Introduction

One might reasonably divide Mormon history into three stages—the founding era, the establishment era, and the expanding era.

The first might be exemplified by the life of Heber C. Kimball, who stood with Joseph Smith and Brigham Young in their efforts to build a Zion-like kingdom in Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, and the Great Basin.

The life of Andrew Kimball, one of Heber’s sons, can represent a second stage, the Americanization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, beginning with the 1857 Mormon War, the struggle for Utah statehood, the 1890 Manifesto, and the filling up of the United States West.

Third, Spencer W. Kimball (grandson of Heber and son of Andrew) lived and served in stake and general Church leadership during a third stage of the expanding era when the Church spread internationally during the twentieth century and grew through missionary service, temple building, creation of new levels of leadership, and universal access to priesthood.

Andrew Kimball links the pioneer times of his father on one side to a worldwide church in the times of his son. Andrew’s life began with horse and wagon and lasted to see international radio transmission.

Heber C. Kimball and his wife Ann Alice Gheen.

Following the course of Andrew’s experience allows us to see his life in small-town Salt Lake City, share his experiences as a missionary preaching without purse or scrip in the Indian Territory (and his supervision of that mission for ten years), follow his career as a traveling salesman servicing small communities in the Utah–Idaho area, and witness his service as a stake president in the Church-dominated community of Gila Valley of Arizona with the varied secular pursuits required to support his family.

Although stake leaders are not routinely the subjects of biographies, Andrew Kimball, a stake epresident for twenty-five years, warrants special attention because he provides a historic link between the beginnings of a church and our own time.