My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing
He is J. Golden Kimball, and when he is gone, there will never be another. He was the original product, and when Providence had finished him, the pattern was lost and never found again.
LDS Church history is comprised of the accounts of multitudes of men and women who set the groundwork for the Church. And while there are plenty of ordinary individuals woven into that patchwork of history, there are also a handful of unique individuals who enliven the past and provide inspiration for the future. Known as the “swearing Apostle,” J. Golden Kimball is just such a character, one whose legacy of colorful language is surpassed only by his fierce loyalty to the gospel.
In J. Golden Kimball: The Remarkable Man Behind the Colorful Stories, readers are invited to come to better know this legendary man made famous by his unique humor and powerful testimony. From a chronicle of Kimball’s youthful adventures to the legacy he forged in his more than forty years as a General Authority, gear up for a rollicking ride through the life of one of the liveliest servants of the Lord.
My Review
Even though I was raised in the Mormon church, I hadn't heard about J. Golden Kimball before. This book gave inspiring and fascinating insight into his early life, his missionary work in the volatile and violent post-Civil War Southern states, his struggles with his marriage, family and finances, and most importantly, his stalwart testimony of the gospel. Several of the anecdotes made me chuckle or laugh out loud, and I found that I didn't want to put the book down- which never happens with nonfiction for me! This is by far the most enjoyable biography I've read. Even though Kimball is perceived as an optimistic, humorous, and irreverent character, there was a respectful tone as the difficult and sad parts of his private life were explored. I was able to feel the Spirit as I read about the second generation of Latter-day Saints that Kimball served and served with. I loved learning more about this man of God who wasn't perfect and was beloved for it.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
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Extras
Listen to a brief audio recording of J. Golden Kimball, including some humor, his advice to young people, his feelings for the prophet, and his testimony of the gospel. (Starts at 46:14)
J. Golden Kimball was 30 years old when he served a mission to the Southern states
(l-r) J. Golden Kimball, Ben E. Rich, Elias S. Kimball (J. Golden's brother), each served as mission president to the Southern states mission
J. Golden Kimball served as a member of the First Council of the Seventy, and later became the senior president of the Seventy.
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