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So, as I’ve noted elsewhere, I’ve been reading up quite a bit on polygamy. The other day, I was reading about the early fundamentalists, and specifically about Lorin Woolley. Then, duh, it occurred to me the Spencer W. Kimball’s middle name was Woolley, and I got to wondering about the link. There’s an obvious Kimball link to polygamy, but in snooping around, it turns out his mother was the sister of John Woolley, one of the original leaders of the early polygamist breakaway groups. I also seemed to remember a link to Colonia Jaurez with the Kimballs, but I believe that is through his wife Camilla, aunt I believe to Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency.
I wonder if the readers of this forum are already aware of this, and I’m the last one on earth to figure it out or what?
Probably not terribly important, but interesting nonetheless.
I married into a family linked to Spencer Woolley Kimball through a polygamist marriage. His father had married a divorced woman, and then had her children sealed to him (the original father wasn’t worthy). Because I served a mission with the Navajo, I had much contact with him (he loved the Lamanites) then, and later through my marriage. So many little Navajo boys were named Spencer in the 1950’s & 60’s. We were both on the program to speak at my father-in-laws funeral years later. We sat next to each other and chatted. A couple of days later, we visited in the church headquarters (47 E. South Temple). I liked Spencer. He was humble and unassuming. He tried to be a peace maker. He was an advocate for Native Americans. I actually shared a bedroom with him once, in a mission home in Gallup, New Mexico. I did not like his book, Miracle of Forgiveness, however. It did much damage. By the way, Spencer and Camilla married outside of the temple, in her mother’s parlor. Wow. Very interesting, and neat experiences! I’d be interested in more detail on your perspective of “Miracle of Forgiveness”.
Interesting. I did not know of that particular link. Actually, I never realized how much family connection all the leaders of the church had until the past year and a half. I know it is changing more now, but seriously almost all the leaders are related! It is totally amazing. Talk about family feuds.
I haven’t studied Pres Kimball’s life very much, so I wasn’t aware of these facts. I will say that I’m not surprised he has polygamist links, but I was surprised he didn’t marry in the temple. Time were tough and the Arizona Temple had not been completed. Spencer & Camilla married for eternity some months later. Spencer was also the only church president who got baptized twice. His stake president father first baptized him in a bathtub, but later gave it second thought (one of his wife’s had objected), and re-baptized him in a running water ditch which irrigated their farmland. Someone asked if I would comment further on the book, Miracle of Forgiveness. President Kimball once asked me if I’d read it. I quickly produced my baby son and announced we’d named him Spencer. I didn’t really want to comment on his book writing venture. The book was harsh, very “conditional” in dispersing love. There was but little mention of “Grace,” of Jesus Christ taken upon himself, our sins. Edward Kimball, son of Spencer, was featured on one of John’s podcasts recently. He stated that even his dad had misgivings after the book had been published, that he should have been softer in his approach. Edward apparently thought so as well. Spencer’s other son left the church and didn’t become active, even when his father was made President.
I can’t but conjecture, the influence of the small Mormon town Spencer grew up in. Things were pretty much black and white. As a missionary in the region, I was shocked at the attitude of LDS people toward Native Americans. They were not friendly. Indians were not very welcome in their public places. I give Spencer Kimball credit for changing a policy against the blacks. It was long overdue.
While I never met him personally, I knew much about President Kimball and knew/know some of those that did know him personally. The reason for the second baptism, as I was told, was that his family decided that the person who performed the baptism should probably be in the water as well. His father couldn’t fit in the bathtub with Spencer, so they went across the street to an irrigation ditch (now called Union Canal) and did it again. From what I can remember, it seems like it was a month or two later, not very long.
A lot of mormons with multi-generational LDS familyl history have polygamist ties, whether they know it or not. The interesting thing here to me was the close link to the start of fundamentalism. I’m not intending to offend with that last phrase, but I don’t know how else to refer to it. Also, I’m not intending to say anything about President Kimball’s personal feelings or links to or about polygamy. Fwiw, “The Miracle of Forgiveness” works ok for hard-core addicts – those who have to be slapped around a bit and follow religiously a “step” program. That’s essentially what the “steps of repentance” are – a formalized structure for those who have to work their way through a “program” (much like the AA approach). The problem is that the VAST majority of members aren’t hard-core addicts – and when they read “The Miracle of Forgiveness” they end of feeling guilt that really only needs to be felt by those outside the norm. That’s why Pres. Kimball was concerned about the impact of the book – that he came to understand how it was being internalized by regular members.
There is a post in our archives about repentance, so if anyone wants to find it and bump it back into active status – have at it. Let’s not turn this thread into that discussion. It is WAY too fascinating as one that is focused on the person.
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