“J. GOLDEN KIMBALL: The Remarkable Man Behind the Colorful Stories,” by Kathryn Jenkins Gordon, Covenant Communications, $11.99, 150 pages (nf)
J. Golden Kimball was the son of Apostle Heber C. Kimball and he served as a Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“J. Golden Kimball is known not so much for what he did but for what he said,” as Kathryn Jenkins Gordon notes in her recent biography of him, “J. Golden Kimball: The Remarkable Man Behind the Colorful Stories.”
She shares the story of the man who was fairly blunt in his speech and is known for his colorful language.
She shares what she’s found out about his childhood, where he likely learned that colorful language, and many anecdotes from Kimball’s life.
The book delves into his call as a missionary and later as mission president to the Southern States Mission, working as an assistant to the First Council of the Seventy and other aspects of his church service as he served as a general authority, including traveling and visiting various congregations, and his speaking in general conference when live radio was implemented.
“J. Golden Kimball” explores his personal life, the struggle of his mother after Heber C. Kimball died with the long process of settling his estate, and the business ventures of J. Golden Kimball and his brother as they experienced both successes and failures. Gordon also shares about his wife, Jennie, and the couple’s six children and how life wasn’t always easy as home, as he had to declare bankruptcy and several of his children didn’t always follow the church’s teachings.
Gordon’s storytelling ability shines, as she has created a compilation that shares both the challenges and unique aspects of the apostle's life along with the successes in a respectful and easy-to-read biography.
There is some mild swearing in quotes from Elder Kimball, and there is one instance of very generally described violence.