Time to Blog again. I will be blogging again. I had stopped, and was just doing facebook. But I'm back, because I have thoughts and pictures to share!
A "love" story you never yet heard about President Kimball...
Let me tell you a story. In April of 1996 I was a sister missionary in the MTC, learning Dutch and preparing to travel to Holland, the home of my ancestors. One Sunday our zone was gathered together for sacrament meeting--I can still see the room in my mind. We sat and absorbed the talks and testimonies of our zone's branch presidency--three kind and wonderful men who took the time to be there for us and counsel with us every week. The first counselor began to speak--he was a tall, dignified, somewhat reserved elderly man. As it is often said, I don't recall what he said, but I do recall the feeling I had (and where I was sitting in the room... ;)
As he spoke, the image of President Kimball kept coming to my mind. He was not speaking of the deceased prophet, he didn't mention him at all, nor ever had he, but the image and thought of Pres. Kimball persisted. It was as if the prophet were standing right next to him. Before entering the MTC, I had read one of Kimball's books, and so I recognized the particular sense of his personality, though I had never met the man. The spiritual sensation was particularly strong and utterly persistent. Even when this branch presidency member finished speaking and sat down, I could sense Pres. Kimball every time I just looked at him. In fact, just thinking back on the situation, I can still remotely sense it.
I thought to myself, "this is very odd...why am I sensing this..."
When the sacrament meeting came to an end, I thought I should say something to this man about my sensation. I felt silly and embarrassed though, because it was such an off-the-wall sensation, and maybe I was just imaging things...and I felt embarrassed because I was a shy young girl and he was a very dignified, restrained older man. However! I just forced myself to do it, thankfully, otherwise I would not have a story to tell.
When I finally shyly told him that I continually sensed Pres. Kimball whenever I looked at him, a very shocked expression immediately fell upon him, like he had just seen something fantastical-- and a teary mist sprung to his eyes. Suddenly, he was no longer restrained. Still seeming shocked, he told me that he had been Pres. Kimball's personal secretary for many years, and had served the prophet in that position up until his death. He spoke to me about the prophet.
Sometime during the ensuing week, the branch presidency returned one evening for a personal interview with each of the missionaries, and the first counselor spoke with me. I was struggling a lot that day (I think I was very homesick, and I was physically sick and fatigued all the time while in the MTC), and wanted to have a priesthood blessing. I explained this to him, but said I felt slightly insecure and uncomfortable asking for one, since I had already had a blessing fairly recently. Then the subject of President Kimball came to the fore. This Branch Counselor told me I should absolutely never feel that way--absolutely never be hesitant or feel ashamed in any way to ask for as much spiritual assistance as I needed. He then told me that during the last years of Pres. Kimball's life, when he was suffering from very ill health, the prophet asked for and received hundreds of priesthood blessings, many administered by this man himself.
Hundreds.
I felt astounded.
Not much more needs to be said...I think the inherent lessons are obvious. Over the years this experience occasionally comes to my mind, as it has lately. It still amazes, impresses and teaches me. As Pres. Kimball exemplified, there is no end to the help the Lord will give us. Sometimes we hold back from doing challenging things in life--although it may be something we really want, and perhaps even something the Lord expects of us--we hold back because the challenge, commitment, or prospective situation just seems too hard or too overwhelming. But as the prophet demonstrated, we can jump in, survive and prevail if we ask for enough spiritual help. And sometimes "enough" is a whole lot. And humility is certainly an ingredient---being humble enough to enter into and embrace our weakness for a time, asking for and accepting a mountain of help.
The "love" part of the story could be viewed as Pres. Kimball's love for, and comfort level with the Lord. However, today I'm thinking of the love this man, Pres. Kimball's secretary, had for his dear friend the prophet--his love for the man he supported and served through many years. It occurs to me now how beautiful it is that the two of them--these two friends and companions--had become permanent parts of one another. So much so that when I saw one, I sensed the other--without any prior knowledge of their connection.
That is a beautiful love and devotion. One unhindered by the frost of death. The friend, the companion he grew to love, strongly lingered with him still.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
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3 comments:
That was very nice, Em. Thank you.
What a lovely, lovely story.
Thanks for sharing.
I found this very compelling! I don't always hear of stories that are this personal about the apostles and prophets, but I've always known that there are the spirits of those we need with us ever since Oma would tell us about her Oma being with her and this just extends that understanding. Very nice. It was uplifting and encouraging at a time when I needed it. Thank you.
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