125 years ago today - Saturday, Dec 30, 1899

[Apostle Rudger Clawson]
2 p.m. Continuation of the meeting of the brethren on Friday. The principal topic of discussion was the attitude of the brethren when arrested and found guilty of unlawful cohabitation. Would it be proper for them to promise to obey the law—or rather express their intention to do so?

President Snow said, he did not see how we could very well do otherwise, in order to satisfy the honorable people of the nation, who are willing to send their sons into battle for the defense of our country, and when they fall in battle it is looked upon as an honor. They are willing to make this sacrifice for their country. They look upon the United States as the greatest nation on the earth and feel that its laws are supreme—and that when it comes to a question of law, the Latter-day Saints should bow. It is necessary sometimes for the saints to make sacrifices for the good of their fellowmen, that the honorable ones of the earth perchance may be saved. This is one of those times. There are, he said, about 300 plural wives among the saints who are bearing children, as against the body of the church—say 350,000—who are not in polygamy. These 300 women for the good of the nation and of the church should be willing for a time to refrain from having children. They would
lose nothing

by it, for the Lord would reward them abundantly.

Though no formal vote was taken the brethren generally seemed to endorse the views of President Snow. Meeting adjourned sine die.

[Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]

125 years ago today - Dec 30, 1899; Saturday

[Apostle Brigham Young Jr.]
Meeting of Pres[idency]. & 12 Bishoprick. Question shall we when bro[ugh]t. to the or before the Court promise to obey the law. Unanimous decision that we must acknowledge its suprem[ac]y. Brethren must not have children born to them by their wives here in this state. ...

[Brigham Young Jr., Diary]

125 years ago today - Dec 30, 1899

[Abraham Owen Woodruff]
Pres[iden]t. [Lorenzo] Snow gave me about the most complete sitting down I ever got in my life because he misunderstood me.

[Abraham Owen Woodruff Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

170 years ago today - Dec 30, 1854

Colonel Steptoe, who had been offered the governorship of Utah by Pres. Pierce but declined, along with leading officials and business men of SLC signed a petition and sent it to Washington recommending Pres. Pierce reappoint Brigham Young as Governor of Utah Territory.

[Hale, Van, Mormon Miscellaneous, Utah War Chronology, http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/utahwar/id2.html]

180 years ago today - Dec 30, 1844

[Wilford Woodruff]
I was in dreams nearly all of last night. Saw A large fire, A field of green corn, repaird old tubs to hold water, ground grain for the Saints Among other things I had an interview with the Patriarch Hyrum Smith who was martered. He wished me to get a plain gold ring made of fine gold set a stone in it & put some of his hair in it & wear it, & also some of Joseph Hair. ...

[Wilford Woodruff Dreams and Visions, Saints Without Halos, Scott Kenney (http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/n/dreams_ww.phtml)]

180 years ago today - Dec 30, 1844

[Wilford Woodruff]
A dream on the night of the 30th Dec 1844 (WWJ 2:492): Behold and lo in a dream I was in Council with the Martered Prophet & Patriarch & the quorum of the Twelve Apostles in America. I thought we had all got to be ordained for some purpose. I was called upon by Br Young & another person to assist in administering the ordinances. In the midst of the Council, Sidney Rigdon Came in & was objected to by Hyrum Smith.

I awoke & again fell asleep & dreamed of being in council with the Twelve & others. I made an address to them. John E. Page arose to address the meeting but was stoped by some female & was followed by Elder Willard Snow

I have recorded this dream yet I Pay but little attention to dreams that I have on ship board for I am nearly all the while in some dream while asleep on board of the ship.

[Wilford Woodruff Dreams and Visions, Saints Without Halos, Scott Kenney (http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/n/dreams_ww.phtml)]

180 years ago today - About Dec 30, 1844

[Wilford Woodruff]
.... Joseph Smith visited me a great deal after his death, and taught me many important principles. The last time he visited me was going on my last mission to preside in England. My companions were Brother Leonard W. Hardy, Brother Milton Holmes, Brother Dan Jones, and another brother, and my wife and two other women. ...

We had been traveling three days and nights in a heavy gale, and were being driven backwards. Finally I asked my companions to come into the cabin with me, and I told them to pray that the Lord would change the wind. I had no fears of being lost; but I did not like the idea of being driven back to New York, as I wanted to go on my journey. We all offered the same prayer, both men and women; and when we got through we stepped on to the deck and in less than a minute it was as though a man had taken a sword and cut that gale through, and you might have thrown a muslin handkerchief out and it would not have moved it.

... Joseph and Hyrum visited me, and the Prophet laid before me a great many things. Among other things, he told me to get the Spirit of God; that all of us needed it. He also told me what the Twelve Apostles would be called to go through on the earth before the coming of the Son of Man, and what the reward of their labors would be; but all that was taken from me, for some reason. Nevertheless I know it was most glorious, although much would be required at our hands.

Joseph Smith continued visiting myself and others up to a certain time, and then it stopped. The last time I saw him was in heaven. In the night vision I saw him at the door of the temple in heaven. He came and spoke to me. He said he could not stop to talk with me because he was in a hurry. The next man I met was Father Smith; he could not talk with me because he was in a hurry. I met half a dozen brethren who had held high positions on earth, and none of them could could stop to talk with me because they were in a hurry. I was much astonished.

By and by I saw the Prophet again, and I got the privilege to ask him a question, "Now," said I, "I want to know why you are in a hurry. I have been in a hurry all through my life; but I expected my hurry would be over when I got into the kingdom of heaven, if I ever did."

Joseph said:

I will tell you, Brother Woodruff. Every dispensation that has had the Priesthood on the earth and has gone into the celestial kingdom, has had a certain amount of work to do to prepare to go to the earth with the Savior when He goes to reign on the earth. Each dispensation has had ample time to do this work. We have not. We are the last dispensation, and so much work has to be done, and we need to be in a hurry in order to accomplish it.

Of couse, that was satisfactory to me, but it was new doctrine to me.

[Wilford Woodruff Dreams and Visions, Saints Without Halos, Scott Kenney (http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/n/dreams_ww.phtml)]

195 years ago today - Dec 30, 1829

Ethan Smith offers opening prayers and heads a committee at the three-day Antimasonic State Convention of Massachusetts. The committee was appointed "to inquire how far Free Masonry and French Illuminism [the Illuminati] are connected." Their report finds a '"two-fold ... horrid scheme" to destroy Christian government and religion "... they soon began to boast among themselves of the power of secret societies ... and Speculative Masonry ... as a most fit cover for [Illuminism's] occult operations."' Ethan Smith feels Voltaire's goal was to destroy Christianity through philosophy.

A Mr. Bowman suggests "secret and selfish combinations, with the spirit and principles of Masonry, had existed in all ages."(Moses 5:31, 35; Alma 37:30-31; Ether 8:19, 22; 14:8, 10; 9:1; 13:18; 2 Ne. 9:9; 26:22; Hel. 3:23; 3 Ne. 4:29; Morm. 8:27; D&C 42:64)

[Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source]

125 years ago today - 115 years - Dec 29, 1899

[Minutes of the Apostles]
Bro[ther]. John Henry Smith was asked to explain the object of the meeting. He said there was a scheme on foot to disfranchise the Mormon people through an amendment to the Constitution. ...

Bro[ther]. John Henry Smith again remarked that the effect upon the people would be of extreme moment, that is, upon those liable to arrest. ... He closed by saying that it was his unqualified opinion that the church should not directly nor indirectly be found bearing the burdens of polygamists; and as for himself, he was willing to declare to a tabernacle congregation that he held himself amenable to the laws of this country, and that every man should bear his own burden, and that the fact of himself and other polygamists having lived with an maintained their plural families should not in any sense affect the liberties of the people who are not polygamists.

... Pres[iden]t. [George Q.] Cannon now remarked that he was impressed witho ne things, that is the sentiment of the brethren who had spoken could be discerned in his politics. (Bro[ther]. Grant here took exceptions to this remark.) Pres[iden]t. Cannon thought there was a question deeper than anything yet touched upon, that is, the policy the church was going to pursue in regard to our marital relations; that is, whether we should take the course suggested by Bro[ther]. John Henry, and eat humble pie; whether we will obey the law, or go on as we are now going and defend violations of the law. He thought it was bad ground for us to occupy to justify ourselves in having children by our plural wives; he thought it right and proper however for us to have children by them, but did not think it wise for us to claim the right to do so when the laws of the state were against it. Plural wives bearing children should, he thought, be placed beyond the power of the law. He
believed that public feelings would be placated if we were not called upon to defend violations of the law, but regard such cases as sporadic cases. The speaker said he was satisfied that we should not come out and say we are not going to have children by our plural wives, and that nation would not expect this at our hands; and he did nto think that anything would have such a tendency to quiet public feeling so much as for men to go into court and promise to obey the law and not equivocate. He said that from the beginning he his mind was clear on this point, that we should not show the least feeling of defying the law. While we feel keenly the justice of our cause, in Washington [D.C.] that feature figures but little. Prejudice has weight. He did not think it would be a good thing for Bro[ther]. John Henry to make the public utterance suggested by him; but he did think that a course might be taken to placate the leading men of the nation. He differed from some of the speakers that
we could not be disfranchised without a constitutional amendment. We were given statehood on certain conditions; and he believed prejudices could be worked up to such a pitch as to cause Congress to act by a short cut. It must be admitted by all that we have disappointed the Republican party. They admitted us with the idea that we would be at least part fo the time a Republican state. By giving the women the franchise destroyed the Republican chances in the State. Pres[iden]t. Cannon closed by saying that there certain was an impression abroad that the News was a Democratic paper, and President Snow's name as its publisher, has been used to the injury of the Republican party.

Adjourned until tomorrow.

[Minutes, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

125 years ago today - 115 years - Dec 29, 1899; Friday

[First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve minutes]
Brother Richard M. Robinson, of Grantsville [Utah], called, having just returned from a mission to Florida. He exhibited a gold coin, a little larger though a little thinner than our ten cent silver coin, and containing well marked characters. He stated that this coin had been found by Brother I. N. Carlton of Casey Settlement, Camden County, Georgia, while plowing in his field at that place. It was situated on the St. Mary River, which divides Georgia from Florida. The coin was plowed up last spring, and was given to Brother Robinson in the latter part of August. He now presented it to President Snow, as head of the Church, hoping that it might be found useful in helping to establish the authenticity of the Book of Mormon, or for some other sacred purpose.

[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]

130 years ago today - 120 years - Dec 29, 1894

[Apostle Heber J. Grant]
And now that the prospects are thin I am going to make some money I feel as desirous of the wisdom as ever, and I only want the success with the wisdom and I pray for failure with all my heart if success is not for the best in the sight of my Father in Heaven, but I will indeed be thankful if He is willing to bless me with some means. I would also be thankful if He is willing to have my brother make enough to free himself from debt.

[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

170 years ago today - 160 years - Dec 29, 1854

[Hosea Stout]
This evening at 6 I attended a social party at Br Lorenzo Snows[.] He has a Hall spendidly fitted up for the purpose of social entertainment where his friends assemble about once a week.

The Evening from 6 to 10 is spent in music, public speaking songs, Essays & the like in all well calculated to elevate the mind & promote a high toned feeling in society.

[Diaries of Hosea Stout]

180 years ago today - Dec 29, 1844

[Brigham Young]
Now concerning the organization of the kingdom of God that is brought to pass. The Savior told his disciples, as he has seen the Father do so does he, and as Joseph Smith seen Jesus Christ do so does he, and as I have seen Joseph do so do I. Then follow me and I will lead you into the kingdom and if I do not then I'll give my soul for yours. All I want you to do is to obey my council and do what I tell you. ...

Before God and Jesus was the first born, or begotten of the Father, and we were sent here upon this earth to choose bodies and dwell in the flesh as our Father who is in heaven. God sent Adam first and Eve. ...

But the devil being one of the organization of the heavenly body, third in power, prince of the air, he had a spirit like Cain. He saw that Jesus was the most acceptable before the Father; he loved righteousness and hated iniquity. This gave a jealousy to him and he began to accuse the brethren which soon hurled him. Adam and Eve then being sent to this earth, Satan then went forth and told Eve that she should know good and evil if she eat of it. And she did so, for he told her many truth and some lies. ...

And now we are to be saviors of men of our brethren to redeem our dead friends and the friends of those who will not save their own friends, to exalt ourselves until we are all linked together again. ...

Then we shall have power to create worlds ourselves and rule them as Jesus did. ...

I will now give an account of the cause of the power of Satan reigning in the hearts of the children of men. They do not understand that he is the prince and power of the air. Therefore he is continually going about to seek to destroy the peace of the righteous and to gain them into his kingdom to reign with him, for if any man gives place or cause for him he will enter into him until that man or woman spews him out and casts him away from them, for Satan is a disembodied spirit who was cast out of heaven because of accusing their brethren. ...

And he gets into beasts and all because they have no bodies. No, nor never will get bodies to be exalted because they kept not the first, or their first estate. Now we see if there are any possessed with devils they will froth and foam and cut themselves for they do not know what aileth them, for these spirits strive against one another trying to see who will be the greatest of them for they have no order nor organization that can reign in peace or order. Now the office of the Holy Ghost concerning the speaking in tongues and prophesying we know these things are brought to us to know that there is such a thing but we cannot tell how we know or whence they came for it is utterly impossible for us to speak these in our natural tongue. But they can be uttered by the spirit and also the interpretation is given in the same way.

[George Laub Journal as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]

185 years ago today - Dec 29, 1839

The Nauvoo high council votes to print 10,000 copies of a new hymnbook and a new edition of the Book of Mormon.

[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

195 years ago today - Winter 1829

Smith received revelation via his seer stone to sell copyright of the Book of Mormon. When effort fail, Smith declares revelation was not from God.

[Chronology of Mormon History, http://followtheprophets.com/chronology-of-mormon-history/]

45 years ago today - Winter 1979-80.

A survey of Exponent II readers shows that 66 percent rate themselves "very active" with an additional 18 percent reporting themselves as "above average" in activity; 43 percent are employed; 95 percent have attended college; 95 percent subscribe to the Ensign, 35 percent subscribe to Dialogue, and 22 percent subscribe to Sunstone. They average 3. children.

[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1]

90 years ago today - Dec 28, 1934

[Heber J. Grant letter]
Musser and Broadbent, to whom you refer in your letter of December 19, have both been excommunicated from the Church for conduct in violation of the teachings of the Church pertaining to plural marriage.

At the time when polygamy was taught by the leaders of the Church and members of the Church entered into that relationship in honor and good faith, the Government saw fit to send many of our people to the penitentiary for cohabiting with more than one wife, but the officers of the law seem to pay no attention whatever to men who are committing adultery. My only hope of crushing this pretended plural marriage activity is for the law to send some of these people to the penitentiary.

[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Alonzo A. Hinckley, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

130 years ago today - Dec 28, 1894

[President Wilford Woodruff]
At 3 oclock I Attended the Dedication of the Joint City & County Building. I Offered the Dedicatory Prayer. We had an interesting day.

[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

135 years ago today - Dec 28, 1889

[Apostle Heber J. Grant]
I called at the Gardo and the brethren were anxious that I should get up a letter from the business men endorsing the [Blood Atonement] Manifesto of the Apostles.

[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

165 years ago today - Dec 28, 1859

Brother Carrington read a Letter to us From Capt Hooper who said "This union will be disolved within 18 month." He also read the message of the Govornor of Missippi whos recommendation to his state is that they Call a state Convention and Call upon all the Slave holding State to Form a Southern Union and seced from the North if their was a Republican President Elected in the United States.

[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]