Few events in the history of the Church, and perhaps the world,
have had a greater impact on the global spread of the gospel
than did the 1978 revelation received through President
Spencer W. Kimball, extending the priesthood
to all worthy males of all races.
For some time, the general authorities
had discussed this topic at length
in their regular temple meetings.
In addition, President Kimball went frequently to the temple,
especially on Saturdays and Sundays,
when he could be there alone to seek guidance.
President Kimball related, "I remember very vividly
the day after day that I walked over to the temple.
I knelt and prayed, and I prayed with such fervency.
I tell you, I knew that something
was before us that was extremely important to many
of the children of God."
On June 1, 1978, President Kimball
met with his counselors and the Twelve,
and again brought up the possibility
of conferring the priesthood upon worthy men of all races.
The brethren openly discussed their feelings and views.
After a two hour discussion, President Kimball
invited the group to unite in formal prayer.
He recorded, "I told the Lord if it wasn't right,
if he didn't want this change to come in the Church,
that I would be true to it all the rest of my life,
and I'd fight the world against it if that's what He wanted."
President Gordon Hinckley remembered"
"There was a hallowed and sanctified atmosphere
in the room.
For me it felt as if a conduit opened between the Heavenly
throne and the nearly pleading prophet of God who
was joined by his brethren.
Every man in that circle, by the power of the Holy Ghost,
knew the same thing.
No one of us who was present on that occasion
was ever quite the same after that,
nor has the Church been quite the same."