J. Golden Kimball Stories

by James Kimball, Pat Bagley (Illustrator)

Mormon or gentile, everyone loves tales of this straight-talking cowboy who became a church leader. For almost a hundred years, stories of his quick wit and irreverent humor have been passed around campfires and sacrament meetings. This gold mine of J. Golden Kimball stories is sure to be a winner with anyone who's ever been human.

Genres: Humor, Church, Nonfiction, History

115 pages, Paperback

First published October 20, 1999

Reviews

[Chad Loveland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. Dude refused to follow the culture just the gospel. I sometimes wish there was another like him.

[Sydney Loveland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many of these stories made me laugh out loud.
After reading this, I feel/wish that I could be friends with this genuine, witty guy.

[Bree Ann Swaner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful. A curse word in every paragraph, but wholesome all the same!

[Nathalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

J.Golden Kimball is famous (some would say infamous) and beloved throughout the LDS Church for his wit and colorful language. He went to the South on a mission just 18 years after the Civil war where "feelings still ran high against carpet-bagging Yankees, and Mormon missionaries were sometimes beaten, tarred, and feathered-or even killed" and the KKK ran rampant. Story is told of Golden and his companion running into Rev. Weatherbee in Memphis who preached against them. As Weatherbee recognized them, he angrily grumbled "Good morning, you sons of the Devil!". Golden politely tipped his hat, answering "Good morning, Father."
As Golden himself said, "The Gospel must be true or greenhorn missionaries, like me, would have ruined it a long time ago." Salt Lake Tribune cartoonist Pat Bagley illustrates perfectly (no pun intended) the inimitable J. Golden's life.

[Sarah Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for a quick read while visiting family and found this slim book on their shelf. While it did give me a few chuckles, you really have to know some of Mormon history and culture to get why some of these stories are funny. And some of them derive their humor from being slightly irreverent on unconventional, and I'm sure at the time they were somewhat shocking. But I'm the kind of person who is more apt to think that what he said or did was totally appropriate. :)

[Etta Mcquade · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightful.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read these years ago and thought they were really funny. Rereading them today they have definitely lost their shine.

Meh.

[Kira Beatty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings.
Some parts made me laugh.
The sexist jokes made me cringe.

[Jonathan Plowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short read with enough humor-filled stories to require a second or third reading at later dates in time.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have had James Kimball's second collection of J. Golden Kimball stories for years, but had never seen the first one until now. Like the other one, this is a humorous collection of what are probably mostly apocryphal stories. It would be better if there were at least some suggestion of truth to them, but as the publisher says in the introduction, "...James had a free hand when it came to verifying the stories...Did someone, somewhere claim Golden once said it? -- that's good enough for us."

So, most of the stories are probably false, or at best wildly exaggerated, but they convey the flavor of Uncle Golden's personality and wit. Plus, as a friend of mine once said, "never let the truth get in the way of a good story." These are some fun stories!

[Todd Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book several years ago but I guess I forgot to add it when I first joined Goodreads and tried to add all of the books I had read. I first heard of J. Golden Kimball when I was a Missionary out in Michigan. There was a tape that many of the Elders had of James Arrington telling J. Golden Kimball stories. As the intro to the last chapter of the book says, "He [J. Golden Kimball] is the shoot-from-the-lip gospel gunslinger that we all secretly wish we had the wit, courage, and spiritual self assurance to be." This is a very quick read, in fact it took me just under an hour to read it tonight after I saw it on my bookshelf and decided I wanted to re-live these great stories.

[Chanin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't know much about this man. Now I know too much. :) Actually, it made me realize that he must have had a strong testimony. Anyone that callused and foolmouthed, must have had a testimony to keep serving when he was so rough. He truly seems lovable and so much like my grandfather. Made me miss him.

[LaSchelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

J. Golden Kimball was a funny General Authority. He barely kept the word of wisdom and had a cowboy vocabulary that kept people wanting to hear more.

Fast read of small stories contributed to his Great Grand Nephew.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great quick read. He is very funny and quick on the joke! Can't believe some of the stories they are a bit out there, but most of them are very entertaining! I now understand why 'good' LDS members in Utah didn't much care for him and why 'cowboy/country' members loved him!

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is hilarious. I laughed through out the book. What an amazing person.

[Heather the Banjo Queen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love J. Golden. So loud and feisty and I feel I can relate to him well.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was just a fun-read.....though I don't know how much is really true. You know how stories *expand*. :)

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely, positively love this book. Such funny stories and so entertaining. You have to read it.

[Corri Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed a good laugh and this was the ticket! Not all Mormon's are serious!!!!!!!

[Brandon Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quirky little book about a quirky general authority.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I needed some light reading today, and this fit the bill perfectly. (I was down with a sore throat.)

[Kelcey Murdoch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. Quick read and super entertaining. :)

[Loretta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book is less than a day. But it is so funny! The stories in this book will make you laugh and they will also warm the heart. A very good read to forget all the bad thing is life.