-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Oa709J/vESa/bSMO0D3/Bbn7ZkClJZIBO/X6KV92tWV8G+w1oPfB6VnEET4kAnUD
 AI/Ki/H9FhmJvqYkFDiDbQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-09-016569.txt : 20090717
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-09-016569.hdr.sgml : 20090717
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090717092345
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-09-016569
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090717
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090717
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090717

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Johnson S. Christopher
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001466796

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	002-17039
		FILM NUMBER:		09949442

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		850 E. ANDERSON LANE
		CITY:			AUSTIN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78752

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000070684
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LIFE INSURANCE [6311]
		IRS NUMBER:				840467208
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CO
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		850 E. ANDERSON LANE
		CITY:			AUSTIN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78752-1602
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5128361010

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		850 E. ANDERSON LANE
		CITY:			AUSTIN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78752-1602
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-07-17</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000070684</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NWLI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001466796</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Johnson S. Christopher</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>850 E ANDERSON LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>AUSTIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>78752</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. VP Chief Marketing Officer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Rights</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>114.64</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-02-19</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-02-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non Qualified Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>255.13</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-04-18</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-04-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The SARs are exercisable as they vest.  The SARs vest in five equal annual installments beginning on the Date Exercisable.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The options are exercisable as they vest.  The options vest in five equal annual installments beginning on the Date Exercisable.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>S. Christopher Johnson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-07-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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