a business selling bonds and insurance which, after weathering the Great Depression, became highly successful. Kimball served as a stake president in his hometown from 1938 to 1943, when he was called to serve as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Like most LDS apostles, Kimball traveled extensively to fulfill a wide variety of administrative and ecclesiastical Church duties. Early in his time as an apostle, Kimball was directed by LDS Church President George Albert Smith to spend extra time in religious and humanitarian work with Native Americans, which Kimball did throughout his life. In 1974, following the sudden death of Church President Harold B. Lee, Kimball became the twelfth president of the LDS Church. Kimball's presidency was noted for the Church's 1978 announcement ending the restriction on church members of black African descent being ordained to the priesthood or receiving temple ordinances. There was also increasing emphasis from the LDS Church on all able-bodied male members serving missions following their graduation from secondary school.

Those who listened to Kimball speak publicly were often struck by his weakened, perpetually hoarse voice. Beginning in the 1950s, Kimball began experiencing symptoms of throat cancer, even though he had never smoked or used tobacco. He underwent numerous surgeries, biopsies, and radiation treatments on his throat and vocal cords, which resulted in lifelong impairment to his voice. When speaking to large congregations, Kimball often wore an additional ear-mounted microphone to help magnify his voice.