[MUSIC PLAYING]
President Kimball had a great concern
for the Native Americans throughout his life.
When he received his patriarchal blessing at the age of 8,
he was told, "You will preach the gospel to many people,
but more especially to the Lamanites."
Shortly after George Albert Smith
became President of the Church in 1945,
he called Elder Kimball to be responsible for all Church
relations with Native Americans.
One of Spencer Kimball's most important services
to Native Americans was the establishment
of the Indian Placement Program, which became an official Church
program in 1954.
This program provided thousands of young Native Americans
the opportunity to receive a formal education
as they lived as foster children with participating families.
Of his beloved Lamanite brothers and sisters,
President Kimball taught, "Assuming
that we do our duty to them, the Indians and other sons of Lehi
will yet rise in power and strength.
The Lord will remember his covenant to them. ...
They will come to a knowledge of their fathers
and to a perfect knowledge of their Redeemer, Jesus Christ;
they shall prosper in the land and will, with our help,
build up a holy city, even the New Jerusalem,
under their God."