One silent sleepless night

by Spencer W. Kimball

This is a record of one silent, sleepless night which I spent in 1957 in a bedroom on the third floor of the Mission Home in New York City following major surgery in which I lost one vocal cord and part of another, and then had staph infection following the surgery.

Genres: Religion, Lds, Church, Biography, Nonfiction, Memoir, Spirituality

62 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Born on March 28, 1895, in Salt Lake City, Spencer W. Kimball grew up in Thatcher, Arizona. After completing a mission and marrying Camilla Eyring, he settled in Safford, Arizona, to raise his family and run an insurance business. Years of Church and community leadership preceded his calling as an Apostle in 1943. Overcoming severe health problems, he became Church President on December 30, 1973, at the age of 78. He led the Church with spiritual power and energetic determination during a period of dramatic vitality and growth. His administration produced significant advances in doctrinal understanding, member unity, and gospel expansion worldwide. In the 12 years of his presidency, the number of operating temples doubled, the number of missionaries increased by 50 percent, and the priesthood was extended to all worthy male members. He died in Salt Lake City on November 5, 1985.

Reviews

[Rayni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. I loved this book.

Edited to add: I met President Kimball in 1976 while working in the Missionary Dept of the LDS Church corporate offices in Salt Lake City. He was an unlikely candidate to lead a world-wide church because of his health problems.

So, I can honestly say that the reason I loved this book is because of the man, but I can also relate to the agony & soul-searching brought on by the surgery resulting in loss of his vocal chords.

The complete loss of hearing in one ear resulting from the removal of a brain tumor & a significant hearing loss in the remaining ear, among other health problems, is my personal cross to carry.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very short read.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short little book filled with memories of President Kimball. Anyone who has stayed up all night due to pain or illness, will have somewhat of an understanding of what Pres Kimball was going through.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really a personal essay more than a book, and it gave me the feeling that President Kimball wrote it as much to work out his own thoughts, fears, and concerns as to help other people in difficult circumstances. Nonetheless, it has often helped others, including myself. In the book, he reflects on the mental and emotional anxiety he experienced after difficult surgey, the self-doubts, the concerns for the future, and the fears for others who would be affected by the likely outcomes of the surgery. its very short, and well worth the time to read and ponder.

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beatifully written book! I have always had a special place in my heart for President Kimball and this just solidified my feelings for the amazing man. It was such an insight into the man himself and so clearly helped me to understand better not only him but my own father who has been through something similar. I times I was very emotional thinking how awful this kind of an experience must have been for my own Dad.But ultimately I love how he ends his story "TIME has been resurrected, peace restored, and life is good again."

[Dahlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a very quick read, but really nice. I read it in just a couple hours. I learned a lot about President Kimball that I didn't know. It was neat to hear about his experience after his throat surgery and all the worries and doubts that went through his mind at that time. It goes to show that an apostle of the Lord is just a man on the Lord's errand. Later he became our beloved prophet with that raspy voice we will never forget.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific. I am so in love with 1970s-era artistic expressions of Mormonism and this is a great indication of why. There's a connection to the cosmos here, an insistence on striving for the eternal now, that is no longer in vogue in these circles. The spirituality is inherent on every page but is never hammered - the suggestions are strong enough. Content and form are beautifully intertwined to make a compelling examination on thought, pondering, memory and answers that come after a long night.

[Deanna Sutter · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is the about President Kimball and a night after he had surgery. He was unable to sleep and so it's about his reflections from his life. It's the second time I've read it. I reread it for a book club. It's very short. I'm sure it's out of print now. If you ever see it and want to read it-great, if you don't come across it than don't worry about it.

[Etta Mcquade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pres. Kimball's first-hand account of his long night's experience following his 1957 throat surgery, wherein he reviews the memories of his childhood, the death of his mother at his age of 11, his call to the apostleship, and his marriage, are all written in a poignant way. He has a nice way with words, such as, "The bugs camae marching out for the night follage."

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book a long time ago. It wasn't what I expected it to be. It was about one night that President Kimball couldn't sleep because if his health and he basically told what was on his mind. I have thought of this book so many times in my life when I couldn't sleep for various reasons and felt comforted that a prophet of the Lord has felt some of the same things.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

President Kimball was an inspiring prophet to me, he was the prophet of my youth, my Seminary days when my testimony was solidified and strengthened. His signature is on my mission call. This book is a treasure to me as it described one of the darkest moments in his life, and how he came through it.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book while in college, and it served to inspire me to achieve everything I possibly could, in spite of obstacles. His ponderings while in tribulation were of such a spiritual nature. It was not a pity party, as many of us would have done. What a man, what a book!

[Em7ar7 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pres Kimball reminiscing about past experiences as he is kept awake by pain after the operation on his vocal chords. very interesting. Made me want to write a more detailed personal history of my own.

[T Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the memories shared throughout the very short book. It was an interesting combination of a mini-autobiography and a personal account of the worries and pain he felt due to his throat surgery. I could hear his wonderfully unique voice as I read.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful account of working through a night of mental agony, caused by tremendous physical hardship.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good loving book to read late at night when you are feeling sad and alone. I learned to ask more questions of my Elders as in the people who lived during the early part of last century.

[Melanie Sanwo]

Recommended by Kristi Lawrence

[Chris King · Rating 4 out of 5]

very personal little book, great read

[Don Gubler · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is kind of haunting. God can save a future prophet. Am I worth saving and at what price?

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick wonderful read.

[Paul Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a book today written by Spencer W Kimball…
“One silent, sleepless night”, This is a record of which I spent in 1957 in a bedroom on the third floor of the Mission Home in New York City following major surgery in which I lost one vocal cord and part of another, and then had staph infection following the surgery…
I chose it from several books that a sister from Ovation offered freely. She passed away recently; her memorial service is Saturday. This book was signed by Spencer W Kimball! It was only 62 pages. I ended up taking several other books that interested us…one was a biography of Ezra Taft Benson also a signed copy!
This book told of reflected memories that occupied his sleepless night. It inspired me as it shared a variety of memorable experiences from his life and his perseverance through great adversity.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this little book! It feels so rich and worth reading! I don’t really know why, though. It just feels like it has spiritual weight. I really enjoyed it. It's more a short story or a personal essay rather than any kind of book. Very short read. But, very worthwhile and quite well written. If you get the chance, take 30 min and check it out.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book used to kick around on my father's bookshelf when I was a kid. I remember reading it almost 40 years ago. I found a $5.00 used copy on Amazon a few days ago when I was experiencing my own silent sleepless night. I love his description of his Swiss watch, the dirt basketball court and his family home in Thatcher, AZ. The Prophet of my youth!

[Susan Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the perfect accompaniment to President Kimball’s Biography. A quick read, which provided more insight to a struggling time in his life. Some have said that it wasn’t that great because it was just him writing out his thoughts and feelings more for himself, but I think that’s exactly what makes it great.

[Kipling Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do enjoy a quick read like this one. The tossing about of thoughts and memories that keep an exhausted soul from finding decent rest and the extension of time that accompanies the restlessness, is easy to access as a reader and so true!

[Eileen Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book, like I loved President Kimball! It's an easy read,only 63 pages, yet so powerful! He tells many memories he had as a child, missionary & Apostle, while lying awake in a hospital bed following sugery, wondering if he would ever be able to preach again! Beautifully written, it carries you away to many places around the globe,in another era, which lacked many of the convienences we have today. The true stories are humble to heart wrenching. It's a wonderful introduction for children, not only to the Prophet, but also to the hard working childhood of their great grandfather's generation. The many watercolor value studies provide truly artistic illustrations.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet to read of the prophet's experience one silent sleepless night. It has helped me endure many of my own.