[President Heber J. Grant Diary] Franklin S. Richards called and we discussed the proposition of starting legal proceedings against Fred Smith for the disturbing of the bodies of the Prophet and Patriarch, Joseph and Hyrum Smith. He felt there could be no damages secured and the only thing would be to prosecute these people criminally, and he had grave doubts that we could ever get a jury that would make a decision in our favor.
[Source: Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
160 years ago today - Feb 28, 1853
Millard Fillmore writes Utah's congressional delegate John M. Bernhisel (a member of Council of Fifty), "my thanks for the beautiful copy of the 'Book of Mormon.'" Fillmore is apparently first U.S. president to accept copy of BOOK OF MORMON but may not have even opened it. He appoints Brigham Young as Utah's first governor who gratefully names Fillmore, Utah, as territorial capital from 1851 to 1858.
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
170 years ago today - Feb 28, 1843
Orson Hyde affidavit of 15 & 16 September 1869, "And in the month of February or March (1843) I was married to Miss Martha R. Browitt [also spelled "Browett"] by Joseph Smith," witnessed by Marinda N. Hyde. Joseph Smith performed polygamous marriage for him and Mary Ann Price in April 1843, witnessed by Marinda N. Hyde. Compare with Joseph SmithÂ's journal 28 February 1843, "To Elder Hydes to dinner at 4 o'clock P.M." and also "The following list of marriages is written on one of the last leaves of this journal," beginning: "Apr 42 Marinda Johnson [Hyde] to Joseph Smith 1843Â" and Â"July 20 [1843] M.P. to O Hyde.Â" Thomas Bullock's entry in Joseph Smith's journal affirmed that there were two ceremonies, first in April 1842 and second at an unspecified date in 1843. The first was without her husband's knowledge, but the second was with his permission. Her 1869 affidavit provided better dating for the 1843 ceremony, which was thirteen months after she actually became Joseph Smith's wife. [Joseph Fielding Smith Blood Atonement and the Origin of Plural Marriage, 89; An American Prophet's Record, 313, 396]
[Source: "Evidence For The Sexual Side of Joseph Smith's Polygamy," Comments by D. Michael Quinn on Session #2A "Reconsidering Joseph Smith's Marital Practices," Mormon History Association's Annual Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 29 June 2012 (unabbreviated version, revised during July)]
[Source: "Evidence For The Sexual Side of Joseph Smith's Polygamy," Comments by D. Michael Quinn on Session #2A "Reconsidering Joseph Smith's Marital Practices," Mormon History Association's Annual Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 29 June 2012 (unabbreviated version, revised during July)]
170 years ago today - Feb 28, 1843
[Joseph Smith Diary] ... To Elder Hydes to dinner at 4 o'clock P.M. [blank]
Notice in Chicago Express that Wm /Hiram/ Redding had seen sign of the son of man. Wrote Editor of Times and Seasons for no. 8 vol. 4 that Reding had not seen the sign of the son of man and he would not come in [18]43 &c. ...
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
Notice in Chicago Express that Wm /Hiram/ Redding had seen sign of the son of man. Wrote Editor of Times and Seasons for no. 8 vol. 4 that Reding had not seen the sign of the son of man and he would not come in [18]43 &c. ...
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
170 years ago today - Feb 28, 1843
Jacob Scott writes, "Nearly All the Church have been Baptized again, for the Remission of their Sins, since they joined the Church, I have also by the hands of Br. Joseph (as he himself has been,) & I would advise Jan and you Mary, to attend to it as soon as you can have the opportunity of an Elder or Priest of the Church to administer it."
[Source: Quinn, D. Michael, "The Practice of Rebaptism at Nauvoo," BYU Studies (1978), 18:2:226]
[Source: Quinn, D. Michael, "The Practice of Rebaptism at Nauvoo," BYU Studies (1978), 18:2:226]
85 years ago today - Feb 28, 1928
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] Franklin S. Richards called and we discussed the proposition of starting legal proceedings against Fred Smith for the disturbing of the bodies of the Prophet and Patriarch, Joseph and Hyrum Smith. He felt there could be no damages secured and the only thing would be to prosecute these people criminally, and he had grave doubts that we could ever get a jury that would make a decision in our favor.
[Source: Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
160 years ago today - Feb 28, 1853
Millard Fillmore writes Utah's congressional delegate John M. Bernhisel (a member of Council of Fifty), "my thanks for the beautiful copy of the 'Book of Mormon.'" Fillmore is apparently first U.S. president to accept copy of BOOK OF MORMON but may not have even opened it. He appoints Brigham Young as Utah's first governor who gratefully names Fillmore, Utah, as territorial capital from 1851 to 1858.
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
170 years ago today - Feb 28, 1843
Orson Hyde affidavit of 15 & 16 September 1869, "And in the month of February or March (1843) I was married to Miss Martha R. Browitt [also spelled "Browett"] by Joseph Smith," witnessed by Marinda N. Hyde. Joseph Smith performed polygamous marriage for him and Mary Ann Price in April 1843, witnessed by Marinda N. Hyde. Compare with Joseph SmithÂ's journal 28 February 1843, "To Elder Hydes to dinner at 4 o'clock P.M." and also "The following list of marriages is written on one of the last leaves of this journal," beginning: "Apr 42 Marinda Johnson [Hyde] to Joseph Smith 1843Â" and Â"July 20 [1843] M.P. to O Hyde.Â" Thomas Bullock's entry in Joseph Smith's journal affirmed that there were two ceremonies, first in April 1842 and second at an unspecified date in 1843. The first was without her husband's knowledge, but the second was with his permission. Her 1869 affidavit provided better dating for the 1843 ceremony, which was thirteen months after she actually became Joseph Smith's wife. [Joseph Fielding Smith Blood Atonement and the Origin of Plural Marriage, 89; An American Prophet's Record, 313, 396]
[Source: "Evidence For The Sexual Side of Joseph Smith's Polygamy," Comments by D. Michael Quinn on Session #2A "Reconsidering Joseph Smith's Marital Practices," Mormon History Association's Annual Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 29 June 2012 (unabbreviated version, revised during July)]
[Source: "Evidence For The Sexual Side of Joseph Smith's Polygamy," Comments by D. Michael Quinn on Session #2A "Reconsidering Joseph Smith's Marital Practices," Mormon History Association's Annual Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 29 June 2012 (unabbreviated version, revised during July)]
170 years ago today - Feb 28, 1843
[Joseph Smith Diary] ... To Elder Hydes to dinner at 4 o'clock P.M. [blank]
Notice in Chicago Express that Wm /Hiram/ Redding had seen sign of the son of man. Wrote Editor of Times and Seasons for no. 8 vol. 4 that Reding had not seen the sign of the son of man and he would not come in [18]43 &c. ...
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
Notice in Chicago Express that Wm /Hiram/ Redding had seen sign of the son of man. Wrote Editor of Times and Seasons for no. 8 vol. 4 that Reding had not seen the sign of the son of man and he would not come in [18]43 &c. ...
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
170 years ago today - Feb 28, 1843
Jacob Scott writes, "Nearly All the Church have been Baptized again, for the Remission of their Sins, since they joined the Church, I have also by the hands of Br. Joseph (as he himself has been,) & I would advise Jan and you Mary, to attend to it as soon as you can have the opportunity of an Elder or Priest of the Church to administer it."
[Source: Quinn, D. Michael, "The Practice of Rebaptism at Nauvoo," BYU Studies (1978), 18:2:226]
[Source: Quinn, D. Michael, "The Practice of Rebaptism at Nauvoo," BYU Studies (1978), 18:2:226]
70 years ago today - Feb 27, 1943
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] I think it was an inspiration not to choose John Smith's great grandson to be the patriarch. For ten years there has been a vacancy in the office of Presiding Patriarch, and yet at one time a majority of the Quorum of the Twelve felt that I ought to choose one of John Smith's great grandsons. It has been a very humiliating thing to me to have the majority of the brethren wanting me to choose a man who felt he was entitled to it, but I have seen all of them lately and they all say they are prefectly (sic) willing to sustain Joseph F. Smith for the position. I was very glad that I stood out for ten years seeing that President Smith himself felt that he was entitled to have one of his line as the Presiding Patriarch.
[Source: Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
180 years ago today - Feb 27, 1833
Sang by the gift of Tongues & Translated
age after age has rolled away, according to the sad fate of man, countless millions for ever gone at length the period of time has come that oft was seen by a prophetic eye and writ[t]en too by all holy men Inspired of the Lord
a time which was seen by Enoch of Old at a time when he stood upon the mount which was called the Mountain of God as he gazed upon nature and the corruption of man and mourned their sad fate and wept and cried with a loud voice and heaved forth his sighs Omnipotence Omnipotence O may I see thee - and with his finger he touched his eyes and he saw heaven he gazed on eternity and sang an Angelic song and mingled his voice with the heavenly throng Hosan[n]a Hosan[n]a the sound of the trump around the throne of God echoed and echoed again and rang and reechoed until eternity was filled with hi[s] voice
he saw yea he saw and he glorified God the salvation of his people his City caught up through the gospel of Christ
he saw the beginning the ending of man he saw the time when Adam his fath[er] was made and he saw that he was in eternity before a grain of dust in the ballance was weighed
he saw that he emenated and came down from God he saw what had passed and then was and is present and to come
therefore he saw the Last days the Ang[e]l that came down to John and the Angel that is now flying having the everlasting gospel to commit unto men - which in my soul I have received and from death and bondage from the Devil I[']m freed and am free in the gospel of Christ and I[']m waiting and with patience I[']ll wait on the Lord Hosan[n]a loud sound the trump come eternity to ring hosan[n]a forever I[']m waiting the coming of Christ a mansion on high a celestial abode a seat on the right hand of God
Angels are coming the Holy Ghost is falling upon the saints and will continue to fall the saviour is coming yea the Bridegroom prepar[e] ye prepare yea the cry has gone forth go wait on the Lord the Angels in glory will soon be descending to join you in singing the praises of God the trump Loud shall sound the dark vail soon shall rend heaven shall shake the earth shall tremble and all nature shall feel the power of God, gase ye saints gase ye upon him, gase upon Jesus hosan[n]a loud sound the trump his church is caught up
hosan[n]a praise him ye saints they stand at his feet behold they are weeping they strike hands with Enoch of Old they inherit a city as it is writ[t]en the City of God. Loud sound the trump, they receive a celestial crown hozan[n]a the heaven of heavens, and the heavens are filled with the praises of God Amen
[Source: Kirtland Revelations Book, 48-49, handwriting of Frederick G. Williams]
age after age has rolled away, according to the sad fate of man, countless millions for ever gone at length the period of time has come that oft was seen by a prophetic eye and writ[t]en too by all holy men Inspired of the Lord
a time which was seen by Enoch of Old at a time when he stood upon the mount which was called the Mountain of God as he gazed upon nature and the corruption of man and mourned their sad fate and wept and cried with a loud voice and heaved forth his sighs Omnipotence Omnipotence O may I see thee - and with his finger he touched his eyes and he saw heaven he gazed on eternity and sang an Angelic song and mingled his voice with the heavenly throng Hosan[n]a Hosan[n]a the sound of the trump around the throne of God echoed and echoed again and rang and reechoed until eternity was filled with hi[s] voice
he saw yea he saw and he glorified God the salvation of his people his City caught up through the gospel of Christ
he saw the beginning the ending of man he saw the time when Adam his fath[er] was made and he saw that he was in eternity before a grain of dust in the ballance was weighed
he saw that he emenated and came down from God he saw what had passed and then was and is present and to come
therefore he saw the Last days the Ang[e]l that came down to John and the Angel that is now flying having the everlasting gospel to commit unto men - which in my soul I have received and from death and bondage from the Devil I[']m freed and am free in the gospel of Christ and I[']m waiting and with patience I[']ll wait on the Lord Hosan[n]a loud sound the trump come eternity to ring hosan[n]a forever I[']m waiting the coming of Christ a mansion on high a celestial abode a seat on the right hand of God
Angels are coming the Holy Ghost is falling upon the saints and will continue to fall the saviour is coming yea the Bridegroom prepar[e] ye prepare yea the cry has gone forth go wait on the Lord the Angels in glory will soon be descending to join you in singing the praises of God the trump Loud shall sound the dark vail soon shall rend heaven shall shake the earth shall tremble and all nature shall feel the power of God, gase ye saints gase ye upon him, gase upon Jesus hosan[n]a loud sound the trump his church is caught up
hosan[n]a praise him ye saints they stand at his feet behold they are weeping they strike hands with Enoch of Old they inherit a city as it is writ[t]en the City of God. Loud sound the trump, they receive a celestial crown hozan[n]a the heaven of heavens, and the heavens are filled with the praises of God Amen
[Source: Kirtland Revelations Book, 48-49, handwriting of Frederick G. Williams]
180 years ago today - Feb 27, 1833
... Bro. Coltrin: When the Word of Wisdom was first presented by the Prophet Joseph (as he came out of the translating room) and was read to the School, there were twenty out of the twenty-one who used tobacco and they all immediately threw their tobacco and pipes into the fire.
Original: Fredrick, Newell
[Source: Kenny, Scott, Saints Without Halos, Mormon History 1830-1844, Word of Wisdom, http://www.saintswithouthalos.com/n/wow.phtml]
Original: Fredrick, Newell
[Source: Kenny, Scott, Saints Without Halos, Mormon History 1830-1844, Word of Wisdom, http://www.saintswithouthalos.com/n/wow.phtml]
180 years ago today - 1833 27 Feb.
The "Word of Wisdom" discourages use of tobacco, wine, and "strong drink" but encourages the use of "mild drinks" made from barley (beer).
[Source: Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
[Source: Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
180 years ago today - Feb 27, 1833
Joseph receives D&C 89. According to Brigham Young the School of the Prophets was meeting in Joseph's kitchen, a small room in the house attached to the store owned by Bishop Whitney. As the brethren would gather after breakfast, they would immediately light their pipes, filling the room with smoke, or they would begin to chew tobacco, spitting it on the floor. After the complaints of his wife, Joseph prayed about the problem and received the above revelation.
[Source: Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Source: Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
15 years ago today - 2/26/1998
[Same-Sex Marriage] Andy Pugno writes letter to BYU Prof Lynn Wardle on State Senator Pete Knights letterhead asking Wardle to review the text for the proposed Prop 22 language. Specifically, Pugno asks if its better to use "one man and one woman" or "a man and a woman" and also asks, "Is there a better way to draft the text of this initiative, considering California's long history of recognizing any marriage legally contracted elsewhere (even if it would have been invalid if performed in this state)? The current proposed language is very short and to the point because, our voter research shows, voters are more supportive if the text is very brief and doesn't leave much to doubt." Church gives $500,000 to the Alaska Family Coalition, formed to ban gay marriage in Alaska. Total donations for the gay marriage ban that year were $600,000. With 10 million members worldwide, more than half of them outside of the United States, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has become much more than merely a Utah faith, Mormon officials countered on Sunday. "We have 24,000 members of the church based in Alaska. It's a matter that members of the church in Alaska and people who share their views about the importance of traditional marriage as an
[Source: Mormons for Marriage: A Prop 8 Timeline, http://mormonsformarriage.com/?page_id=68]
[Source: Mormons for Marriage: A Prop 8 Timeline, http://mormonsformarriage.com/?page_id=68]
170 years ago today - Feb 26, 1843
Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith stayed at home all day nursing his mother, who was -"sick with inflammation of the lungs.-",
[Source: BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]
[Source: BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]
180 years ago today - Feb 26, 1833
The May 1833 issue of the American Quarterly Temperance Magazine reports that "Simultaneous Temperance Meetings" by various temperance societies were held across the nation on or around February 26, 1833 (the day before the Word of Wisdom revelation).
[Source: Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source]
[Source: Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source]
185 years ago today - about Tuesday, Feb 26, 1828
[Book of Mormon Translation] New York City, [after visiting Professor Charles Anthon regarding Book of Mormon reformed Egyptian characters, Martin] Harris departs New York City for Harmony.
[Source: Watson, Elden, Approximate Book of Mormon Translation Timeline, http://www.eldenwatson.net/BoM.htm]
[Source: Watson, Elden, Approximate Book of Mormon Translation Timeline, http://www.eldenwatson.net/BoM.htm]
5 years ago today - Feb 25, 2008
[Joseph Smith Papers project] The LDS Church announces establishment of The Church Historian's Press, which, as its first publishing project, will publish the Joseph Smith Papers. KUTV reports:
Church officials shopped the project to several university presses, including Oxford, Yale and the University of Virginia, but in the end decided to take charge of their own history, [LDS Church Historian Marlin] Jensen said.
The Mormon church already has ties to two other publishing imprints. The church-owned Brigham Young University Press and Deseret Book, a printing and retail outlet. Both publish work from Latter-day Saint historians and writers, but neither seemed like the right fit, Jensen said.
"They have established a reputation for certain types of publishing and though it's good, I think it's more diverse, probably, eclectic than we would want," he said. "We'll be much more limited and selective in what we do."
The project's website, josephsmithpapers.net, also debuts.
A page on the website states: "The Church Historian's Press will begin publishing the first volumes of The Joseph Smith Papers in 2008. Two to three volumes will be printed each year until the project's completion." Editorial methods are described here. A page on the volumes themselves states:
When completed, The Joseph Smith Papers will consist of more than thirty volumes in six series: Journals, Documents, Revelations and Translations, History, Legal and Business, and Administrative. Three volumes of Joseph Smith's journals cover the years 1832 through 1844. The Documents Series, in eleven volumes, spans 1828 to 1844. Four volumes-manuscript revelation books, other early revelation manuscripts including key Joseph Smith translation manuscripts, the Book of Mormon printer's manuscript, and published Joseph Smith-era scripture-make up the Revelations and Translations Series. Seven volumes of history encompass the period 1805 to 1844. The Legal and Business Series has three volumes that include records of cases occurring in New York/Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois. Administrative records will publish minute books and letterbooks.
FAQs are available here. Bios for the project members are available here.
News articles:
"Historian Press will document LDS Church past" (Deseret News)
[Source: Joseph Smith Papers Timeline: History of the Joseph Smith Papers Project, MormonWasp Blog (defunct)]
Church officials shopped the project to several university presses, including Oxford, Yale and the University of Virginia, but in the end decided to take charge of their own history, [LDS Church Historian Marlin] Jensen said.
The Mormon church already has ties to two other publishing imprints. The church-owned Brigham Young University Press and Deseret Book, a printing and retail outlet. Both publish work from Latter-day Saint historians and writers, but neither seemed like the right fit, Jensen said.
"They have established a reputation for certain types of publishing and though it's good, I think it's more diverse, probably, eclectic than we would want," he said. "We'll be much more limited and selective in what we do."
The project's website, josephsmithpapers.net, also debuts.
A page on the website states: "The Church Historian's Press will begin publishing the first volumes of The Joseph Smith Papers in 2008. Two to three volumes will be printed each year until the project's completion." Editorial methods are described here. A page on the volumes themselves states:
When completed, The Joseph Smith Papers will consist of more than thirty volumes in six series: Journals, Documents, Revelations and Translations, History, Legal and Business, and Administrative. Three volumes of Joseph Smith's journals cover the years 1832 through 1844. The Documents Series, in eleven volumes, spans 1828 to 1844. Four volumes-manuscript revelation books, other early revelation manuscripts including key Joseph Smith translation manuscripts, the Book of Mormon printer's manuscript, and published Joseph Smith-era scripture-make up the Revelations and Translations Series. Seven volumes of history encompass the period 1805 to 1844. The Legal and Business Series has three volumes that include records of cases occurring in New York/Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois. Administrative records will publish minute books and letterbooks.
FAQs are available here. Bios for the project members are available here.
News articles:
"Historian Press will document LDS Church past" (Deseret News)
[Source: Joseph Smith Papers Timeline: History of the Joseph Smith Papers Project, MormonWasp Blog (defunct)]
70 years ago today - Feb 25, 1943
Local leadership in missions encouraged-- Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah.
To all Mission Presidents with further instructions on supervision of the districts in the missions, especially in relation to the reduced missionary force due to war conditions. More local leadership encouraged. {1943-February 25-Original circular letter, L.D.S.}
[Source: Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
To all Mission Presidents with further instructions on supervision of the districts in the missions, especially in relation to the reduced missionary force due to war conditions. More local leadership encouraged. {1943-February 25-Original circular letter, L.D.S.}
[Source: Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
75 years ago today - Feb 25, 1938
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] This evening I had a visit of over an hour with Raymond Taylor, a son of John W. Taylor, whose mother was a Woolley and a plural wife of Samuel Woolley of Grantsville. His wife was with him. He is preparing a history of John W. Taylor. I told him I thought it was a mistake. If they wanted to publish it, all right, it would not be a hitory (sic) unless they told he was in opposition to the apostles and was excommunicated from the Church and was never legally restored by baptism. They went out saying they were very glad to have had the interview, and as near as I could judge he was pleased to drop the matter, for which I felt grateful, that they had had this talk with me, and tht (sic) it would be a mistake to publish this history.
[Source: Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
140 years ago today - Feb 25, 1873 (Tuesday)
The Frelinghuysen anti-Mormon bill was passed in the U.S. Senate, but failed to come up before the House.
[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
170 years ago today - Feb 25, 1843
After describing unusual atmospheric phenomena Wilford Woodruff writes, "Thus it appears that the signs that Joel and Jesus spoke of are making their appearance." After denouncing the state law of Illinois making property a legal tender for the payment of debts; Joseph Smith states to the Nauvoo City Council: "Shall we be such fools as to be governed by their [Illinois] laws which are unconstitutional? No. We will make a law for gold and silver; then their law ceases, and we can collect our debts. Powers not delegated to the states, or reserved from the states, are constitutional. The constitution acknowledges that the people have all power not reserved to itself. I am a lawyer. I am a big lawyer, and comprehend heaven, earth and hell, to bring forth knowledge that shall cover up all lawyers, doctors and other big bodies."
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
185 years ago today - about Monday, Feb 25, 1828
[Book of Mormon Translation] New York City, M Harris visits with Professor Charles Anthon.
[Source: Watson, Elden, Approximate Book of Mormon Translation Timeline, http://www.eldenwatson.net/BoM.htm]
[Source: Watson, Elden, Approximate Book of Mormon Translation Timeline, http://www.eldenwatson.net/BoM.htm]
35 years ago today - Feb 24, 1978.
Elder Durham's title is changed from "managing director of the Historical Department" to "director of the History Division of the Historical Department," the title formerly borne by Leonard Arrington. Sometime between this date and 1 June 1978 portraits of Church Historians from John Whitmer to Elder Durham are hung in the second-floor hallway leading to the administrative offices. They include photographs of Elders Alvin R. Dyer and Joseph Anderson, managing directors of the Historical Department during Arrington's tenure but never referred to as Church Historians. Leonard Arrington is conspicuously omitted. In the summer of 1990, a separate grouping of division heads' portraits is hung, including those of Donald Schmidt, Earl Olsen, Florence Jacobsen, and Leonard Arrington. Portraits of succeeding Church Historians Dean L. Larsen and Loren C. Dunn are also hung, but that of intervening Church Historian John Carmack (1989-92) is not, at his own request.
[Source: Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1]
[Source: Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1]
125 years ago today - Feb 24, 1888
Eliza I. Jones; of the Salt Lake City 10th Ward, writes to President Wilford Woodruff: "Will you please answer a few questions. I wish to ask. you I am the widow of Thomas. C Jones of your Circle he died soon after we came from Logan Temple working for our Dead and having our 2d Ontingins [anointings] where we told to attend to the Washing of Feet at home the baby was sick after we came home so I asked Bro Jones when we should attend to it and he said we had better wait till the baby is better but he was taken sick and Died before it was attended to can that be done by Proxy or not as I feel sorry about it for he was a good man and I gave him 2 living Wives and 3 Dead ones and worked hard to help him to keep them." Woodruff responds: "The ordinance of which you speak, and which you say you failed to attend to before the death of your husband, is one that should not be written about, and it cannot be attended to by proxy. Your husband is dead and, so far as the ordinances is concerned, it is all right."
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
170 years ago today - about Feb 24, 1843
Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith dictated a 78-stanza poem written for William W. Phelps that was based on the revelation in Doctrine & Covenants 76. [Text at http://mldb.byu.edu/jsmith1.htm]
[Source: BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]
[Source: BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]
80 years ago today - Feb 23, 1933
[The Great Depression] On the afternoon of 23 February 1933 Salt Lake County Sheriff Grant Young and several of his deputies were scheduled to conduct a tax sale from the west steps of the City and County Building. Six houses and a farm were to be sold for back taxes following mortgage foreclosures. A crowd of several hundred people gathered to try to prevent the sale. Sheriff Young appealed to them to disperse; instead, they stormed the building. Deputies turned a fire hose on them, slowing them only momentarily, and they quickly wrestled the hose from the deputies and turned it into the building, flooding the ground floor. Police finally succeeded in dispersing the crowd with tear gas and arrested seven men and a woman for "direct rioting". Eventually, fifteen people were arrested, found guilty, fined and sentenced to brief jail terms.
[Source: Utah History Encyclopedia: The Great Depression, http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/d/DEPPRESSION%2CGREAT.html]
[Source: Utah History Encyclopedia: The Great Depression, http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/d/DEPPRESSION%2CGREAT.html]
85 years ago today - Feb 23, 1928
[James E. Talmage] Attended Council meeting of the First Presidency and the Twelve and afterward a meeting of the Council of the Twelve. Then followed a meeting lasting from 4:00 to 7:00 o’clock in which I sat with the Presidency and Elders Orson F. Whitney and B. H. Roberts considering an article to be submitted for publication in the Encyclopedia Britannica.
[Source: James E. Talmage, Diary]
[Source: James E. Talmage, Diary]
170 years ago today - Feb 23, 1843
[Joseph Smith Diary] ... 3 1/2 P.M. the Mayor [Joseph Smith] burned $23 of city scrip on the stove hearth and while burning said so may all uncurrent and unsound money go down as this burns. Said he would pay no taxes on Hotchkiss purchase ...
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
175 years ago today - Feb 23, 1838
[Wilford Woodruff Journal] During the day we repaired to the sea shore & clensed our feet with pure water & bore testimony against eight housholds before God who had rejected us or turned us from their Doors the evening before.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
More History?
Want more Mormon history? Check out LDS-Church-History, a topical approach to the history of the church. Topics from the past have included: - The Life of Lorenzo Snow - Speaking in Tongues - Rebaptism, - Word of Wisdom - Dreams in LDS history - The life of George Albert Smith - The history of Z.C.M.I. - Tithing More info can be found here: http://bit.ly/ldshst
35 years ago today - Feb 22, 1978
[Bibliography on the Negro Doctrine] First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "First Presidency Statement [on blacks], February 22, 1978." LDS Church Archives.
[Source: Neither White nor Black: Mormon Scholars Confront the Race Issue in a Universal Church: Chronological Bibliography on the Negro Doctrine [1900-1983], Edited by Lester E. Bush, Jr., and Armand L. Mauss, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Neither White nor Black: Mormon Scholars Confront the Race Issue in a Universal Church: Chronological Bibliography on the Negro Doctrine [1900-1983], Edited by Lester E. Bush, Jr., and Armand L. Mauss, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
120 years ago today - Feb 22, 1893
[James E. Talmage] Being at the President s Office early this morning I had a conversation with President [Wilford] Woodruff concerning the Seer Stones spoken of yesterday, and particularly of the stone owned by Bro[ther]. Rushton, which latter I showed to the President. He attributes no importance at all to the stone; and he sustains me in my opinion concerning Mrs. Russel and her divinations. Later in the day Bro[ther]. Rushton called upon me and gave me a history of the stone. He found it in Nauvoo [Illinois], associated with a valuable record, and with a store of gold; but neither the record nor the gold could he obtain. He claims that the location of the stone was revealed to him in a day vision thrice repeated; and at first it was under a seal, the nature of which he declined to explain. He says the stone possesses a celestial and a terrestrial side, and is capable of revealing matters connected with this world and the spirit land. One surface of the stone is devoted to the Ten Tribes, and in that the Seer can perceive the place and circumstances of that people beyond the ice.
Bro[ther]. Rushton says the stone served him to locate the burial places of several of Joseph Smith s kindred, the prophet having placed several of the brethren under covenant to bury his dead together.
Since that work was accomplished, Rushton has lost his gift, but lives in hope that it will be restored to him. The stone he believes will be of service in the vicarious work of the Temples by revealing the condition and desires of those behind the vail. Bro[ther]. Rushton and I met Pres[ident]. Woodruff, but Rushton declined to explain to the President the nature of the seal under which the stone was laid. Pres[ident]. Woodruff says he has but little encouragement to offer for the use of Seer Stones. ...
[Source: James E. Talmage, Diary]
Bro[ther]. Rushton says the stone served him to locate the burial places of several of Joseph Smith s kindred, the prophet having placed several of the brethren under covenant to bury his dead together.
Since that work was accomplished, Rushton has lost his gift, but lives in hope that it will be restored to him. The stone he believes will be of service in the vicarious work of the Temples by revealing the condition and desires of those behind the vail. Bro[ther]. Rushton and I met Pres[ident]. Woodruff, but Rushton declined to explain to the President the nature of the seal under which the stone was laid. Pres[ident]. Woodruff says he has but little encouragement to offer for the use of Seer Stones. ...
[Source: James E. Talmage, Diary]
130 years ago today - Feb 22, 1883
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] I attended a party at the Gardo House. There were present about 100 person including the Presidency and Twelve Bishop Hunter and Council and Presidets of Stakes. The Meeting was for the purpose of Dedicating the Gordo House unto the Lord. Franklin D Richards offered the Dedication Prayer. We had a vary plesant time.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: 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 - Feb 22, 1878
Utah adopts election law which for first time since 1849 eliminates marked ballots that allow election officials to know how each person voted.
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
1 year ago - Feb 21, 2012
Church Statement on Violations of Proxy Baptism Policy, Mormon Newsroom
The Church keeps its word and is absolutely firm in its commitment to not accept the names of Holocaust victims for proxy baptism.
It takes a good deal of deception and manipulation to get an improper submission through the safeguards we have put in place.
While no system is foolproof in preventing the handful of individuals who are determined to falsify submissions, we are committed to taking action against individual abusers by suspending the submitter's access privileges. We will also consider whether other Church disciplinary action should be taken.
It is distressing when an individual willfully violates the Church's policy and something that should be understood to be an offering based on love and respect becomes a source of contention.
[Source: Mormon Newsroom]
The Church keeps its word and is absolutely firm in its commitment to not accept the names of Holocaust victims for proxy baptism.
It takes a good deal of deception and manipulation to get an improper submission through the safeguards we have put in place.
While no system is foolproof in preventing the handful of individuals who are determined to falsify submissions, we are committed to taking action against individual abusers by suspending the submitter's access privileges. We will also consider whether other Church disciplinary action should be taken.
It is distressing when an individual willfully violates the Church's policy and something that should be understood to be an offering based on love and respect becomes a source of contention.
[Source: Mormon Newsroom]
125 years ago today - Tuesday, Feb 21, 1888
[Apostle John Henry Smith Diary] ... I was called out of bed in the night and consented to aid the Democratic national committee to the tune of $25,000.00.
[Source: Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
[Source: Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
170 years ago today - Feb 21, 1843
Joseph Smith preaches concerning a wife-beater in Palmyra, New York: "I whipped him till he cried enough." Speaking of the building of the Nauvoo House (a large hotel) Joseph preaches, "I want the Nauvoo House Built. It must be guilt. Our salvation depends on it. . . .Hang on to the Nauvoo House thus and you will build it and you will be on [Mount] Pishagah. The great men who come will pile their gold and silver till you are weary of receiving them . . . Those who have labored and cannot get you rpay be patient." Joseph also preaches, "There is a great deal of murmuring in the Church about me, but I don't care any thing about it. I like to hear it thunder to hear the Saints grumbling."
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
170 years ago today - Feb 21, 1843
By early 1843 there was much speculation in Nauvoo as to whether or not Joseph Smith was secretly practicing polygamy. More and more were learning that members of the Twelve and others had secret plural wives, and the saying became more popular, "There cannot be so much smoke without some fire." ... According to Official Church History, Joseph told them: Smith tells temple workers to stop gossiping about polygamy . "There is a great noise in the city, and many are saying there cannot be so much smoke without some fire. Well, be it so. If the stories about Joe Smith are true, then the stories of John C. Bennett are true about the ladies of Nauvoo; and he says that the Ladies' Relief Society are all organized of those who are to be the wives of Joe Smith. Ladies, you know whether this is true or not. It is no use living among hogs without a snout. This biting and devouring each other I cannot endure. Away with it. For God's sake, stop it." ...
[Source: Joseph Smith Polygamy Timeline, http://www.i4m.com/think/polygamy/JS_Polygamy_Timeline.htm]
[Source: Joseph Smith Polygamy Timeline, http://www.i4m.com/think/polygamy/JS_Polygamy_Timeline.htm]
170 years ago today - Feb 21, 1843
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] ... President Joseph Smith arose & Addressed the meeting as a christian Prophet for about an hour much to our edefycation. Many remarks he made were plain & pointed. Some vary applicable to Dr Foster which he afterwards acknowledged to be true. Joseph said the Pagen Prophet had prophesied one thing that was true viz that if we did not build the temple & Nauvoo house it would proove the ruin of the place that if we did not build those buildings we might as well leave the place & that it was as necessary to build one as the other,,, & many other things were said much to the purpose.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
175 years ago today - Feb 21, 1838
[Wilford Woodruff Journal] ... I had an interesting time in speaking and after we closed the meeting at half past 8 oclock I walked out of the house & cast my eyes towards the heavens & a glorious scene presented itself to our view.
I light commenced in the NE. & spread to the W. & soon rolled up over head & also in the south & it centered in the heavens & rolled forth fire blood & smoke like contending armies: the whole heavens was illuminated with blood & fire for the space of half an hour & shook like a fowl upon the wing. It seemed at times as though the veil was about to rend in twain <and the throne of God to appear>. It appeared as though the elements were contending with each other.
We were travling through deep snow drifts most of the time during this sceneery. This is one of the signs in the heavens in the last days spoken of by the ancient as well as modern Prophets. O may God hasten the day when the scenerry will be wound up. ...
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I light commenced in the NE. & spread to the W. & soon rolled up over head & also in the south & it centered in the heavens & rolled forth fire blood & smoke like contending armies: the whole heavens was illuminated with blood & fire for the space of half an hour & shook like a fowl upon the wing. It seemed at times as though the veil was about to rend in twain <and the throne of God to appear>. It appeared as though the elements were contending with each other.
We were travling through deep snow drifts most of the time during this sceneery. This is one of the signs in the heavens in the last days spoken of by the ancient as well as modern Prophets. O may God hasten the day when the scenerry will be wound up. ...
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
20 years ago today - Feb 20, 1993
Second counselor Thomas S. Monson speaks at rededication ceremony for Roman Catholic church's Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City, also attended by Apostles James E. Faust and Neal A. Maxwell. In response to LDS man and woman separately preparing simplified English versions of BOOK OF MORMON, First Presidency officially prohibits such a "translation" as undermining the ancient origins of scripture. Man withdraws but Lynn Matthews Anderson publishes her revision in 1994.
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
120 years ago today - Feb 20, 1893 (Monday)
Thos. H. Bullock was discharged from his third term of imprisonment in the Penitentiary for infraction of the Edmunds law. Frank P. Hadlock was also discharged.
[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
135 years ago today - Feb 20, 1878
Proxy endowments are performed in the St. George Temple for Marie Antoinette, Charlotte Corday, and the wives of Sir Walter Scott, Horatio Nelson Thomas Moore, Robert Burns, Edmund Burke, Lord Byron, Goethe and other "eminent women of the world." Wilford Woodruff "officiated as El[oheim]" and also "took through the veil some 30 person[s]."
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
150 years ago today - Feb 20, 1863
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] ... I had the two last teeth taken out of my upper Jaw to day by Brother Barlow with the intention of putting in a New Set.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
170 years ago today - Feb 20, 1843
[Joseph Smith Diary] ... From 9 to 11 [A.M.] reciting in German. From 11 to 12 [A.M.] in court ... Snow melted away so as to destroy sl[e]ighing
... 2 boys were seen fighting in the street by Mill's tavern. The Mayor [Joseph Smith] saw it and ran over immediately, caught one of the boys (who had began the fight with clubs) and stopped him and then the other. [Joseph] gave the bystanders a lecture for not interfering in such cases and returned to court. "No body is allowed to fight in this city but me," said the Mayor.
/This day John Q. Adams presented a petition to the House of Representatives signed by 51,863 citizens of Mass[achuset]ts praying Congress "to pass such acts and prepare such amendments to the Constitution as will seperate the petitioners from all connection with the institution of slavery." ...
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
... 2 boys were seen fighting in the street by Mill's tavern. The Mayor [Joseph Smith] saw it and ran over immediately, caught one of the boys (who had began the fight with clubs) and stopped him and then the other. [Joseph] gave the bystanders a lecture for not interfering in such cases and returned to court. "No body is allowed to fight in this city but me," said the Mayor.
/This day John Q. Adams presented a petition to the House of Representatives signed by 51,863 citizens of Mass[achuset]ts praying Congress "to pass such acts and prepare such amendments to the Constitution as will seperate the petitioners from all connection with the institution of slavery." ...
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
70 years ago today - Feb 19, 1943
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] I had a long talk with President Clark as to the wisdom of my interviewing Brother James H. Moyle who is writing his own history. He said he was afraid I might get excited and it would not do me any good to talk with him because Brother Moyle is a very determined man and might not appreciate my making any suggestions as to what was in his biography. He said to be sure to have Brother Joseph Anderson near me if I decided to have a talk with Brother Moyle with the understanding that he would occasionally kick my foot so that I would not get excited. He doesn't want my blood pressure to go too high. I think perhaps Brother Moyle and I are both too set in our own ideas.
[Source: Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
140 years ago today - Feb 19, 1873
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 19 I went to the field & spent the night. 6 M. All the Attention of Congress seems to be turned to Utah affairs. [U.S.] President Grant Seems determined to Persecute the Saints to the Extent of his power.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
185 years ago today - February 19-20 and July 4-5, 1828
W. W. Phelps (publisher of 'Light on Masonry') is listed with other prominant antiMasons including a future antimasonic nominee for governor, original printer of William Morgan's expose' and the future husband of Lucinda Morgan [Harris]). He continues to be included as an active participant in the proceedings with mention of his Antimasonic newspaper 'Lake Light' and is the 3rd to sign the July 4th 'A Declaration of Independence from the Masonic Institution.' He toasts William Morgan as "the morning star of more light." ['Convention of Seceding Masons' Held at LeRoy, New York, reprinted in 'Light on Masonry,' "Master Mason"]
[Source: Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source]
[Source: Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source]
140 years ago today - Feb 18, 1873
Mormon mob lynches Charles A. Benson for murder in Logan, Utah, under circumstances in which his LDS apostasy is contributing factor. He is son of former Cache Valley president, deceased apostle Ezra T. Benson, whose official biography states that "no further record of his life is available" after Charles's endowment date.
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
170 years ago today - Feb 18, 1843
[Joseph Smith Diary] ... At dinner Joseph said, "When the earth was sanctified and become like a sea of glass it would be one great Urim and Thummin [and] the Saints could look in it and see as they are seen." ...
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
180 years ago today - Feb 18, 1833
Orson Pratt returns to Kirtland after a long mission and washes his hands and feet "as a testimony unto the Lord that I had warned this wicked generation, and that my garments were clean of their blood," and is admitted to the School of the Prophets.
--
[Source: Kenny, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]
--
[Source: Kenny, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]
15 years ago today - Feb 17, 1998
Members of the Church from Somalia travel to Kenya to see President Hinckley during his visit to that country. The Church had sent relief supplies to Somalia but had no organized missionary effort in that country. During the years of civil unrest and drought, many Somalians had accepted the gospel while living as refugees in nearby Kenya.
[Source: The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com]
[Source: The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com]
70 years ago today - Feb 17, 1943
First Presidency agrees to comply with "request of F.B.I. for missionary information regarding towns and cities in Axis countries, by giving them lists of missionaries and permitting them (FBI) to interview them to get such information as they could. We were to make clear there was to be no espionage in Axis countries by our missionaries." Axis countries are Hitler's Nazi Germany, Mussolini's Fascist Italy. Toho-s Imperial Japan and territories conquered by them.
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
120 years ago today - Friday, Feb 17, 1893
[Apostle John Henry Smith Diary] Salt Lake City
Moses Thatcher, Abraham H. Cannon and I spent the day looking up Furnature and Carpets for the Apostles rooms in the Temple.
[Source: Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
Moses Thatcher, Abraham H. Cannon and I spent the day looking up Furnature and Carpets for the Apostles rooms in the Temple.
[Source: Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
130 years ago today - Feb 17, 1883
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] ... Alma Moroni Blanchard Called on me to day And professed to have found some plates Containing records in addition to the Book of Mormon. He had translated them by the Urim and Thummim and He wanted to Publish them. I think it all fals.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
1 year ago - Feb 16, 2012
In view of reported proxy baptisms of some prominent Jews, concerned Hindus have urged The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) to set-up a mechanism to avoid baptizing by proxy their deceased ancestors without their will. Hindu statesman Rajan Zed (President of the Universal Society of Hinduism) in a statement said that although they had not received any reports yet of such proxy baptisms of deceased Hindus by LDS, but they were simply concerned after learning of posthumous baptizing of parents of a well known Jew, whose names were not submitted for baptism.
[Source: Hindus concerned at proxy baptism of Jews by Mormon Church, Baltic Review]
[Source: Hindus concerned at proxy baptism of Jews by Mormon Church, Baltic Review]
30 years ago today - Feb 16, 1983
Relief Society General President Barbara B. Smith receives the BYU Exemplary Womanhood Award.
[Source: The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com]
[Source: The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com]
70 years ago today - Feb 16, 1943
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] In the afternoon took the usual ride with Sister Grant. Our guests were Brother and Sister James H. Moyle and Sister Susan Lyman. Brother Moyle is writing a hsitory (sic) of his life to leave to his children. Really I would like to have a copy of it before the book is published. I am afraid there will be some things in it that he will regret. I wish he would let me read it before it is published. I hope he will not publsish (sic) a book that will reflect upon the leaders of the Church. He is intensely Democratic and I am afriad (sic) of what he might write. I fel the same way toward my associate Apostle Reed Smoot, I think if he had written a book it would have been colored too much Republican. I am afraid Brother Moyle will be too much Democratic. He insisted that he helped to save the bank in Ogden, he said he had given me some money. I told him he did not give a dollar. 'I raised the money that saved you. If you had kept your stock it would have saved paying 100% assessment.'
[Source: Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
75 years ago today - Feb 16, 1938
[David O. McKay] In company with President Grant and President Clark viewed plans for the proposed new temples. Architects have done excellent work.
[Source: David O. McKay, Diary]
[Source: David O. McKay, Diary]
160 years ago today - Feb 16, 1853
First President of Seventy Joseph Young preaches, "Joseph Once said if we did not keep our arms in order An enemies might come upon us as unawares & destroy us but if we are prepared we need not fear. I was at the slaughter at Hauns mill. I don't want to see any more of it."
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
170 years ago today - Feb 16, 1843
[Joseph Smith Diary] ... Elder Hyde prayed [and] I preached to a large and attentive audience 2 hours from 19 Rev[elation], 10 verse and shewed them that any man who denied his being a prophet was not a preacher of righteousness. They opened their eyes and appeared well pleased and had a good effect.
After meeting when we had returned as far as Mr. Quinn's Mills, Mr. Cowan turned up to the fence and proposed to call. While waiting a moment Mr. Crane's horse (for he went with our company) which was behind ran and jumped into our sleigh as we jumped out and thence over our horses and the fence sleigh and all, fence 8 rails high and both horses ran over lots and through the woods clearing themselves from the sleighs and had their frolic out without hurting themselves or riders. It was truly a wonderful feat and as wonderful a deliverance of the parties. ...
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
After meeting when we had returned as far as Mr. Quinn's Mills, Mr. Cowan turned up to the fence and proposed to call. While waiting a moment Mr. Crane's horse (for he went with our company) which was behind ran and jumped into our sleigh as we jumped out and thence over our horses and the fence sleigh and all, fence 8 rails high and both horses ran over lots and through the woods clearing themselves from the sleighs and had their frolic out without hurting themselves or riders. It was truly a wonderful feat and as wonderful a deliverance of the parties. ...
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
175 years ago today - Feb 16, 1838
[Wilford Woodruff Journal] ... We repaired to a grove and held a Council and the Holy Ghost said seperate unto me James to the ministry. So we ordained Brother James Townsend unto the office of an Elder. We had a good time & the spirit of God rested upon us although we were alone in a grove surrounded by a snow storm. We then walked to Br Ames. We had an interesting time in the evening in speaking our feelings to each other. Distance of the day 3 miles.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
1 year ago - Feb 15, 2012
Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel Shines said Mormon presidential candidate Mitt Romney "should speak to his own church and say they should stop... I hope that if he hears about this that he will speak up."
Wiesel was reacting to news this week that his name, and the names of his father and grandfather, were found on a genealogical database kept by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and used to select deceased souls for a Mormon practice known as proxy baptism. The Mormon church issued an apology and the first ever public rebuke of a responsible follower.
"These submissions were clearly against the policy of the church," said spokesman Purdy. "We consider this a serious breach of our protocol and we have suspended indefinitely this person's ability to access our genealogy records."
[Source: Mormon Chronicles]
Wiesel was reacting to news this week that his name, and the names of his father and grandfather, were found on a genealogical database kept by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and used to select deceased souls for a Mormon practice known as proxy baptism. The Mormon church issued an apology and the first ever public rebuke of a responsible follower.
"These submissions were clearly against the policy of the church," said spokesman Purdy. "We consider this a serious breach of our protocol and we have suspended indefinitely this person's ability to access our genealogy records."
[Source: Mormon Chronicles]
35 years ago today - Feb 15, 1978
First Presidency letter: "The great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammed, Confucius and the reformers, as well as philosophers including Socrates, Plato and others, received a portion of God's light. Moral truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals."
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
120 years ago today - Wednesday, Feb 15, 1893
[Apostle John Henry Smith Diary] Salt Lake City
I spent the forenoon reading one of Mark Twain's books. ...
[Source: Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
I spent the forenoon reading one of Mark Twain's books. ...
[Source: Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
170 years ago today - Feb 15, 1843
[Joseph Smith Diary] ... we had supper and gave long exposition of Millerism. ... [William Miller had prophecied a specifid date for the end of the world. He started the Adventist movement that would later include the Seventh Day Adventists]
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
175 years ago today - Feb 15, 1838
The PAINESVILLE REPUBLICAN prints a letter from Warren Parrish: "I have performed a pilgrimage with him [Joseph Smith], (not to Mecca,) but to Missouri, a distance of 1000 miles, for the redemption of Zion, in company with about two hundred others, called the camp of Israel. When we arrived in Clay County adjoining Jackson County, Mo., in which Zion was located by revelation, and from which our brethren had been driven, we were informed through the Prophet that God had revealed to us that we need not cross over and fight as we had expected, but that God had accepted our sacrifice as he did that of Abraham, ours being equal to his when he offered up his Son. Therefore, we were sealed up unto eternal life in the name of Jesus Christ, as a reward for our suffering and obedience. I have set by his side and penned down the translation of the Egyptian Hieroglyphicks as he claimed to receive it by direct inspiration of Heaven. I have listened to him with feelings of no ordinary kind, when he declared that the audible voice of God, instructed him to establish a Banking-Anti Banking institution, which like Aaron's rod should swallow up all other Banks (the Bank of Monroe excepted,) and grow and flourish and spread from the rivers to the ends of the earth, and survive when all others should be laid in ruins. I have been astonished to hear him declare that we had 60,000 Dollars in specie in our vaults, and $600,000 at our command, when we had not to exceed $6,000 and could not command any more; also that we had but about ten thousand Dollars of our bills in circulation, when he, as Cashier of the institution, knew that there was at least $150,000." The truth of the letter is attested to by two former apostles, Luke Johnson and John Boyington and two former Presidents of Seventy, Sylvester Smith and Leonard Rich.
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
185 years ago today - about Feb 15, 1828
Harmony, Pennsylvania. Joseph Smith gave Martin Harris a transcript of characters from the plates of Mormon, which Brother Harris took to show scholars in New York City.
[Source: BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]
[Source: BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]
35 years ago today - Feb 14, 1978
Florida police arrest Ted Bundy. He is charged in the Chi Omega murders and in the sexual assault and murder of twelve-year-old Kimberly Diane Leach. Bundy attended the University of Utah for awhile, converted to Mormonism and was ordained to the priesthood. He is executed in Florida's electric chair eleven years later.
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
140 years ago today - Feb 14, 1873
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 14 The Congress of the United States with President Grant at the Head is now trying to Pass laws against the Latter Day Saints in Utah to persecute & oppress them & to take away their Constitutional rights. Several Bills are before Congress for this purpose. ...
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
150 years ago today - Feb 14, 1863
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] ... I went to the Historians office & Had a talk with Brother Zerah Cole about John & David Whitmore in Missouri. David Whitmore is quite rich in gold which he has buried in the Earth. Brother Cole thinks the Southerners will soon get hold of him & hang him untill he would tell them whare it was. ...
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
170 years ago today - Feb 14, 1843
[Joseph Smith Diary] ... Read proof of some of the Book of [Doctrine and] Covenants with W[illiam] W. Phelps. German Lesson from 9 1/2 to 11 A.M. Stove removed from the Mayor's office to the smoke house which is designed for the Mayor's office till a new one can be built. ...
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
170 years ago today - Feb 14, 1843
Wilford Wodruff writes: "At about half past Seven oclock in the evening the sword which had made its appearance for several evenings past moved up near the moon & formed itself into a large ring around the moon. Two Balls immediately appeared in the ring opposite of each other sumthing in the form of sundogs. Another half ring is hung from those Balls sumthing in the shape of a horse shoe extending outside of the first ring with one line running through the center of the moon." He draws a picture in his journal of the phenomenon. Four days earlier he had written, "I Wilford Woodruff testify that about 7 oclock PM I discovered a stream of light in the south west quarter of the heavens. The rays of Light were in the form of a Broadsword with the hilt downward . . .The following is the declaration of Joseph the Seer conserning the foregoing sign: As sure as there is a God who sits enthroned in the heavens & as sure as he ever spoke to me So sure there will be a spe[e]dy & Bloody war & the broad sword seen last evening is the sure sign thereof."
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
150 years ago today - Feb 13, 1863
U.S. Senator Benjamin Wade of Ohio submits to the Senate a report from the Committee on Territories concerning Utah: "Polygamy of the most unlimited character, sanctioning the cohabitation of a man with the mother and her daughters indiscriminately, is not the only un-American thing among them. . . . Contrary to the usages of the whole country, the affairs of this Territory are managed through church instrumentalities, and no measure is permitted to succeed in the Territory which will, for one moment, conflict with the interests of the church; in other words, we have here the first exhibition within the limits of the United States of a church ruling the State-Another opinion-the subject of both public and private teaching-is that the government of the United States will not and ought not to stand. They make a difference between the Constitution and the government of the United States; to the Constitution they claim to be very loyal, but to the government they owe no particular allegiance."
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
80 years ago today - Feb 13, 1933
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] [illegible words]
[Source: Journals of George Albert Smith]
[Source: Journals of George Albert Smith]
10 years ago today - Feb 13, 2003
[U.S. Religious History] Televangelist Pat Robertson revealed that he had prostate cancer and would undergo surgery.
[Source: Cline, Austin, History of American Religion: Timeline]
[Source: Cline, Austin, History of American Religion: Timeline]
75 years ago today - Feb 12, 1938
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] Brother Richard L. Evans called and we visited for an hour and a half or two hours. He is very anxious to have me write my memoirs and have them published in the ERA. I told him I thought it would be intensely interesting if I would write up my courting of three women and marrying them. I told him all about it. He said, "That is going to be intensely interesting."
[Source: Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
120 years ago today - Feb 12, 1893
Edmund Ellsworth says "he heard Joseph Smith say in Nauvoo that the outsiders would not let the Saints stay there. Said they would remove to the Rocky Mountain . . . and they will finally cast us out from the United States. . . .We shall pass down through Mexico and back up through Texas to build up the center Stake of Zion [at Independence, Missouri]. He marked the profile of the journey in the sand. Bro. Averett [Everett] in speaking of the matter afterward said the route of the journey was shaped like a horseshoe. He having seen Joseph mark it out before." The published diary of Jesse N. Smith deletes this reference to Horse Shoe Prophecy.
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
160 years ago today - Feb 12, 1853
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] ... When a spirit enters a tabernacle here in this life it enters into a state of sorrow. Yet if we understood things in their tru light we should be satisfyed with it. When the spirit enters the body it enters a dark sell and is left to sorrow & to be tried in all things. But when the spirit leaves the body if a saint it enters into the brilliant light and glory of God like taking a prisioner out of a dark sell whare He could see a little glimmer of light through the grates & put him into the blaze of the mid days sun. ...
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
170 years ago today - By Feb 12, 1843
Some followers of William Miller (who had predicted the end of the world in 1843) came to Joseph Smith's attention during a visit by several young men from New York. Joseph "preached them quite a sermon. Shewed them that the error is in the Bible or translation and that Miller is in want of information."
[Source: Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source]
[Source: Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source]
180 years ago today - Feb 12, 1833
Illinois outlaws polygamy.
[Source: Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology"]
[Source: Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology"]
30 years ago today - Feb 11, 1983.
Paul Richards, BYU Public Communications director, informs Dean Huffaker, editor of Seventh East Press, that the paper cannot be "sold at the campus bookstore or on campus newsstands after Feb. 16. [Richards] declined to say whether the ban was ordered by church officials in Salt Lake City." An unofficial student newspaper at Brigham Young University that had drawn considerable criticism for its articles on Mormon history and doctrine, it had published an interview with Sterling McMurrin, Mormon philosopher, on 11 January in which he expressed disbelief about the First Vision and ancient origins for the Book of Mormon. The newspaper ceases publication on 12 April and is followed very briefly by the University Post, which also folds. The McMurrin interview is reprinted in Dialogue, Spring 1984.
[Source: Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1]
[Source: Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1]
60 years ago today - Feb 11, 1953
First Presidency purchases $5,000 in bonds of State of Israel.
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
140 years ago today - Feb 11, 1873
[Patriarchal Blessings] [Patriarchal Blessing of Elizabeth D. Kane given by William G. Perkins on February 11, 1873]...
... Holy Angels will visit and dine with you. They will acquaint you of your Dead. They will give you all the information you desire. They will bless you with a Holy Touch that will run through your whole system; they will anoint your eyes that they shall not grow dim by age.
You will go to the centre Stake and go with your Husband into the House of the Lord, and there you will redeem your Dead. You will see that Temple finished and be at the dedication thereof. There you will see your Redeemer coming and His Holy Saints with Him. ...
[Source: Patriarchal Blessings]
... Holy Angels will visit and dine with you. They will acquaint you of your Dead. They will give you all the information you desire. They will bless you with a Holy Touch that will run through your whole system; they will anoint your eyes that they shall not grow dim by age.
You will go to the centre Stake and go with your Husband into the House of the Lord, and there you will redeem your Dead. You will see that Temple finished and be at the dedication thereof. There you will see your Redeemer coming and His Holy Saints with Him. ...
[Source: Patriarchal Blessings]
170 years ago today - Feb 11, 1843
[Lucy Mack Smith] [Plural wife] Eliza [R. Snow] moves out of Joseph's and Emma's house and Lucy [Mac Smith] moves in. The Smiths are still living in the Homestead with their four children. After a six-month hiatus in marrying plural wives, Joseph marries his fifteenth plural wife. By November 1843, he has married sixteen more women, but then marries no more before his death.
[Source: Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books, http://bit.ly/lucys-book]
[Source: Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books, http://bit.ly/lucys-book]
170 years ago today - Feb 11, 1843
[Joseph Smith Diary] ... Prophecied to James Sloan, Recorder, that it would be better for him 10 years hence not to say any thing more about [payment of] fees.
Mayor [Joseph Smith] made his Inaugural Address /in which he/ and urged the necessity of the city council acting upon the principle of liberality and of relieving the city from all unnecessary expences and burthens [burdens]. Not to attempt to improve the city but enact such laws as will promote peace and good order and the people will improve the city. Capitalist[s] will come in from all quarters and Mills, factories, and machinery of all kind and buildings will arise on every hand [and] this will become a great city. [Joseph] prophecied that if the council would be liberal in their proceedings they would become rich. ...
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
Mayor [Joseph Smith] made his Inaugural Address /in which he/ and urged the necessity of the city council acting upon the principle of liberality and of relieving the city from all unnecessary expences and burthens [burdens]. Not to attempt to improve the city but enact such laws as will promote peace and good order and the people will improve the city. Capitalist[s] will come in from all quarters and Mills, factories, and machinery of all kind and buildings will arise on every hand [and] this will become a great city. [Joseph] prophecied that if the council would be liberal in their proceedings they would become rich. ...
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
170 years ago today - Feb 10, 1843
Oliver Olney is convicted in the Nauvoo Municipal Court of theft and is committed to the Carthage jail.
[Source: Hales, Brian C., Joseph Smith's Polygamy: History and Theology, 2 vols., Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2013 (www.JosephSmithsPolygamy.com)]
[Source: Hales, Brian C., Joseph Smith's Polygamy: History and Theology, 2 vols., Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2013 (www.JosephSmithsPolygamy.com)]
40 years ago today - Feb 10, 1973
Boy Scouts of America's director for Mormon relations reports that one of every twenty Scouts in U.S. is LDS.
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
5 years ago today - Feb 10, 2008
Rexburg Idaho Temple; Location: Rexburg, Idaho, USA; Announcement: 20 December 2003; Dedication: 10 February 2008 by Thomas S. Monson; Style: Classic modern, single-spire; Notes: First temple dedicated by Monson as prophet.
[Source: Wikipedia, List of Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_temples_of_The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints#List_of_temples]
[Source: Wikipedia, List of Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_temples_of_The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints#List_of_temples]
130 years ago today - Friday, Feb 9, 1883
[Apostle John Henry Smith Diary] Liverpool
It is a beautiful day, all nature seems refreshed by the glorious sunshine, and the heart leaps for joy at the pleasing change. And the thought that the fogs and mists are dispeled for a day makes us live again in the hope of a happy enjoyment with those we love.
[Source: Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
It is a beautiful day, all nature seems refreshed by the glorious sunshine, and the heart leaps for joy at the pleasing change. And the thought that the fogs and mists are dispeled for a day makes us live again in the hope of a happy enjoyment with those we love.
[Source: Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
165 years ago today - Feb 9, 1848
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 9th I have been troubled for several days with a head ake. I finished reading the Book of Jasher & found it to be an interesting work. It speaks of the great victories the Twelve Patriarchs the sons of Jacob accomplished in their Battles with their enemies in consequence of their great faith in God and of Joseph Career in Egypt & many other interesting things.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
170 years ago today - Feb 9, 1843
[Joseph Smith Diary] Thursday, February 9th 1843 Was at the Masonic Hall some time in the forenoon...
Joseph explained the following: "There are 3 administrater[s]: Angels, Spirits, [and] Devils. One [manner of] dress in heaven. Angels [are] the spirits of Just men made perfect. Innumerable co[mpany] of angels and spirits of Just men made perfect. [If] an Angel appears to you how will you prove him? Ask him to shake hands. If he has flesh and bones he is an angel. 'Spirit hath not flesh and bones.' Spirit of a Just man made perfect. Person[age] in its tabernacle could [not] hide its glory. If David Patten or the Devil come how would you determine? Should you take hold of his hand you would not feel it. If it were a false administrater he would not do it. True spirit will not give his hand. The Devil will. 3 keys.
"A man came to me in Kirtland and told me he had seen an angel dressed so and so. I told him he had seen no angel. There was no such dress in heaven. He got mad and went out in the street and commanded fire to come down out of heaven and consume me. I laughed at him and told him he was one of Baal's prophets. His God did not hear him. Jump up and cut yourself and he commanded fire from heaven to consume my house.
"When I was preaching in Philadelphia a Quaker wanted a sign. I told him to be still. After sermon he wanted a sign. I told the congregation the man was an adulterer. 'A wicked and adulterous generation' and the Lord to[ld] me in a revelation that any man who wanted a sign was [an] adulterous person. 'It is true' said one 'for I caught him in the very act which he afterward confessed when he was baptized.'" ...
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
Joseph explained the following: "There are 3 administrater[s]: Angels, Spirits, [and] Devils. One [manner of] dress in heaven. Angels [are] the spirits of Just men made perfect. Innumerable co[mpany] of angels and spirits of Just men made perfect. [If] an Angel appears to you how will you prove him? Ask him to shake hands. If he has flesh and bones he is an angel. 'Spirit hath not flesh and bones.' Spirit of a Just man made perfect. Person[age] in its tabernacle could [not] hide its glory. If David Patten or the Devil come how would you determine? Should you take hold of his hand you would not feel it. If it were a false administrater he would not do it. True spirit will not give his hand. The Devil will. 3 keys.
"A man came to me in Kirtland and told me he had seen an angel dressed so and so. I told him he had seen no angel. There was no such dress in heaven. He got mad and went out in the street and commanded fire to come down out of heaven and consume me. I laughed at him and told him he was one of Baal's prophets. His God did not hear him. Jump up and cut yourself and he commanded fire from heaven to consume my house.
"When I was preaching in Philadelphia a Quaker wanted a sign. I told him to be still. After sermon he wanted a sign. I told the congregation the man was an adulterer. 'A wicked and adulterous generation' and the Lord to[ld] me in a revelation that any man who wanted a sign was [an] adulterous person. 'It is true' said one 'for I caught him in the very act which he afterward confessed when he was baptized.'" ...
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
170 years ago today - Feb 8, 1843
Joseph Smith "talked with a brother and sister from Michigan, who thought that 'a prophet is always a prophet;' but I told them that a prophet was a prophet only when he was acting as such." Joseph Smith also writes: "One Gentleman said he understood it was very fruitful at Nauvoo. Two women from his neighborhood who had no children went to Nauvoo and since have families."
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
50 years ago today - Feb 8, 1963
This reply is apparently long overdue in answer to your inquiry of December 17, 1962. Your letter expressed your concern over the statement of the First Presidency in a letter to Elder Samuel O. Bennion; and again, a statement by Eler John A. Widtsoe in his book “Evidences and Reconciliations†to the effect that Brigham Young never did teach that God, the Eternal Father is Adam. If you will read carefully these letters you will find that what they do say is that in the sermon contained in Vol. 1, page 50, of the Journal of Discourses Brigham Young did not intend to teach the doctrine that Adam was our God. Whether or not at other times he did or did not, was not the subject of these particular writings to which you have made reference. ... From 9 to 11:30 a.m., engaged as one of a special Committee of the Twelve.
[Source: Harold B. Lee, Letter to Douglas W. Stott]
[Source: Harold B. Lee, Letter to Douglas W. Stott]
10 years ago today - 2003 8-Feb
[Hinckley] On the 125th anniversary of the Primary, addressed nearly one million Latter-day Saint children around the world during historic satellite broadcast from the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah
[Source: LDS Newsroom, Time line of Significant Events as President, http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/time-line-of-significant-events-as-president]
[Source: LDS Newsroom, Time line of Significant Events as President, http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/time-line-of-significant-events-as-president]
1 year ago - Feb 7, 2012
A three-judge panel rules that Prop 8 is unconstitutional.
[Source: Prop 8 Timeline, NBC San Diego, http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/politics/Proposition-8-Timeline-History-California--138796454.html]
[Source: Prop 8 Timeline, NBC San Diego, http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/politics/Proposition-8-Timeline-History-California--138796454.html]
20 years ago today - Feb 7, 1993
Cody Robert Judy holds Apostle Howard W. Hunter hostage for ten minutes in front of 17,000 students at BYU as president of Twelve starts to give Sunday evening sermon at Marriott Center. Judy claims to hold a bomb but is physically attacked and subdued by male students and BYU security personnel.
Salt Lake stake president Paul A. Hanks writes a letter to historian D. Michael Quinn requesting Quinn to explain his "personal feelings about the church" in an apostasy investigation. Quinn, who recently moved to Salt Lake from Louisiana, notes that this is the first contact from the Church he had received: "No home teachers, no invitations to attend ward meetings, just a summons to defend myself." Specifically, Quinn is charged with apostasy in connection with his recent writings suggesting that Joseph Smith taught that women receive the priesthood as part of the sacred temple ritual, and for an article "150 Years of Truth and Consequences About Mormon History" in which Quinn chronicled the punitive actions taken through history against those who write about controversial topics of Mormon history."
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
Salt Lake stake president Paul A. Hanks writes a letter to historian D. Michael Quinn requesting Quinn to explain his "personal feelings about the church" in an apostasy investigation. Quinn, who recently moved to Salt Lake from Louisiana, notes that this is the first contact from the Church he had received: "No home teachers, no invitations to attend ward meetings, just a summons to defend myself." Specifically, Quinn is charged with apostasy in connection with his recent writings suggesting that Joseph Smith taught that women receive the priesthood as part of the sacred temple ritual, and for an article "150 Years of Truth and Consequences About Mormon History" in which Quinn chronicled the punitive actions taken through history against those who write about controversial topics of Mormon history."
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
120 years ago today - Feb 7, 1893
[President Wilford Woodruff Journal] 7 I Appointed Joseph F Smith Lorenzo Snow & Abram H Cannon A Committee to see to the finishing the Temple to Employ Architects to furnishing patterns & specifications for the workmen to work to to its finishing inasmuch as J. D. Carloss Young is sick and not able to furnish Patterns to finish the work. They went to the Temple to Meet with the Architeck.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
165 years ago today - Feb 7, 1848
William A. Hickman's affidavit in first issue of church's FRONTIER GUARDIAN: "I do hereby solemnly declare that Mr. [Orson] Hyde never induced me to commit violence on the person of any man, either white or red." Apostle Hyde is editor.
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
170 years ago today - Feb 7, 1843
[Joseph Smith Diary] ... In the afternoon sent a warrant to Hiram Kimball's for the book of [Patriarchal] blessings given by Father Smith which was stolen from Far West. The affidavit /warrant/ was issued on affidavit of Johnathan Holmes and the book obtained. ...
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
20 years ago today - Feb 06, 1993
Lamjav Purevsuren and Tsendkhuu Bat-Ulzii, the first converts of the Church in Mongolia, are baptized.
[Source: The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com]
[Source: The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com]
70 years ago today - Feb 6, 1943
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] President Clark asked me what I would think of holding regional priesthood meetings in our temples, the priesthood meetings to be held by the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve with the attendance of the priesthood of the region. He pointed out that we have fine auditoriums in Logan, in Manti, and in St. George, that meetings held in the temples had a significance for the brethren that meetings held elsewhere did not, and asked me what I would think about it. I told him that I thought it was a very good idea and asked him to prepare a plan for the holding of such meetings.
[Source: Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
85 years ago today - Feb 6, 1928
First Presidency approves $50,000 purchase of Hill Cumorah and farms, Palmyra, N.Y.
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
100 years ago today - Feb 6, 1913
... At the regular council meeting of First Presidency and Twelve held on the 6th inst. the question of deciding on the site for the temple to be erected in Canada received attention. As you know, there were but two sites to be considered, the one at Cardston, the other at Raymond. It was the unanimous sense of the council that the site at Cardston be selected.
[Source: Journal History; First Presidency, Letter to E. J. Wood, February 14, 1913]
[Source: Journal History; First Presidency, Letter to E. J. Wood, February 14, 1913]
130 years ago today - Feb 6, 1883
... By direction of Pres[iden]t John Taylor I mail to you two copies of the Revelation asked for in your letter of Feb. 4th 1883. And in reply to your 2nd question: Can you receive Second Anointings for your Brother David R. Crosley who died in the faith? Yes. Also in answer to your 3rd question, Can we receive Second Anointings for our dead fathers and mothers and others who we are proxy for? If your fathers and mothers were members of the Church in their lives and died as faithful members, Yes you can obtain Second Anointings for them, but if they and others who you are proxy for were NOT members of the Church in their lives, and for whom you have had certain ordinances performed in their behalf, it will be well to let that suffice for the present, as further opportunities may be granted hereafter.
[Source: L. John Nuttall to J. Crosley, Feb. 6, 1883, as quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
[Source: L. John Nuttall to J. Crosley, Feb. 6, 1883, as quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
170 years ago today - Feb 6, 1843
Joseph is unanimously elected mayor of Nauvoo.
[Source: Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books, http://bit.ly/lucys-book]
[Source: Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books, http://bit.ly/lucys-book]
135 years ago today - Feb 5, 1878
At a High Priest's meeting in Spanish Fork, Utah, Zebedee Coltrin [baptized Jan. 9, 1831]recalls: "[I] First saw the Prophet Joseph at a prayer meeting at the house of father Morley. He was then a beardless young man. During the meeting the powers of darkeness were made manifest in a remarkable degree, causing some to make horrid noises, and others to throw themselves violently around, One man by the name of Lemon Copley, standing at the back side of the house was taken by a supernatural power, and thrown into the window. Then Joseph said to Lyman `Go and cast the devil out of Lemon'. He did so, and the devil entered into a brother by the name of Harvey Green and threw him upon the floor in convulsions. Then Joseph laid hands upon him and rebuked the spirit from him and from the house, upon which the spirit left him, and went outside among a crowd of men standing near the door and made a swath among them several feet wide, throwing them violently to the ground. . . . At Kirtland . . . at one time when Joseph was in the translating room, myself and others were talking about the gift of tongues, when the spirit of tongues fell upon me and I spoke under its influence. joseph came into the room and said, 'God bless you Brother Zebedee, that is the spirit of God.' He told me to continue, and the gift of tongues and prophecy rested upon the greater part of the brethren present and we continued speaking in tongues and prophesying through that day and the greater part of the following night."
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
150 years ago today - Feb 5, 1863
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] Feb 5 I went to the office & took the Moquis Indians to Brother Savages Picture gallery & got their likenesses taken which they were Much Pleased with. We also raised a subscription to get them some Hoes & Axes. ...
The Funeral of all the soldiers who were brought in dead from the Indian Battle Field [Bear River Massacre] were buried at Camp Douglass this Afternoon under Catholic Crosses. 16 were buried. 49 were wounded in the Hospital, & 74 badly frozen.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
The Funeral of all the soldiers who were brought in dead from the Indian Battle Field [Bear River Massacre] were buried at Camp Douglass this Afternoon under Catholic Crosses. 16 were buried. 49 were wounded in the Hospital, & 74 badly frozen.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
170 years ago today - Feb 5, 1843
[Joseph Smith Diary] Sunday, February 5th 1843 Home all day studying German.
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
175 years ago today - Feb 5, 1838
[Joseph Smith] A general assembly of the Church is held at Far West, Mo., to decide whether or not David Whitmer, John Whitmer, and W. W. Phelps should continue as the (stake) presidency of the Church in Missouri. The assembly is repeated at other Mormon settlements for the next four days. After lengthy arguments, there is an almost unanimous vote to reject these three as presidents. Whitmer and Phelps are accused of having used $1400 of Church funds to buy Missouri lands and then selling them to the Saints for a profit. They are also accused of having sold lands in Jackson County, which constituted a denial of the faith (because of the prophecies concerning the eventual return to Jackson County). David Whitmer has also been charged with breaking the Word of Wisdom.
[Source: Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Source: Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
1 year ago - Feb 04, 2012
Comedian Bill Mahr performs a mock un-baptism for the dead on his show
[Source: HBO]
[Source: HBO]
40 years ago today - Feb 4, 1973
The Marriott Activities Center at BYU was dedicated. Seating 22,000, it was the largest such arena on any university campus in the United States.
[Source: Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html]
[Source: Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html]
130 years ago today - Sunday, Feb 4, 1883
[Apostle John Henry Smith Diary] ... 6:30 p.m. we met with the saints. I spoke 50 minutes. I did the talking and the Lord left me, I was dry and wearisome.
[Source: Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
[Source: Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
160 years ago today - Feb 4, 1853
The temple site for the Salt Lake Temple is dedicated.
[Source: Wikipedia, 19th Century (Mormonism), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century_(Mormonism)]
[Source: Wikipedia, 19th Century (Mormonism), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_century_(Mormonism)]
165 years ago today - Feb 4, 1848
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 4th I spent the day at home reading the Book of Enoch.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
170 years ago today - Feb 4, 1843
[Joseph Smith Diary] ... [Joseph] told Amasa Lyman he had restored Orson Pratt to his former standing [and] that he had concluded to make Amasa counciler to the First Presidency. (Municipal ...
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
5 years ago today - Feb 3, 2008
President Thomas S. Monson, a counselor to Presidents Ezra Taft Benson, Howard W. Hunter and Gordon B. Hinckley, was ordained and set apart as the 16th president of the Church. Set apart as his counselors were President Henry B. Eyring and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf.
[Source: Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html]
[Source: Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html]
15 years ago today - Feb 03, 1998
In Washington, D.C., Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Twelve and Elder Merrill J. Bateman (BYU president and member of the Seventy), along with several LDS members of the U.S. Congress, host a gathering of diplomats from ten predominantly Muslim countries to celebrate BYU's publication of the first English translation of the Islamic text, The Incoherence of the Philosophers, by Al-Ghazali, a twelfth-century Muslim philosopher.
[Source: The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com]
[Source: The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com]
80 years ago today - Feb 3, 1933
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] This morning had a chat with David O. McKay and Richard R. Lyman about Emily Smith Stewart and Vilate S. Raille's troubles. I feel that Brothers George Albert Smith and Richard R. Lyman are all wrong in their attempt to belittle May Anderson, that it is a very great mistake. The matter had been decided by Brother McKay and Bihsop (sic) Sylvester Q. Cannon; and if the father and husband and relatives would tell these girls to behave themselves and quit talking it would be a great blessing. I fear serious consequences if they do not do it.
[Source: Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
150 years ago today - Feb 3, 1863
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] ... I went to the Office in the forenoon. The subject of the late fight with the bear River Indians [Bear River Massacre] was spoken of the History of which is as follows as far as we Can learn:
A Party of the Bannocks & Snakes have Joined to gether North of Bear River & have been killing gold diggers & Emigrants the past summer. The fore part of Winter Col Cornor sent a part of his Command to the Indians to get a white Boy that was among them. They got the Boy & killed 3 indians then returned to Camp Douglass near this City. Then the Indians Commenced killing more men. Col Cornor sent some 60 infantry & 13 Baggage waggons on the 22d Jan and on Sunday the 24 Jan some 300 Cavalry followed. They found the Indians Encamped near Bear river. They had to Ford the river in order to get to them. The Indians were Encamped in a Deep ravene. The Cavalry made a Charge upon them but were driven back by the Indians. They then left their Horses and made a Charge on foot & were again repulsed. The third time they made a Charge & rushed right into their midst & used there revolvers & shot as long as they Could find any thing to shoot at and the result of the Battle is reported to be 225 Indians killed 400 Horses taken and the Indian Encampment taken. The loss in Col Cornors Command is 17 dead, 40 wounded, & 70 badly frozen, 2 officers wounded.
It is reported that Lieut Darwin Chase (once a Mormon Elder) [was] Mortally wounded. He was ordained into the Quorum of Seventies on the Cornor Stone of the Temple in Far West at the Time that G. A. Smith and myself was ordained into the Quorum of the Twelve. But Chase went to Calafornia Apostitized Join the Army and a prospet of now Ending his Career.
Col Cornor is bringing his dead & wounded into his Encampment to bury & doctor. It is Said that Bear Hunter the Chief of the band was killed & his scalp now in Camp Douglass. ...
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
A Party of the Bannocks & Snakes have Joined to gether North of Bear River & have been killing gold diggers & Emigrants the past summer. The fore part of Winter Col Cornor sent a part of his Command to the Indians to get a white Boy that was among them. They got the Boy & killed 3 indians then returned to Camp Douglass near this City. Then the Indians Commenced killing more men. Col Cornor sent some 60 infantry & 13 Baggage waggons on the 22d Jan and on Sunday the 24 Jan some 300 Cavalry followed. They found the Indians Encamped near Bear river. They had to Ford the river in order to get to them. The Indians were Encamped in a Deep ravene. The Cavalry made a Charge upon them but were driven back by the Indians. They then left their Horses and made a Charge on foot & were again repulsed. The third time they made a Charge & rushed right into their midst & used there revolvers & shot as long as they Could find any thing to shoot at and the result of the Battle is reported to be 225 Indians killed 400 Horses taken and the Indian Encampment taken. The loss in Col Cornors Command is 17 dead, 40 wounded, & 70 badly frozen, 2 officers wounded.
It is reported that Lieut Darwin Chase (once a Mormon Elder) [was] Mortally wounded. He was ordained into the Quorum of Seventies on the Cornor Stone of the Temple in Far West at the Time that G. A. Smith and myself was ordained into the Quorum of the Twelve. But Chase went to Calafornia Apostitized Join the Army and a prospet of now Ending his Career.
Col Cornor is bringing his dead & wounded into his Encampment to bury & doctor. It is Said that Bear Hunter the Chief of the band was killed & his scalp now in Camp Douglass. ...
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
170 years ago today - Feb 3, 1843
[Joseph Smith Diary] Friday, February 3d At home attending to Lesson in German. 11 walked out a few mintutes. Returned 12 1/4 /o'clock/ and paid Mr. Peck $100 for W[illia]m Manhard. Read proof of Doctrin[e]s and Covenants. Bro[ther] John Mabery sent me a cow to assist [me] in bearing my expences to Springfield. 2 1/2 [P.M.] Rode out with Emma to purchase Trimming for a new carriage. Conversed with Elder Hyde and others.
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1842-43, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
50 years ago today - Feb 2, 1963
DESERET NEWS recommends official biography of Hyrum Smith, which describes his family artifacts as including "Emblematic parchments" and steel dagger with "Masonic symbols on blade." Photographs of these artifacts published in 1982 demonstrate that the parchments are "lamens" or parchments of ceremonial magic: one to summon a good spirit, another to ward of evil spirits and witches, and a third against thieves. Instead of "Masonic symbols," the Smith family's dagger is inscribed with astrological sign of Mars, the magic sigil or leas for the Intelligence of Mars, and the zodiac sign for Scorpio. In astrology Mars is the governing planet for Joseph Smith, Sr., whose non-Mormon neighbors claim he dug for treasure by drawing magic circles and using books of ceremonial magic.
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
[Source: Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower]
80 years ago today - Feb 2, 1933
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] Had a talk with David O. McKay and Richard R. Lyman regarding Emily Smith Stewart and Vilate Schofield Raille's complaints against Sister May Anderson.
[Source: Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
80 years ago today - Feb 2, 1933
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal] "Met with Council in temple. Was much distressed at the attitude of President Grant with reference to Vilate Raile and my daughter Emily. I feel that the mistake that has been made should be corrected and the girls vindicated. My nerves are all frayed out with anxiety."
[Source: Journals of George Albert Smith]
[Source: Journals of George Albert Smith]
175 years ago today - Feb 2, 1838
[Wilford Woodruff Journal] 2 Left Capt Hopkins & as we walked by the Schoolhouse No 5th the children came out and hooted & mocked at us as they did Elisha when they said go up thou bald head. As with the Parent so with the child.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
180 years ago today - Feb 2, 1833
[Joseph Smith] On this day Joseph records, "I completed the translation and review of the New Testament, on the 2nd of February, 1833 and sealed it up, no more to be opened till it arrived in Zion." It appears that Joseph translated Genesis 24:42a-Malachi 4:6 between this date and July 2, 1833.
[Source: Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Source: Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
170 years ago today - Feb 1, 1843
In a poetic exchange with W. W. Phelps ("The Answer. To W. W. Phelps, esq. A Vision") Joseph Smith paraphrased D&C 76 in verse form, and it was printed in the Times and Seasons [IV:6], pp. 82-85. In stanza 20, Joseph Smith, speaking of all the worlds created by Christ, adds:
Whose inhabitants, too, from the first to the last,
Are sav'd by the very same Saviour of ours ...
[Source: Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source]
Whose inhabitants, too, from the first to the last,
Are sav'd by the very same Saviour of ours ...
[Source: Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source]
175 years ago today - Feb 1, 1838
Lyman Wight: Moved to Adam-Ondi-Ahman 1 February 1838.
[Source: Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith]
[Source: Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith]
150 years ago today - Feb 1, 1863
[Brigham Young Sermon] President Brigham Young was at Tooele City preaching. -- Tooele, Utah [Journal History of the Church, Selected Collections from the Archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints DVD 2 (2002)]
[Source: The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009)]
[Source: The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009)]