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Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W Kimball by Edward L Kimball
http://deseretbook.com/store/product?sku=4931229 I really enjoyed reading this book. There are a few unique things to the book that deepened my appreciation:
(1) Like myself, Spencer was born out of state but moved to Arizona at a tender age, to grow up to maturity there. My dad grew up in Arizona himself and his family lived just down the street from the Kimballs in Safford. My grandpa was the bishop there for 20 years.
(2) I am related to President Kimball’s wife by marriage (the Eyring side of the family).
(3) This book not only has an author’s preface, but a publisher’s preface as well. It is stated therein that Deseret Book and Bro. E. Kimball had some disagreements concerning the contents of the book. They reached a compromise: DB would edit the printed text of the book, but Edward would be able to publish the ENTIRE UNEDITED text in a CD that would be included in the book, with the printed text colored blue for easy diferentiation.
I read the hardcopy, then proceeded to the CD.
WOW. Tons of great detail! For example, an explanation of some motivating factors that caused President Kimball to write the book “The Miracle of Forgiveness”: (A) As an apostle he went to set apart a new bishopbric. As he laid his hands on one of the councelors, he suddenly took his hands off his head and asked him “did I interview you?”. The brother replied “no”. So they went to a separate room and in the course of the interview Elder Kimball learned that the brother had engaged in multiple occasions of adultery. ( 
In a temple, Elder Kimball was approached by a Sister who asked him if he remembered her. Embarassed, Spencer replied “No, I’m sorry, but I don’t recognize you”. She smiled and said “That is wonderful. If you don’t remember me or my confession to you, perhaps the Lord no longer remembers, either.” As I read through the book, I found the footnotes to be required reading. Little gems like (paraphrasing) “I sometimes wonder if I was too harsh in my wording when I wrote “The Miracle of Forgiveness”. No kidding.
What a fantastic book. I highly recommend it!
HiJolly
Quote:As I read through the book, I found the footnotes to be required reading. Little gems like (paraphrasing) “I sometimes wonder if I was too harsh in my wording when I wrote “The Miracle of Forgiveness”. No kidding.
I wonder what he meant by that. What parts were too harsh? I always thought of the book as rather straight forward but hopeful.
Poppyseed, MANY people felt devastated and condemned as unworthy after reading it. It is good to see that note, frankly. Wow, thanks for sharing about this book! It sounds very insightful and it is always interesting to hear about the inspiration of others. Old-Timer wrote:Poppyseed, MANY people felt devastated and condemned as unworthy after reading it. It is good to see that note, frankly.
Thanks Ray. I think I understand now. Yes. It is very good to see the note. I must sound like such an idiot sometimes.
Only sometimes. 😆 j/kI got the book, and last night came across this passage that I really enjoyed. I love to see expressions of inclusion. (p. 22-23)
[President Kimball] accepted an invitation to speak in August [1974] at a youth conference and stake meeting in Alamosa, Colorado. …On that Colorado weekend, Spencer spoke to 600 at the youth conference and on Sunday to 5,000 at the stake meeting. When [stake] President Garris asked whether the sacrament might be administered at the stake meeting, Spencer agreed, if it would take not more than thirty minutes. At the meeting, learning that about 500 of those present were not members, Spencer announced, “I am highly honored to know that there are nearly 500 of you who are not members of the Church. We are honored by your presence. The fact that you are here is an indication that you have a great love for the Savior. So I would like to invite each of you to partake of the Sacrament with us.”
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