As  filed  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  on  June  20,  2000
                                                           Registration No. 333-

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


                       KANSAS CITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                Missouri                                 44-0308260
   (State or other jurisdiction of                    (I.R.S. Employer
    incorporation or organization)                   Identification No.)

   3520 Broadway, Kansas City, Missouri                  64111-2565
 (Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)

       Kansas City Life Insurance Company Savings and Profit Sharing Plan
                            (Full title of the plan)


                              Mr. John A. Showalter
                       Kansas City Life Insurance Company
                                  3520 Broadway
                        Kansas City, Missouri 64111-2565
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                 (816) 753-7000
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)


                  Please send copies of all correspondence to:

                          STINSON, MAG & FIZZELL, P.C.
                         1201 Walnut Street, Suite 2800
                              Kansas City, MO 64106
                            Attention: James W. Allen
                                 (816) 842-8600

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                 Proposed maximum        Proposed maximum         Amount of
                                                  Amount to be   offering price per   aggregate offering price   registration
      Title of securities to be registered         registered        share (1)                  (1)                  fee
<S>                                               <C>                <C>                    <C>                    <C>

     Kansas City Life Insurance Company Common
        Stock (par value $1.25 per share)         400,000 (2)        $28.03125              $11,212,500            $2,961

<FN>

(1)  Estimated  solely for purposes of  calculating  registration  fee, based on
     $28.03125,  the average of the high and low market  prices per share of the
     stock as reported by the Nasdaq  SmallCap  Stock  Market on June 13,  2000,
     pursuant  to  Rule  457(h)  under  the  Securities  Act of  1933.

(2)  The provisions of Rule 416 shall apply to this  registration  statement and
     the   number  of  shares   registered   on  this   registration   statement
     automatically shall increase or decrease as a result of stock splits, stock
     dividends, or similar transactions.
</FN>
</TABLE>
In addition,  pursuant to Rule 416(c)  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  this
registration  statement also covers an  indeterminate  amount of interests to be
offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plan described herein.



                                     PART II

               Information Required in the Registration Statement

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

     The SEC allows Kansas City Life and the Savings and Profit  Sharing Plan to
"incorporate  by reference" the  information  that they file with the SEC, which
means:

     o    incorporated documents are considered part of the prospectus;

     o    we can disclose important information to you by referring you to these
          documents; and

     o    information  that we file with the SEC will  automatically  update and
          supersede the prospectus and any previously incorporated information.

     Kansas City Life and the Savings and Profit  Sharing  Plan  incorporate  by
reference the  documents or portions of documents  listed below which were filed
with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"):

     o    annual  report  on Form 10-K of  Kansas  City Life for the year  ended
          December 31, 1999; and

     o    annual report on Form 11-K of the Savings and Profit  Sharing Plan for
          the year ended December 31, 1999.

     Kansas City Life and the Savings and Profit  Sharing Plan also  incorporate
by reference  each of the following  documents or portions of documents that are
filed  with the SEC  after the date of the  prospectus  until  the  offering  is
completed or after the date of the initial  registration  statement and prior to
the filing of a  post-effective  amendment  which  indicates that all securities
offered  have been  sold or which  deregisters  all  securities  then  remaining
unsold:

     o    reports filed under Sections 13(a) and 13(c) of the Exchange Act;

     o    definitive  proxy or information  statements filed under Section 14 of
          the  Exchange  Act in  connection  with any  subsequent  shareholders'
          meeting; and

     o    reports filed under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

Item 4.  Description of Securities.

     The  authorized  capital  stock of Kansas City Life  consists of 36,000,000
shares of common stock,  par value $1.25 per share, of which  12,043,211  shares
were  outstanding  as of June 13, 2000.  No other  classes of capital  stock are
authorized by the Restated Articles of Incorporation of Kansas City Life.

     The  descriptions  set forth below do not  purport to be  complete  and are
qualified in their entirety by reference to:

     o    the 1986 Restated Articles of Incorporation of Kansas City Life; and

     o    the By-laws of Kansas City Life, as amended.

General

     Each share of our common stock  entitles the holder  thereof to one vote on
all matters  submitted  to a vote of the  shareholders,  except the  election of
directors.  At all elections of directors,  each  shareholder  is entitled to as
many  votes as  shall  equal  the  number  of  shares  held by such  shareholder
multiplied by the number of directors to be elected,  and such  shareholder  may
cast all such  votes for a single  director  or may  distribute  them  among the
number of directors to be voted for as such  shareholder may see fit. Our common
stock is not subject to  redemption or future calls or assessment by Kansas City
Life.  Holders  of  common  stock do not have  preemptive  rights,  or rights to
convert  their common stock into other  securities.  The holders of common stock
are entitled to receive  ratably such  dividends as may be declared by the board
of  directors  out of  funds  legally  available  therefore.  In the  event of a
liquidation,  dissolution  or  winding up of the  affairs  of Kansas  City Life,
holders  of our common  stock have the right to a ratable  portion of the assets
remaining after the payment of all  liabilities.  All outstanding  shares of our
common stock are, and any shares of common stock sold  hereunder  will be, fully
paid and nonassessable. Ms. Cheryl A. Keefer is the registrar and transfer agent
for the common stock.  The common stock is listed on the Nasdaq  SmallCap  Stock
Market under the symbol "KCLI."

Potential  Anti-takeover  Effect of Kansas  City  Life's  Restated  Articles  of
Incorporation and Bylaws

     The provisions of Kansas City Life's articles of  incorporation  and bylaws
that are summarized below may have an anti-takeover  effect and may delay, defer
or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a shareholder  might consider
to be in such shareholder's best interests,  including those attempts that might
result in a premium over the market price for the shares held by shareholders.

     Classification  of Board of  Directors.  Our board of  directors is divided
into three  classes,  and our  directors  are  elected by classes to  three-year
terms,  so that  members of one of the three  classes of our  directors  will be
elected  at each  annual  meeting  of the  shareholders.  While  this  provision
promotes  stability and continuity of the board of directors,  classification of
the board of  directors  may also have the  effect of  decreasing  the number of
directors that could otherwise be elected at each annual meeting of shareholders
by a person who obtains a  controlling  interest in our common stock and thereby
could impede a change in control of Kansas City Life.

     Business Combinations. Kansas City Life's articles of incorporation contain
a "fair  price"  provision  which  generally  requires  that  certain  "business
combinations"  with a "related  person"  (generally the  beneficial  owner of at
least 5 percent of Kansas City Life's  voting  stock) be approved by the holders
of at least 66 2/3 percent of Kansas City Life's voting  stock,  with the 66 2/3
percent vote requirement being calculated by excluding from the voted shares and
the number of shares of voting stock outstanding,  the voting stock held by such
related person, except in the following circumstances:

     (1)  If more than two thirds of all  members of the board of  directors  of
          Kansas  City Life  then in  office  expressly  approve  such  business
          combination by resolution; or

     (2)  If in the proposed business  combination,  more than two-thirds of all
          members of the board of  directors  of Kansas City Life then in office
          determine that all of the following conditions are met:

     o    The ratio of (i) the aggregate  amount of the cash and the fair market
          value of other consideration to be received per share of securities of
          Kansas  City Life in such  business  combination  by  holders of those
          securities,  other than a related  person  involved  in such  business
          combination,  over (ii) the market price per share of those securities
          immediately  prior  to  the  announcement  of  the  proposed  business
          combination,  is at least as great as the ratio of (x) the highest per
          share price  (including  brokerage  commissions,  transfer taxes,  and
          soliciting  dealers'  fees)  that  such  related  person  has  paid in
          acquiring any such securities prior to such business combination, over
          (y) the market price per share of those securities  immediately  prior
          to the  initial  acquisition  by such  related  person of any of those
          securities  (in  the  event  of  a  business   combination   upon  the
          consummation  of  which  Kansas  City  Life  would  be  the  surviving
          corporation  or  would  continue  to  exist  (unless  it is  provided,
          contemplated,  or intended that as a part of such business combination
          or within one(1) year after consummation thereof a plan of liquidation
          or dissolution of Kansas City Life will be effected),  the term "other
          consideration  to be received" shall include without  limitation,  any
          shares of voting stock  retained by  shareholders  of Kansas City Life
          other  than the  related  persons  who are  parties  to such  business
          combination);

     o    Except to the extent that a shareholder  agrees otherwise as to all or
          part of the securities that the shareholder owns, the consideration to
          be received in such business  combination by holders of the securities
          of Kansas  City Life to be  acquired,  other than the  related  person
          involved,  shall  be in the  same  form  and of the  same  kind as the
          consideration  paid by the related person in acquiring such securities
          already owned by it;

     o    After such  related  person  became a related  person and prior to the
          consummation of such business combination:

          (i)  Kansas  City Life  shall  have not  failed to pay full  dividends
               pursuant  to the  terms of any  preferred  stock  then  issued by
               Kansas City Life and shall not have reduced the rate of dividends
               previously  paid on its  common  stock,  unless  such  failure or
               reduction was approved in advance by more than  two-thirds of the
               members of the board of directors then in office;

          (ii) Such  related  person  shall not have  acquired  from Kansas City
               Life, directly or indirectly, any securities of Kansas City Life,
               except upon (x) a conversion of convertible  securities  acquired
               by it prior to becoming a related person, or (y) as a result of a
               pro rata stock  dividend,  stock split or division of shares,  or
               (z) a transaction  consummated in compliance  with the provisions
               of Article 9 of Kansas City Life's articles of incorporation;

          (iii)Such  related  person  shall  not have  acquired  any  additional
               securities of Kansas City Life or securities  convertible into or
               exchangeable  for  such  securities,  except  as a  part  of  the
               transaction  that  resulted in such related  person's  becoming a
               related person;

          (iv) Such  related  person  shall not have (x)  received  the benefit,
               directly  or  indirectly  (except  pro rata as a  shareholder  of
               Kansas City Life), of any loans, advances,  guarantees,  pledges,
               or other financial  assistance or tax credits  provided by Kansas
               City Life,  or (y) made any major  change in Kansas  City  Life's
               business  or  equity  capital   structure  or  entered  into  any
               contract,  arrangement,  or understanding  with Kansas City Life,
               except as were approved in advance by more than two-thirds of the
               members  of the board of  directors  of Kansas  City Life then in
               office; and

          (v)  The payment of the purchase price for the securities  proposed to
               be  acquired by the related  person in the  business  combination
               shall not, directly or indirectly,  be financed or proposed to be
               financed by sale of all or part of the assets of Kansas City Life
               or by use of Kansas City Life's  assets,  directly or indirectly,
               as security for that financing; and

     o    A proxy  statement  complying with the  requirements of rules relating
          thereto that are applicable to Kansas City Life shall have been mailed
          to all holders of shares of voting stock for the purpose of soliciting
          shareholder  approval  of  such  business   combination.   Such  proxy
          statement  shall  contain  at the front,  in a  prominent  place,  any
          recommendations  as to  the  advisability  or  inadvisability  of  the
          business  combination  which the board of directors may have furnished
          in writing, and if deemed advisable by a majority of the directors, an
          opinion of a reputable  investment  banking firm as to the fairness or
          lack of fairness of the terms of such  business  combination  from the
          point of view of the holders of the shares of voting  stock other than
          the related person, such investment and banking firm to be selected by
          a majority of the directors and to be furnished  with all  information
          it  reasonably  requests,  and  to be  paid  by  Kansas  City  Life  a
          reasonable  fee for its  services  upon receipt by Kansas City Life of
          such opinion.

Kansas City Life's article of incorporation contain the following definitions:

     "Business combination" means:

     o    any merger or  consolidation  of Kansas City Life or a  subsidiary  of
          Kansas City Life with or into a related person;

     o    any merger or  consolidation  of a related  person with or into Kansas
          City Life or a subsidiary of Kansas City Life;

     o    any sale, lease,  exchange,  transfer or other disposition in a single
          transaction or a series of  transactions,  of all or any  "substantial
          part" of the assets  either of Kansas City Life or of a subsidiary  of
          Kansas City Life, or both, to a related person;

     o    any sale, lease,  exchange,  transfer or other disposition in a single
          transaction  or a series of  transactions,  of all or any  substantial
          part of the  assets  of a  related  person  to  Kansas  City Life or a
          subsidiary of Kansas City Life;

     o    the issuance of any  securities of Kansas City Life or any  subsidiary
          of Kansas City Life to a related person;

     o    any    reclassification    of   Kansas   City    Life's    securities,
          recapitalization  of Kansas City Life or any subsidiary of Kansas City
          Life, or other  transaction other than a redemption in accordance with
          the  security  redeemed,  that  would  have the  effect,  directly  or
          indirectly,  of increasing  the voting power of a related  person,  in
          relation to the voting power of the other  shareholders of Kansas City
          Life;

     o    any partial or  complete  liquidation,  spinoff,  or splitup of Kansas
          City Life or any  subsidiary of Kansas City Life or other  transaction
          with a similar purpose or effect, directly or indirectly involving any
          related person;

     o    any  transaction  or event that is  intended  by any party  thereto to
          have,  or that is  likely  to have,  a  similar  effect  as any of the
          transactions  or  events  described  in  the  definition  of  business
          combination; or

     o    any agreement,  contract,  plan or other arrangement providing for any
          of  the   transactions   described  in  the   definition  of  business
          combination.

     "Substantial  part" means  assets with a fair market value that is equal to
or exceeds 5% of the fair market  value of the total  assets of Kansas City Life
or the person in question as of the end of its most recent previous fiscal year.

     Missouri  Control Share  Acquisition  Statute.  The Missouri  control share
acquisition  statute (Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 351.407 (Supp.  1991)), is designed
to assist a corporation in defending itself against a hostile takeover  attempt.
Because Kansas City Life has over 100  shareholders,  has its principal place of
business  in  Missouri  and  more  than  10% of its  shareholders  are  Missouri
residents,   it  will  be  subject  to  the  statute,  unless  its  articles  of
incorporation  provide  otherwise.  Because of the  protection  afforded  by the
statute,  Kansas City Life has not  included  such an "op-out"  provision in its
articles.

     The statute  provides that a person holding 20% or more of the  outstanding
shares  of Kansas  City Life  common  stock  may not vote any  additional  stock
acquired  unless the  acquisition is approved by the  shareholders.  The statute
specifically  applies to  newly-acquired  shares which,  when added to all other
shares of Kansas City Life owned or controlled by the  acquiring  person,  would
enable the acquiring  person to exercise  voting control within any one of three
ranges:  (a)  one-fifth to  one-third;  (b)  one-third  to a majority;  or (c) a
majority or more. The statute is triggered each time a person acquires ownership
or voting  control of shares  which would result in such  person's  voting power
reaching one of the specified levels.

     The  newly-acquired  shares  would have  voting  rights  only to the extent
approved by a resolution  of Kansas City Life  shareholders.  The voting  rights
must be approved by both (a) a majority of the outstanding voting stock, and (b)
the  affirmative  vote of a  majority  of the  outstanding  voting  stock  after
excluding  shares owned by the acquiring  person,  shares owned by directors who
are also  employees  of Kansas City Life and shares  owned by officers of Kansas
City Life.  Shareholders  are given  dissenters'  rights if they vote  against a
share  acquisition,  and may  receive  the fair value of their  shares if voting
rights are approved for the acquired shares.

     Missouri Business  Combination  Statute.  Because Kansas City Life's common
stock has been registered with the Securities and Exchange  Commission  pursuant
to the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  the  Missouri  Business  Combination
statute (Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 351.459 (Supp.  1999)) also will apply to Kansas
City Life, unless the articles of incorporation provide otherwise.  This statute
acts as a further deterrent to a hostile take-over by requiring certain mergers,
sales of assets and similar business combinations  involving Kansas City Life to
be approved by its board of directors.  Kansas City life has not included an "op
out" provision in its articles of incorporation.

     The  statute  prohibits  Kansas  City Life from  engaging  in any  business
combination  with  any  "interested  shareholder"  for a  period  of five  years
following  the date  upon  which the  shareholder  first  became an  "interested
shareholder"  unless  the  business  combination  is  approved  by the  board of
directors.  An  "interested  shareholder"  is  defined  as any person who is the
beneficial owner of 20% or more of Kansas City Life's outstanding voting stock.

     Amendment of Articles.  The amendment of the articles of  incorporation  of
Kansas City Life  requires the  affirmative  vote of the holders of more than 66
2/3  percent of the shares of capital  stock of Kansas  City Life voting on such
question  but in no event may the  articles  be amended by a vote of less than a
majority of all of the shares of capital  stock of Kansas City Life  entitled to
vote on said question.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

     The validity of the shares of the common stock of the Registrant registered
pursuant  to this  registration  statement  has been  passed upon by Mr. C. John
Malacarne,  Vice  President,  General Counsel and Secretary of Kansas City Life,
3520 Broadway, Kansas City, Missouri 64111-2565.

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

     Kansas City Life is empowered by Article XII of its bylaws,  subject to the
proceedings and limitations  stated therein,  to indemnify any person who was or
is a party or is  threatened  to be made a party to any  threatened,  pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative  (other  than an action by or in the right of Kansas City Life) by
reason of the fact that such person is or was an  officer,  employee or director
of Kansas City Life,  or is or was serving at the request of Kansas City Life as
a  director,  officer or  employee of another  corporation,  partnership,  joint
venture,  trust or other enterprise,  including service with respect to employee
benefit plans, against expenses (including  attorneys' fees),  judgments,  fines
and amounts paid in settlement  actually and reasonably  incurred by such person
in  connection  with such action,  suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good
faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests  of Kansas City Life,  and,  with  respect to any  criminal  action or
proceeding,  had no reasonable  cause to believe his conduct was  unlawful.  The
termination of any action,  suit or proceeding by judgment,  order,  settlement,
conviction or upon a plea of nolo  contendere or its  equivalent,  shall not, of
itself,  create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a
manner which he or she  reasonably  believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests  of Kansas City Life,  and,  with  respect to any  criminal  action or
proceeding,  had  reasonable  cause  to  believe  that  his or her  conduct  was
unlawful.  Kansas  City Life may  indemnify  any such  person  against  expenses
(including  attorneys' fees) in an action by or in the right of Kansas City Life
under the same conditions,  except that no  indemnification is permitted without
judicial approval if such person is adjudged to be liable to Kansas City Life.

     To the extent such person is  successful  on the merits or otherwise in the
defense of any action  referred to above,  Kansas City Life must  indemnify  him
against the expenses  which he actually and  reasonably  incurred in  connection
therewith.  To the extent  that a  director,  officer or employee of Kansas City
Life has been  successful  on the merits or  otherwise in defense of any action,
suit or  proceeding  referred  to above,  or in defense  of any claim,  issue or
matter  therein,  he or she shall be  indemnified  against  expenses,  including
attorneys'  fees,  actually and reasonably  incurred by him or her in connection
with the action,  suit or proceeding.  Expenses incurred in defending a civil or
criminal  action,  suit or proceeding may be paid by Kansas City Life in advance
of the final disposition of the action,  suit or proceeding as authorized by the
board of directors in the specific case upon receipt of an  undertaking by or on
behalf of the director, officer or employee to repay such amount unless it shall
ultimately be determined  that he or she is entitled to be indemnified by Kansas
City Life as  authorized in its articles or bylaws.  Unless  ordered by a court,
the  board  of   directors   of  Kansas  City  Life  shall   determine   whether
indemnification  under Kansas City Life's bylaws is proper by a majority vote of
a quorum  consisting  of directors  who were not parties to the action,  suit or
proceeding  in  question,  or, if such a quorum is not  obtainable,  or, even if
obtainable a quorum of disinterested  directors so directs, by independent legal
counsel in a written opinion, or by the shareholders of Kansas City Life.

     The  indemnification  provided  by Article XII of the bylaws of Kansas City
Life is not exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification
may be entitled under the articles of incorporation or bylaws, or any agreement,
vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise,  both as to action
in his or her  official  capacity  and as to action in  another  capacity  while
holding  such  office,  and will  continue as to a person who has ceased to be a
director,  officer  or  employee  and will  inure to the  benefit  of the heirs,
executors and administrators of such a person. Kansas City Life has the power to
give  any  further  indemnity,  in  addition  to  the  indemnity  authorized  or
contemplated  under  Article  XII of its  bylaws,  to any person who is or was a
director,  officer,  employee or agent of Kansas City Life, or to any person who
is or was serving at the  request of Kansas  City Life as a  director,  officer,
employee or agent of another corporation,  partnership,  joint venture, trust or
other  enterprise,  provided  such further  indemnity is either (i)  authorized,
directed,  or provided for in the articles of  incorporation of Kansas City Life
or any duly  adopted  amendment  thereof  or (ii) is  authorized,  directed,  or
provided  for in any  bylaw or  agreement  of Kansas  City  Life  which has been
adopted by a vote of the  shareholders of Kansas City Life, and provided further
that no such  indemnity  shall  indemnify  any person from or on account of such
person's conduct which was finally  adjudged to have been knowingly  fraudulent,
deliberately dishonest, or willful misconduct.

     Article  XII of the  bylaws of Kansas  City  Life  also  provides  that any
director,  officer or employee of Kansas  City Life be  indemnified  for any act
taken in good faith and upon  reliance  on the books and  records of Kansas City
Life,  on  financial  statements  or other  reports  prepared by the officers of
Kansas  City Life,  or on  financial  statements  prepared by Kansas City Life's
independent accountants,  or on information or documents prepared or provided by
legal counsel to Kansas City Life. All rights to  indemnification  under Article
XII of the  bylaws of Kansas  City  Life  will be  deemed  to be  provided  by a
contract  between Kansas City Life and the person who serves in such capacity at
any time while the bylaws of Kansas City Life and other  relevant  provisions of
the applicable  law, if any, are in effect.  Any repeal or  modification  of the
bylaws  of Kansas  City Life will not  affect  any  rights or  obligations  then
existing.

     Finally,  Article  XII of Kansas City Life's  bylaws  provides  that to the
extent Missouri law provides for greater indemnification of officers,  directors
or employees than that permitted by Article XII of the bylaws,  Kansas City Life
shall  indemnify  its officers,  directors  and employees to the fullest  extent
permitted by such law.

     Policies  of  insurance  are  maintained  by Kansas  City Life under  which
directors  and officers of Kansas City Life are  insured,  within the limits and
subject  to the  limitations  of  the  policies,  against  certain  expenses  in
connection  with the  defense of  actions,  suits or  proceedings,  and  certain
liabilities  which  might be  imposed  as a  result  of such  actions,  suits or
proceedings,  to which they are  parties by reason of being or having  been such
directors or officers.

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.

         Not applicable.

Item 8.  Exhibits.

     Kansas City Life has submitted,  or hereby undertakes to submit, the Kansas
City Life  Insurance  Company  Savings and Profit Sharing Plan and all amendment
thereto to the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") in a timely manner,  and has
made or will  cause  to be made  all  changes  required  by the IRS in  order to
qualify that plan.

     The following Exhibits are filed as a part of this registration statement:

  Exhibit
  Number   Description

     4(a) Articles of  Incorporation  (as  restated in 1986 and amended in 1999)
          (filed as Exhibit-3(a) to Kansas City Life's  Quarterly Report on Form
          10-Q for the period ended September 30, 1999 and  incorporated  herein
          by reference).

     4(b) Bylaws as amended  October 26,  1986 (filed as Exhibit  3(b) to Kansas
          City  Life's 10-K Annual  Report for 1986 and  incorporated  herein by
          reference).

     4(c) Specimen  Capital Stock  Certificate  (filed as Exhibit 4(a) to Kansas
          City  Life's  Quarterly  Report  on Form  10-Q  for the  period  ended
          September 30, 1999 and incorporated herein by reference).

     4(d) Kansas City Life  Insurance  Company  Savings and Profit  Sharing Plan
          (filed as Exhibit  10(b) to Kansas City Life's 10-K Annual  Report for
          the  year  ended  December  31,  1999  and   incorporated   herein  by
          reference).

     5    Opinion of C. John  Malacarne,  Vice  President,  General  Counsel and
          Secretary  of Kansas City Life,  with  respect to the  legality of the
          common stock being registered hereby.*

     23(a) Consent of Ernst & Young.*

     23(b)Consent of C. John  Malacarne,  Vice  President,  General  Counsel and
          Secretary of Kansas City Life (included in Exhibit 5).*

     * Indicates document filed herewith.


Item 9.  Undertakings.

     A.   The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

          (1)  To file,  during  any  period in which  offers or sales are being
               made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

               (i)  To include any  prospectus  required by section  10(a)(3) of
                    the Securities Act of 1933;

               (ii) To reflect  in the  prospectus  any facts or events  arising
                    after the effective date of this registration  statement (or
                    the most recent  post-effective  amendment  thereto)  which,
                    individually  or in the  aggregate,  represent a fundamental
                    change  in the  information  set  forth in the  registration
                    statement.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  any increase or
                    decrease  in  volume  of  securities  offered  (if the total
                    dollar  value of  securities  offered  would not exceed that
                    which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high
                    end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected
                    in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant
                    to Rule 424(b) if, in the  aggregate,  the changes in volume
                    and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum
                    aggregate  offering price set forth in the  "Calculation  of
                    Registration  Fee"  table  in  the  effective   registration
                    statement;

               (iii)To include any material information with respect to the plan
                    of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
                    statement or any material change to such  information in the
                    registration statement;

     Provided,  however,  that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the
information  required  to be  included in a  post-effective  amendment  by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant  pursuant to
Section  13 or Section  15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

          (2)  That,  for the purpose of  determining  any  liability  under the
               Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective  amendment shall
               be  deemed to be a new  registration  statement  relating  to the
               securities  offered therein,  and the offering of such securities
               at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
               thereof.

          (3)  To  remove  from   registration  by  means  of  a  post-effective
               amendment any of the  securities  being  registered  which remain
               unsold at the termination of the offering.

     B.   The undersigned  Registrant  hereby  undertakes  that, for purposes of
          determining  any  liability  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  each
          filing of the Registrant's  annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or
          Section  15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  and,  where
          applicable,  each filing of an employee  benefit  plan's annual report
          pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 that
          is  incorporated by reference in the  registration  statement shall be
          deemed to be a new registration  statement  relating to the securities
          offered  therein,  and the  offering of such  securities  at that time
          shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     C.   Insofar  as   indemnification   for  liabilities   arising  under  the
          Securities  Act of 1933 may be  permitted to  directors,  officers and
          controlling persons of the Registrant, the Registrant has been advised
          that in the opinion of the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  such
          indemnification  is against  public policy as expressed in the Act and
          is,  therefore,   unenforceable.   In  the  event  that  a  claim  for
          indemnification  against such  liabilities  (other than the payment by
          the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,  officer or
          controlling  person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any
          action,  suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director,  officer or
          controlling person in connection with the securities being registered,
          the Registrant  will,  unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
          has  been  settled  by  controlling  precedent,  submit  to a court of
          appropriate  jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by
          it is  against  public  policy  as  expressed  in the Act and  will be
          governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies  that it has  reasonable  grounds to believe  that it meets all of the
requirements  for  filing  on Form S-8 and has  duly  caused  this  registration
statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in the City of Kansas City, State of Missouri, on June 20, 2000.

                                  KANSAS CITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                  (Registrant)


                                     By: /s/ R. Philip Bixby
                                         R. Philip Bixby
                                         President, Chief Executive Officer,
                                         Vice Chairman of the Board

     Pursuant  to  the   requirements  of  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
registration  statement  has  been  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities and on the dates indicated:

    Signatures                   Title                              Date

/s/ R. Philip Bixby      President, Chief Executive
R. Philip Bixby          Officer, Vice Chairman of
                         the Board and Director
                        (Principal Executive Officer)           June 20, 2000

/s/ Richard L. Finn      Senior Vice President,
Richard L. Finn          Finance and Director
                        (Principal Financial Officer)           June 20, 2000

/s/ J.R. Bixby           Director
J.R. Bixby                                                      June 20, 2000

/s/ W.E. Bixby,III       Director
W.E. Bixby,III                                                  June 20, 2000

/s/ Webb R. Gilmore      Director
Webb R. Gilmore                                                 June 20, 2000

/s/ Jack D. Hayes        Director
Jack D. Hayes                                                   June 20, 2000

                         Director
Nancy Bixby Hudson                                              _______, 2000

                         Director
Warren J. Hunzicker,M.D.                                        _______, 2000

/s/Daryl D. Jensen       Director
Daryl D. Jensen                                                 June 20, 2000

/s/C. John Malacarne     Director
C. John Malacarne                                               June 20, 2000

                         Director
Michael J. Ross                                                 _______, 2000

                         Director
Elizabeth T. Solberg                                            _______, 2000

                         Director
Larry Winn,Jr.                                                  _______, 2000


     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities Act of 1933, the trustees
(or other  persons who  administer  the employee  benefit plan) have duly caused
this  registration  statement  to be  signed on its  behalf by the  undersigned,
thereunto duly  authorized,  in the City of Kansas City,  State of Missouri,  on
June 20, 2000.

                              KANSAS CITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                              SAVINGS AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN
                              (Plan)


                              By:    /s/ Robert C. Miller
                                     Robert C. Miller
                                     Trustee

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

     Exhibit
     Number              Description

       5                 Opinion of C. John Malacarne,  Vice President,  General
                         Counsel and Secretary of Kansas City Life.

       23(a)             Consent of Ernst & Young

       23(b)             Consent of C. John Malacarne,  Vice President,  General
                         Counsel and Secretary of Kansas City Life  (included in
                         Exhibit 5)
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "0001.txt", "description": "KANSAS CITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 40870}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "KANSAS CITY LIFE INSURANCE CO", "cik": "0000054473", "assigned-sic": "6311", "irs-number": "440308260", "state-of-incorporation": "MO", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-39714", "film-number": "657802"}, "business-address": {"street1": "3520 BROADWAY", "city": "KANSAS CITY", "state": "MO", "zip": "64111-2565", "phone": "8167537000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "3520 BROADWAY", "city": "KANSAS CITY", "state": "MO", "zip": "64141-6139"}}
As  filed  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  on  June  20,  2000
                                                           Registration No. 333-

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                       KANSAS CITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                Missouri                                 44-0308260
   (State or other jurisdiction of                    (I.R.S. Employer
    incorporation or organization)                   Identification No.)

   3520 Broadway, Kansas City, Missouri                  64111-2565
 (Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)

       Kansas City Life Insurance Company Savings and Profit Sharing Plan
                            (Full title of the plan)

                              Mr. John A. Showalter
                       Kansas City Life Insurance Company
                                  3520 Broadway
                        Kansas City, Missouri 64111-2565
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                 (816) 753-7000
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                  Please send copies of all correspondence to:

                          STINSON, MAG & FIZZELL, P.C.
                         1201 Walnut Street, Suite 2800
                              Kansas City, MO 64106
                            Attention: James W. Allen
                                 (816) 842-8600

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Proposed maximum        Proposed maximum         Amount of
                                                  Amount to be   offering price per   aggregate offering price   registration
      Title of securities to be registered         registered        share (1)                  (1)                  fee
Kansas City Life Insurance Company Common
        Stock (par value $1.25 per share)         400,000 (2)        $28.03125              $11,212,500            $2,961
(1)  Estimated  solely for purposes of  calculating  registration  fee, based on
     $28.03125,  the average of the high and low market  prices per share of the
     stock as reported by the Nasdaq  SmallCap  Stock  Market on June 13,  2000,
     pursuant  to  Rule  457(h)  under  the  Securities  Act of  1933.

(2)  The provisions of Rule 416 shall apply to this  registration  statement and
     the   number  of  shares   registered   on  this   registration   statement
     automatically shall increase or decrease as a result of stock splits, stock
     dividends, or similar transactions.
In addition,  pursuant to Rule 416(c)  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  this
registration  statement also covers an  indeterminate  amount of interests to be
offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plan described herein.

                                     PART II

               Information Required in the Registration Statement

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

     The SEC allows Kansas City Life and the Savings and Profit  Sharing Plan to
"incorporate  by reference" the  information  that they file with the SEC, which
means:

     o    incorporated documents are considered part of the prospectus;

     o    we can disclose important information to you by referring you to these
          documents; and

     o    information  that we file with the SEC will  automatically  update and
          supersede the prospectus and any previously incorporated information.

     Kansas City Life and the Savings and Profit  Sharing  Plan  incorporate  by
reference the  documents or portions of documents  listed below which were filed
with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"):

     o    annual  report  on Form 10-K of  Kansas  City Life for the year  ended
          December 31, 1999; and

     o    annual report on Form 11-K of the Savings and Profit  Sharing Plan for
          the year ended December 31, 1999.

     Kansas City Life and the Savings and Profit  Sharing Plan also  incorporate
by reference  each of the following  documents or portions of documents that are
filed  with the SEC  after the date of the  prospectus  until  the  offering  is
completed or after the date of the initial  registration  statement and prior to
the filing of a  post-effective  amendment  which  indicates that all securities
offered  have been  sold or which  deregisters  all  securities  then  remaining
unsold:

     o    reports filed under Sections 13(a) and 13(c) of the Exchange Act;

     o    definitive  proxy or information  statements filed under Section 14 of
          the  Exchange  Act in  connection  with any  subsequent  shareholders'
          meeting; and

     o    reports filed under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

Item 4.  Description of Securities.

     The  authorized  capital  stock of Kansas City Life  consists of 36,000,000
shares of common stock,  par value $1.25 per share, of which  12,043,211  shares
were  outstanding  as of June 13, 2000.  No other  classes of capital  stock are
authorized by the Restated Articles of Incorporation of Kansas City Life.

     The  descriptions  set forth below do not  purport to be  complete  and are
qualified in their entirety by reference to:

     o    the 1986 Restated Articles of Incorporation of Kansas City Life; and

     o    the By-laws of Kansas City Life, as amended.

General

     Each share of our common stock  entitles the holder  thereof to one vote on
all matters  submitted  to a vote of the  shareholders,  except the  election of
directors.  At all elections of directors,  each  shareholder  is entitled to as
many  votes as  shall  equal  the  number  of  shares  held by such  shareholder
multiplied by the number of directors to be elected,  and such  shareholder  may
cast all such  votes for a single  director  or may  distribute  them  among the
number of directors to be voted for as such  shareholder may see fit. Our common
stock is not subject to  redemption or future calls or assessment by Kansas City
Life.  Holders  of  common  stock do not have  preemptive  rights,  or rights to
convert  their common stock into other  securities.  The holders of common stock
are entitled to receive  ratably such  dividends as may be declared by the board
of  directors  out of  funds  legally  available  therefore.  In the  event of a
liquidation,  dissolution  or  winding up of the  affairs  of Kansas  City Life,
holders  of our common  stock have the right to a ratable  portion of the assets
remaining after the payment of all  liabilities.  All outstanding  shares of our
common stock are, and any shares of common stock sold  hereunder  will be, fully
paid and nonassessable. Ms. Cheryl A. Keefer is the registrar and transfer agent
for the common stock.  The common stock is listed on the Nasdaq  SmallCap  Stock
Market under the symbol "KCLI."

Potential  Anti-takeover  Effect of Kansas  City  Life's  Restated  Articles  of
Incorporation and Bylaws

     The provisions of Kansas City Life's articles of  incorporation  and bylaws
that are summarized below may have an anti-takeover  effect and may delay, defer
or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a shareholder  might consider
to be in such shareholder's best interests,  including those attempts that might
result in a premium over the market price for the shares held by shareholders.

     Classification  of Board of  Directors.  Our board of  directors is divided
into three  classes,  and our  directors  are  elected by classes to  three-year
terms,  so that  members of one of the three  classes of our  directors  will be
elected  at each  annual  meeting  of the  shareholders.  While  this  provision
promotes  stability and continuity of the board of directors,  classification of
the board of  directors  may also have the  effect of  decreasing  the number of
directors that could otherwise be elected at each annual meeting of shareholders
by a person who obtains a  controlling  interest in our common stock and thereby
could impede a change in control of Kansas City Life.

     Business Combinations. Kansas City Life's articles of incorporation contain
a "fair  price"  provision  which  generally  requires  that  certain  "business
combinations"  with a "related  person"  (generally the  beneficial  owner of at
least 5 percent of Kansas City Life's  voting  stock) be approved by the holders
of at least 66 2/3 percent of Kansas City Life's voting  stock,  with the 66 2/3
percent vote requirement being calculated by excluding from the voted shares and
the number of shares of voting stock outstanding,  the voting stock held by such
related person, except in the following circumstances:

     (1)  If more than two thirds of all  members of the board of  directors  of
          Kansas  City Life  then in  office  expressly  approve  such  business
          combination by resolution; or

     (2)  If in the proposed business  combination,  more than two-thirds of all
          members of the board of  directors  of Kansas City Life then in office
          determine that all of the following conditions are met:

     o    The ratio of (i) the aggregate  amount of the cash and the fair market
          value of other consideration to be received per share of securities of
          Kansas  City Life in such  business  combination  by  holders of those
          securities,  other than a related  person  involved  in such  business
          combination,  over (ii) the market price per share of those securities
          immediately  prior  to  the  announcement  of  the  proposed  business
          combination,  is at least as great as the ratio of (x) the highest per
          share price  (including  brokerage  commissions,  transfer taxes,  and
          soliciting  dealers'  fees)  that  such  related  person  has  paid in
          acquiring any such securities prior to such business combination, over
          (y) the market price per share of those securities  immediately  prior
          to the  initial  acquisition  by such  related  person of any of those
          securities  (in  the  event  of  a  business   combination   upon  the
          consummation  of  which  Kansas  City  Life  would  be  the  surviving
          corporation  or  would  continue  to  exist  (unless  it is  provided,
          contemplated,  or intended that as a part of such business combination
          or within one(1) year after consummation thereof a plan of liquidation
          or dissolution of Kansas City Life will be effected),  the term "other
          consideration  to be received" shall include without  limitation,  any
          shares of voting stock  retained by  shareholders  of Kansas City Life
          other  than the  related  persons  who are  parties  to such  business
          combination);

     o    Except to the extent that a shareholder  agrees otherwise as to all or
          part of the securities that the shareholder owns, the consideration to
          be received in such business  combination by holders of the securities
          of Kansas  City Life to be  acquired,  other than the  related  person
          involved,  shall  be in the  same  form  and of the  same  kind as the
          consideration  paid by the related person in acquiring such securities
          already owned by it;

     o    After such  related  person  became a related  person and prior to the
          consummation of such business combination:

          (i)  Kansas  City Life  shall  have not  failed to pay full  dividends
               pursuant  to the  terms of any  preferred  stock  then  issued by
               Kansas City Life and shall not have reduced the rate of dividends
               previously  paid on its  common  stock,  unless  such  failure or
               reduction was approved in advance by more than  two-thirds of the
               members of the board of directors then in office;

          (ii) Such  related  person  shall not have  acquired  from Kansas City
               Life, directly or indirectly, any securities of Kansas City Life,
               except upon (x) a conversion of convertible  securities  acquired
               by it prior to becoming a related person, or (y) as a result of a
               pro rata stock  dividend,  stock split or division of shares,  or
               (z) a transaction  consummated in compliance  with the provisions
               of Article 9 of Kansas City Life's articles of incorporation;

          (iii)Such  related  person  shall  not have  acquired  any  additional
               securities of Kansas City Life or securities  convertible into or
               exchangeable  for  such  securities,  except  as a  part  of  the
               transaction  that  resulted in such related  person's  becoming a
               related person;

          (iv) Such  related  person  shall not have (x)  received  the benefit,
               directly  or  indirectly  (except  pro rata as a  shareholder  of
               Kansas City Life), of any loans, advances,  guarantees,  pledges,
               or other financial  assistance or tax credits  provided by Kansas
               City Life,  or (y) made any major  change in Kansas  City  Life's
               business  or  equity  capital   structure  or  entered  into  any
               contract,  arrangement,  or understanding  with Kansas City Life,
               except as were approved in advance by more than two-thirds of the
               members  of the board of  directors  of Kansas  City Life then in
               office; and

          (v)  The payment of the purchase price for the securities  proposed to
               be  acquired by the related  person in the  business  combination
               shall not, directly or indirectly,  be financed or proposed to be
               financed by sale of all or part of the assets of Kansas City Life
               or by use of Kansas City Life's  assets,  directly or indirectly,
               as security for that financing; and

     o    A proxy  statement  complying with the  requirements of rules relating
          thereto that are applicable to Kansas City Life shall have been mailed
          to all holders of shares of voting stock for the purpose of soliciting
          shareholder  approval  of  such  business   combination.   Such  proxy
          statement  shall  contain  at the front,  in a  prominent  place,  any
          recommendations  as to  the  advisability  or  inadvisability  of  the
          business  combination  which the board of directors may have furnished
          in writing, and if deemed advisable by a majority of the directors, an
          opinion of a reputable  investment  banking firm as to the fairness or
          lack of fairness of the terms of such  business  combination  from the
          point of view of the holders of the shares of voting  stock other than
          the related person, such investment and banking firm to be selected by
          a majority of the directors and to be furnished  with all  information
          it  reasonably  requests,  and  to be  paid  by  Kansas  City  Life  a
          reasonable  fee for its  services  upon receipt by Kansas City Life of
          such opinion.

Kansas City Life's article of incorporation contain the following definitions:

     "Business combination" means:

     o    any merger or  consolidation  of Kansas City Life or a  subsidiary  of
          Kansas City Life with or into a related person;

     o    any merger or  consolidation  of a related  person with or into Kansas
          City Life or a subsidiary of Kansas City Life;

     o    any sale, lease,  exchange,  transfer or other disposition in a single
          transaction or a series of  transactions,  of all or any  "substantial
          part" of the assets  either of Kansas City Life or of a subsidiary  of
          Kansas City Life, or both, to a related person;

     o    any sale, lease,  exchange,  transfer or other disposition in a single
          transaction  or a series of  transactions,  of all or any  substantial
          part of the  assets  of a  related  person  to  Kansas  City Life or a
          subsidiary of Kansas City Life;

     o    the issuance of any  securities of Kansas City Life or any  subsidiary
          of Kansas City Life to a related person;

     o    any    reclassification    of   Kansas   City    Life's    securities,
          recapitalization  of Kansas City Life or any subsidiary of Kansas City
          Life, or other  transaction other than a redemption in accordance with
          the  security  redeemed,  that  would  have the  effect,  directly  or
          indirectly,  of increasing  the voting power of a related  person,  in
          relation to the voting power of the other  shareholders of Kansas City
          Life;

     o    any partial or  complete  liquidation,  spinoff,  or splitup of Kansas
          City Life or any  subsidiary of Kansas City Life or other  transaction
          with a similar purpose or effect, directly or indirectly involving any
          related person;

     o    any  transaction  or event that is  intended  by any party  thereto to
          have,  or that is  likely  to have,  a  similar  effect  as any of the
          transactions  or  events  described  in  the  definition  of  business
          combination; or

     o    any agreement,  contract,  plan or other arrangement providing for any
          of  the   transactions   described  in  the   definition  of  business
          combination.

     "Substantial  part" means  assets with a fair market value that is equal to
or exceeds 5% of the fair market  value of the total  assets of Kansas City Life
or the person in question as of the end of its most recent previous fiscal year.

     Missouri  Control Share  Acquisition  Statute.  The Missouri  control share
acquisition  statute (Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 351.407 (Supp.  1991)), is designed
to assist a corporation in defending itself against a hostile takeover  attempt.
Because Kansas City Life has over 100  shareholders,  has its principal place of
business  in  Missouri  and  more  than  10% of its  shareholders  are  Missouri
residents,   it  will  be  subject  to  the  statute,  unless  its  articles  of
incorporation  provide  otherwise.  Because of the  protection  afforded  by the
statute,  Kansas City Life has not  included  such an "op-out"  provision in its
articles.

     The statute  provides that a person holding 20% or more of the  outstanding
shares  of Kansas  City Life  common  stock  may not vote any  additional  stock
acquired  unless the  acquisition is approved by the  shareholders.  The statute
specifically  applies to  newly-acquired  shares which,  when added to all other
shares of Kansas City Life owned or controlled by the  acquiring  person,  would
enable the acquiring  person to exercise  voting control within any one of three
ranges:  (a)  one-fifth to  one-third;  (b)  one-third  to a majority;  or (c) a
majority or more. The statute is triggered each time a person acquires ownership
or voting  control of shares  which would result in such  person's  voting power
reaching one of the specified levels.

     The  newly-acquired  shares  would have  voting  rights  only to the extent
approved by a resolution  of Kansas City Life  shareholders.  The voting  rights
must be approved by both (a) a majority of the outstanding voting stock, and (b)
the  affirmative  vote of a  majority  of the  outstanding  voting  stock  after
excluding  shares owned by the acquiring  person,  shares owned by directors who
are also  employees  of Kansas City Life and shares  owned by officers of Kansas
City Life.  Shareholders  are given  dissenters'  rights if they vote  against a
share  acquisition,  and may  receive  the fair value of their  shares if voting
rights are approved for the acquired shares.

     Missouri Business  Combination  Statute.  Because Kansas City Life's common
stock has been registered with the Securities and Exchange  Commission  pursuant
to the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  the  Missouri  Business  Combination
statute (Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 351.459 (Supp.  1999)) also will apply to Kansas
City Life, unless the articles of incorporation provide otherwise.  This statute
acts as a further deterrent to a hostile take-over by requiring certain mergers,
sales of assets and similar business combinations  involving Kansas City Life to
be approved by its board of directors.  Kansas City life has not included an "op
out" provision in its articles of incorporation.

     The  statute  prohibits  Kansas  City Life from  engaging  in any  business
combination  with  any  "interested  shareholder"  for a  period  of five  years
following  the date  upon  which the  shareholder  first  became an  "interested
shareholder"  unless  the  business  combination  is  approved  by the  board of
directors.  An  "interested  shareholder"  is  defined  as any person who is the
beneficial owner of 20% or more of Kansas City Life's outstanding voting stock.

     Amendment of Articles.  The amendment of the articles of  incorporation  of
Kansas City Life  requires the  affirmative  vote of the holders of more than 66
2/3  percent of the shares of capital  stock of Kansas  City Life voting on such
question  but in no event may the  articles  be amended by a vote of less than a
majority of all of the shares of capital  stock of Kansas City Life  entitled to
vote on said question.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

     The validity of the shares of the common stock of the Registrant registered
pursuant  to this  registration  statement  has been  passed upon by Mr. C. John
Malacarne,  Vice  President,  General Counsel and Secretary of Kansas City Life,
3520 Broadway, Kansas City, Missouri 64111-2565.

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

     Kansas City Life is empowered by Article XII of its bylaws,  subject to the
proceedings and limitations  stated therein,  to indemnify any person who was or
is a party or is  threatened  to be made a party to any  threatened,  pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative  (other  than an action by or in the right of Kansas City Life) by
reason of the fact that such person is or was an  officer,  employee or director
of Kansas City Life,  or is or was serving at the request of Kansas City Life as
a  director,  officer or  employee of another  corporation,  partnership,  joint
venture,  trust or other enterprise,  including service with respect to employee
benefit plans, against expenses (including  attorneys' fees),  judgments,  fines
and amounts paid in settlement  actually and reasonably  incurred by such person
in  connection  with such action,  suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good
faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests  of Kansas City Life,  and,  with  respect to any  criminal  action or
proceeding,  had no reasonable  cause to believe his conduct was  unlawful.  The
termination of any action,  suit or proceeding by judgment,  order,  settlement,
conviction or upon a plea of nolo  contendere or its  equivalent,  shall not, of
itself,  create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a
manner which he or she  reasonably  believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests  of Kansas City Life,  and,  with  respect to any  criminal  action or
proceeding,  had  reasonable  cause  to  believe  that  his or her  conduct  was
unlawful.  Kansas  City Life may  indemnify  any such  person  against  expenses
(including  attorneys' fees) in an action by or in the right of Kansas City Life
under the same conditions,  except that no  indemnification is permitted without
judicial approval if such person is adjudged to be liable to Kansas City Life.

     To the extent such person is  successful  on the merits or otherwise in the
defense of any action  referred to above,  Kansas City Life must  indemnify  him
against the expenses  which he actually and  reasonably  incurred in  connection
therewith.  To the extent  that a  director,  officer or employee of Kansas City
Life has been  successful  on the merits or  otherwise in defense of any action,
suit or  proceeding  referred  to above,  or in defense  of any claim,  issue or
matter  therein,  he or she shall be  indemnified  against  expenses,  including
attorneys'  fees,  actually and reasonably  incurred by him or her in connection
with the action,  suit or proceeding.  Expenses incurred in defending a civil or
criminal  action,  suit or proceeding may be paid by Kansas City Life in advance
of the final disposition of the action,  suit or proceeding as authorized by the
board of directors in the specific case upon receipt of an  undertaking by or on
behalf of the director, officer or employee to repay such amount unless it shall
ultimately be determined  that he or she is entitled to be indemnified by Kansas
City Life as  authorized in its articles or bylaws.  Unless  ordered by a court,
the  board  of   directors   of  Kansas  City  Life  shall   determine   whether
indemnification  under Kansas City Life's bylaws is proper by a majority vote of
a quorum  consisting  of directors  who were not parties to the action,  suit or
proceeding  in  question,  or, if such a quorum is not  obtainable,  or, even if
obtainable a quorum of disinterested  directors so directs, by independent legal
counsel in a written opinion, or by the shareholders of Kansas City Life.

     The  indemnification  provided  by Article XII of the bylaws of Kansas City
Life is not exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification
may be entitled under the articles of incorporation or bylaws, or any agreement,
vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise,  both as to action
in his or her  official  capacity  and as to action in  another  capacity  while
holding  such  office,  and will  continue as to a person who has ceased to be a
director,  officer  or  employee  and will  inure to the  benefit  of the heirs,
executors and administrators of such a person. Kansas City Life has the power to
give  any  further  indemnity,  in  addition  to  the  indemnity  authorized  or
contemplated  under  Article  XII of its  bylaws,  to any person who is or was a
director,  officer,  employee or agent of Kansas City Life, or to any person who
is or was serving at the  request of Kansas  City Life as a  director,  officer,
employee or agent of another corporation,  partnership,  joint venture, trust or
other  enterprise,  provided  such further  indemnity is either (i)  authorized,
directed,  or provided for in the articles of  incorporation of Kansas City Life
or any duly  adopted  amendment  thereof  or (ii) is  authorized,  directed,  or
provided  for in any  bylaw or  agreement  of Kansas  City  Life  which has been
adopted by a vote of the  shareholders of Kansas City Life, and provided further
that no such  indemnity  shall  indemnify  any person from or on account of such
person's conduct which was finally  adjudged to have been knowingly  fraudulent,
deliberately dishonest, or willful misconduct.

     Article  XII of the  bylaws of Kansas  City  Life  also  provides  that any
director,  officer or employee of Kansas  City Life be  indemnified  for any act
taken in good faith and upon  reliance  on the books and  records of Kansas City
Life,  on  financial  statements  or other  reports  prepared by the officers of
Kansas  City Life,  or on  financial  statements  prepared by Kansas City Life's
independent accountants,  or on information or documents prepared or provided by
legal counsel to Kansas City Life. All rights to  indemnification  under Article
XII of the  bylaws of Kansas  City  Life  will be  deemed  to be  provided  by a
contract  between Kansas City Life and the person who serves in such capacity at
any time while the bylaws of Kansas City Life and other  relevant  provisions of
the applicable  law, if any, are in effect.  Any repeal or  modification  of the
bylaws  of Kansas  City Life will not  affect  any  rights or  obligations  then
existing.

     Finally,  Article  XII of Kansas City Life's  bylaws  provides  that to the
extent Missouri law provides for greater indemnification of officers,  directors
or employees than that permitted by Article XII of the bylaws,  Kansas City Life
shall  indemnify  its officers,  directors  and employees to the fullest  extent
permitted by such law.

     Policies  of  insurance  are  maintained  by Kansas  City Life under  which
directors  and officers of Kansas City Life are  insured,  within the limits and
subject  to the  limitations  of  the  policies,  against  certain  expenses  in
connection  with the  defense of  actions,  suits or  proceedings,  and  certain
liabilities  which  might be  imposed  as a  result  of such  actions,  suits or
proceedings,  to which they are  parties by reason of being or having  been such
directors or officers.

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.

         Not applicable.

Item 8.  Exhibits.

     Kansas City Life has submitted,  or hereby undertakes to submit, the Kansas
City Life  Insurance  Company  Savings and Profit Sharing Plan and all amendment
thereto to the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") in a timely manner,  and has
made or will  cause  to be made  all  changes  required  by the IRS in  order to
qualify that plan.

     The following Exhibits are filed as a part of this registration statement:

  Exhibit
  Number   Description

     4(a) Articles of  Incorporation  (as  restated in 1986 and amended in 1999)
          (filed as Exhibit-3(a) to Kansas City Life's  Quarterly Report on Form
          10-Q for the period ended September 30, 1999 and  incorporated  herein
          by reference).

     4(b) Bylaws as amended  October 26,  1986 (filed as Exhibit  3(b) to Kansas
          City  Life's 10-K Annual  Report for 1986 and  incorporated  herein by
          reference).

     4(c) Specimen  Capital Stock  Certificate  (filed as Exhibit 4(a) to Kansas
          City  Life's  Quarterly  Report  on Form  10-Q  for the  period  ended
          September 30, 1999 and incorporated herein by reference).

     4(d) Kansas City Life  Insurance  Company  Savings and Profit  Sharing Plan
          (filed as Exhibit  10(b) to Kansas City Life's 10-K Annual  Report for
          the  year  ended  December  31,  1999  and   incorporated   herein  by
          reference).

     5    Opinion of C. John  Malacarne,  Vice  President,  General  Counsel and
          Secretary  of Kansas City Life,  with  respect to the  legality of the
          common stock being registered hereby.*

     23(a) Consent of Ernst & Young.*

     23(b)Consent of C. John  Malacarne,  Vice  President,  General  Counsel and
          Secretary of Kansas City Life (included in Exhibit 5).*

     * Indicates document filed herewith.

Item 9.  Undertakings.

     A.   The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

          (1)  To file,  during  any  period in which  offers or sales are being
               made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

               (i)  To include any  prospectus  required by section  10(a)(3) of
                    the Securities Act of 1933;

               (ii) To reflect  in the  prospectus  any facts or events  arising
                    after the effective date of this registration  statement (or
                    the most recent  post-effective  amendment  thereto)  which,
                    individually  or in the  aggregate,  represent a fundamental
                    change  in the  information  set  forth in the  registration
                    statement.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  any increase or
                    decrease  in  volume  of  securities  offered  (if the total
                    dollar  value of  securities  offered  would not exceed that
                    which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high
                    end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected
                    in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant
                    to Rule 424(b) if, in the  aggregate,  the changes in volume
                    and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum
                    aggregate  offering price set forth in the  "Calculation  of
                    Registration  Fee"  table  in  the  effective   registration
                    statement;

               (iii)To include any material information with respect to the plan
                    of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
                    statement or any material change to such  information in the
                    registration statement;

     Provided,  however,  that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the
information  required  to be  included in a  post-effective  amendment  by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant  pursuant to
Section  13 or Section  15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

          (2)  That,  for the purpose of  determining  any  liability  under the
               Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective  amendment shall
               be  deemed to be a new  registration  statement  relating  to the
               securities  offered therein,  and the offering of such securities
               at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
               thereof.

          (3)  To  remove  from   registration  by  means  of  a  post-effective
               amendment any of the  securities  being  registered  which remain
               unsold at the termination of the offering.

     B.   The undersigned  Registrant  hereby  undertakes  that, for purposes of
          determining  any  liability  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  each
          filing of the Registrant's  annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or
          Section  15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  and,  where
          applicable,  each filing of an employee  benefit  plan's annual report
          pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 that
          is  incorporated by reference in the  registration  statement shall be
          deemed to be a new registration  statement  relating to the securities
          offered  therein,  and the  offering of such  securities  at that time
          shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     C.   Insofar  as   indemnification   for  liabilities   arising  under  the
          Securities  Act of 1933 may be  permitted to  directors,  officers and
          controlling persons of the Registrant, the Registrant has been advised
          that in the opinion of the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  such
          indemnification  is against  public policy as expressed in the Act and
          is,  therefore,   unenforceable.   In  the  event  that  a  claim  for
          indemnification  against such  liabilities  (other than the payment by
          the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,  officer or
          controlling  person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any
          action,  suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director,  officer or
          controlling person in connection with the securities being registered,
          the Registrant  will,  unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
          has  been  settled  by  controlling  precedent,  submit  to a court of
          appropriate  jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by
          it is  against  public  policy  as  expressed  in the Act and  will be
          governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies  that it has  reasonable  grounds to believe  that it meets all of the
requirements  for  filing  on Form S-8 and has  duly  caused  this  registration
statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in the City of Kansas City, State of Missouri, on June 20, 2000.

                                  KANSAS CITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                  (Registrant)

                                     By: /s/ R. Philip Bixby
                                         R. Philip Bixby
                                         President, Chief Executive Officer,
                                         Vice Chairman of the Board

     Pursuant  to  the   requirements  of  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
registration  statement  has  been  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities and on the dates indicated:

    Signatures                   Title                              Date

/s/ R. Philip Bixby      President, Chief Executive
R. Philip Bixby          Officer, Vice Chairman of
                         the Board and Director
                        (Principal Executive Officer)           June 20, 2000

/s/ Richard L. Finn      Senior Vice President,
Richard L. Finn          Finance and Director
                        (Principal Financial Officer)           June 20, 2000

/s/ J.R. Bixby           Director
J.R. Bixby                                                      June 20, 2000

/s/ W.E. Bixby,III       Director
W.E. Bixby,III                                                  June 20, 2000

/s/ Webb R. Gilmore      Director
Webb R. Gilmore                                                 June 20, 2000

/s/ Jack D. Hayes        Director
Jack D. Hayes                                                   June 20, 2000

                         Director
Nancy Bixby Hudson                                              _______, 2000

                         Director
Warren J. Hunzicker,M.D.                                        _______, 2000

/s/Daryl D. Jensen       Director
Daryl D. Jensen                                                 June 20, 2000

/s/C. John Malacarne     Director
C. John Malacarne                                               June 20, 2000

                         Director
Michael J. Ross                                                 _______, 2000

                         Director
Elizabeth T. Solberg                                            _______, 2000

                         Director
Larry Winn,Jr.                                                  _______, 2000

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities Act of 1933, the trustees
(or other  persons who  administer  the employee  benefit plan) have duly caused
this  registration  statement  to be  signed on its  behalf by the  undersigned,
thereunto duly  authorized,  in the City of Kansas City,  State of Missouri,  on
June 20, 2000.

                              KANSAS CITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                              SAVINGS AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN
                              (Plan)

                              By:    /s/ Robert C. Miller
                                     Robert C. Miller
                                     Trustee

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

     Exhibit
     Number              Description

       5                 Opinion of C. John Malacarne,  Vice President,  General
                         Counsel and Secretary of Kansas City Life.

       23(a)             Consent of Ernst & Young

       23(b)             Consent of C. John Malacarne,  Vice President,  General
                         Counsel and Secretary of Kansas City Life  (included in
                         Exhibit 5)