Paul H. Dunn gives a talk on his "life experiences." He claims that when he was a bat boy he pitched to Lou Gherig and Babe Ruth in batting practice and was told by Gherig, "you're going to be great." He also claims that he batted against Bob Feller in an exhibition game when Dunn was fourteen years old. In later talks the incident with Feller is changed to be during World War II when Dunn is in the army.
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
125 years ago today - 30 April 1893 ¿ Sunday
[George Q. Cannon]
I drove to President Woodruff¿s at midday accompanied by my sons Brigham and Sylvester. When I saw him I was alarmed at his condition. He seemed to me almost in a comatose condition, and I regretted that I had not had word sent to me. ... They told me that he had been quite rational and that this sleep and seeming coma was due to morphine ... When I learned this my fears were somewhat allayed, as that explanation accounted for that which I feared was coma. ... when he felt his pulse he announced to me that President Woodruff was falling into a comatose condition and that he was suffering from ureamic poisoning which produced this coma. This announcement to the family caused quite a sensation, and in response to my enquiries as to whether he considered his condition dangerous, he replied that it was dangerous. I told him then that if this were the case I must telegraph to the Twelve and members of the family. He advised me to do so. ... They both appeared to think, and especially Dr. Wilcox, that the end would come in a comparitively short period of time. For myself, I could not see the changes which they described yet I supposed that he was in a comatose condition and would probably not rouse again. We were all mistaken, however, in this opinion. He was exhausted doubtless for want of sleep, and his sleep was a natural one; for about a quarter past one in the morning he awoke, and I introduced Brother Franklin D. Richards to him. He was fully conscious, knew Brother Richards and myself and then dropped off to sleep again. In the morning at daylight he was quite himself again, and I felt greatly encouraged. ...
[Source: The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]
I drove to President Woodruff¿s at midday accompanied by my sons Brigham and Sylvester. When I saw him I was alarmed at his condition. He seemed to me almost in a comatose condition, and I regretted that I had not had word sent to me. ... They told me that he had been quite rational and that this sleep and seeming coma was due to morphine ... When I learned this my fears were somewhat allayed, as that explanation accounted for that which I feared was coma. ... when he felt his pulse he announced to me that President Woodruff was falling into a comatose condition and that he was suffering from ureamic poisoning which produced this coma. This announcement to the family caused quite a sensation, and in response to my enquiries as to whether he considered his condition dangerous, he replied that it was dangerous. I told him then that if this were the case I must telegraph to the Twelve and members of the family. He advised me to do so. ... They both appeared to think, and especially Dr. Wilcox, that the end would come in a comparitively short period of time. For myself, I could not see the changes which they described yet I supposed that he was in a comatose condition and would probably not rouse again. We were all mistaken, however, in this opinion. He was exhausted doubtless for want of sleep, and his sleep was a natural one; for about a quarter past one in the morning he awoke, and I introduced Brother Franklin D. Richards to him. He was fully conscious, knew Brother Richards and myself and then dropped off to sleep again. In the morning at daylight he was quite himself again, and I felt greatly encouraged. ...
[Source: The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]
135 years ago today - 30 April 1883 ¿ Monday
[George Q. Cannon]
At the Office. President Taylor read a revelation to me which he had received respecting the iron mines of Bro. Thomas Taylor, in which we were told that the Presidency were not to contract debts unless commanded of the Lord to do so. I had conversation with Bishop Taylor respecting the matter, but he manifested no disposition to accept the suggestions made in the revelation, but at my request he said he would wait till morning before giving any definite answer.
[Source: The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]
At the Office. President Taylor read a revelation to me which he had received respecting the iron mines of Bro. Thomas Taylor, in which we were told that the Presidency were not to contract debts unless commanded of the Lord to do so. I had conversation with Bishop Taylor respecting the matter, but he manifested no disposition to accept the suggestions made in the revelation, but at my request he said he would wait till morning before giving any definite answer.
[Source: The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]
40 years ago today - Apr 29, 1978
A First Presidency letter endorses "Morality in Media Inc., with headquarters in New York City. The Church [is] represented on its board of directors, which includes men and women of many faiths and from many walks of life."
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
120 years ago today - Apr 29, 1898
The church's salary committee meets and decides to cut President Wilford Woodruff's salary by 40 percent.
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
170 years ago today - Apr 29, 1848
[Wilford Woodruff]
Br Benson gave sumthing of an account of his begging mission in the east.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Br Benson gave sumthing of an account of his begging mission in the east.
[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 - Apr 29, 1843
Joseph C. Kingsbury participates in a "pretend marriage" to seventeen-year-old Sarah Ann Whitney order to help Joseph Smith disguise his secret marriage to her. Kingsbury writes in his autobiography, "I according to Pres. Joseph Smith & Council & others agreed to stand by Sarah Ann Whitney as though I was supposed to be her husband and [participated in] a pretended marriage for the purpose of . . . Bringing about the purposes of God in these last days . . ."
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
30 years ago today - Apr 28, 1988
John K. Carmack, of the First Quorum of the Seventy, testifies in favor of the Child Protection and Obscenity Enforcement Act before the Subcommittee on Crime, in the U.S. House.
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
45 years ago today - Apr 28, 1973
The Church News reports that LDS New Zealander Susan Vickers has won the Miss Auckland beauty contest despite her refusal to wear a bikini swimming suit.
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
60 years ago today - Apr 28, 1958
[J. Reuben Clark]
A Mrs. Belnap telephoned me at my home claiming to represent several woman who are pregnant. She herself is pregnant and has had the measles and she wonders if she should have an abortion. I told her she should seek the advice of her physician, getting such advice and council as she can, and also seek the Lord in prayer. She said that in such cases the hearing of the child may be affected, or the child may even be Mongoloid. I suggested that she might wish to get the advice of two or three doctors in the matter.
[Source: The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
A Mrs. Belnap telephoned me at my home claiming to represent several woman who are pregnant. She herself is pregnant and has had the measles and she wonders if she should have an abortion. I told her she should seek the advice of her physician, getting such advice and council as she can, and also seek the Lord in prayer. She said that in such cases the hearing of the child may be affected, or the child may even be Mongoloid. I suggested that she might wish to get the advice of two or three doctors in the matter.
[Source: The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
120 years ago today - Apr 28, 1898
First Presidency announces that Mormons should support their government's call for volunteer soldiers in war. This ends policy of -selective pacifism,- in which LDS president (not national leaders) decided whether Mormons participated in war. Brigham Young Jr., anti-war apostle who was instructed to stop speaking against the war and Mormons enlisting writes: "It suits me all right and now that the First P[residency] have spoken we know what to do. It is an unrighteous Cause in my opinion, and Americans have gone wild with a blood thirsty spirit which will bring disaster, I fear."
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
135 years ago today - Apr 28, 1883
John Taylor's revelation concerning "gold and silver and copper and brass and iron" and "a way to raise a fund which should be at your disposal" [Bullion, Beck and Champion Mining Company], and command to organize the School of the Prophets. The revelation also chastises "My servant Thomas" [Taylor, no relation to the church president] concerning the Utah Iron Manufacturing Company. John Taylor presents this to some apostles on 4 Oct. 1883 and to a formal meeting of the First Presidency and Twelve on 11 Oct. 1883. Text available but never cononized or officially published.
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
180 years ago today - Apr 28, 1838
[Joseph Smith]
... He [Aaron Lyon] therefore told Mrs. Jackson that he had had a revelation from God that her husband was dead &c. and that she must concent to marry him, or She would be forever miserable; for he had seen her future State of existance and that She must remember, that whoom soever he blessed, would be blessed, and whom soever he cursed, would be cursed, influencing her mind if possible to believe his power was sufficient to make her forever miserable provided she complied not with his request &c. Accordingly they came to an agreement and were soon to be married, but fortunately, or unfortunately for both parties, previous to the arrival of the nuptial day, Behold! to the asstonishment of our defendant, the husband of Mrs. Jackson arrived at home and consequently, disan[n]ul[l]ed the proceedings of the above alluded parties.
The old gentleman Lyon at this time (if not before) knew verry well that his God who gave these revelations (if revelations he had) must of course be no less than the devil
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1838, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
... He [Aaron Lyon] therefore told Mrs. Jackson that he had had a revelation from God that her husband was dead &c. and that she must concent to marry him, or She would be forever miserable; for he had seen her future State of existance and that She must remember, that whoom soever he blessed, would be blessed, and whom soever he cursed, would be cursed, influencing her mind if possible to believe his power was sufficient to make her forever miserable provided she complied not with his request &c. Accordingly they came to an agreement and were soon to be married, but fortunately, or unfortunately for both parties, previous to the arrival of the nuptial day, Behold! to the asstonishment of our defendant, the husband of Mrs. Jackson arrived at home and consequently, disan[n]ul[l]ed the proceedings of the above alluded parties.
The old gentleman Lyon at this time (if not before) knew verry well that his God who gave these revelations (if revelations he had) must of course be no less than the devil
[Source: Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1838, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
205 years ago today - Apr 28, 1813
John Bradford delivers a sermon titled 'The Schools of the Prophets: A Sermon , Delivered at New-Brunswick, New-Jersey, Before the Board of Superintendants, of the Theological School of the Reformed Dutch Church':
"He gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ - This written truth, containing the words of holy men who spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, has been put into our hands, as the will of God for our salvation; and it is our duty to prize it above thousands of gold and silver" and discusses the "use, of these schools of the prophets."
[Source: Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source]
"He gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ - This written truth, containing the words of holy men who spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, has been put into our hands, as the will of God for our salvation; and it is our duty to prize it above thousands of gold and silver" and discusses the "use, of these schools of the prophets."
[Source: Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source]
120 years ago today - Apr 27, 1898; Wednesday
The First Presidency met with Bishop J[ohn]. R. Winder, Elder R[obert]. S. Campbell and James Jack, at 9:30 this morning, and spent the forenoon in discussing the disbursement of the revenues of the Church. The following schedule was the result, based on the revenue of the Church for 1895, less 10% retained for a reserve fund. It was decided that the income of the present year should be disbursed as near as possible according to the percentages herein set forth as
recommended by the committee appointed for the purpose.
Account Percentage Amount.
TEMPLES:
Sundries 625.00
S.L. City 16000.00
St. George 8000.00
Manti 8000.00
Logan 8000.00 6½ $ 40,625.00
COLLEGES AND EDUCATION 3½% 21,270.00
CHARITY ACCOUNT 6½% 40,625.00
BISHOPS AND CLERKS 10% 62,500.00
LOSSES IN HANDLING TITHES 5% 31,250.00
MISSIONARY ACCOUNT 2½% 12,625.00
COMPENSATION
General Authorities
8% 50,000.00
Stake Presidencies
4% 25,000.00 12% 75,000.00
COLONIZATION 1% 6,250.00
Meeting Houses 1% 6,250.00
IMPROVEMENTS--General 1% 6,250.00
d[itt]o. Stake Storehouses1% 6,250.00
STAKE STOREHOUSE EXPENSES
Including cattle expense,
rents, agents, etc. 3% 18,750.00
EXPENSE, Salary Employees, &c,
President's Office, 3% 18,750.00
TRAVELING EXPENSES, Attorneys, &c
TAXES, &c 2% 12,500.00
SINKING FUND 15% 93,750.00
Expense Bishops, G.S.H. over 10% 2% 12,500.00
INTEREST 15% 93,750.00
Total 90% $559,495.00
[Source: First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
recommended by the committee appointed for the purpose.
Account Percentage Amount.
TEMPLES:
Sundries 625.00
S.L. City 16000.00
St. George 8000.00
Manti 8000.00
Logan 8000.00 6½ $ 40,625.00
COLLEGES AND EDUCATION 3½% 21,270.00
CHARITY ACCOUNT 6½% 40,625.00
BISHOPS AND CLERKS 10% 62,500.00
LOSSES IN HANDLING TITHES 5% 31,250.00
MISSIONARY ACCOUNT 2½% 12,625.00
COMPENSATION
General Authorities
8% 50,000.00
Stake Presidencies
4% 25,000.00 12% 75,000.00
COLONIZATION 1% 6,250.00
Meeting Houses 1% 6,250.00
IMPROVEMENTS--General 1% 6,250.00
d[itt]o. Stake Storehouses1% 6,250.00
STAKE STOREHOUSE EXPENSES
Including cattle expense,
rents, agents, etc. 3% 18,750.00
EXPENSE, Salary Employees, &c,
President's Office, 3% 18,750.00
TRAVELING EXPENSES, Attorneys, &c
TAXES, &c 2% 12,500.00
SINKING FUND 15% 93,750.00
Expense Bishops, G.S.H. over 10% 2% 12,500.00
INTEREST 15% 93,750.00
Total 90% $559,495.00
[Source: First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
130 years ago today - Apr 27, 1888
... you refer to a practice that has grown up among the sisters of washing and anointing sisters who are approaching their confinement [before childbirth]. If so, this is not, strictly speaking, an ordinance, unless it be done under the direction of the priesthood and in connection with the ordinance of laying on of hands for the restoration of the sick.
There is no impropriety in sisters washing and anointing their sisters in this way, under the circumstances you describe; but it should be understood that they do this, not as members of the priesthood, but as members of the Church, exercising faith for, and asking the blessings of the Lord upon, their sisters; just as they, and every member of the Church, might do in behalf of the members of their families.
[Source: 4.19 Wilford Woodruff, Letter to Emmeline B. Wells, April 27, 1888, as quoted in Matthew J. Grow, Jill Derr, Carol Madsen, and Kate Holbrook, editors, The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women’s History, The Church Historian's Press, 2016, https://churchhistorianspress.org/the-first-fifty-years-of-relief-society/]
There is no impropriety in sisters washing and anointing their sisters in this way, under the circumstances you describe; but it should be understood that they do this, not as members of the priesthood, but as members of the Church, exercising faith for, and asking the blessings of the Lord upon, their sisters; just as they, and every member of the Church, might do in behalf of the members of their families.
[Source: 4.19 Wilford Woodruff, Letter to Emmeline B. Wells, April 27, 1888, as quoted in Matthew J. Grow, Jill Derr, Carol Madsen, and Kate Holbrook, editors, The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women’s History, The Church Historian's Press, 2016, https://churchhistorianspress.org/the-first-fifty-years-of-relief-society/]
150 years ago today - Apr 27, 1868
[Brigham Young]
J. H. Smith asked the meaning of the Rule in relation to spirit and meaning of the word of wisdom. B. Y. said Tea is not mentioned. Coffee is not mentioned. It is hot drinks if we are in the habit of eating or drinking any thing that is injurious to the human system we must leave it off'"in eating meat we should [see] Swine flesh as not healthy. If we would act in wisdom we would refrain from eating such meat. I recommend Butter, milk, vegetables, Fruits'"Fish'"this country is very well adapted to raising fish. There is no better fish in the world that trout, also eggs, fowls'"and such. Beef that is fattened on the mountain grass'"mutton'"and wild game. In a family one child needs more sleep than another. B. Franklin said 6 hours sleep is enough, this is not enough for some. Wisdom says give the system that amount that it needs'"the word of wisdom teaches us [to] adopt in our present lives that that will be for our best good. Eat light not too much, it[s] not as much what you eat as it is the quantity, do not over load the stomach'"observe the word of the Lord. Do not eat much meat in hot weather, do not kill the Rabbits and throw the fish out onto the land. -- Provo, Utah
[Source: Manuscript Addresses of Brigham Young. 7 Vols. Elden J. Watson, ed. Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1979-84. 5:118, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
J. H. Smith asked the meaning of the Rule in relation to spirit and meaning of the word of wisdom. B. Y. said Tea is not mentioned. Coffee is not mentioned. It is hot drinks if we are in the habit of eating or drinking any thing that is injurious to the human system we must leave it off'"in eating meat we should [see] Swine flesh as not healthy. If we would act in wisdom we would refrain from eating such meat. I recommend Butter, milk, vegetables, Fruits'"Fish'"this country is very well adapted to raising fish. There is no better fish in the world that trout, also eggs, fowls'"and such. Beef that is fattened on the mountain grass'"mutton'"and wild game. In a family one child needs more sleep than another. B. Franklin said 6 hours sleep is enough, this is not enough for some. Wisdom says give the system that amount that it needs'"the word of wisdom teaches us [to] adopt in our present lives that that will be for our best good. Eat light not too much, it[s] not as much what you eat as it is the quantity, do not over load the stomach'"observe the word of the Lord. Do not eat much meat in hot weather, do not kill the Rabbits and throw the fish out onto the land. -- Provo, Utah
[Source: Manuscript Addresses of Brigham Young. 7 Vols. Elden J. Watson, ed. Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1979-84. 5:118, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
175 years ago today - Apr 27, 1843
William Clayton had learned of plural marriage at least by March 7, 1843, when Joseph Smith told Brigham Young to give Clayton a "favor" regarding priesthood instruction. The word "favor" in Clayton's journal refers to the granting of an additional wife. Clayton and his first wife, Ruth Moon, were in their seventh year of marriage and had three children. The prophet personally visited the family in their Nauvoo home and suggested that Clayton participate in plural marriage. Margaret Moon, his legal wife's sister, became Clayton's first plural wife. The marriage was recorded on April 27, 1843, three months before Smith dictated his plural marriage revelation.
[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]
175 years ago today - Apr 27, 1843
Hyrum Smith teaches that there is "a whole train and lineage of gods."
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
180 years ago today - Apr 27, 1838
[Wilford Woodruff]
We purposed to leave the Island but satan hindered us. We spent the night with Br M Luce.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
We purposed to leave the Island but satan hindered us. We spent the night with Br M Luce.
[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 - Apr 27, 1838
Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon begin preparing a church history, with George W. Robinson as scribe. This history describes the most well-known accounts of his First Vision and the visits of the angel Moroni. Though the original manuscript history is not known to exist, it was later copied into the 1839 Manuscript History of the Church, Book A-1. Contrary to earlier and later writing, the history indicates that the angel who appeared to Smith was named "Nephi" (rather than "Moroni", as Smith and Oliver Cowdery had separately said in 1835 publications). Some scholars consider this to be a clerical error, though it was never corrected by Smith in later publications. Other scholars believe that Smith saw both Nephi and the angel Moroni.
[There is no account of the First Vision in Robison's handwriting.]
[Source: Marquardt & Walters 1994, pp. ix-x; Marquardt & Walters 1994, pp. xv, xix; Wikipedia: Chronology of Mormonism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Mormonism]
[There is no account of the First Vision in Robison's handwriting.]
[Source: Marquardt & Walters 1994, pp. ix-x; Marquardt & Walters 1994, pp. xv, xix; Wikipedia: Chronology of Mormonism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Mormonism]
75 years ago today - Apr 26, 1943
Historian Dale L. Morgan writes to a friend: "My viewpoint about Mormon history is that of the sociologist, the psychologist, the political, economic, and social historian. I do not expect that the average Mormon will accept in its entirety the evaluation of Mormon history that I shall make, but I do expect that he will acknowledge my integrity within what he regards as the limitations of my understanding, or point of view. On such a basis we can get along very equably, and we may find that my interpretation of Mormon history will not, after all do such violence to Mormon ideas of that history."
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
115 years ago today - Sunday, Apr 26, 1903
[Rudger Clawson, Chesterfield, ID Stake Conference]
Topics treated. The evil of people moving their homes from one location to another without counsel. People should be content to labor where the Lord calls them, and when a change comes, not to feel that the president of the stake, or the bishop, has their knife in them, or desires to injure them.
[Source: Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
Topics treated. The evil of people moving their homes from one location to another without counsel. People should be content to labor where the Lord calls them, and when a change comes, not to feel that the president of the stake, or the bishop, has their knife in them, or desires to injure them.
[Source: Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
120 years ago today - Apr 26, 1898
[Brigham Young Jr.]
In company with my brother Willard & nephew Richard W. met Pres[ident] Woodruff & Geo[rge] Q. C. I was condemned without question Pres[ident] W. said I have talked with no one not read anything but the Herald this morning and I say when men leading men in our church undertake to defy the Gov[ernmen]t they should be careful to seek the council of the presidency & twelve I said President, who has defied the Gov[ernmen]t you should not judge me the words and what is written by the Herald an enemy The Pres[ident] decided for Willard & Richard to go on receiving volunteers. I said I have tried to make head against the spirit which is going through the people especially among our young men to rush into the army exhibiting a desire to engage in war; that spirit is not of God and I condemned it perhaps my language was rough and certainly subject to missinstruction but I am content for you to get your information from such men as Angus M. Cannon & C. H. Penrose who heard all I have said one disloyal sentence I will make such reparation as you may choose to recommend. The feeling among the gentiles and some of the Mormons is strong against me. God help me to be humble & take reproof in proper spirit. I will be one with the president God being my helper.
[Source: Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
In company with my brother Willard & nephew Richard W. met Pres[ident] Woodruff & Geo[rge] Q. C. I was condemned without question Pres[ident] W. said I have talked with no one not read anything but the Herald this morning and I say when men leading men in our church undertake to defy the Gov[ernmen]t they should be careful to seek the council of the presidency & twelve I said President, who has defied the Gov[ernmen]t you should not judge me the words and what is written by the Herald an enemy The Pres[ident] decided for Willard & Richard to go on receiving volunteers. I said I have tried to make head against the spirit which is going through the people especially among our young men to rush into the army exhibiting a desire to engage in war; that spirit is not of God and I condemned it perhaps my language was rough and certainly subject to missinstruction but I am content for you to get your information from such men as Angus M. Cannon & C. H. Penrose who heard all I have said one disloyal sentence I will make such reparation as you may choose to recommend. The feeling among the gentiles and some of the Mormons is strong against me. God help me to be humble & take reproof in proper spirit. I will be one with the president God being my helper.
[Source: Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
120 years ago today - Apr 26, 1898
[Seymour B. Young]
Apostle B[righam] Young [Jr.] spoke in the large tabernacle on Sunday PM and advised the young men of Israel not to desire to enlist for the purpose of shedding the blood of their fellowmen. the two morning papers of today called him a coward, a traitor and &c, and even some of his presiding brethren have sensured him for making these remarks but I feel that they are exactly in keeping with the advi[c]e of President Brigham Young to us when we enlisted in the war of the rebellion in 1862. To not desire to shed blood and to keep from doing so for when our temples were completed he wanted the brethren to be able to go into those holy houses and minister for the dead and living and that they could not do this if their hands were stained with the blood of their fellowmen.
[Source: Seymour B. Young, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
Apostle B[righam] Young [Jr.] spoke in the large tabernacle on Sunday PM and advised the young men of Israel not to desire to enlist for the purpose of shedding the blood of their fellowmen. the two morning papers of today called him a coward, a traitor and &c, and even some of his presiding brethren have sensured him for making these remarks but I feel that they are exactly in keeping with the advi[c]e of President Brigham Young to us when we enlisted in the war of the rebellion in 1862. To not desire to shed blood and to keep from doing so for when our temples were completed he wanted the brethren to be able to go into those holy houses and minister for the dead and living and that they could not do this if their hands were stained with the blood of their fellowmen.
[Source: Seymour B. Young, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
145 years ago today - Apr 26, 1873
Disciples-of-Christ elder Darwin Atwater writes that Sidney Rigdon visited his home several years before the Book of Mormon was published and, "gave a wonderful description of the mounds and other antiquities found in some parts of America, and said that they must have been made by the aborigines. He said there was a book to be published containing an account of those things. He spoke of these in his eloquent, enthusiastic style, as being a thing most extraordinary."
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
165 years ago today - Apr 26, 1853 (Tuesday)
[13 missionaries] arrived at Calcutta as missionaries from Utah to Hindostan and Siam, after 86 days' voyage from San Francisco, Cal.
[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
170 years ago today - Apr 26, 1848
[Hosea Stout]
Jos Holbrook had seven head of his cattle stolen last night. We went South 6 miles and divided I with part of the company to the river bottoms & G. D. Grant with the rest to the West in the prairie where he found one of the Omahas with some of the Beef of Holbrooks cattle. He was asleep[.] When he came to the Indian the Spirit rested upon Br Grant & he spoke to the Omaha in his native tounge to the astonishment of all present for they all knew a few words in the Omaha tounge & knew he spoke by the Spirit to the understanding of the Omaha[.] After he was done speaking Grant took his horse & meat and his arms and brought them in. To night there was one man on guard on every Street East & West in in all 18 men 9 at once. I came home at one oclock with the sick head ache.
[Source: Diaries of Hosea Stout]
Jos Holbrook had seven head of his cattle stolen last night. We went South 6 miles and divided I with part of the company to the river bottoms & G. D. Grant with the rest to the West in the prairie where he found one of the Omahas with some of the Beef of Holbrooks cattle. He was asleep[.] When he came to the Indian the Spirit rested upon Br Grant & he spoke to the Omaha in his native tounge to the astonishment of all present for they all knew a few words in the Omaha tounge & knew he spoke by the Spirit to the understanding of the Omaha[.] After he was done speaking Grant took his horse & meat and his arms and brought them in. To night there was one man on guard on every Street East & West in in all 18 men 9 at once. I came home at one oclock with the sick head ache.
[Source: Diaries of Hosea Stout]
180 years ago today - Apr 26, 1838
Doctrine and Covenants 115:
1-4, The Lord names his church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [Previously "Church of Christ," then "The Church of the Latter Day Saints]; ...
7-16, The saints are commanded to build a House of the Lord at Far West; ...
[Source: Doctrine and Covenants, http://amzn.to/DoctrineandCovenants]
1-4, The Lord names his church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [Previously "Church of Christ," then "The Church of the Latter Day Saints]; ...
7-16, The saints are commanded to build a House of the Lord at Far West; ...
[Source: Doctrine and Covenants, http://amzn.to/DoctrineandCovenants]
190 years ago today - 1828 c. Apr. 26
Lucy Harris left her husband in Harmony and returned to Palmyra, convinced that Joseph Smith, Jr. was an impostor who had no golden plates.
[Source: Broadhurst, Dale R., Oliver Cowdery Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/Cdychrn1.htm]
[Source: Broadhurst, Dale R., Oliver Cowdery Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/Cdychrn1.htm]
120 years ago today - Apr 25, 1898
Apostle Brigham Young Jr., having been told to make no more public speeches against the Spanish-American war writes in his diary: " I condemned their war spirit as anti Christ, and those who encourage it will forsake the Gospel if they do not repent, and they will go to hell. See to it brethren that we do not offend our God, He will take care of the balance." That same day, at President Wilford Woodruff's request, a strongly-stated editorial is published in the DESERET NEWS countering Young's recent anti-war speeches.
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
160 years ago today - Apr 25, 1858
[Hosea Stout]
Gov Cuming was introduced to the people by Gov. Young[.] He declared that it was his purpose to do us all the good he could and be our friend and attempted to justify the government of the U. S. in sending troops to enforce officers upon us against our will &c
Clements speech was enthusiastically cheered continually and when gov C. said that he would not hang as a rag on our garments against our will, the congregation cheered loudly giving him to see that the quicker he was oph the better would they be suited.
There was many personal sarcasms thrown at the gov & twice when he arose to speak he was most roundly hissed still[.] He seemed to take all in good parts as he said to me after meeting "that we had had quite a discussion to day and all would soon be understood and work well yet.and really seemed to be very much encouraged by the proceedings as if he had been well recieved....
[Source: Diaries of Hosea Stout]
Gov Cuming was introduced to the people by Gov. Young[.] He declared that it was his purpose to do us all the good he could and be our friend and attempted to justify the government of the U. S. in sending troops to enforce officers upon us against our will &c
Clements speech was enthusiastically cheered continually and when gov C. said that he would not hang as a rag on our garments against our will, the congregation cheered loudly giving him to see that the quicker he was oph the better would they be suited.
There was many personal sarcasms thrown at the gov & twice when he arose to speak he was most roundly hissed still[.] He seemed to take all in good parts as he said to me after meeting "that we had had quite a discussion to day and all would soon be understood and work well yet.and really seemed to be very much encouraged by the proceedings as if he had been well recieved....
[Source: Diaries of Hosea Stout]
160 years ago today - Apr 25, 1858
[Wilford Woodruff]
Sunday I attended the meeting at the Tabernacle. Mr A Cumings? and Col Kane attended the meeting. Gov Cummings addressed the people. Professed to be our friend. Wished if any felt oppressed or wanted his proteotion to manifest it by vote and to write to him under sealed note. A vote was taken and 3 hands raised out of 3,000. Mr Cummings was answered in a masterly manner By Br Gilbert Clements. John Taylor followed but being vary hard and personal to Mr Cumings was Stoped by President Young, who also introduced Mr Cumings to the Congregation at the Commencement.
I attended the prayer meeting in the evening. President Young said the family Altar was the same as an Altar in the prayer Circle. It is for parents and Children to Join hands over the Altar and pray. President Young said we have a report from the brethren who went into the desert and they have found a desert as we have been looking for. He said I told Hiram to make some thin boxes and put my windows in. Mark them so we may know whare they go for I should not think [it] strange if we used them in the same place. If the devil had all power I should not have any hope but would say Mr Devil go at it now and us up as soon as you please But I know Jesus Christ has more power than the Devil. I have rebuked the devil many times and he has obeyed me and many Elders in this when we have spoken in the name of the Lord.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Sunday I attended the meeting at the Tabernacle. Mr A Cumings? and Col Kane attended the meeting. Gov Cummings addressed the people. Professed to be our friend. Wished if any felt oppressed or wanted his proteotion to manifest it by vote and to write to him under sealed note. A vote was taken and 3 hands raised out of 3,000. Mr Cummings was answered in a masterly manner By Br Gilbert Clements. John Taylor followed but being vary hard and personal to Mr Cumings was Stoped by President Young, who also introduced Mr Cumings to the Congregation at the Commencement.
I attended the prayer meeting in the evening. President Young said the family Altar was the same as an Altar in the prayer Circle. It is for parents and Children to Join hands over the Altar and pray. President Young said we have a report from the brethren who went into the desert and they have found a desert as we have been looking for. He said I told Hiram to make some thin boxes and put my windows in. Mark them so we may know whare they go for I should not think [it] strange if we used them in the same place. If the devil had all power I should not have any hope but would say Mr Devil go at it now and us up as soon as you please But I know Jesus Christ has more power than the Devil. I have rebuked the devil many times and he has obeyed me and many Elders in this when we have spoken in the name of the Lord.
[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 - Apr 25, 1843
[William Clayton]
Went to see Pres. Joseph. Scovil & other Masons came to see him concerning Sherwood who was threatening revenge on Hyrum. Joseph said if Sherwood injured Hyrum he would curse him. It was told Joseph that Grand Master Nye was dead upon which he made these remarks. 'When Nye was here and trying to pull me by the nose & trample on me I enquired of the Lord if I was to be led by the nose and cuffed about by such a man'. I received for answer -'wait a minute-'. Nye is dead and any man or mason who attempts to ride me down and oppress me will run against the boss of Jehovahs buckler and will quickley be moved out of the way.-| Concerning the opposition Lodge he said 'they will do us all they can let them go ahead' he gave us to understand that trouble would be the result of a division of the Lodge.
[Source: The Nauvoo Diaries of William Clayton, 1842-1846, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
Went to see Pres. Joseph. Scovil & other Masons came to see him concerning Sherwood who was threatening revenge on Hyrum. Joseph said if Sherwood injured Hyrum he would curse him. It was told Joseph that Grand Master Nye was dead upon which he made these remarks. 'When Nye was here and trying to pull me by the nose & trample on me I enquired of the Lord if I was to be led by the nose and cuffed about by such a man'. I received for answer -'wait a minute-'. Nye is dead and any man or mason who attempts to ride me down and oppress me will run against the boss of Jehovahs buckler and will quickley be moved out of the way.-| Concerning the opposition Lodge he said 'they will do us all they can let them go ahead' he gave us to understand that trouble would be the result of a division of the Lodge.
[Source: The Nauvoo Diaries of William Clayton, 1842-1846, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
100 years ago today - Apr 24, 1918; Wednesday
[Anthony Ivins]
Slips were passed around and people asked to write the names of those persons who would be acceptable for bp. The canvass showed 21 ballots cast, 17 of which were for W[illiam] B. Baker. Bro Baker was not present having gone to St. George. His name was presented to the people who voted for him unanimously.
Glencove [ward] 8-p.m. Bro Snow addressed the congregation. 44 pres- ent. Slips were distributed. A majority of ballots were cast for Bro. Jas. Bunker. His name was presented and una[ni]mously sustained.
[Source: Anderson, Elizabeth Oberdick, editor, Cowboy Apostle: The Diaries of Anthony W. Ivins: 1875-1932, Signature Books, Salt Lake City in association with the Smith-Pettit Foundation (2013) - http://bit.ly/AnthonyIvins]
Slips were passed around and people asked to write the names of those persons who would be acceptable for bp. The canvass showed 21 ballots cast, 17 of which were for W[illiam] B. Baker. Bro Baker was not present having gone to St. George. His name was presented to the people who voted for him unanimously.
Glencove [ward] 8-p.m. Bro Snow addressed the congregation. 44 pres- ent. Slips were distributed. A majority of ballots were cast for Bro. Jas. Bunker. His name was presented and una[ni]mously sustained.
[Source: Anderson, Elizabeth Oberdick, editor, Cowboy Apostle: The Diaries of Anthony W. Ivins: 1875-1932, Signature Books, Salt Lake City in association with the Smith-Pettit Foundation (2013) - http://bit.ly/AnthonyIvins]
115 years ago today - Friday, Apr 24, 1903
[John Henry Smith]
By Telegraph it was learned to day that Prussia had ordered 145 Mormon Elders out of Germany. We asked the U.S. Senators to Communicate with Secretary of State John Hay, which they did.
[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]
By Telegraph it was learned to day that Prussia had ordered 145 Mormon Elders out of Germany. We asked the U.S. Senators to Communicate with Secretary of State John Hay, which they did.
[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]
120 years ago today - Apr 24, 1898
The day after President McKinley had called for 125,000 volunteers for the Spanish American war Apostle Brigham Young Jr. gives a talk in the Tabernacle: "It is wrong for us to think of sending our young men to Cuba to fight in the present conflict. The fact that they would go from these lofty mountains into the malarial swamps of the South would make them much more liable to catch fevers and perish than volunteers from almost any other part of the country. There are other ways in which we can show our patriotism than by sending our sons to fight for our country at this crisis. The United States needs money with which to prosecute this war, and it will be far better for us to subscribe to this $50,000,000 bond issue than to send volunteers to perish miserably and uselessly in the swamps of the Southern coast." The next day Young is chastised by President Wilford Woodruff for speaking without authorization and told not to oppose the enlistment of Mormon volunteers.
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
125 years ago today - 24 April 1893 ¿ Monday
[George Q. Cannon]
Services commenced at the Temple at ten o¿clock. ... This has been the longest and most interesting conference I suppose that has ever been held by the Latter-day Saints in this dispensation. At least we have no account of any conference being held at such length. It is three weeks to-morrow morning since conference opened in the Tabernacle. The proceedings there occupied two days, April 4th and 5th, We then commenced the dedication services in the Temple on Thursday the 6th of April. This afternoon makes the thirty first congregation of Adults who have taken part in the dedicatory services in the large assembly room. Besides these thirty-one meetings[,] five meetings were held for the children, and the presiding priesthood held three meetings on Wednesday and Thursday the 19th and 20th, so that altogether we have held thirty-nine meetings in the Temple since the 6th of April. On the 4th and 5th we held four sessions in the Tabernacle during the day and one priesthood meeting in the evening. Two overflow meetings were held in the Assembly Hall on the 5th, making an aggregate of forty-six meetings that have been held. I have attended all these meetings with the exception of the overflow meetings and one meeting in the Temple during the last three weeks. ... I have yearned exceedingly to have love and harmony restored, to have everything of an unpleasant nature banished and to have all hard speeches and hard acts that have been uttered and committed forgiven, and the Lord has heard my prayer. ...
I have considered it a wonderful blessing for me to be honored of the Lord as I have been during these services. He has placed me in a position where I have been honored by my fellow-servants and the Saints to an extent beyond anything I ever anticipated. President Woodruff has testified several times about myself and the spirit of revelation and prophecy which he said I had, and some of the Twelve have done the same, notably Brother F. M. Lyman. President Woodruff announced to the congregation that I was a man full of inspiration and revelation. Last Tuesday afternoon Brother Joseph F. Smith said that I had been filled with the spirit of prophecy concerning the great change in the midst of the people when no one else seemed to have that spirit. ...
[Source: The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]
Services commenced at the Temple at ten o¿clock. ... This has been the longest and most interesting conference I suppose that has ever been held by the Latter-day Saints in this dispensation. At least we have no account of any conference being held at such length. It is three weeks to-morrow morning since conference opened in the Tabernacle. The proceedings there occupied two days, April 4th and 5th, We then commenced the dedication services in the Temple on Thursday the 6th of April. This afternoon makes the thirty first congregation of Adults who have taken part in the dedicatory services in the large assembly room. Besides these thirty-one meetings[,] five meetings were held for the children, and the presiding priesthood held three meetings on Wednesday and Thursday the 19th and 20th, so that altogether we have held thirty-nine meetings in the Temple since the 6th of April. On the 4th and 5th we held four sessions in the Tabernacle during the day and one priesthood meeting in the evening. Two overflow meetings were held in the Assembly Hall on the 5th, making an aggregate of forty-six meetings that have been held. I have attended all these meetings with the exception of the overflow meetings and one meeting in the Temple during the last three weeks. ... I have yearned exceedingly to have love and harmony restored, to have everything of an unpleasant nature banished and to have all hard speeches and hard acts that have been uttered and committed forgiven, and the Lord has heard my prayer. ...
I have considered it a wonderful blessing for me to be honored of the Lord as I have been during these services. He has placed me in a position where I have been honored by my fellow-servants and the Saints to an extent beyond anything I ever anticipated. President Woodruff has testified several times about myself and the spirit of revelation and prophecy which he said I had, and some of the Twelve have done the same, notably Brother F. M. Lyman. President Woodruff announced to the congregation that I was a man full of inspiration and revelation. Last Tuesday afternoon Brother Joseph F. Smith said that I had been filled with the spirit of prophecy concerning the great change in the midst of the people when no one else seemed to have that spirit. ...
[Source: The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]
160 years ago today - Apr 24, 1858-25
Gov. Cumming, responding to the popular notion of extreme tyranny in Utah, offered to assist those who "considered themselves unlawfully restrained of their liberties." His notice was read in the Tabernacle on the 25th. Only 56 men, 33 women and 71 children responded. They wanted to leave "from a desire to improve their circumstances, and realize elsewhere more money by their labor." Mormon leaders pledged their assistance in leaving the territory.
[Source: Cumming's account: Mormon Resistance, 307-308; also, Normon F. Furniss, The Mormon Conflict, 1850-1859 [Yale University Press, 1960] 187; Hale, Van, Mormon Miscellaneous, Utah War Chronology, http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/utahwar/id2.html]
[Source: Cumming's account: Mormon Resistance, 307-308; also, Normon F. Furniss, The Mormon Conflict, 1850-1859 [Yale University Press, 1960] 187; Hale, Van, Mormon Miscellaneous, Utah War Chronology, http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/utahwar/id2.html]
160 years ago today - Apr 24, 1858 (or 5. Apr. by some accounts)
The bishop of Payson, his brother (the sheriff), and several members of their LDS congregation join in shooting to death twenty-two-year-old Henry Jones and his mother Mrs. Hannah Jones Hatch for committing incest by which she has a daughter. The men kill infant and also castrate brother/father. Perpetrators are indicted next year, but not brought to trial. When indicted again in 1889, Deseret News criticizes trial of this "antiquated Payson homicide" as anti-Mormon crusade against those who were justifiably "disgusted and greatly icensed" against "the brutal mother and son." Former sheriff is convicted of murder, former bishop is acquitted.
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
165 years ago today - Apr 24, 1853
President Young, who informed us that this people had to fort up or we should not be safe for ten years to come, for said he, these mountains would be full of robbers, like the Gadianton robbers of old, and that he had been wearied with the foolishness and teasings of this people. They wanted to scatter abroad, thereby exposing themselves to becoming the easy prey to their enemies. He said this people must be wide awake and have their arms and ammunition in readiness and build strong holds or we should be swept off from the earth. -- Spanish Fork, Utah
[Source: Joseph Lee Robinson Diary, USOn the Mormon Frontier, the Diaries of Hosea Stout. Juanita Brooks, ed. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1964 53, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
[Source: Joseph Lee Robinson Diary, USOn the Mormon Frontier, the Diaries of Hosea Stout. Juanita Brooks, ed. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1964 53, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
175 years ago today - Apr 24, 1843
[William Clayton]
Sister Margt Moon [who would become Clayton's plural wife in four days] went with me. she is a lovely woman and desires to do right in all things and will submit to council [plural marriage] with all her heart. Got back at dark conversed some with President [Joseph Smith].
[Source: The Nauvoo Diaries of William Clayton, 1842-1846, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
Sister Margt Moon [who would become Clayton's plural wife in four days] went with me. she is a lovely woman and desires to do right in all things and will submit to council [plural marriage] with all her heart. Got back at dark conversed some with President [Joseph Smith].
[Source: The Nauvoo Diaries of William Clayton, 1842-1846, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
175 years ago today - Apr 24, 1843
Joseph Smith tells the Twelve, "wake up the people to the importance of building the Nauvoo House, as there is a prejudice against it in favor of the Temple." The Nauvoo House was to be, according to Smith, a hotel "where men of wealth, character, and influence from abroad can go and repose themselves."
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
110 years ago today - Apr 23, 1908
"It may be of interest in this connection to know that one of the early customers of Mr. Alling was a man who became famous as the founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith. He used to come in on Mondays from his home in Palmyra and spend hours reading and selecting books and talking theology. It was at this time that he was engaged in writing his "Book of Mormon," but the present firm disclaims all responsibility for Mr. Smith's religious conclusions, even if he did buy his books and writing paper from their store."
[Source: "Rochester Furnished Paper. Book of Mormon Printed on Stock From Founder of Wellknown Paper Firm," Wayne County (NY) Journal, 23 April 1908., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Wayne County (Ny) Journal]
[Source: "Rochester Furnished Paper. Book of Mormon Printed on Stock From Founder of Wellknown Paper Firm," Wayne County (NY) Journal, 23 April 1908., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Wayne County (Ny) Journal]
115 years ago today - Thursday, Apr 23, 1903
[Rudger Clawson]
A letter from David H. Cannon, president St. George Temple, and addressed to President Smith, was read. He said that they were short of help in ordinance work and recommended that Wm. Gardner of Pine Valley be called to labor in the temple as a missionary. This letter precipitated a discussion in relation to the temple, namely, as to whether it would not be a good policy to close said temple for three or four months during the summer, in view of the very light attendance. It was learned that on many days the companies were limited to some seven or eight people, or, in others words, that they were no larger than that number. Elder Clawson moved the St. George Temple be closed until after the October conference next. Seconded and carried.
[Source: Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
A letter from David H. Cannon, president St. George Temple, and addressed to President Smith, was read. He said that they were short of help in ordinance work and recommended that Wm. Gardner of Pine Valley be called to labor in the temple as a missionary. This letter precipitated a discussion in relation to the temple, namely, as to whether it would not be a good policy to close said temple for three or four months during the summer, in view of the very light attendance. It was learned that on many days the companies were limited to some seven or eight people, or, in others words, that they were no larger than that number. Elder Clawson moved the St. George Temple be closed until after the October conference next. Seconded and carried.
[Source: Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
120 years ago today - Apr 23, 1898
Joseph H. Dean, former president of the Samoan Mission, records how First Presidency Counselor George Q. Cannon authorizes and assists him to marry his plural wife after the Manifesto: "He [Cannon] approves of my going to Mexico, and thinks it would be a good thing for me to do. Consents to my taking Sister A. [Amanda W. Anderson] ma faaipoipo [Samoan translation: for a bride]. Says that when ever we are ready to call upon him and he will give us the necessary documents." Ten days later Cannon gives Dean "the necessary document" to allow him to be sealed to a plural wife.
120 years ago today - Apr 23, 1898
[Brigham Young Jr.]
Have condemned in unmeasured terms our young men volunteering to go to war. First they would be victims to the malaria of the south and it is our business to preach the gospel not kill men.
[Source: Brigham Young Jr. Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
Have condemned in unmeasured terms our young men volunteering to go to war. First they would be victims to the malaria of the south and it is our business to preach the gospel not kill men.
[Source: Brigham Young Jr. Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
125 years ago today - 23 April 1893 ¿ Sunday
[George Q. Cannon]
[Last day of the Salt Lake Temple dedication] It was storming very heavily, and the Spirit of the Lord rested upon the people in power, and they were loth to leave the hall. ...
Some time before I went East my brother David wrote to me that he and his wife Wilhelmina were greatly impressed that it would be right for their daughter Amanda who had died not long ago to be sealed to my son David recently deceased. Brother Helamen Pratt who is here with his wife from Mexico has also expressed a similar desire concerning a daughter of theirs who died not long since and who was said to be a very admirable girl. They had been deeply impressed with the feeling that it would be right to have her sealed to him. I desired my son Abram to act for his brother David, but it occurred to me afterwards that perhaps John Q. being heir ought to officiate. ... I performed the sealing ceremony. This was the first sealing for the dead that has been done in this Temple. The names of the girls who were sealed were Amanda Mousley Cannon and Aurelia Pratt. The girls[¿] mothers acted for them.
[Source: The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]
[Last day of the Salt Lake Temple dedication] It was storming very heavily, and the Spirit of the Lord rested upon the people in power, and they were loth to leave the hall. ...
Some time before I went East my brother David wrote to me that he and his wife Wilhelmina were greatly impressed that it would be right for their daughter Amanda who had died not long ago to be sealed to my son David recently deceased. Brother Helamen Pratt who is here with his wife from Mexico has also expressed a similar desire concerning a daughter of theirs who died not long since and who was said to be a very admirable girl. They had been deeply impressed with the feeling that it would be right to have her sealed to him. I desired my son Abram to act for his brother David, but it occurred to me afterwards that perhaps John Q. being heir ought to officiate. ... I performed the sealing ceremony. This was the first sealing for the dead that has been done in this Temple. The names of the girls who were sealed were Amanda Mousley Cannon and Aurelia Pratt. The girls[¿] mothers acted for them.
[Source: The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]
130 years ago today - Monday, Apr 23, 1888
A blessing by John Oakley, Patriarch, at Snowflake, Apache Co., Arizona, Dec. 27, 1887 upon the head of John Henry Smith...
... as your days and years increase your usefullness shall also increase because of your gain in experience and prudence and discretion, and you shall live until you are satisfied with life and be changed in the twinkling of an eye ...
[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]
... as your days and years increase your usefullness shall also increase because of your gain in experience and prudence and discretion, and you shall live until you are satisfied with life and be changed in the twinkling of an eye ...
[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]
175 years ago today - Apr 23, 1843
Robert Wiley "finds" six metal, bell-shaped plates covered with hieroglyphs while digging in a mound near Kinderhook, Illinois. The plates are found with a skeleton eleven feet below the top of the mound. There are "two mormon elders" among the dozen people witnessing the excavation. The plates are brought to Joseph Smith who says "they contain the history of the person with whom they were found and he was a descendant of Ham through the loins of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and that he received his kingdom from the ruler of heaven and earth." In 1855 and 1879 associates of Wiley claim that the plates were a hoax gotten up by Wiley and friends to fool Smith. There is debate about the validity of the "hoax" stories until 1981 when the plates are subjected to testing which conclusively verifies their 19th-century origin and details given by the hoaxers in their manufacture.
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
15 years ago today - Apr 22, 2003
Armenian Church Condemns Actions of Mormons
The recent report of the Mormon sect's `baptizing' notable Armenians is ludicrous, laughable and truly scandalous behavior. They have no right nor authority to 'baptize' any deceased Armenian Christian. It is an offensive affront to the people of the Armenian Nation dispersed throughout the world, who have repeatedly suffered martyrdom in the defense of Christianity. Regardless of who the individual is, whether saint or sinner, no one has the right to baptize someone who is deceased. Only Our Lord in Heaven has power over the lives of the deceased.
The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, on behalf of the worldwide Armenian Church, condemns this practice in the strongest possible terms. In a statement from the Department of Inter-Church Relations of the Armenian Church, it is noted: `We call on the Mormon authorities to immediately cease this damaging and outrageous behavior. These actions are a violation against common decency.
[Source: Armenian News Network; A chronicle of the Mormon-Jewish controversy; The LDS Agreement: A JewishGen InfoFile, http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/ldsagree.html]
The recent report of the Mormon sect's `baptizing' notable Armenians is ludicrous, laughable and truly scandalous behavior. They have no right nor authority to 'baptize' any deceased Armenian Christian. It is an offensive affront to the people of the Armenian Nation dispersed throughout the world, who have repeatedly suffered martyrdom in the defense of Christianity. Regardless of who the individual is, whether saint or sinner, no one has the right to baptize someone who is deceased. Only Our Lord in Heaven has power over the lives of the deceased.
The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, on behalf of the worldwide Armenian Church, condemns this practice in the strongest possible terms. In a statement from the Department of Inter-Church Relations of the Armenian Church, it is noted: `We call on the Mormon authorities to immediately cease this damaging and outrageous behavior. These actions are a violation against common decency.
[Source: Armenian News Network; A chronicle of the Mormon-Jewish controversy; The LDS Agreement: A JewishGen InfoFile, http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/ldsagree.html]
40 years ago today - Apr 22, 1978
The Church announces the name extraction program, through which Church members research the names and vital information of deceased individuals and families for temple work.
50 years ago today - Apr 22, 1968
The baptism of Juliet Hulme in California, despite her confession to LDS authorities that she was imprisoned at age 15 for helping to murder the mother of a girlfriend. Her baptism is a significant exception to LDS policies and leadership handbooks which prohibit the living baptism (or even baptism for the dead) for anyone convicted of murder. While active in LDS women's auxiliaries, she becomes internationally famous as Anne Perry, the author of murder mysteries.
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
65 years ago today - Apr 22, 1953
Joseph Fielding Smith, president of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, gives a speech at BYU titled "The Origin of Man" in which he not only declares organic evolution false but also attacks the scientific mindset. Two days later, Assistant Professor of Zoology Henry J. Nicholes writes to BYU administrators: "[while] the theory of organic evolution might have been a significant motivation for research in times now past, it does not need to be taught any more." He lists bacteriology, human anatomy, structural geology, general animal anatomy, plant anatomy and physiology, general agriculture, and taxonomy as "[A]mong the many avenues of research [that] do not need an understanding of the theory of organic evolution in the least." He askes, "How can this university ever become the university of the Kingdom of God as long as some of the faculty persist in their ignoring the words of our prophets and frustrate their students by unnecessary and damaging teachings? The very [existence] of [an] uncooperative attitude is apostacy-producing." The administration does not act on his recommendation to remove the topic from class discussions or textbooks. A year later Joseph Fielding Smith publushes MAN: HIS ORIGIN AND DESTINY which is the first book by a prominent Mormon that is openly antagonistic to much of science.
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
75 years ago today - Apr 22, 1943
[Joseph Fielding Smith]
On Thursday night the 22nd I again met with a group of young people who are contaminated with the teachings of Joseph Musser who was excommunicated from the Church for immoral practices under the guise of plural marriage. He now puts forth the claim that The Presidents of the Church since John Taylor are really Presidents of the Church, but that they have been stripped of the keys of the Priesthood and that he, Musser holds them, as they were conferred by President John Taylor upon Lorin Woolley and gave them to Joseph Musser. How anyone can possibly be so foolish as to accept such a rediculous [sic] statement is hard to see, but when men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil, there is little that can be done about it. While the arguments of these people were all answered and they were silenced, yet they maintain what they claim, 'open minds' and want to investigate all things. The truth is that they have closed their minds definitely and wilfully against the truth. I warned them and told them if they continued in their course they would be absolutely without excuse in the judgment, and my garments are clean so far as they are concerned. This they acknowledged.
[Source: Joseph Fielding Smith, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
On Thursday night the 22nd I again met with a group of young people who are contaminated with the teachings of Joseph Musser who was excommunicated from the Church for immoral practices under the guise of plural marriage. He now puts forth the claim that The Presidents of the Church since John Taylor are really Presidents of the Church, but that they have been stripped of the keys of the Priesthood and that he, Musser holds them, as they were conferred by President John Taylor upon Lorin Woolley and gave them to Joseph Musser. How anyone can possibly be so foolish as to accept such a rediculous [sic] statement is hard to see, but when men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil, there is little that can be done about it. While the arguments of these people were all answered and they were silenced, yet they maintain what they claim, 'open minds' and want to investigate all things. The truth is that they have closed their minds definitely and wilfully against the truth. I warned them and told them if they continued in their course they would be absolutely without excuse in the judgment, and my garments are clean so far as they are concerned. This they acknowledged.
[Source: Joseph Fielding Smith, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
105 years ago today - Apr 22, 1913
[First Presidency to Martin Anderson]
... your vision is just as capable of penetrating the interior of the earth as ours, or that of the owners of the mine. No, we would not advise you or anybody else to invest in the 'Dream Mine' or in any other mine.
[Source: First Presidency, Letter to Martin Anderson, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
... your vision is just as capable of penetrating the interior of the earth as ours, or that of the owners of the mine. No, we would not advise you or anybody else to invest in the 'Dream Mine' or in any other mine.
[Source: First Presidency, Letter to Martin Anderson, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
120 years ago today - Apr 22, 1898
[Brigham Young Jr.]
I hear the war is progressing. Many of our boys are anxious to go to the front. Let the wicked slay the wicked. mind our own business and God will take care of His people.
[Source: Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I hear the war is progressing. Many of our boys are anxious to go to the front. Let the wicked slay the wicked. mind our own business and God will take care of His people.
[Source: Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
130 years ago today - Sunday, Apr 22, 1888
A Blessing by Lorenzo H. Hatch, Patriarch upon the head of [apostle] John Henry Smith ...
... be of good cheer for you have been preserved as a chosen instrument and as a promised child to raise up the name of thy father and mother. Thy father obtained promises concerning thee. Thou has been impelled to go forward by the inspiration of the Lord thy God. As Jeremiah was ordained to be a prophet unto the nations so it has fallen to thy lot to in like manner lift up thy voice both long and loud and to spare not. It is thy calling to administer in behalf of millions as a great Apostle and to stand coequal with the chiefest of thy brethren. ... All your gifts have been foreordained and for this reason you have been shielded from the hand of the destroyer. The plans of the enemy have been frustrated and your life has been spared, thus saith the Lord your God, that you might continue to travel from nation to nation. They that you bless shall be blessed, and they that defy the Lord by your word they shall be cursed, and their generations shall cease from among men. Behold I say unto you, tongue cannot discribe nor pen record the glories that await you for your calling and election shall be made sure. The Angels of God are on your right and left, they have journeyed with you, by land and by sea. ... Though the heavens shall pass away, these words shall not fail. I seal all these blessings with your former blessings by the authority of my patriarchal Calling and in the name of your Redeemer, even so, Amen.
[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]
... be of good cheer for you have been preserved as a chosen instrument and as a promised child to raise up the name of thy father and mother. Thy father obtained promises concerning thee. Thou has been impelled to go forward by the inspiration of the Lord thy God. As Jeremiah was ordained to be a prophet unto the nations so it has fallen to thy lot to in like manner lift up thy voice both long and loud and to spare not. It is thy calling to administer in behalf of millions as a great Apostle and to stand coequal with the chiefest of thy brethren. ... All your gifts have been foreordained and for this reason you have been shielded from the hand of the destroyer. The plans of the enemy have been frustrated and your life has been spared, thus saith the Lord your God, that you might continue to travel from nation to nation. They that you bless shall be blessed, and they that defy the Lord by your word they shall be cursed, and their generations shall cease from among men. Behold I say unto you, tongue cannot discribe nor pen record the glories that await you for your calling and election shall be made sure. The Angels of God are on your right and left, they have journeyed with you, by land and by sea. ... Though the heavens shall pass away, these words shall not fail. I seal all these blessings with your former blessings by the authority of my patriarchal Calling and in the name of your Redeemer, even so, Amen.
[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]
175 years ago today - Apr 22, 1843
[William Clayton]
In the evening conversed with Margt Moon on the priesthood [IE polygamy. He would marry her five days later]. Had a visit from Olive, Diantha, & Lorin Far.
During the week Prest Joseph made a remark from which I gathered the following he was speaking of the meaning of the world Terrestrial which signifies the rolling of kingdoms, or in other words the rolling of a combination of kingdoms. The telestial is the rolling of one kingdom or globe only. And hence the celestial is the rolling of all the kingdoms of God which is the greatest of all glories.
[Source: The Nauvoo Diaries of William Clayton, 1842-1846, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
In the evening conversed with Margt Moon on the priesthood [IE polygamy. He would marry her five days later]. Had a visit from Olive, Diantha, & Lorin Far.
During the week Prest Joseph made a remark from which I gathered the following he was speaking of the meaning of the world Terrestrial which signifies the rolling of kingdoms, or in other words the rolling of a combination of kingdoms. The telestial is the rolling of one kingdom or globe only. And hence the celestial is the rolling of all the kingdoms of God which is the greatest of all glories.
[Source: The Nauvoo Diaries of William Clayton, 1842-1846, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
40 years ago today - Apr 21, 1978
Robert Stevenson, an African-American Mormon, marries Susan Bevan, a white Mormon.. They had met at Brigham Young University as students, but her Mormon family questions the viability of the relationship. Stevenson later notes that "everybody from the garbage man to the stake president had told her that marrying me would be to her eternal detriment." They seek an interview with a general authority, Boyd K. Packer. Packer calls in Marion D. Hanks. According to Stevenson, "Elder Packer squared off on one side, and Elder Hanks squared off on the other." Packer argued that Stevenson "could accomplish [his] mission in life and be more effective without being married to a white woman." Hanks said, "I think it's the best thing in the world that you marry Susan. I think that you'll be more effective and you'll be able to break down racial barriers easier."
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
105 years ago today - Apr 21, 1913
[First Presidency to J. S. Page and Counselors]
We are informed that Bishop [John H.] Koyle is at the head of a company known as the Dream Mining Company; that the mine is being operated by revelation, and that the company is selling stock on the strength of a promise that the mine is going to yield immense wealth, which is to be used for the redemption of Zion; that it has already issued and sold large quantities of stock ... and that from time to time as the treasury has become depleted more stock has been issued ... thus presuming on the credulity of innocent members. Bishop Koyle and associates are carrying on their fruitless mining operations.
[Source: First Presidency, Letter to J. S. Page and Counselors, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
We are informed that Bishop [John H.] Koyle is at the head of a company known as the Dream Mining Company; that the mine is being operated by revelation, and that the company is selling stock on the strength of a promise that the mine is going to yield immense wealth, which is to be used for the redemption of Zion; that it has already issued and sold large quantities of stock ... and that from time to time as the treasury has become depleted more stock has been issued ... thus presuming on the credulity of innocent members. Bishop Koyle and associates are carrying on their fruitless mining operations.
[Source: First Presidency, Letter to J. S. Page and Counselors, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
120 years ago today - Apr 21, 1898
Arrival in the British Mission of Amanda Inez Knight and Lucy Jane Brimhall, the first unmarried women to serve as full-time missionaries. Previously lady missionaries were married women who were set apart as companions to their husbands, usually mission presidents. On 16 Mar. George Q. Cannon had said that through the missionary service of unmarried young women, "some kind of solution would be found to the problem so often discussed, 'What shall we do with our girls?'"
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
120 years ago today - Apr 21, 1898; Thursday
Meeting of Council at 11 a.m. Temple. Pres[ident]. [George Q.] Cannon remarked to me this morning that "Our young men might distinguish themselves in this war." "Yes, they would undoubtedly extinguish themselves." "If I knew of any young men who wanted to
go to this war I would call them on a mission to preach the gospel of peace." Our mission is peach and to save souls.
[Source: Brigham Young Jr., Diary]
go to this war I would call them on a mission to preach the gospel of peace." Our mission is peach and to save souls.
[Source: Brigham Young Jr., Diary]
120 years ago today - Apr 21, 1898
Elder M[atthias]. F. Cowley reported that at a meeting in Preston [Idaho] at which Br[other]. Moses Thatcher was present, some of the members of the Church found fault with B[isho]p. William Parkinson because he did not invite Bro[ther]. Thatcher to take a seat on the stand. Bro[ther]. Cowley also stated that in a conversation with Bro[ther]. Thatcher, the latter took the ground that he was still an Apostle, although he was silenced and suspended for the time being from exercising his calling. After some conversation the sense of the meeting was expressed that B[isho]p. Parkinson was perfectly right in not inviting Bro[ther]. Thatcher to the stand in a religious meeting and that he be so informed.
[Source: Journal History, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
[Source: Journal History, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
125 years ago today - Apr 21, 1893
[John Nuttall]
I found the President [Woodruff] very sick. he was dosing, when he awoke he was flighty. I spoke to him and he grasped me around the neck like he was in a spasm. I got him quiet. I was alone. His wife came in and was much alarmed. He had another attack in 3/4 af an hour and then another about the same time after. The family were much excited. Bro Clawson went for the Doctor. Pres[iden]t Geo[rge] Q. Cannon & Pres[iden]t L[orenzo]. Snow & John Henry Smith came in a hurry and administered to him. he revived. I went home to let my folks know where I was and back again. I staid with the President all night Bro[ther] Asahel Woodruff with me. I bathed the Pres[iden]t with alcohol & oil and he slept very nicely.
[Source: L. John Nuttall, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
I found the President [Woodruff] very sick. he was dosing, when he awoke he was flighty. I spoke to him and he grasped me around the neck like he was in a spasm. I got him quiet. I was alone. His wife came in and was much alarmed. He had another attack in 3/4 af an hour and then another about the same time after. The family were much excited. Bro Clawson went for the Doctor. Pres[iden]t Geo[rge] Q. Cannon & Pres[iden]t L[orenzo]. Snow & John Henry Smith came in a hurry and administered to him. he revived. I went home to let my folks know where I was and back again. I staid with the President all night Bro[ther] Asahel Woodruff with me. I bathed the Pres[iden]t with alcohol & oil and he slept very nicely.
[Source: L. John Nuttall, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
185 years ago today - Apr 21, 1833
Joseph writes to the brethren in Zion, telling them not to print any of the new translation of the Bible in the Star, that it will be printed in a volume by itself, and the New Testament and Book of Mormon will be bound together in one volume.
[Source: Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Source: Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
95 years ago today - Apr 20, 1923
[George F. Richards]
I had the unwritten ordinances of the Endowments typed today by Bro[ther] Jos[eph] Anderson under the direction of Duncan M. McAllister. This is done by the authority of the First Presidency. A copy is to be kept in the Presidents' Book at each temple.
[Source: George F. Richards diary, Apr. 20, 1923, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
I had the unwritten ordinances of the Endowments typed today by Bro[ther] Jos[eph] Anderson under the direction of Duncan M. McAllister. This is done by the authority of the First Presidency. A copy is to be kept in the Presidents' Book at each temple.
[Source: George F. Richards diary, Apr. 20, 1923, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
125 years ago today - Apr 20, 1893
[L. John Nuttall]
Pres[iden]t Geo[rge] Q Cannon. I have seen the Savior Jesus Christ. & conversed with him face to face & he has talked with me. While we are in this house we feel the power of God & the good influences of His spirit. But we go away from here to our homes to the world & its ways, will we forget what we have felt?'The burden of carrying on and directing the affairs of the Church is now placed upon the First Presidency & this is a great responsibility'spoke 35 mintes. ...
B. Preston blessed & break the bread which was handed to each. B[isho]p R[obert]. T. Burton blessed the wine and it was placed upon the tables and all partook of the Sacrament'30 persons were here who were present at the laying of the corner stones of the Salt Lake Temple I being one of the number; 27 who were acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith in his day & time, 8 who had eaten with the Prophet at his table 6 who were in Kirtland [Ohio] Temple in the Prophets time, 1 baptized by the Prophet.'(Elder C. F. Middleton). Several of the brethren related brief incidents in the early days of the Church & of the Prophet Joseph Smith. ...
Pres[ident] Jos[eph]. F. Smith arose and blessed the brethren 'May peace bu unto you, may the Holy Ghost never forsake you, may you be true & faithful; & come up on the morning of the first resurrection with your wives, children & your children's children to reign among the Gods.' The Circle formed today was the largest ever formed in this dispensation. He said the sins of the brethren were forgiven them, they would remember this day and that they were one of the 115 privileged and blessed.
[Source: L. John Nuttall, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
Pres[iden]t Geo[rge] Q Cannon. I have seen the Savior Jesus Christ. & conversed with him face to face & he has talked with me. While we are in this house we feel the power of God & the good influences of His spirit. But we go away from here to our homes to the world & its ways, will we forget what we have felt?'The burden of carrying on and directing the affairs of the Church is now placed upon the First Presidency & this is a great responsibility'spoke 35 mintes. ...
B. Preston blessed & break the bread which was handed to each. B[isho]p R[obert]. T. Burton blessed the wine and it was placed upon the tables and all partook of the Sacrament'30 persons were here who were present at the laying of the corner stones of the Salt Lake Temple I being one of the number; 27 who were acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith in his day & time, 8 who had eaten with the Prophet at his table 6 who were in Kirtland [Ohio] Temple in the Prophets time, 1 baptized by the Prophet.'(Elder C. F. Middleton). Several of the brethren related brief incidents in the early days of the Church & of the Prophet Joseph Smith. ...
Pres[ident] Jos[eph]. F. Smith arose and blessed the brethren 'May peace bu unto you, may the Holy Ghost never forsake you, may you be true & faithful; & come up on the morning of the first resurrection with your wives, children & your children's children to reign among the Gods.' The Circle formed today was the largest ever formed in this dispensation. He said the sins of the brethren were forgiven them, they would remember this day and that they were one of the 115 privileged and blessed.
[Source: L. John Nuttall, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
125 years ago today - Apr 20, 1893
[Anthon H. Lund]
[At a meeting of the apostles held in the SLC temple and before adjourning to the celestial room to form the first Prayer circle in the temple] "Geo[rge] Q. Cannon My mind has been wrapt in vision since I came into this house and I have seen the glories of Eternity. I bear witness that Jesus lives for he has condescended to talk to me. I want the young to seek for this witness and to know for themselves our[?] God is a God of revelation. When you leave this meeting will you retain the Spirit you have now? I would to God that you did all feel as we do, and make the people feel the same. We do not want to dictate in politics, but we think we have a right to indicate the policy which the people ought to follow. We must use wisdom in not antagonizing the Democrats nor discourage the Republicans. The Republicans are still a power in the land."
[Source: Diary of Apostle Anthon H. Lund, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[At a meeting of the apostles held in the SLC temple and before adjourning to the celestial room to form the first Prayer circle in the temple] "Geo[rge] Q. Cannon My mind has been wrapt in vision since I came into this house and I have seen the glories of Eternity. I bear witness that Jesus lives for he has condescended to talk to me. I want the young to seek for this witness and to know for themselves our[?] God is a God of revelation. When you leave this meeting will you retain the Spirit you have now? I would to God that you did all feel as we do, and make the people feel the same. We do not want to dictate in politics, but we think we have a right to indicate the policy which the people ought to follow. We must use wisdom in not antagonizing the Democrats nor discourage the Republicans. The Republicans are still a power in the land."
[Source: Diary of Apostle Anthon H. Lund, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
155 years ago today - Apr 20, 1863
[Brigham Young]
We shall never see the time when we shall not need to be taught, nor when there will not be an object to be gained. I never expect to see the time that there will not be a superior power and a superior knowledge, and, consequently, incitements to further progress and further improvement.
[Source: Journal of Discourses. Liverpool, England, 1853-86. 10:221-229; Deseret News. Also Deseret Evening News, Deseret News Weekly, Deseret News Semi- Weekly, and Deseret News Extra, Salt Lake City, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
We shall never see the time when we shall not need to be taught, nor when there will not be an object to be gained. I never expect to see the time that there will not be a superior power and a superior knowledge, and, consequently, incitements to further progress and further improvement.
[Source: Journal of Discourses. Liverpool, England, 1853-86. 10:221-229; Deseret News. Also Deseret Evening News, Deseret News Weekly, Deseret News Semi- Weekly, and Deseret News Extra, Salt Lake City, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
165 years ago today - April 20th, 1853
Patriarchal Blessing by B. F. Johnson, given in Tempe, A. T. [Arizona Territory] May 25, 1889, upon Benjamin Samuel Johnson, son of Benjamin F. and Mary Ann Johnson ... And the meek of the earth shall rejoice in thee, and gather around thee as flocks unto their shepherds. The winds and the waves shall obey thee. Devils shall flee before thee, while the sick and the lame, the blind and the halt, shall be healed by thy command. ... Thy arm shall be strong to resist oppression and to avenge the blood of the innocent. The poor shall ever rejoice in thee, for the Lord will open unto thee the treasures of the earth, & thou shalt feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and be mighty in assisting to rear the temples, cities and bulwarks in Zion and in gathering her children. Wives and children shall be multiplied unto thee...
Thou shalt assist in rearing the holy temple in Zion, and thou shalt minister therein with thy companion, when the glory of the Lord shall rest upon its towers and fill its courts: and when Israel returns from the north country to receive their crowing in Zion, thou and thy companion shalt minister unto them. ... and I seal thee up unto eternal life, to come forth in the morning of the first ressurrection [resurrection], to be crowned with glory, immortality and eternal lives, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
[Source: Patriarchal Blessings]
Thou shalt assist in rearing the holy temple in Zion, and thou shalt minister therein with thy companion, when the glory of the Lord shall rest upon its towers and fill its courts: and when Israel returns from the north country to receive their crowing in Zion, thou and thy companion shalt minister unto them. ... and I seal thee up unto eternal life, to come forth in the morning of the first ressurrection [resurrection], to be crowned with glory, immortality and eternal lives, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
[Source: Patriarchal Blessings]
180 years ago today - Apr 20, 1838
Heber C. Kimball and Orson Hyde leave Liverpool for America, leaving Joseph Fielding as mission president' and Willard Richards and William Clayton as his counselors. Since they arrived in Great Britain nine months earlier, about 1500 people have been converted and 26 branches established. Until the return of the Twelve two years later, almost as many would leave the Church in England as would join, due to a series of internal problems.
[Source: James B. Allen and Thomas G. Alexander, Manchester Mormons: The Journal of William Clayton 1840-42 7-11; Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Source: James B. Allen and Thomas G. Alexander, Manchester Mormons: The Journal of William Clayton 1840-42 7-11; Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
70 years ago today - Apr 19, 1948
The Church Board of Education announces that, beginning in the 1949-50 school year, Ricks College will begin granting four-year degrees. Ricks later reverts to a junior college.
95 years ago today - Apr 19, 1923
[George F. Richards]
I read in the council meeting [the parts] which [are] known as the unwritten ordinances of the temple[,] prepared by me[,] and it was decided to have copies made and one each entered inside the Presidents' Book of each Temple.
[Source: George F. Richards diary, Apr. 19, 1923, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
I read in the council meeting [the parts] which [are] known as the unwritten ordinances of the temple[,] prepared by me[,] and it was decided to have copies made and one each entered inside the Presidents' Book of each Temple.
[Source: George F. Richards diary, Apr. 19, 1923, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
125 years ago today - 19 April 1893 ¿ Wednesday
[George Q. Cannon]
... President Jos. F. Smith then followed, and he spoke at some length. President Woodruff became quite wearied and he said to me he wished that he would stop, and I ventured to pull Brother Smith¿s coat-tail, for which I afterwards apologized to him by explaining to him what President Woodruff had said and how anxious he was for the meeting to close. ...
[Wilford Woodruff became very sick "which Lasted me one Month & 14 days before I went to my Desk in the office".]
[Source: The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]
... President Jos. F. Smith then followed, and he spoke at some length. President Woodruff became quite wearied and he said to me he wished that he would stop, and I ventured to pull Brother Smith¿s coat-tail, for which I afterwards apologized to him by explaining to him what President Woodruff had said and how anxious he was for the meeting to close. ...
[Wilford Woodruff became very sick "which Lasted me one Month & 14 days before I went to my Desk in the office".]
[Source: The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]
125 years ago today - Apr 19, 1893
First Presidency and Council of Apostles meet with "the Stake Presidents, Bishops, and other Priesthood leaders" in the newly dedicated Salt Lake Temple. On the first day of meetings "the Twelve Apostles were called upon to express their feelings towards the First Presidency and each other and to the Church and all the world." Francis M. Lyman says, "The Prophet never goes astray, counselors always right when they are one with the head." There is general gladness expressed that the Apostles and presidency are united again.
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
125 years ago today - Apr 19, 1893
[John Nuttall]
Pres[iden]t Woodruff said Oliver Cowdery was with Jos[eph] Smith when he received the manifestations of God through Moses &c. he was a powerful man. yet he apostatized through not sustaining the Priesthood'David Whitmer had many manifestations & testimonies. he apostatized and died out of the Church. In the Apostacy at Kirtland [Ohio] many of the leading Elders apostatized and denied the faith and died out of the Church'I have received the administration of angels'When the Lord sends Angels it has been for a purpose and to accomplish something which cannot be done otherwise'In the Kirtland [Ohio] Temple many personages appeared and it was necessary for them to do so. Peter, James & John appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith. Was it necessary for Angels to appear in the Temple now to impart the same things which have been given to the Church? When Joseph Smith gave his last address, he stood, upon his feet for three ours, the place was filled with the Spirit of God. You want the Holy Ghost to leave & guide you. You do not need the administration of Angels. There is not a man who has the Holy Ghost that the adversary can make him do anthing wrong'You teach the people to get the Holy Ghost and the Spirit of the Lord, and keep it with you and you will prosper. President [Brigham] Young & others have come to me in vision'While in Arizona they came to me in a splendid conveyance'The visions made to me during the dedication of this Temple have been marvelous in the union of the Saints'The Lord is desirous that this people shall rise. There will be union among us and we will not do as we have been doing.
[Source: L. John Nuttall, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
Pres[iden]t Woodruff said Oliver Cowdery was with Jos[eph] Smith when he received the manifestations of God through Moses &c. he was a powerful man. yet he apostatized through not sustaining the Priesthood'David Whitmer had many manifestations & testimonies. he apostatized and died out of the Church. In the Apostacy at Kirtland [Ohio] many of the leading Elders apostatized and denied the faith and died out of the Church'I have received the administration of angels'When the Lord sends Angels it has been for a purpose and to accomplish something which cannot be done otherwise'In the Kirtland [Ohio] Temple many personages appeared and it was necessary for them to do so. Peter, James & John appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith. Was it necessary for Angels to appear in the Temple now to impart the same things which have been given to the Church? When Joseph Smith gave his last address, he stood, upon his feet for three ours, the place was filled with the Spirit of God. You want the Holy Ghost to leave & guide you. You do not need the administration of Angels. There is not a man who has the Holy Ghost that the adversary can make him do anthing wrong'You teach the people to get the Holy Ghost and the Spirit of the Lord, and keep it with you and you will prosper. President [Brigham] Young & others have come to me in vision'While in Arizona they came to me in a splendid conveyance'The visions made to me during the dedication of this Temple have been marvelous in the union of the Saints'The Lord is desirous that this people shall rise. There will be union among us and we will not do as we have been doing.
[Source: L. John Nuttall, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
160 years ago today - Apr 19, 1858
[Hosea Stout]
Gov Cuming declared it was his intentions to make favorable reports to government for us and do all he could to prevent a colission between us and the U. S. He expresses to be dissatisfied with the doings of Col Johnson and the troops at Bridger &c &c &c &c &cahem!He was very much astonished to find that the Utah Library and the Court records were not burned as reported to government and wondered how such utterly false reports could be raised ect ect ect
We very courteously recieved and treated by both them and left with an invitation to "call again when convenient"
[Source: Diaries of Hosea Stout]
Gov Cuming declared it was his intentions to make favorable reports to government for us and do all he could to prevent a colission between us and the U. S. He expresses to be dissatisfied with the doings of Col Johnson and the troops at Bridger &c &c &c &c &cahem!He was very much astonished to find that the Utah Library and the Court records were not burned as reported to government and wondered how such utterly false reports could be raised ect ect ect
We very courteously recieved and treated by both them and left with an invitation to "call again when convenient"
[Source: Diaries of Hosea Stout]
175 years ago today - Apr 19, 1843
Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith located a site in Nauvoo for a music hall.
70 years ago today - Apr 18, 1948
[Dream Mine]
John Koyle negotiated a repudiation of his claims, in 1947 and then reversed himself almost immediately and was excommunicated from the Church 18 April 1948.
[Source: Utah History Encyclopedia: Dream Mine, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
John Koyle negotiated a repudiation of his claims, in 1947 and then reversed himself almost immediately and was excommunicated from the Church 18 April 1948.
[Source: Utah History Encyclopedia: Dream Mine, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
115 years ago today - Apr 18, 1903
RLDS church purchases Book of Mormon printers manuscript from Whitmer family.
[Source: Chronology of Mormon History, http://followtheprophets.com/chronology-of-mormon-history/]
[Source: Chronology of Mormon History, http://followtheprophets.com/chronology-of-mormon-history/]
150 years ago today - April 18 and 20, 1868
[Eliza R. Snow]
... FEMALE RELIEF SOCIETY ... is the name of a Society which was organized in Nauvoo, on the 17th of March, 1842, by President Joseph Smith, assisted by Elders Willard Richards and John Taylor. Although the name may be of modern date, the institution is of ancient origin. We were told by our martyred prophet, that the same organization existed in the church anciently, allusions to which are made in some of the epistles recorded in the New Testament, making use of the title, "elect lady."/This is an organization that cannot exist without the Priesthood, from the fact that it derives all its authority and influence from that source. When the Priesthood was taken from the earth, this institution as well as every other appendage to the true order of the church of Jesus Christ on the earth, became extinct, and had never been restored until the time referred to above.
...."The Female Relief Society of Nauvoo," was organized after the pattern of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with a Presidentess, who chose two Counselors. These were ordained and set apart by the Priesthood, and were to fill those offices so long as they faithfully discharged the trust committed to them. This quorum was fully authorized to appoint such officers, committees and assistants as were requisite from time to time, either to fill permanent offices or to perform any temporary agency that circumstances might demand. But, to make these appointments legal they had to be sanctioned by vote of the majority of the meeting when such appointments were made. ...
As its name indicates, the first grand object of the Society is to seek out, and relieve the wants of the poor. ...
[Source: Eliza R. Snow, “Female Relief Society,†Deseret Evening News (Salt Lake City, UT), Apr. 18, 1868, vol. 1, no. 127, p. [2]; Apr. 20, 1868, vol. 1, no. 128, p. [2], in 3.6 Eliza R. Snow, “Female Relief Society,†April 18 and 20, 1868, as quoted in Matthew J. Grow, Jill Derr, Carol Madsen, and Kate Holbrook, editors, The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women’s History, The Church Historian's Press, 2016, https://churchhistorianspress.org/the-first-fifty-years-of-relief-society/]
... FEMALE RELIEF SOCIETY ... is the name of a Society which was organized in Nauvoo, on the 17th of March, 1842, by President Joseph Smith, assisted by Elders Willard Richards and John Taylor. Although the name may be of modern date, the institution is of ancient origin. We were told by our martyred prophet, that the same organization existed in the church anciently, allusions to which are made in some of the epistles recorded in the New Testament, making use of the title, "elect lady."/This is an organization that cannot exist without the Priesthood, from the fact that it derives all its authority and influence from that source. When the Priesthood was taken from the earth, this institution as well as every other appendage to the true order of the church of Jesus Christ on the earth, became extinct, and had never been restored until the time referred to above.
...."The Female Relief Society of Nauvoo," was organized after the pattern of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with a Presidentess, who chose two Counselors. These were ordained and set apart by the Priesthood, and were to fill those offices so long as they faithfully discharged the trust committed to them. This quorum was fully authorized to appoint such officers, committees and assistants as were requisite from time to time, either to fill permanent offices or to perform any temporary agency that circumstances might demand. But, to make these appointments legal they had to be sanctioned by vote of the majority of the meeting when such appointments were made. ...
As its name indicates, the first grand object of the Society is to seek out, and relieve the wants of the poor. ...
[Source: Eliza R. Snow, “Female Relief Society,†Deseret Evening News (Salt Lake City, UT), Apr. 18, 1868, vol. 1, no. 127, p. [2]; Apr. 20, 1868, vol. 1, no. 128, p. [2], in 3.6 Eliza R. Snow, “Female Relief Society,†April 18 and 20, 1868, as quoted in Matthew J. Grow, Jill Derr, Carol Madsen, and Kate Holbrook, editors, The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women’s History, The Church Historian's Press, 2016, https://churchhistorianspress.org/the-first-fifty-years-of-relief-society/]
165 years ago today - 18 April 1853 ¿ Monday
[George Q. Cannon]
Transcribing the revelation on marriage, &c. [later canonized as D&C 132] to send to the brethren on Oahu.
[Source: The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]
Transcribing the revelation on marriage, &c. [later canonized as D&C 132] to send to the brethren on Oahu.
[Source: The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]
170 years ago today - Apr 18, 1848
Brigham Young (aged 46) marriage to Sarah Malin (1804-1858) (aged 43) first marriage later divorced
[Source: Wikipedia, List of Brigham Young's Wives, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Brigham_Young%27s_wives]
[Source: Wikipedia, List of Brigham Young's Wives, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Brigham_Young%27s_wives]
185 years ago today - Apr 18, 1833
A mob of 300 "old settlers" gathers at Independence to decide on plans to destroy or expel the Mormons from Jackson County. After they spend all day trying to decide on various plans, their liquor gets the worst of them and they break up in a "Missouri row." These "old settlers," largely from the southern states, came to Jackson County before the Saints, and could not move on because anything west of Missouri had been designated by President Jackson as Indian territory. They watched with some resentment as ever-increasing numbers of the religiously oriented northerners flocked into Jackson County claiming that God had given the county exclusively to them. Acts of violence began as early as the spring of 1832, when the homes of some Saints were stoned and windows broken. In the fall of 1832, some haystacks were burned, houses shot into, and people insulted; and as recently as February 20, a mob of 50 or 60 men armed with whips and guns attacked at least one household. Thegroup on this date constitutes the first organized resistance to the Mormons in Missouri.
[Source: Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Source: Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
80 years ago today - Apr 17, 1938
[Heber J. Grant]
Bishop Marion G. Romney called for me and also brought me home after the meeting. I had a nice visit with him at my home, sitting in the auto. He told me that he was very much perturbed over the editorial that was published before the last election when Roosevelt was reelected, being an official in the Democratic party, that it was a hard blow; but he said Monday was a holiday and he went to his office, and he prayed to the Lord, and he never got anything straighter than that that editorial was just what ought to be published. I was delighted to hear that from him. I am delighted when I find that a bishop's church comes first and foremost with him, and that his politics has not warped his judgment spiritually.
[Source: The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
Bishop Marion G. Romney called for me and also brought me home after the meeting. I had a nice visit with him at my home, sitting in the auto. He told me that he was very much perturbed over the editorial that was published before the last election when Roosevelt was reelected, being an official in the Democratic party, that it was a hard blow; but he said Monday was a holiday and he went to his office, and he prayed to the Lord, and he never got anything straighter than that that editorial was just what ought to be published. I was delighted to hear that from him. I am delighted when I find that a bishop's church comes first and foremost with him, and that his politics has not warped his judgment spiritually.
[Source: The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
85 years ago today - Apr 17, 1933
[First Presidency to Stake Presidents]
... At a recent meeting of the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve it was decided that women who are in good standing in the Church and have been faithful and devoted members, but whose husbands are not members of the Church or are not worthy of a temple recommend, may, with the written consent of their husbands, be granted the privilege of receiving their endowments and doing temple work for the dead. The written statement of the husband should be presented at the temple together with the usual temple recommend from the Bishop of the Ward and the President of the Stake, and filed with the recommend. We neither urge nor request women to take advantage of this ruling, and it is a privilege that should be given to those only who have proven themselves worthy and are desirous of receiving these blessings.
[Source: Heber J. Grant, Anthony W. Ivins, and J. Reuben Clark Jr. to Stake Presidents, Apr. 17, 1933, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
... At a recent meeting of the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve it was decided that women who are in good standing in the Church and have been faithful and devoted members, but whose husbands are not members of the Church or are not worthy of a temple recommend, may, with the written consent of their husbands, be granted the privilege of receiving their endowments and doing temple work for the dead. The written statement of the husband should be presented at the temple together with the usual temple recommend from the Bishop of the Ward and the President of the Stake, and filed with the recommend. We neither urge nor request women to take advantage of this ruling, and it is a privilege that should be given to those only who have proven themselves worthy and are desirous of receiving these blessings.
[Source: Heber J. Grant, Anthony W. Ivins, and J. Reuben Clark Jr. to Stake Presidents, Apr. 17, 1933, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
125 years ago today - Apr 17, 1893
[Francis M. Lyman]
L. Snow then spoke nicely referring much to Elder Thatchers condition. He prepared our minds not to be shocked if the Lord does not always do for us all we ask. Pres[ident] Jos[eph] F. Smith spoke most powerfully. He also mentioned bro[ther] Moses as being in the hands of the Lord as well as we. ...
[Source: Excerpts of Apostle Francis M. Lyman Diaries, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
L. Snow then spoke nicely referring much to Elder Thatchers condition. He prepared our minds not to be shocked if the Lord does not always do for us all we ask. Pres[ident] Jos[eph] F. Smith spoke most powerfully. He also mentioned bro[ther] Moses as being in the hands of the Lord as well as we. ...
[Source: Excerpts of Apostle Francis M. Lyman Diaries, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
125 years ago today - Apr 17, 1893
[Anthon H. Lund]
"In the evening the apostles met in their room. J. W. Taylor I and Abraham spoke and were followed by L. Lund[?] We mentioned how pleased we were that Pres[iden]t Woodruff prophesied about us that none of us should lose the faith."
[Source: Diary of Apostle Anthon H. Lund, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
"In the evening the apostles met in their room. J. W. Taylor I and Abraham spoke and were followed by L. Lund[?] We mentioned how pleased we were that Pres[iden]t Woodruff prophesied about us that none of us should lose the faith."
[Source: Diary of Apostle Anthon H. Lund, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
140 years ago today - Apr 17, 1878
[John Taylor]
EXCOMMUNICATIONS. When it has been found necessary for the well-being of the Church of Christ to withdraw fellowship from any of its members, on account of their misdoings or apostacy, and such members have ben duly tried by the Bishop and his counselors and the case decided upon, and no appeal taken, then such action should be made public by announcement at a meeting of the Saints in the ward in which the offending parties reside. This public announcement will in the great majority of cases satisfy the demands of justice and the law of the Lord, and it is only in extraordinary cases where the public weal makes it necessary, that there is any need of publishing such excommunications in the DESERET NEWS or other newspaper.... JOHN TAYLOR, President of the Council of the Apostles.
[Source: 1878-April 17-DN 27:168 (April 17, 1878), in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
EXCOMMUNICATIONS. When it has been found necessary for the well-being of the Church of Christ to withdraw fellowship from any of its members, on account of their misdoings or apostacy, and such members have ben duly tried by the Bishop and his counselors and the case decided upon, and no appeal taken, then such action should be made public by announcement at a meeting of the Saints in the ward in which the offending parties reside. This public announcement will in the great majority of cases satisfy the demands of justice and the law of the Lord, and it is only in extraordinary cases where the public weal makes it necessary, that there is any need of publishing such excommunications in the DESERET NEWS or other newspaper.... JOHN TAYLOR, President of the Council of the Apostles.
[Source: 1878-April 17-DN 27:168 (April 17, 1878), in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
165 years ago today - Apr 17, 1853 (Evening)
[Brigham Young]
Question: is there any law in any of the writings of the prophets and apostles that intimates there should not be any more ordained apostles, only the 12? Is there any impropriety to men being ordained apostles outside the quorum of the 12. We want to ordain a man in China and set him as an apostle to build up the kingdom there and then go through to the end. 1st Presidency, 12 apostles, then the 70 is the order of the priesthood'- If I am faithful who knows but the Lord will give me a Urim and Thummim'- The Urim and Thummim belongs to [-] the lesser priesthood by right Moses was the P S and Rev. but Aaron had the Urim and Thummim. I do know [-] things - Joseph put the U.T. back with the plates when he had done translating - I have Josephs first seer stone which he had from OC [Oliver Cowdery], the one found in the well by which he got the plates of the B of Mormon - Joseph had 3 which Emma has - 2 small ones and one large one... When duty demands it - Where any of the 12 apostles are they hold the keys over the 70s and the other priesthood - the 12 have the keys, the 70s are ordained apostles and when they have their endowments - if the 70s are not under the direction of the 12 - Their priesthood is preparatory'- -- SLC Tabernacle
[Source: Leonard J. Arrington Papers, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.. (A reference reading LJA 12-55-5, 10, means LJA Series 12, Box 55, Folder 5, page 10.) 9-13-4, 42, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
Question: is there any law in any of the writings of the prophets and apostles that intimates there should not be any more ordained apostles, only the 12? Is there any impropriety to men being ordained apostles outside the quorum of the 12. We want to ordain a man in China and set him as an apostle to build up the kingdom there and then go through to the end. 1st Presidency, 12 apostles, then the 70 is the order of the priesthood'- If I am faithful who knows but the Lord will give me a Urim and Thummim'- The Urim and Thummim belongs to [-] the lesser priesthood by right Moses was the P S and Rev. but Aaron had the Urim and Thummim. I do know [-] things - Joseph put the U.T. back with the plates when he had done translating - I have Josephs first seer stone which he had from OC [Oliver Cowdery], the one found in the well by which he got the plates of the B of Mormon - Joseph had 3 which Emma has - 2 small ones and one large one... When duty demands it - Where any of the 12 apostles are they hold the keys over the 70s and the other priesthood - the 12 have the keys, the 70s are ordained apostles and when they have their endowments - if the 70s are not under the direction of the 12 - Their priesthood is preparatory'- -- SLC Tabernacle
[Source: Leonard J. Arrington Papers, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.. (A reference reading LJA 12-55-5, 10, means LJA Series 12, Box 55, Folder 5, page 10.) 9-13-4, 42, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
65 years ago today - Thu Apr 16, 1953
[David O. McKay]
at meeting of Presidency and Twelve in the Temple: Expressed the feeling that the family ties are fundamental, that the family is the foundation of society. Stated that the First Presidency have suggested to the auxiliary organizations that in choosing members of the General Boards women should be chosed whose family ties will not interfere and that frequently the First Presidency refuse to approve sisters whose names have been submitted because those recommended were rearing young families.
[Source: McKay, David O., Office Journal]
at meeting of Presidency and Twelve in the Temple: Expressed the feeling that the family ties are fundamental, that the family is the foundation of society. Stated that the First Presidency have suggested to the auxiliary organizations that in choosing members of the General Boards women should be chosed whose family ties will not interfere and that frequently the First Presidency refuse to approve sisters whose names have been submitted because those recommended were rearing young families.
[Source: McKay, David O., Office Journal]
70 years ago today - Apr 16, 1948
[J. Reuben Clark]
Bro. Petersen reported on the excommunication of the Dream Mine man; said he showed up with four other men who had been active in the Church; he admitted the statements about the meeting; as Koyle was leaving he called the curses of God on the High Council; they all heard it and it certainly showed the feeling of the men, and those who were a little bit in sympathy with him afterwards definitely said that they were now sure he should have been excommunicated. There was others, some active in the Emerson Ward, and he wanted permission to proceed against them. He thought he would ask Pres. Elbert Curtis to talk with this man and see if the excommunication has changed his attitude. Pres. Clark cautioned they ought to be careful about the insubordination or disloyalty question, because they ought to be permitted to think, you can't throw a man off for thinking.
[Source: The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
Bro. Petersen reported on the excommunication of the Dream Mine man; said he showed up with four other men who had been active in the Church; he admitted the statements about the meeting; as Koyle was leaving he called the curses of God on the High Council; they all heard it and it certainly showed the feeling of the men, and those who were a little bit in sympathy with him afterwards definitely said that they were now sure he should have been excommunicated. There was others, some active in the Emerson Ward, and he wanted permission to proceed against them. He thought he would ask Pres. Elbert Curtis to talk with this man and see if the excommunication has changed his attitude. Pres. Clark cautioned they ought to be careful about the insubordination or disloyalty question, because they ought to be permitted to think, you can't throw a man off for thinking.
[Source: The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
85 years ago today - Apr 16, 1933
[Heber J. Grant]
Had a little chat with Edward P. Kimball after meeting and he said he was very glad that I gave the rebuke I did to his Uncle Golden at the April Conference. He said he felt humiliated for Golden to talk the way he did.
[Source: The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
Had a little chat with Edward P. Kimball after meeting and he said he was very glad that I gave the rebuke I did to his Uncle Golden at the April Conference. He said he felt humiliated for Golden to talk the way he did.
[Source: The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
95 years ago today - Apr 16, 1923
[George F. Richards]
I spent [the day] at the temple writing what ha[ve] heretofore been [the] unwritten ceremonies of the temple. My son George assisted me all the afternoon.
[Source: George F. Richards diary, Apr. 16, 1923, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
I spent [the day] at the temple writing what ha[ve] heretofore been [the] unwritten ceremonies of the temple. My son George assisted me all the afternoon.
[Source: George F. Richards diary, Apr. 16, 1923, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
125 years ago today - Apr 16, 1893
[Anthon H. Lund]
[the first meeting of the apostles in their new room in the temple] Geo[rge] Teasdale... The Lord had shown him many manifestations that had been strengthening to him. He loved Bro[ther] Woodruff like a father yet the Lord had shown him that he was to be adopted to the Prophet and on a new-years day he was given to Eliza R. Snow, wife of Joseph as son. He had at once felt a love as sone to a mother. [H. J. Grant then spoke; he ad wondered why he had been called to this office, and while riding over the burning lands of Arizona on a mule it came to him that he had net been so placed on account of his merit.]; but on account of his father's merit and of that of the prophet, his mother being a wife of Joseph."
[Source: Diary of Apostle Anthon H. Lund, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[the first meeting of the apostles in their new room in the temple] Geo[rge] Teasdale... The Lord had shown him many manifestations that had been strengthening to him. He loved Bro[ther] Woodruff like a father yet the Lord had shown him that he was to be adopted to the Prophet and on a new-years day he was given to Eliza R. Snow, wife of Joseph as son. He had at once felt a love as sone to a mother. [H. J. Grant then spoke; he ad wondered why he had been called to this office, and while riding over the burning lands of Arizona on a mule it came to him that he had net been so placed on account of his merit.]; but on account of his father's merit and of that of the prophet, his mother being a wife of Joseph."
[Source: Diary of Apostle Anthon H. Lund, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
130 years ago today - Apr 16, 1888
[Brigham Young Jr.]
Very little raiding done by the Depts. [deputies] and wonderful to relate the leaders of the people are unmolested. Quite a lull in prosecutions for unlawful Cohab [polygamy]. ... Depts very quiet, they fear to frighten capitol away from the Territory." [[Yet on 2 April he says [from Logan] "The Depts are busy arresting north and south of this city. I don't think that I could remain here very long safely."]]
[Source: Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Very little raiding done by the Depts. [deputies] and wonderful to relate the leaders of the people are unmolested. Quite a lull in prosecutions for unlawful Cohab [polygamy]. ... Depts very quiet, they fear to frighten capitol away from the Territory." [[Yet on 2 April he says [from Logan] "The Depts are busy arresting north and south of this city. I don't think that I could remain here very long safely."]]
[Source: Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
145 years ago today - Apr 16, 1873
Brigham Young, depicted as the "Mormon Moses," appears on the cover of the Daily Graphic, a national newspaper.
Apr 16 1843
President J. Smith Addressed the assembly of the saints ... He Considered Nauvoo would be a burying place of the saints & should he die he Considered it would be a great Blessing to be buried with the saints & esspecially to be buried with his father.
Yes he wanted to lie by the side of his father that when the trump of God should sound & the voice of God should say ye Saints arise that when the tomb should birst he could arise from the grave & first salute his father & say O my father; & his father say O my Son!! as they took each other by the hand. He wished next to salute his brothers & sisters & then the saints & he said it was upon this principle that the ancients were so particular to have an honorable burial with their fathers as in the case of Joseph.
.... It is true that in the resurrrection the bodies will be caught up to meet the Lord & the Saints will all be brought together though they were scattered upon the face of the whole earth. Yet they would not as readily Salute each other as though they lay down & rose up together from the same bed. To bring it to the understanding it would be upon the same principle as though two who were vary friends indeed should lie down upon the same bed at night locked in each other embrace talking of their love & should awake in the morning together. They could immediately renew their conversation of love even while rising from their bed. But if they were alone & in seperate apartments they could not as readily salute each other as though they were together.
...In speaking of the resurrection I would say that God hath shown unto me a vission of the resurrection of the dead & I saw the graves open & the saints as they arose took each other by the hand even before they got up or while getting up & great Joy & glory rested upon them.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993]
Yes he wanted to lie by the side of his father that when the trump of God should sound & the voice of God should say ye Saints arise that when the tomb should birst he could arise from the grave & first salute his father & say O my father; & his father say O my Son!! as they took each other by the hand. He wished next to salute his brothers & sisters & then the saints & he said it was upon this principle that the ancients were so particular to have an honorable burial with their fathers as in the case of Joseph.
.... It is true that in the resurrrection the bodies will be caught up to meet the Lord & the Saints will all be brought together though they were scattered upon the face of the whole earth. Yet they would not as readily Salute each other as though they lay down & rose up together from the same bed. To bring it to the understanding it would be upon the same principle as though two who were vary friends indeed should lie down upon the same bed at night locked in each other embrace talking of their love & should awake in the morning together. They could immediately renew their conversation of love even while rising from their bed. But if they were alone & in seperate apartments they could not as readily salute each other as though they were together.
...In speaking of the resurrection I would say that God hath shown unto me a vission of the resurrection of the dead & I saw the graves open & the saints as they arose took each other by the hand even before they got up or while getting up & great Joy & glory rested upon them.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993]
175 years ago today - Apr 16, 1843
Joseph receives a letter supposedly by the order of John Tyler, the president of the United States, which accuses him of high treason. It turns out to be a farce.
[Source: Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Source: Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
35 years ago today - Apr 15, 1983
"University Post: The Unofficial Newspaper of Brigham Young University" reports an interview with the director of the Standards Department. He acknowledges that students suspected of cheating, illegal drug use, stealing, or homosexuality are expelled from BYU if they refuse to take a polygraph examination. BYU Security has a licensed polygraph examiner. In a separate article, the newspaper's photographer reports observing Church Security using specially trained dogs to search for bombs prior to public meetings attended by general authorities in the Salt Lake Tabernacle.
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
90 years ago today - Apr 15, 1928
Anthony Ozodimma Obinna, later the first West African baptized by missionaries following the 1978 revelation on priesthood and the first to preside over a branch composed entirely of black members, is born in Aboh Mbaise, Nigeria.
150 years ago today - Apr 15, 1868
Meeting held at Meeting House by special invitation of Pres. Young for the organization of the School of the Prophets. ... I wish we should start right, and the Brethren may nominate Pres. Bro. A. O. Smoot was nominated President, Bro. A. Johnson was nominated vice President, A. F. MacDonald was nominated secretary. L. John Nuttall assistant secretary. ...
[Source: Manuscript Addresses of Brigham Young. 7 Vols. Elden J. Watson, ed. Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1979-84. 5:115-116, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
[Source: Manuscript Addresses of Brigham Young. 7 Vols. Elden J. Watson, ed. Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1979-84. 5:115-116, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
160 years ago today - Apr 15, 1858
President B Young said If the US Troops make a war of extermination against this People they will have all the Indians on this Continent to Fight for they are of Israel and the Course which the army are now taking towards them will have a tendency to cause the Indians to make war upon them. If Gov Cummings Comes into the City I do not want any man to go and see him without a permit. If I am not especially required to go & see him He will stop a long time before I shall go to see him. President Young said this war will dry up for the present I think but should it not be so, should I have to burn up my Buildings and if we are driven to lay waste our Cities & fields, I will tell you that we should not build much more here but it will be a great war and we should live in tents & Shanties till we go back to Jackson County, Mo. The Catholics are laying deep plans to overthrow the Protestant Nations who are watching us but the Catholics say but little about us. -- Salt Lake City
[Source: Wilford WoodruffÂ's Journal. 9 Vols. Scott G. Kenney, ed. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1983-85. 5:305, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
[Source: Wilford WoodruffÂ's Journal. 9 Vols. Scott G. Kenney, ed. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1983-85. 5:305, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
170 years ago today - Apr 15, 1848
[Wilford Woodruff]
I rode over the river. Went to the Log tabernacle with G A Smith. On our way there we learned that there was much excitement at the Point.
The inhabitants had laid off Council Point into a town or town lots. One line fence run through John Geens house And the people pulled down his fence to move it. He went to put it up & took his rifle & swore He would Kill the first man that crossed the line of his fence or offered to touch it. While the company stood looking at him Brother [ ] Condit A shoemaker came out of his shop & walked up to see what was going on & in doing so walked over the line & John Geen shot him through the heart and he fell dead. A Frenchman then Struck Geen across the head with a Club And He fell as if he was dead but afterwards came to. They buried the dead man & took John Geen to Ioway City to be tried for his crime. /Geen shot himself at G S L City./
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I rode over the river. Went to the Log tabernacle with G A Smith. On our way there we learned that there was much excitement at the Point.
The inhabitants had laid off Council Point into a town or town lots. One line fence run through John Geens house And the people pulled down his fence to move it. He went to put it up & took his rifle & swore He would Kill the first man that crossed the line of his fence or offered to touch it. While the company stood looking at him Brother [ ] Condit A shoemaker came out of his shop & walked up to see what was going on & in doing so walked over the line & John Geen shot him through the heart and he fell dead. A Frenchman then Struck Geen across the head with a Club And He fell as if he was dead but afterwards came to. They buried the dead man & took John Geen to Ioway City to be tried for his crime. /Geen shot himself at G S L City./
[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 - Apr 15, 1838
Stephen Burnett writes to former Apostle Lyman E. Johnson (who had been excommunicated two days earlier), "I have reflected long and deliberately upon the history of this church & weighed the evidence for & against it loth to give it up - but when I came to hear Martin Harris state in public that he never saw the plates with his natural eyes only in vision or imagination, neither Oliver [Cowdery] nor David [Whitmer] & that the eight witnesses never saw them & hesitated to sign that instrument for that reason, but were persuaded to do it, the last pedestal gave way, in my view our foundation was sapped & the entire superstructure fell in heap of ruins." Burnett was called by revelation to preach
65 years ago today - Apr 14, 1953
[David O. McKay Office Journal]
at Presidency meeting: Discussed the picture slides of archaeological artifacts presented by Thomas Ferguson, and his appeal that the church help his organization--New World Archaeological Foundation--by contributing $15,000 for this year and $30,000 per year for the next four years. The brethren decided to make the $15,000 contibution this year, but to give no further commitment. The brethren did not want to obligate the Church to finance the enterprise. It was also the feeling that such contribution should be made through someone else and that the Church should not be shown in the transaction.
[Source: McKay, David O., Office Journal]
at Presidency meeting: Discussed the picture slides of archaeological artifacts presented by Thomas Ferguson, and his appeal that the church help his organization--New World Archaeological Foundation--by contributing $15,000 for this year and $30,000 per year for the next four years. The brethren decided to make the $15,000 contibution this year, but to give no further commitment. The brethren did not want to obligate the Church to finance the enterprise. It was also the feeling that such contribution should be made through someone else and that the Church should not be shown in the transaction.
[Source: McKay, David O., Office Journal]
70 years ago today - Apr 14, 1948
Joseph Anderson, secretary to the First Presidency writes to historian Dale Morgan: "An experience running over several years has persuaded us of the unwisdom of giving access to our manuscript records to people writing books, because that same experience has shown that people writing such books are rarely qualified to appraise accurately what they read, and too frequently, whether conscious or unconsciously, they misrepresent what they find. Such manuscripts will therefore not be available for general inspection or use."
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
95 years ago today - Apr 14, 1923
Apostle George F. Richards discusses the garment design with the First Presidency. They consider such changes as removing the collar, using buttons, and allowing women to use elbow-length sleeves and shorter legs presumably to coordinate with women's fashions, which had changed considerably by the 1920s. Three days later the entire council and Presidency approved the new design
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
120 years ago today - Apr 14, 1898
The First Presidency and apostles consider the "alleged belief of some Elders in the doctrine of reincarnation... the conclusion reached was that every Elder's right to believe what seemed right to him should be respected and that no action should be taken against him while he refrained from teaching his views to others and respected and upheld the authority vested in the Presiding Priesthood." This refers to local bishop Orson F. Whitney who becomes a member of the Twelve in 1906.
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
125 years ago today - Apr 14, 1893
[Heber J. Grant]
[At the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple] President Woodruff said this matter of the Manifesto caused him to say in his soul that wonderful are the ways of the Lord. The putting forth of that proclamation was on e of the strangest acts of his life. He knew the feelings of the people on that subject. His own feelings were the same. Although plead with be honorable outsiders for a long time to settle this conflict with the nation, yet he could net feel that the Presidency had nay right to give up that precious principle. But he had been much comforted by a vision in which was shown him the future of this people, if this step were taken. The Lord had imparted the spirit of the Manifesto to his counselors, to the Twelve, and to thousands of the people. Now it is in the hands of God, and he will take care of it. He will hold this nation responsible.
[Source: The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
[At the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple] President Woodruff said this matter of the Manifesto caused him to say in his soul that wonderful are the ways of the Lord. The putting forth of that proclamation was on e of the strangest acts of his life. He knew the feelings of the people on that subject. His own feelings were the same. Although plead with be honorable outsiders for a long time to settle this conflict with the nation, yet he could net feel that the Presidency had nay right to give up that precious principle. But he had been much comforted by a vision in which was shown him the future of this people, if this step were taken. The Lord had imparted the spirit of the Manifesto to his counselors, to the Twelve, and to thousands of the people. Now it is in the hands of God, and he will take care of it. He will hold this nation responsible.
[Source: The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
125 years ago today - Friday, Apr 14, 1893
[John Henry Smith]
Salt Lake City [dedication continued]
Prest. Geo. Q. Cannon said that over thirty thousand saints had attended these Services. Prest. W. Woodruff said that in a vission 50 years ago he saw the dedication of this Temple. Prest. Jos. F. Smith called upon the people to say by vote whether the Lord had accepted the offering of the saints and it was unanimous.
About 20 sisters were set apart to go to the world's fair at Chica Co.
[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]
Salt Lake City [dedication continued]
Prest. Geo. Q. Cannon said that over thirty thousand saints had attended these Services. Prest. W. Woodruff said that in a vission 50 years ago he saw the dedication of this Temple. Prest. Jos. F. Smith called upon the people to say by vote whether the Lord had accepted the offering of the saints and it was unanimous.
About 20 sisters were set apart to go to the world's fair at Chica Co.
[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 - Apr 14, 1888
[Marriner W. Merrill]
In reference to the scriptural saying, "The last shall be first and the first shall be last," it means that the Gospel was first introduced to the Jews in the days of the Savior. And in the latter days or last Dispensation the Gospel has been introduced to the Gentiles first and lastly to the Jews. Hence the saying, and it has no reference to a man's wives or family.
[Source: Notes from the Miscellaneous Record Book, 1886-1906: Selected diary notes from the journal books of Marriner Wood Merrill, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
In reference to the scriptural saying, "The last shall be first and the first shall be last," it means that the Gospel was first introduced to the Jews in the days of the Savior. And in the latter days or last Dispensation the Gospel has been introduced to the Gentiles first and lastly to the Jews. Hence the saying, and it has no reference to a man's wives or family.
[Source: Notes from the Miscellaneous Record Book, 1886-1906: Selected diary notes from the journal books of Marriner Wood Merrill, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
135 years ago today - Apr 14, 1883
Revelation to John Taylor at Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, on 14 April 1883
A Revelation given through President John Taylor, on Saturday, April 14th, 1883, in answer to the question: "Show unto us Thy will o Lord, concerning the organization of the Seventies.["]
What ye have written is my will and is acceptable unto me; and furthermore,
Thus saith the Lord unto the First Presidency, unto the Twelve, unto the Seventies, and unto all my holy Priesthood, let not your hearts he troubled, neither be ye concerned about the management and organization of my Church and Priesthood and the accomplishment of my work.
Fear me and observe my laws, and I will reveal unto you, from time to time, through the channels that I have appointed, everything that shall be necessary for the future development and perfection of my Church, for the adjustment and rolling forth of my Kingdom, and for the building up and establishment of my Zion. For ye are my Priesthood, and I am your God Even so, Amen
[Source: Manuscript in John Taylor Papers, LDS archives, typed copy; Marquardt, H. Michael, http://www.xmission.com/~research/central/revel2.htm]
A Revelation given through President John Taylor, on Saturday, April 14th, 1883, in answer to the question: "Show unto us Thy will o Lord, concerning the organization of the Seventies.["]
What ye have written is my will and is acceptable unto me; and furthermore,
Thus saith the Lord unto the First Presidency, unto the Twelve, unto the Seventies, and unto all my holy Priesthood, let not your hearts he troubled, neither be ye concerned about the management and organization of my Church and Priesthood and the accomplishment of my work.
Fear me and observe my laws, and I will reveal unto you, from time to time, through the channels that I have appointed, everything that shall be necessary for the future development and perfection of my Church, for the adjustment and rolling forth of my Kingdom, and for the building up and establishment of my Zion. For ye are my Priesthood, and I am your God Even so, Amen
[Source: Manuscript in John Taylor Papers, LDS archives, typed copy; Marquardt, H. Michael, http://www.xmission.com/~research/central/revel2.htm]
170 years ago today - Apr 14, 1848
Augusta Adams Cobb Young (Brigham Young's 2nd plural wife) wrote out what she called her "Last Will and Testament" (She did not die until 1886,) a request to cancel her sealing for eternity (but not for time) to Brigham Young so she could be sealed by proxy to either Jesus Christ (her first priority) or Joseph Smith. She ended her request, "I do this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by virtue of the Holy Priesthood vested in me, because I consider it necessary to my salvation, exaltation, calling and Election." The "will" was witnessed and signed by Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards (First Presidency).
Brigham Young rejected her several requests to be sealed to Jesus Christ but did cancel their sealing for eternity and stood as proxy as Joseph Smith for her sealing on April 14, 1848.
[Source: Letter, O'Donovan, Connell, "Augusta Adams Cobb Young: Priesthood Holder," Journal of Mormon History Vol. 38, No. 2, Spring 2012]
Brigham Young rejected her several requests to be sealed to Jesus Christ but did cancel their sealing for eternity and stood as proxy as Joseph Smith for her sealing on April 14, 1848.
[Source: Letter, O'Donovan, Connell, "Augusta Adams Cobb Young: Priesthood Holder," Journal of Mormon History Vol. 38, No. 2, Spring 2012]
50 years ago today - Apr 13, 1968
Eight African-American athletes from the University of Texas at El Paso refuse to compete in a track meet with BYU because Mormons "think they are cursed and belong to the devil." George S. Tanner, after forty-one years of teaching in the LDS institutes of religion, remarks: "The sad part of it is that their charges are not far from the truth."
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
65 years ago today - Apr 13, 1953
"For the Benson machine," Time magazine reported, "prayer is the basic fuel." "He spends as much time on his knees as he does on his feet," one associate observed. Benson also removed all ash trays from his and adjacent offices--or converted them into containers for paper clips and other small objects--and by his example discouraged smoking in departmental meetings. Benson's daily work schedule as secretary did not differ much from his routine as an apostle and earlier.
[Source: "Apostle at Work,†Time, April 13, 1953, 26; and "Secretary Benson Rearranges Things.â€; Gary James Bergera, '"Rising above Principle": Ezra Taft Benson as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, 1953-61, Part 1', Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought (Fall 2008, v 41)]
[Source: "Apostle at Work,†Time, April 13, 1953, 26; and "Secretary Benson Rearranges Things.â€; Gary James Bergera, '"Rising above Principle": Ezra Taft Benson as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, 1953-61, Part 1', Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought (Fall 2008, v 41)]
85 years ago today - Apr 13, 1933
Attended Council meetings as usual. In the Council of the First Presidency and the Twelve, Elder Joshua Reuben Clark Jr. was ordained a High Priest and set apart as Second Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church, all the brethren laying on hands and President Heber J. Grant begin voice in the ordinance.
[Source: James E. Talmage, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
[Source: James E. Talmage, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
120 years ago today - Apr 13, 1898
Apostle Matthias F. Cowley performs the first marriage commissioned by First Counselor George Q Cannon. Cowley marries Ben E. Rich, president of the Southern States Mission, to a plural wife. Cowley later explained to the Twelve, "President Cannon told me personally to attend to these matters. There was no laying on of hands, but he gave the authority personally. The commission at this time was to marry Brother Rich, but later I was told by him that I could attend to suitable cases."
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
125 years ago today - Apr 13, 1893
At a session of the temple dedication, "Pres Woodruff said there would never be an hour when these apostles will be divided from now till the coming of the Son of Man." Apostle Francis M. Lyman and Mary Ann Burnham Freeze separately record seeing a bright light pass over the head of second counselor Joseph F. Smith as he speaks. Apostle Lyman also hears a heavenly choir.
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
125 years ago today - Thursday, Apr 13, 1893
[John Henry Smith]
Salt Lake City [dedication continued]
Prest. George Q. Cannon said these services had been under the influence of the spirit of the Lord. Prest. W. Woodruff said the ancient Prophets from Adam down has looked for this day. ...
Prest. W. Woodruff said that on a certain occassion a gentleman had threatened the church with utter overthrow if the Presidency continued their course. Three days after this gentleman* was dead. *Ex. U.S. Marshall Dyer.
[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]
Salt Lake City [dedication continued]
Prest. George Q. Cannon said these services had been under the influence of the spirit of the Lord. Prest. W. Woodruff said the ancient Prophets from Adam down has looked for this day. ...
Prest. W. Woodruff said that on a certain occassion a gentleman had threatened the church with utter overthrow if the Presidency continued their course. Three days after this gentleman* was dead. *Ex. U.S. Marshall Dyer.
[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]
135 years ago today - Apr 13, 1883
John Taylor dictates a revelation on organizing the Seventies, and the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve accept it on 14 Apr. The church authorities publish the revelation as a pamphlet in Salt Lake City in 1883 and by its 14 Apr. 1884 reprint in the follwoing editions of the Doctrine and Covenants: Swedish in 1888; German in 1893, 1903 and 1920; Danish in 1900. The 1883 revelation is never canonized by a conference vote or by inclusion in the English language editions of the Doctrine and Covenants. Taylor defines the First Quorum of the Seventy as presidents of subordinate local quorums rather than as an independent quorum.
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
180 years ago today - Apr 13, 1838
Five charges are brought against David Whitmer. He withdraws fellowship from the Church before they can cut him off. Elders Luke S. Johnson and Lyman E. Johnson are also cut off.
[Source: Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Source: Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
180 years ago today - Apr 13, 1838
Brigham Young, testifies that Phineas Young came to Br. [John P] Green's a few mornings since, with his head cut, the blood running out of his ears, also his stomach was injured, and Phineas [Young] said Lyman E. Johnson had fought him; which was proved in court afterwards. -- Far West, Missouri
[Source: Far West Record 175, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
[Source: Far West Record 175, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]