This is the mist in-depth article I have read on this subject. How powerful! Feeling the spirit brings the tears to my eyes as I read. President Kimball - how humble, how loving, how committed, how dedicated, how reliant on His Master. What an example to us all.
John PaskettMay 24, 2018
Vickie Cloud (May 22nd post) - Thank you for sharing your detailed experience with this whole topic! It was so inspiring and makes me weep with gratitude to Heavenly Father for His many "independent witnesses" to strengthen us all and let us know without doubt that God is at the helm -- ALWAYS!
MarcMay 23, 2018
Very interesting article, had no idea this was such a struggle. I felt the change occurred largely because of the various reasons and pressures outlined in the article.
I never saw a reason for this policy. I felt it was a holdover from the culture during which the church was established and that it needed to go. And I would have to agree that it really all began with Brigham Young.
vickie cloudMay 22, 2018
I was a new member of the church, preparing to go to the temple for the first time. I was working hard at changing my ways and character. I was a mother of 2 children expecting my 3rd when I was baptized in 1977. I lived in Mississippi because of my husbands military career. my 3rd child was born jan 30 1978. I drove a school bus after my baby was born and took my baby with me. I didn't realize it at the time but in history I was taking part in BUSING. which meant I was taking black kids to the white neighborhoods. that was the way it was for me. I had to pick up the junior high kids just one route because they acted so bad no one wanted to drive them. not long after starting that route I became very disgusted and overwhelmed because of their bad behavior. I didn't know what to do. I became angry and praying at the same time trying to set a good example which didn't work. during this time my husband and I had to go to a stake meeting in another town in missisippi and while in the car my husband told me that the blacks didn't have the priesthood. I was shocked. I couldn't believe that we had racism in a Godly church a church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints. we began to talk about it and then all of a sudden I go tthis strong feeling that they were going to get the holy priesthood. I felt it so strong that when I said it to my husband he said ...how can you say that ...your not a prophet and only he gets revelation for these things. I retorted I know they are going to get the priesthood. well, within a couple of weeks as I was cleaning house I heard the news stating that ALL WORTHY MALE MEMBERS CAN HAVE THE PRIESTHOOD. I got so excited I jumped up for joy. school was over with and it was the beginning of summertime for the kids...I got so excited I called different people about it and some were excited like I was and then there were those who were disappointed. I called a sister friend in the church and she explained it as a way if deividing the tares from the wheat...which she explained to me at that time as well. so as you can see I have a testimony if this account. I found out later that the spirit was so strong that others felt it as well. I figured since I was preparing so hard to go to the temple and since the spirit was so strong it went out to many people. im grateful for this and to this day feel wonderful about it.
Kay RookhuyzenMay 22, 2018
I remember being in my tiny apartment with my three children and hearing the news on the radio. Many tears flowed. I had no idea, until this article, all the time spent by our dear prophet, Spencer W, Kimball, and the apostles in trying to get the revelation needed to make this change.
I was elated and knew, immediately, that it was right and that it was inspired. I still do.
John Armond BennettMay 22, 2018
Wow! I was on the BYU campus the day of the announcement. I was there as a feisty, native New Yorker, now as a High Councilman from the hinterlands of Albuquerque, New Mexico, successfully begging, pleading, and horse trading to get the Know Your Religion and BYU Education Week programs for my community. The announcement led to both brethren leaping from their lunches to call black brethren with the good news. I too, wept with their expressions of love and my own prayers that my own friends and acquaintances would soon share the “good news” - the gospel per a prophet.
Andre MostertMay 22, 2018
Thank you for sharing Edward Kimball's description of his father's trials and prayers. Some years earlier then Elder Kimball came to Nauvoo. I had the privilege of setting up and sitting in an interview between him and a TV reporter from a Quincy, IL TV station held at the Nauvoo LDS Visitors Center's small up stairs room. When she asked him if or when the LDS Church would give the priesthood to the blacks, Elder Kimball responded that he didn't know but he thought it might not be during his lifetime. I always felt he would be the appropriate prophet for the revelation. From birth he had seen his father (the 50th son of Heber C. Kimball, Apostle and Counselor to Brigham Young) serve the church as the head missionary to the many American Indian Tribes. Perhaps this was a training period for the future prophet.
Herm OlsenMay 22, 2018
Powerful statement on this great effort. I taught a lesson last week on this very moment in Priesthood, and there was still some pushback from the older, more conservative members. Sad.
Marie TurnerMay 22, 2018
Thanks for posting this! I remember so well the day this happened. I immediately prayed when I heard the announcement to know if it was right and felt an instant surge of joy! This is one of the best things that has happened in my lifetime and I'm so grateful for President Kimball working so hard to get a revelation that blesses so many amazing people. This article is wonderful!
Charles McClellandMay 22, 2018
I am so grateful for the courage and inspiration of President Kimball and the Twelve! Thank you for this deeply moving account of the process they followed in discovering and obeying the will of the Lord.
Herm OlsenMay 22, 2018
Oh my! I type this through tears - what a marvelous account of a marvelous moment! Bless President Kimball and the 12 for the courage, persistence and faith to bring this forth! Thank you, God.
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Evelyn RaeMay 26, 2018
This is the mist in-depth article I have read on this subject. How powerful! Feeling the spirit brings the tears to my eyes as I read. President Kimball - how humble, how loving, how committed, how dedicated, how reliant on His Master. What an example to us all.
John PaskettMay 24, 2018
Vickie Cloud (May 22nd post) - Thank you for sharing your detailed experience with this whole topic! It was so inspiring and makes me weep with gratitude to Heavenly Father for His many "independent witnesses" to strengthen us all and let us know without doubt that God is at the helm -- ALWAYS!
MarcMay 23, 2018
Very interesting article, had no idea this was such a struggle. I felt the change occurred largely because of the various reasons and pressures outlined in the article. I never saw a reason for this policy. I felt it was a holdover from the culture during which the church was established and that it needed to go. And I would have to agree that it really all began with Brigham Young.
vickie cloudMay 22, 2018
I was a new member of the church, preparing to go to the temple for the first time. I was working hard at changing my ways and character. I was a mother of 2 children expecting my 3rd when I was baptized in 1977. I lived in Mississippi because of my husbands military career. my 3rd child was born jan 30 1978. I drove a school bus after my baby was born and took my baby with me. I didn't realize it at the time but in history I was taking part in BUSING. which meant I was taking black kids to the white neighborhoods. that was the way it was for me. I had to pick up the junior high kids just one route because they acted so bad no one wanted to drive them. not long after starting that route I became very disgusted and overwhelmed because of their bad behavior. I didn't know what to do. I became angry and praying at the same time trying to set a good example which didn't work. during this time my husband and I had to go to a stake meeting in another town in missisippi and while in the car my husband told me that the blacks didn't have the priesthood. I was shocked. I couldn't believe that we had racism in a Godly church a church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints. we began to talk about it and then all of a sudden I go tthis strong feeling that they were going to get the holy priesthood. I felt it so strong that when I said it to my husband he said ...how can you say that ...your not a prophet and only he gets revelation for these things. I retorted I know they are going to get the priesthood. well, within a couple of weeks as I was cleaning house I heard the news stating that ALL WORTHY MALE MEMBERS CAN HAVE THE PRIESTHOOD. I got so excited I jumped up for joy. school was over with and it was the beginning of summertime for the kids...I got so excited I called different people about it and some were excited like I was and then there were those who were disappointed. I called a sister friend in the church and she explained it as a way if deividing the tares from the wheat...which she explained to me at that time as well. so as you can see I have a testimony if this account. I found out later that the spirit was so strong that others felt it as well. I figured since I was preparing so hard to go to the temple and since the spirit was so strong it went out to many people. im grateful for this and to this day feel wonderful about it.
Kay RookhuyzenMay 22, 2018
I remember being in my tiny apartment with my three children and hearing the news on the radio. Many tears flowed. I had no idea, until this article, all the time spent by our dear prophet, Spencer W, Kimball, and the apostles in trying to get the revelation needed to make this change. I was elated and knew, immediately, that it was right and that it was inspired. I still do.
John Armond BennettMay 22, 2018
Wow! I was on the BYU campus the day of the announcement. I was there as a feisty, native New Yorker, now as a High Councilman from the hinterlands of Albuquerque, New Mexico, successfully begging, pleading, and horse trading to get the Know Your Religion and BYU Education Week programs for my community. The announcement led to both brethren leaping from their lunches to call black brethren with the good news. I too, wept with their expressions of love and my own prayers that my own friends and acquaintances would soon share the “good news” - the gospel per a prophet.
Andre MostertMay 22, 2018
Thank you for sharing Edward Kimball's description of his father's trials and prayers. Some years earlier then Elder Kimball came to Nauvoo. I had the privilege of setting up and sitting in an interview between him and a TV reporter from a Quincy, IL TV station held at the Nauvoo LDS Visitors Center's small up stairs room. When she asked him if or when the LDS Church would give the priesthood to the blacks, Elder Kimball responded that he didn't know but he thought it might not be during his lifetime. I always felt he would be the appropriate prophet for the revelation. From birth he had seen his father (the 50th son of Heber C. Kimball, Apostle and Counselor to Brigham Young) serve the church as the head missionary to the many American Indian Tribes. Perhaps this was a training period for the future prophet.
Herm OlsenMay 22, 2018
Powerful statement on this great effort. I taught a lesson last week on this very moment in Priesthood, and there was still some pushback from the older, more conservative members. Sad.
Marie TurnerMay 22, 2018
Thanks for posting this! I remember so well the day this happened. I immediately prayed when I heard the announcement to know if it was right and felt an instant surge of joy! This is one of the best things that has happened in my lifetime and I'm so grateful for President Kimball working so hard to get a revelation that blesses so many amazing people. This article is wonderful!
Charles McClellandMay 22, 2018
I am so grateful for the courage and inspiration of President Kimball and the Twelve! Thank you for this deeply moving account of the process they followed in discovering and obeying the will of the Lord.
Herm OlsenMay 22, 2018
Oh my! I type this through tears - what a marvelous account of a marvelous moment! Bless President Kimball and the 12 for the courage, persistence and faith to bring this forth! Thank you, God.
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