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J. Golden Kimball

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints leader

J. Golden Kimball (9 June 1853 – 2 September 1938) was a Latter-day Saint leader remembered for his folksy speaking.

When I look over this body of men, I do not discover that you are very distinguished in appearance. Why, you are no better looking than I am, and I look pretty bad.

Quotes

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  • I am ready to confess that I am keyed up to a pretty high tension, and the only thing I am afraid of is that I will say just what I think, which would be unwise, no doubt.
  • Construction is very difficult, destruction is easy.
  • It is considered a good thing to look wise, especially when not over burdened with information.
  • Any man who tries to do the right thing and continues to try, is not a failure in the sight of God.
  • Some of us don't get the spirit of repentance and see things right until our hair is gray. Brethren, let us be tolerant; let us be kind and considerate.
  • It takes lots of courage to say always what you think. The trouble is, we think things sometimes we ought not to say.
  • When I look over this body of men, I do not discover that you are very distinguished in appearance. Why, you are no better looking than I am, and I look pretty bad.
  • I do not know just where I am going, but I know mighty well I am on my way.
  • I tell you, God can do nothing with a "half-way man."
  • "Rock-a-bye baby in the tree top" won't work out our problems. There is no use crying "All is well in Zion," because it is not true.
  • I know what I want, and I begin to find out what it will cost.
  • I realize, my brethren and sisters, that, during the past thirty years I may have said some foolish things. I have in my own way, given the people a good deal of chaff to get them to take a little wheat, but some of them haven't got sense enough to pick the wheat out from the chaff.
  • I think of what Elbert Hubbard said. It struck me rather strangely the other day. He said: "If you are going to reform the world you had better begin with yourself, and there will be one rogue less in the world." Of course, I did not want to apply that to myself, but I would not object to applying it to you.
  • I guess there is a reporter here isn't there? I am always afraid of those "blooming reporters;" they always get things down as I say it, but it don't sound well. It sounds all right when I deliver it, but it doesn't read well in print.
  • If I have ever been vain—and no doubt I have been—I think men are really more vain than women, and that is a hard blow!
  • I feel more like saying, this morning, "Cheer up, the worst is to come."
  • Is this secular education which we receive in our public schools an essential part of our education? Most assuredly. If we have any rational idea of God we must conceive that he is a great scholar, a scientist, an inventor, a discoverer, with full knowledge of the forces of the universe, a chemist, a mathematician. He who framed the universe is surely educated along all these lines.
  • It's harder for a man to be spiritual-minded now than it was in the early days. In those days there wasn’t anything else to do but be spiritual and try to raise a crop so you wouldn’t starve. And when you’re hungry, how you can pray. Today we have to chase the almighty dollar and it’s pretty hard to keep your mind on anything else.
    • Oregon Sunday Journal, 7 October 1934, collected by Ardis E. Parshall, Keepapitchinin
  • We are one and all God's children. He created us and he never created a failure, and he created you.
  • I am very glad that I am not so old as I feel.
  • Some people say a person receives a position in this church through revelation, and others say they get it through inspiration, but I say they get it through relation. If I hadn't been related to Heber C. Kimball I wouldn't have been a damn thing in this church.
    • Hurst, Scott. Open Fire: J. Golden Kimball Takes on the South. Springville, Utah: Cedar Fort. ISBN 9781462102440. 

From Kimball's personal notebooks

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  • Almost everything now a days is standardized, staked out, fenced in, blue printed and so perfectly all planned and laid out that the Lord couldn’t get in a word edge-ways.
    • from Kimball's personal notebooks, collected by Ardis E. Parshall, Keepapitchinin
  • I am inclined to believe that we do not hear straight, talk straight, see straight and think straight. We preach too long, talk too much and kill the very truth we want to put over.
    • from Kimball's personal notebooks, collected by Ardis E. Parshall, Keepapitchinin
  • I am not advocating humor at a church gathering, or at a funeral, but I do believe Mormon Elders ought to rise to the occasion either by inspiration or the use of good common sense. Being your own dear self and acting or speaking natural is at least refreshing if not entertaining.
    • from Kimball's personal notebooks, collected by Ardis E. Parshall, Keepapitchinin
  • I claim not to raise the dead, but I can arouse the Saints who come to meetings to sleep and rest, but often am forced to use unseemly language to put it over.
    • from Kimball's personal notebooks, collected by Ardis E. Parshall, Keepapitchinin
  • I wonder sometimes when I look into the faces of some of these overworked people, if there is a sort of a sleeping potion taken just prior to going to Church, so they can rest in peace and not feel disturbed, but relax and forget they are alive.
    • from Kimball's personal notebooks, collected by Ardis E. Parshall, Keepapitchinin
  • If you begin to run short of things to be thankful for, commence to pray for your enemies and you will be surprised how soon you will want to quit and say, Amen.
    • from Kimball's personal notebooks, collected by Ardis E. Parshall, Keepapitchinin
  • Remember to smile and to practice what you preach. It is better to live up to and preach a few things than to cram your mind with great volumes of goodness and make none of them work. Why not pick out a few good things and try them out?
    • from Kimball's personal notebooks, collected by Ardis E. Parshall, Keepapitchinin
  • Wives and husbands are mostly foolish. A little love, respect, patience and to give and take, and occasionally a kiss and a cuddle, would make out of a hades a heaven.
    • from Kimball's personal notebooks, collected by Ardis E. Parshall, Keepapitchinin
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