In Honor of President Spencer W. Kimball at His 86th Birthday

LDS Church Buildings, Thatcher, Arizona, early 1930s—Three sturdy buildings, well-framed, warm in tone, symbolize much of President Kimball’s early years and labors. To the left is the Thatcher Ward chapel, built in 1902, seven years after young Spencer Woolley Kimball was born to Andrew and Olive Woolley Kimball 28 March 1895. The building is still used today.

Immediately to the right is a Relief Society building, built in 1914 separate from the chapel, as was the custom at the time. Spencer’s mother had died seven years earlier; he was now nineteen, soon to be Elder Spencer W. Kimball at the Central States Mission.

On the far right stands a corner building which has filled many roles—not unlike Spencer Kimball who began to serve in it as St. Joseph Stake clerk shortly after his 1917 marriage to Camilla Eyring. Built in the late 1880s, the quarters originally were titled “The Bishop’s Tithing Office” but have since come to be called “The St. Joseph Stake President’s Office.” In 1924, Spencer’s father, the St. Joseph Stake president, passed away, and Spencer Kimball served as both stake clerk and second counselor in the stake presidency. By 1938, the stake was divided and Spencer W. Kimball was called as Mount Graham Stake president, headquartered in Safford, three miles from Thatcher, where Spencer and Camilla had moved in 1921.

On 8 July 1943 came the telephone call from Salt Lake City that resulted in Spencer W. Kimball’s ordination and his appointment to the Quorum of the Twelve. Thirty years later, on 30 December 1973, he was ordained and set apart as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Interestingly, in January of this year, the small corner building was vacated. It’s new use? To house facilities for the Thatcher Arizona Stake Genealogical Extraction Program in response to Churchwide activity motivated by Thatcher’s pride, President Spencer W. Kimball.

The man and these buildings of his early years have each served warmly and powerfully, faithfully encompassing all those within their circle of influence.