Few events in the history of the
Church, and perhaps the world, have had a greater impact on
the global spread of the gospel than did the 1978 revelation
received through President Spencer W. Kimball,
extending the priesthood to all worthy
males of all races. For some time, the
general authorities had discussed this
topic at length in their regular
temple meetings. In addition, President Kimball
went frequently to the temple, especially on
Saturdays and Sundays, when he could be there
alone to seek guidance. President Kimball related,
"I remember very vividly the day after day that I
walked over to the temple. I knelt and prayed, and I
prayed with such fervency. I tell you, I knew
that something was before us that was
extremely important to many of the children of God." On June 1, 1978,
President Kimball met with his counselors
and the Twelve, and again brought
up the possibility of conferring the priesthood
upon worthy men of all races. The brethren openly discussed
their feelings and views. After a two hour discussion,
President Kimball invited the group to
unite in formal prayer. He recorded, "I told the
Lord if it wasn't right, if he didn't want this
change to come in the Church, that I would be true to it
all the rest of my life, and I'd fight the world against
it if that's what He wanted." President Gordon
Hinckley remembered" "There was a hallowed
and sanctified atmosphere in the room. For me it felt as if a conduit
opened between the Heavenly throne and the nearly
pleading prophet of God who was joined by his brethren. Every man in that circle, by
the power of the Holy Ghost, knew the same thing. No one of us who was
present on that occasion was ever quite the
same after that, nor has the Church
been quite the same."