Heber C. Kimball was born on June 14, 1801, in Sheldon, Vermont. He was born into a good upstanding family who taught him from the Bible. His parents, however, were not affiliated with any church. From the time he was twelve, he had many serious thoughts and wanted to obtain a knowledge of salvation. Unable to find anyone to teach him the things of God, he did not join himself to any church but decided to live a moral life as best he could. He became a Mason, which meant that he vowed not to lie or do anything immoral.