Masonic Grand Lodge of Utah rescinds policy of prohibiting LDS membership.
Lecture by Brigham Young University sociology professor, Howard M. Bahr, "Why People Leave the LDS Church". Bahr states that In Utah during 1980-81, for every five converts to Mormonism, there were two who left the LDS church. Bahr identifies three processes of disaffiliation: intellectual disaffection, emotional alienation and social disinvolvement. He also cited four categories of people, their personal beliefs and their activity in the Church: "The fervent believer, the ritualist (actively participates but is not a believer), the outsider (believes but stops being active), and the apostate (who disavows former beliefs and severs ties with the group)."
55 years ago today - 55 years ago - Jan 31, 1964
By the request of Lyndon B. Johnson, LDS president David O. McKay meets with the U.S. president in the White House. Johnson "said that sometimes he felt as he did when he was a little boy when he had more problems than he could handle and would go to his mother and put his head on ther breast and get a little sympathy. He mentioned that we have the Panama problem, the matter of the plane that was shot down over East Germany, VietNam, etc., and he said he felt the same way now that he did when he was a boy. After they went into the dining room, President Johnson turned to President McKay and said, 'I feel that the spiritual and moral fiber of this country need strengthening, and we need it badly. I would like to ask you, Presidency McKay, if you can tell me how we can get it.' He said, 'I have been out to see you [in Utah] on two or three occasions before and each time I left you I came away inspired and I feel I would like to have your advice on this.'"
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
105 years ago today - 105 years ago - Jan 31, 1914
[First Presidency letter to Stake Presidents]
Having reason to believe that some members of the Church are secretly engaged advising and encouraging others to enter into unauthorized and unlawful marriages, we have deemed it advisable to call your attention to the communication we addressed to you on this subject on the 6th of October, 1910, a copy of which is herewith appended. And believing, as we do, that these people are at the bottom of all the violations referred to in our communication, we direct your special attention to them with a request that any information received by you from time to time relating to cases of this character be followed up and investigated with a view to having this class of offenders placed on trial for their fellowship in the Church, as we regard them culpable with actual offenders. Please make the same request of your bishops.
[First Presidency, Letter to Presidents of Stakes and Counselors, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
Having reason to believe that some members of the Church are secretly engaged advising and encouraging others to enter into unauthorized and unlawful marriages, we have deemed it advisable to call your attention to the communication we addressed to you on this subject on the 6th of October, 1910, a copy of which is herewith appended. And believing, as we do, that these people are at the bottom of all the violations referred to in our communication, we direct your special attention to them with a request that any information received by you from time to time relating to cases of this character be followed up and investigated with a view to having this class of offenders placed on trial for their fellowship in the Church, as we regard them culpable with actual offenders. Please make the same request of your bishops.
[First Presidency, Letter to Presidents of Stakes and Counselors, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
115 years ago today - 115 years ago - Jan 31, 1904
Apostle Anthony W. Ivins performs his last plural marriage in Mexico for a visiting U.S. resident, John A. Silver, a business associate of Church President Joseph F. Smith. Silver takes Nell Clawson as his second wife.
150 years ago today - 150 years ago - Jan 31, 1869
Brigham Young "nominated Abram O. Smoot to go to Provo as President Mayor and Bishop of that place and John Taylor as Judge and a number of others as city counselors."
160 years ago today - 160 years ago - Jan 31, 1859
[Wilford Woodruff]
D. H. Wells spoke upon the subject of the Deseret Alphabet. Urged the adopting of the Deseret Alphabet into our scholes as soon as possible. ...
President Young spoke upon the subjet of the New Alphabet. He said I think we are the Head & not the tail. And now if I had my way I will tel you what I would do. I would put books into the hands of Children in this Territory printed in the Deseret Alphabet. I dont want many Books to learn Children. ...
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
D. H. Wells spoke upon the subject of the Deseret Alphabet. Urged the adopting of the Deseret Alphabet into our scholes as soon as possible. ...
President Young spoke upon the subjet of the New Alphabet. He said I think we are the Head & not the tail. And now if I had my way I will tel you what I would do. I would put books into the hands of Children in this Territory printed in the Deseret Alphabet. I dont want many Books to learn Children. ...
[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 - 175 years ago - Jan 31, 1844
Joseph Smith donates 29 books to the "Nauvoo Library and Literary Institute" including John L. Stephens's TRAVELS IN CENTRAL AMERICA and INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL IN YUCATAN, William Beaumont's EXPERIMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS ON THE GASTRIC JUICE, and a five volume collection of Walter Scott's POETICAL WORK. Also included is a copy of the Apochryphal Testament, which discusses topics such as baptism for the dead.
175 years ago today - 175 years ago - Jan 31, 1844
Joseph contributes over three dozen volumes of personal books to the Nauvoo Library and Literary Institute (a group of at least 74 members organized earlier in the month).
[Brigham Young University Studies (various issues, Sp '74, 386-89; Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Brigham Young University Studies (various issues, Sp '74, 386-89; Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
180 years ago today - 180 years ago - Jan 31, 1839
Liberty, Missouri. Joseph Smith's history records: -"I sent the poor brethren [in Far West, Missouri] a hundred dollar bill from jail, to assist them in their distressed situation.-",
[BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]
[BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]
185 years ago today - 185 years ago - (Tue) Jan 31, 1834
The Wayne Sentinel published an article entitled "The Mormons," passing on the report that the Latter Day Saints in Kirtland, "with Jo. Smith at their head, are 'arming themselves with guns, swords, dirks, large knives, and other implements of warefare...'"
[Broadhurst, Dale R., Mormon Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/morchrn2.htm]
[Broadhurst, Dale R., Mormon Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/morchrn2.htm]
40 years ago today - Jan 30, 1979-Tuesday
[Leonard Arrington]
I asked him [Milt Backman] why he didn't use the biography of Sidney Rigdon or even cite it. "Well, I didn't want to say anything hostile, and if I list it I have to." It is your responsibility, I said, as a scholar to say something about it. You can say it kindly; and if you have any trouble we'll help you. You have to say it's the best available biography of Sidney Rigdon, this McKiernan work, but it makes one key error. Assuming that Rigdon belonged to one Mahoning association and McKiernan said he actually belonged to the other. You have got to say that and you can say it nicely. I told him that one possible controversial chapter is the one on the spiritual experiences, the pentecostal. "Well, I tried to stick very closely to printed sources, Documentary History and so on. They're already out [published]; I don't see how they [critics] can complain. I have mixed in a few diary entries." "It's okay by me, I'm not objecting to it, I'm just saying that's one area where they may raise questions. If so, we'll deal with that at the time."
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
I asked him [Milt Backman] why he didn't use the biography of Sidney Rigdon or even cite it. "Well, I didn't want to say anything hostile, and if I list it I have to." It is your responsibility, I said, as a scholar to say something about it. You can say it kindly; and if you have any trouble we'll help you. You have to say it's the best available biography of Sidney Rigdon, this McKiernan work, but it makes one key error. Assuming that Rigdon belonged to one Mahoning association and McKiernan said he actually belonged to the other. You have got to say that and you can say it nicely. I told him that one possible controversial chapter is the one on the spiritual experiences, the pentecostal. "Well, I tried to stick very closely to printed sources, Documentary History and so on. They're already out [published]; I don't see how they [critics] can complain. I have mixed in a few diary entries." "It's okay by me, I'm not objecting to it, I'm just saying that's one area where they may raise questions. If so, we'll deal with that at the time."
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
135 years ago today - Jan 30, 1884
Counselor in the Salt Lake Stake presidency explains why women anoint and bless women: "There are often cases when it would be indelicate for an Elder to anoint, especially certain parts of the body, and the sisters are called to do this and [their] blessing follows."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
125 years ago today - Jan 30, 1894
[Rudger Clawson]
Reports church trial of Weldon Hunsaker of Honeyville, Utah, who was accused of homosexual assault by brothers Peter and Lorenzo.
[Larsen, Stan (editor), A Ministry of Meetings:The Apostolic Diaries of Rudger Clawson, Significant Mormon Diaries Series No. 6, A Rudger Clawson Chronology, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
Reports church trial of Weldon Hunsaker of Honeyville, Utah, who was accused of homosexual assault by brothers Peter and Lorenzo.
[Larsen, Stan (editor), A Ministry of Meetings:The Apostolic Diaries of Rudger Clawson, Significant Mormon Diaries Series No. 6, A Rudger Clawson Chronology, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
175 years ago today - Jan 30, 1844
[Anointed Quorum]
Evening prayer circle meeting at Brigham Young's house, second anointings for John and Leonora Taylor .
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Signature Books, 1994, Appendex: Meetings and Initiations of the Anointed Quorum, 1842-45, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
Evening prayer circle meeting at Brigham Young's house, second anointings for John and Leonora Taylor .
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Signature Books, 1994, Appendex: Meetings and Initiations of the Anointed Quorum, 1842-45, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
40 years ago today - Jan 29, 1979
Fawn Brodie writes to a friend: "The volume would have been a harsher indictment of Joseph Smith had it not been for [her husband Bernard's] influence. I was angered by the obvious nature of the fraud in his writing of the Book of Mormon; I felt that his revelations all came out of needs of the moment and had nothing to do with God, and I thought the frantic search for wives in the last four years of his life betrayed a libertine nature that was to me at the time quite shocking. My husband kept urging me to look at the man's genius, to explain his successes, and to make sure that the reader understood why so many people loved him, and believed in him. If there is real compassion for Joseph Smith in the book, and I believe there is, it is more the result of the influence of my husband than anyone else." Some Mormons had blamed her non-Mormon husband for the controversial book.
55 years ago today - Late January, 1964
[Senator Ralph Harding] 'President McKay, I want you to know that just because I've had my problems with Elder [Ezra Taft] Benson over the John Birch Society, that I still have a strong testimony of the gospel.' He said, 'I know that, Brother Harding. Several of us have had problems with Brother Benson over the Birch Society.'"
[Ralph R. Harding interview as referenced in Gregory A. Prince and Wm. Robert Write, David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press (2005)]
[Ralph R. Harding interview as referenced in Gregory A. Prince and Wm. Robert Write, David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press (2005)]
105 years ago today - Jan 29, 1914
[George Albert Smith]
"Thursday Attended Council where the vote was taken to excommunicated Reuben G Miller from the Church for violating the Manifesto. It nearly uses me up to sit in these cases. I am so sorry for Brother Miller and family."
[Journals of George Albert Smith]
"Thursday Attended Council where the vote was taken to excommunicated Reuben G Miller from the Church for violating the Manifesto. It nearly uses me up to sit in these cases. I am so sorry for Brother Miller and family."
[Journals of George Albert Smith]
125 years ago today - Jan 29, 1894
[James E. Talmage]
Talmage meets with President Wilford Woodruff who informs him that the Brethren want Talmage to succeed John R. Park as the President of the University of Utah. In addition, Woodruff informs Talmage of the Church's proposal to combine the Church's educational efforts with those of the state. In lieu of combining efforts with the University of Utah, and plans for the Church-sponsored 'Young University' would suspended.
[Chronology of the Life and Work of James E. Talmage, J. Trevor Antley, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MJsHY83JZL_n6CjWq11y1trT_CVXMMXAx2uYOWAwn0c/edit#heading=h.2zfdaoa]
Talmage meets with President Wilford Woodruff who informs him that the Brethren want Talmage to succeed John R. Park as the President of the University of Utah. In addition, Woodruff informs Talmage of the Church's proposal to combine the Church's educational efforts with those of the state. In lieu of combining efforts with the University of Utah, and plans for the Church-sponsored 'Young University' would suspended.
[Chronology of the Life and Work of James E. Talmage, J. Trevor Antley, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MJsHY83JZL_n6CjWq11y1trT_CVXMMXAx2uYOWAwn0c/edit#heading=h.2zfdaoa]
140 years ago today - Jan 29, 1879
W Woodruff had sealed to him 39 single females of the Hart family [to whom he was related] sealed to him to day. 12 persons Adopted to W Woodruff. Ordained 44 Elders. 32 Children sealed to parents. 421 Baptized.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
165 years ago today - Jan 29, 1854
The First Presidency and Twelve administer to Willard Richards. Wilford Woodruff records, "at times had a testimony by the spirit of God that he would get better but all outward appearances have been against his getting up again." Two days later Woodruff writes, "Dr Richards still lives and appears some better And I pray the Lord he may again get well for many reasons. On is the Twelve have administered to him many times and felt moved upon at times to promise him that he should live and get well and stand in the midst of his brethren and also to administer to his family. This I promised him once while the Twelve and all his wives were administering to him at the same time. Richards Dies on Mar 11, 1854 at age 49.
175 years ago today - Jan 29, 1844
At a meeting of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles together with Joseph and Hyrum Smith Willard Richards moves that they nominate Joseph Smith as an independent candidate for the U.S. presidency "and that we use all honorable means to secure his election." The Twelve vote unanimously in favor of the motion. After the motion carries Joseph speaks to them: "to accomplish this you must send every man in the city who could speak throughout the land to electioneer . . . After the Apr conference we will have general conferences all over the nation and I will attend them. Tell the people we have had Whig and Democrats [as] Presidents long enough . . . I will not electioneer for myself, Hyrum, Brigham, Parley, and Taylor must go . . . There is or[a]tory enough in the Church to carry me into the Presidential chair in the first slide." Friends of Joseph make a toast for him at the Nauvoo Mansion: "May all your enemies be skined, their skins made into drum heads for your friends to beat upon. Also may Nauvoo become the empire seat of government." Joseph tells William Clayton that he will go on a political mission but writes in his journal "Clayton must go out or he will apostatize. Must."
180 years ago today - Jan 29, 1839
[Lorenzo Brown]
On the 29th of the same month they returned bringing with them one of the Tribe, William Clute He was baptised the 31st and on the 4th of February was ordained an Elder and shortly after returned hom(e) with instructions to preach to his Tribe. He has not been since heard of
Our meetings were good. We were blessed spiritually with the gift of Tongues Through which and the interpretation we learned many things There were several Hymns given one of which was given through myself and interpreted by Sister Esther Crowely who had the gift the most perfect of any person I ever knew. These lines I cannot withold the impulse to subjoin as I then thought and still think them good. They were given several times until they were committed to memory
Come every Saint and hearken now
Did you not make a solemn vow
When the Saviors name ye took on you
With all your sins to bid adieu
In the eyes of all who did you see
Your covenant was to follow me
Thro vile report as well as good
To live by faith and every word
Think on the covenant you did mak(e)
Your secret prayers do not forsake
For when my saints neglect to pray
Their faith grows weaker every day
Advantage Satan then will take
And saints their covenant soon will break
Hear what neglect will bring Saint to
T'will bring them down to pain and wo
If the mysteries of Heaven they've known
Alas forever they're undone
A lake of fire compared to
There they must dwell in pain & wo
[Journal of Lorenzo Brown: 1823-1900]
On the 29th of the same month they returned bringing with them one of the Tribe, William Clute He was baptised the 31st and on the 4th of February was ordained an Elder and shortly after returned hom(e) with instructions to preach to his Tribe. He has not been since heard of
Our meetings were good. We were blessed spiritually with the gift of Tongues Through which and the interpretation we learned many things There were several Hymns given one of which was given through myself and interpreted by Sister Esther Crowely who had the gift the most perfect of any person I ever knew. These lines I cannot withold the impulse to subjoin as I then thought and still think them good. They were given several times until they were committed to memory
Come every Saint and hearken now
Did you not make a solemn vow
When the Saviors name ye took on you
With all your sins to bid adieu
In the eyes of all who did you see
Your covenant was to follow me
Thro vile report as well as good
To live by faith and every word
Think on the covenant you did mak(e)
Your secret prayers do not forsake
For when my saints neglect to pray
Their faith grows weaker every day
Advantage Satan then will take
And saints their covenant soon will break
Hear what neglect will bring Saint to
T'will bring them down to pain and wo
If the mysteries of Heaven they've known
Alas forever they're undone
A lake of fire compared to
There they must dwell in pain & wo
[Journal of Lorenzo Brown: 1823-1900]
35 years ago today - 1984 Late Jan
[Mark Hofmann]
Hofmann tells Christensen he has a cash-flow problem; if Christensen can give him the $9,000 plus $5,000 now, Hofmann will give him a bonus: the transcript of a 1 November 1825 contract in which Joseph Smith, Sr., Josiah Stowell, and other partners agreed on the division of proceeds from a money-digging enterprise they had organized to find buried treasure. Christensen agrees to advance the money in exchange for a copy of the text and the right to buy the original for $15,000 if and when Hofmann acquires it.
[Whittaker, David J., The Hofmann Maze, A Book Review Essay with a Chronology and Bibliography of the Hofmann Case, BYU Studies Vol. 29, No. 1, pg.80,]
Hofmann tells Christensen he has a cash-flow problem; if Christensen can give him the $9,000 plus $5,000 now, Hofmann will give him a bonus: the transcript of a 1 November 1825 contract in which Joseph Smith, Sr., Josiah Stowell, and other partners agreed on the division of proceeds from a money-digging enterprise they had organized to find buried treasure. Christensen agrees to advance the money in exchange for a copy of the text and the right to buy the original for $15,000 if and when Hofmann acquires it.
[Whittaker, David J., The Hofmann Maze, A Book Review Essay with a Chronology and Bibliography of the Hofmann Case, BYU Studies Vol. 29, No. 1, pg.80,]
55 years ago today - Jan 28, 1964
Temple Square and the Lion House in Salt Lake City were recognized as National Historic Landmarks by the federal government.
[Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html]
[Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html]
60 years ago today - Jan 28, 1959
Apostle Marion G. Romney writes to President David O. McKay that the recently published 'Mormon Doctrine' by Seventy's president Bruce R. McConkie is discourteous and offensive toward the RLDS church, to Christian churches generally, to the Catholic church in particular, to Communists, and to evolutionists. Romney also says the book presumes to declare controversial issues and personal interpretations as "Mormon Doctrine."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
95 years ago today - Jan 28, 1924
[George F. Richards]
Elder Jos. F. Smith, Jos. Christensen and I had Sister Annie Woods Williams Holdaway before us & learned that she married into Poligamy in 1909. We decided to excuse her from assisting us at the Temple.
[George F. Richards 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]
Elder Jos. F. Smith, Jos. Christensen and I had Sister Annie Woods Williams Holdaway before us & learned that she married into Poligamy in 1909. We decided to excuse her from assisting us at the Temple.
[George F. Richards 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]
115 years ago today - Thursday, Jan 28, 1904
Pres. [Joseph F.] Smith said that Mrs. Arthur Brown had called to see [him] in reference [to] the matter of assisting the orphan's home, of which she is a director. Among other things she said that of the 2000 children taken care of in that institution during the past 19 yrs. 97% were of Mormon parentage and 3% of gentile parentage. Though not in a position to dispute this assertion, Pres. Smith said that he did not believe it. He requested Elder Clawson to ascertain the facts in the premises and report.
[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]
[Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
125 years ago today - Jan 28, 1894
Lorenzo Snow "said the Saints would be called to Jackson Co., in 10 or 15 years to build up the Center Stake of Zion".
160 years ago today - Jan 28, 1859
[Wilford Woodruff]
+ S. M. Blair Conversed with President Young upon the subject of Manufacturing sugar molasses, tobaco & hemp. He wishes companies to enter into the business upon a large scale so as to supply the Utah Market instead of Bringing it from abroad. He thought the Deseret Agricultural & manufacturing society should enter into this Business
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
+ S. M. Blair Conversed with President Young upon the subject of Manufacturing sugar molasses, tobaco & hemp. He wishes companies to enter into the business upon a large scale so as to supply the Utah Market instead of Bringing it from abroad. He thought the Deseret Agricultural & manufacturing society should enter into this Business
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
170 years ago today - Jan 28, 1849
Manchester N.Y., resident Lorenzo Saunders deeds about forty-eight acres of his land to Amos Miner. The land contains a hill and cave which was dug by a "money-digging" party under the guidance of Joseph Smith. Miner's heirs hold the property for three generations. Grandson Wallace Miner tells Brigham Young University professor M. Wilford Poulson in 1932, "He [Smith] dug a 40 ft. cave right on this vary farm. . . . He dug in about 20 ft. and the angel told him this was not holy ground, but to move south [to Cumorah]. Martin Harris stayed at this home when I was about 13 yrs. of age [ca. 1856] and I used to go over to the diggings about 100 rods or a little less S.E. [southeast] of this house. It is near a clump of bushes. Martin Harris regarded it as fully as sacred as the Mormon Hill diggings." In 1867 Palmyra resident and childhood acquaintance of Joseph Smith Pomeroy Tucker reports "[f]rom the lapse of time and natural causes the cave has been closed for years, very little mark of its former existence remaining to be seen." In 1893, a reporter from the NEW YORK HERALD, accompanied by Orson Saunders and John H. Gilbert (type setter for the Book of Mormon), visited the cave and reported that "[t]he door jambs leading into the cave are still sound and partly visible, but the earth has been washed down by storms and the opening to the cave nearly filled, so that it cannot be entered at present. The cave remained closed until Apr 1974 when Andrew H. Kommer, owner of the property, cleared the cave's opening with a bulldozer. At that time the cave was described as "about six feet high at the largest point in the middle and 10-12 feet long," and "carved into a rock-hard clay hillside. . . . The walls and ceiling of the cave appear to have been dug or picked by hand." Today the entrance of the cave is closed and overgrown with foliage. Due to Joseph Smith's association with the hill and cave it is called "Mormon Hill" by local residents and was often confused with nearby "Hill Cumorah" as the place where Joseph got the Gold Plates.
175 years ago today - Jan 28, 1844
[Wilford Woodruff]
... we had not lain long before Phebe Amelia our little girl fell over in the Chair & nearly smashed her nose. Blood flew over her. After we had attended to the child Mrs Woodruff had to returned to her bed. We then had Prayers together before the Lord & asked for such things as we kneeded. I laid hands upon her & she was healed & attended to the business of the family...
/Wilford & Phebe W Woodruff receivd our 2d Anointing & sealings./
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
... we had not lain long before Phebe Amelia our little girl fell over in the Chair & nearly smashed her nose. Blood flew over her. After we had attended to the child Mrs Woodruff had to returned to her bed. We then had Prayers together before the Lord & asked for such things as we kneeded. I laid hands upon her & she was healed & attended to the business of the family...
/Wilford & Phebe W Woodruff receivd our 2d Anointing & sealings./
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
80 years ago today - Jan 27, 1939
Counselors J. Reuben Clark and David O. McKay write to a Jewish non-Mormon who appeals for First Presidency help to escape the Nazi regime: "We have so many requests of this sort from various persons, including members of the Church, that we have found it necessary to ask to be excused from making the required guarantee." The letter suggests that he contact the American jewish organizations.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
125 years ago today - Jan 27, 1894
[George Q. Cannon]
I found a cipher dispatch from President [Wilford] Woodruff asking my opinion concerning the proposition which had been made to elect Dr. [James E.] Talmage President of the University of Utah and to have the Church University suspend for the present, and the Church academies act as feeders for the University. I telegraphed a reply favoring the plan.
[George Q. Cannon, 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 a cipher dispatch from President [Wilford] Woodruff asking my opinion concerning the proposition which had been made to elect Dr. [James E.] Talmage President of the University of Utah and to have the Church University suspend for the present, and the Church academies act as feeders for the University. I telegraphed a reply favoring the plan.
[George Q. Cannon, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
135 years ago today - Jan 27, 1884
Fire destroys the first Brigham Young Academy Building (also known as the Lewis Building).
180 years ago today - 1839: 27 January
[Patriarchal Blessing]
Charles W. Hubbard, given by Joseph Smith Sen.
"... God will unveil the heavens to thee and thou shalt look and see the Redeemer, and shall hear this testimony, 'That thou hast seen Him,' as thou shalt go forth to the nations of the earth, for God hast looked upon thee from Eternity, and thou must listen to the Voice of Truth for thou wilt travel to the nations of the earth and in foreign lands ... thou must pray for thine enemies and not curse to the wild sons of the forest and to many Chiefs and this is the land where thou shalt preach to them and not in another and thou shalt fetch in thousands of them and shall rejoice with them in the Kingdom of Heaven.
... if thou wilt be faithful, thou shalt live to see the Savior come while in the flesh ... and shall live to see the winding up scenes of this generation and shall be crowned with Celestial Glory. All of these blessings I seal upon thee and seal thee up unto Eternal Life in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."
[Selected LDS Patriarchal Blessings, New Mormon Studies CD ROM, Signature Book, 2009, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Charles W. Hubbard, given by Joseph Smith Sen.
"... God will unveil the heavens to thee and thou shalt look and see the Redeemer, and shall hear this testimony, 'That thou hast seen Him,' as thou shalt go forth to the nations of the earth, for God hast looked upon thee from Eternity, and thou must listen to the Voice of Truth for thou wilt travel to the nations of the earth and in foreign lands ... thou must pray for thine enemies and not curse to the wild sons of the forest and to many Chiefs and this is the land where thou shalt preach to them and not in another and thou shalt fetch in thousands of them and shall rejoice with them in the Kingdom of Heaven.
... if thou wilt be faithful, thou shalt live to see the Savior come while in the flesh ... and shall live to see the winding up scenes of this generation and shall be crowned with Celestial Glory. All of these blessings I seal upon thee and seal thee up unto Eternal Life in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."
[Selected LDS Patriarchal Blessings, New Mormon Studies CD ROM, Signature Book, 2009, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
110 years ago today - Jan 26, 1909
[Joseph F. Smith Presidency]
... Where elderly people may be found to be more or less lacking in their observance of the Word of Wisdom, and the question of their worthiness to be recommended to the temple comes before you for consideration, it will be in order for you and the Stake Presidency to consider together all such cases, deciding each on its own merits, and showing appropriate leniency to elderly people, as there can be no rigid rule for each and every case.
[Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder, and Anthon H. Lund to William H. Seegmiller and counselors, Jan. 26, 1909, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
... Where elderly people may be found to be more or less lacking in their observance of the Word of Wisdom, and the question of their worthiness to be recommended to the temple comes before you for consideration, it will be in order for you and the Stake Presidency to consider together all such cases, deciding each on its own merits, and showing appropriate leniency to elderly people, as there can be no rigid rule for each and every case.
[Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder, and Anthon H. Lund to William H. Seegmiller and counselors, Jan. 26, 1909, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
115 years ago today - Jan 26, 1904
Patriarchal Blessing of future First Presidency counselor Hugh B. Brown ... thy duty shall be made known unto thee by prophetic vision. The angel who was given thee at thy birth has watched over thee thus far and preserved thee from the evils of the world, the power of the destroyer, and from those who feign would have led thee into forbidden paths. And it is necessary that you reflect upon the past, present, and future, for in this wise the vision of thine understanding shall be opened. Thou shalt see things as they are, doubts shall be removed, and thou shalt be wise in counsel among thy brethren and valiant in the defense of truth, virtue, and righteousness. Thou shalt travel much at home and abroad, laboring in the ministry, and thy voice shall be heard among the nations of the earth... And when necessary thou shalt prophesy, for thy guardian angel will often whisper in thine ear and open the eyes of thine understanding.
... thou shalt preside among the people. Therefore, remember that when doubts cross thy mind, to ask the Father for the gift of discernment, and it shall be well with thee. This blessing I seal upon thee in the name of Jesus Christ, and I seal thee up unto eternal life to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection with many of thy kindred and friends. Even so, amen.
[Patriarchal Blessings]
... thou shalt preside among the people. Therefore, remember that when doubts cross thy mind, to ask the Father for the gift of discernment, and it shall be well with thee. This blessing I seal upon thee in the name of Jesus Christ, and I seal thee up unto eternal life to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection with many of thy kindred and friends. Even so, amen.
[Patriarchal Blessings]
120 years ago today - Jan 26, 1899
[Heber J. Grant]
6 years ago today Augusta and I were legally married to prevent any trouble on account of her living with me after my wife Lucy's death. Augusta and I were married on May 26/84. by the laws of our Church. [This was the second time they were married by Joseph F. Smith.]
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
6 years ago today Augusta and I were legally married to prevent any trouble on account of her living with me after my wife Lucy's death. Augusta and I were married on May 26/84. by the laws of our Church. [This was the second time they were married by Joseph F. Smith.]
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
120 years ago today - Jan 26, 1899; Thursday
Brother Clawson inquired if a Brother Patterson, who is acting in the capacity of a healer among the Saints, was doing so under the sanction of the Priesthood.
Brother Cowley stated that he believed that Brother Patterson had the gift of healing and that success had attended his labors.
Brother Lyman remarked that he once had a little prejudice against Brother Patterson, but he had since become convinced that he was doing more good than harm; in fact, very little harm, if any. Some people had a great deal of faith in him, and the speaker understood that he had been fairly successful in his administrations. Brother Lyman referred also to a Brother Blackburn of Minersville [Utah] as a man who was doubtless doing a great deal of good among the sick, without receiving very much for his services. He reported a case of a woman in Tooele [Utah] who sold consecrated oil in a little store and of another merchant who complained of this woman's getting all that trade. This brought up the subject of consecrated oil being sold at the Temple gate for individual profit, and Brother Grant stated that he objected in his feelings to having consecrated oil on shelves sold in this way. He thought it would be better for the Temples to control it. Brother Merrill remarked that the practice in Logan [Utah] was for the people to send their oil to the Temple on a certain day of each week, to be consecrated.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
Brother Cowley stated that he believed that Brother Patterson had the gift of healing and that success had attended his labors.
Brother Lyman remarked that he once had a little prejudice against Brother Patterson, but he had since become convinced that he was doing more good than harm; in fact, very little harm, if any. Some people had a great deal of faith in him, and the speaker understood that he had been fairly successful in his administrations. Brother Lyman referred also to a Brother Blackburn of Minersville [Utah] as a man who was doubtless doing a great deal of good among the sick, without receiving very much for his services. He reported a case of a woman in Tooele [Utah] who sold consecrated oil in a little store and of another merchant who complained of this woman's getting all that trade. This brought up the subject of consecrated oil being sold at the Temple gate for individual profit, and Brother Grant stated that he objected in his feelings to having consecrated oil on shelves sold in this way. He thought it would be better for the Temples to control it. Brother Merrill remarked that the practice in Logan [Utah] was for the people to send their oil to the Temple on a certain day of each week, to be consecrated.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
145 years ago today - Jan 26, 1874
Apparently last meeting of Brigham Young's School of the Prophets.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
180 years ago today - Jan 26, 1839
Under direction of Assistant Counselor John Smith, a committee organizes the exodus from Missouri to Illinois.
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
40 years ago today - Jan 25, 1979-Thursday
[Leonard Arrington]
... James Allen [not to be confused with Jim Allen of the church history department] had reviewed The Mormon Experience [a product of the church history department] for Saturday Review. ... he was very complimentary about the book, said he regarded it as "remarkably objective" and thought it was well done and interesting. He had one criticism, which he mentioned in the review. This criticism was that there was some "torturous manipulation" to try to show that women are equal to men in the Church.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
... James Allen [not to be confused with Jim Allen of the church history department] had reviewed The Mormon Experience [a product of the church history department] for Saturday Review. ... he was very complimentary about the book, said he regarded it as "remarkably objective" and thought it was well done and interesting. He had one criticism, which he mentioned in the review. This criticism was that there was some "torturous manipulation" to try to show that women are equal to men in the Church.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
120 years ago today - Jan 25, 1899
At a temple meeting with the First Presidency, Apostle Francis M. Lyman praises the local patriarch who administers to the sick, "without receiving very much pay for his services."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
120 years ago today - Jan 25, 1899; Wednesday
Bishop Robert Morris of the Eleventh Ward met Presidents [Lorenzo] Snow and [George Q.] Cannon, and represented that an invalid sister named Wallis, a member of his Ward, desired to receive her endowments, but was physically unable to do her own work; she therefore wanted to know if it would be proper for her to receive her endowments by proxy. Presidents Snow and Cannon consented to this being done, but expressed a desire that the matter be not talked about.
Prof[essor]. Benjamin Cluff, Jun[ior]., President of the Brigham Young Academy, submitted to the Presidency a financial scheme for the benefit of that institution. He proposed to get out a circular, addressed particularly to the Alumni of the Academy, inviting subscriptions to the school, with the understanding that all monies raised in this manner be loaned to the Church for an unlimited time, the Academy to draw the interest only. Brother Cluff thought that quite a considerable sum could be realized by this method in time. President remarked that he would favor the scheme, provided an individual letter should be written in lieu of the issuance of a circular. President Snow approved of President Cannon's idea, but felt that no such attempt should be made to raise means for the Academy until the Church should be well out of debt. He felt that the people ought not to be crowded in those matters.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
Prof[essor]. Benjamin Cluff, Jun[ior]., President of the Brigham Young Academy, submitted to the Presidency a financial scheme for the benefit of that institution. He proposed to get out a circular, addressed particularly to the Alumni of the Academy, inviting subscriptions to the school, with the understanding that all monies raised in this manner be loaned to the Church for an unlimited time, the Academy to draw the interest only. Brother Cluff thought that quite a considerable sum could be realized by this method in time. President remarked that he would favor the scheme, provided an individual letter should be written in lieu of the issuance of a circular. President Snow approved of President Cannon's idea, but felt that no such attempt should be made to raise means for the Academy until the Church should be well out of debt. He felt that the people ought not to be crowded in those matters.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
145 years ago today - Jan 25, 1874
President Brigham Young next addressed the meeting, and said among other things: '"when we wear out the prejudice which is now felt by the wicked world against the doctrine of polygamy, the honest will flock into the Church by thousands and millions; and the only thing I am afraid of, is the effect of popularity and riches.'" He further dwelt on retrenchment. -- St. George, Utah
[James G. Bleak. "Annals of the Southern Utah Mission," Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
[James G. Bleak. "Annals of the Southern Utah Mission," Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, 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 - Jan 25, 1849
[Wilford Woodruff]
I dug & pulled out two of my worst teeth I had with twine And A Jack knife.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I dug & pulled out two of my worst teeth I had with twine And A Jack knife.
[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 - Jan 25, 1844. Thursday.
[William Clayton]
...P.M. Sister Durphy came to make my Robe and Garment. I was at President Joseph's.
[George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://bit.ly/WilliamClayton]
...P.M. Sister Durphy came to make my Robe and Garment. I was at President Joseph's.
[George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://bit.ly/WilliamClayton]
180 years ago today - Jan 24, 1839
Joseph petitions the Missouri legislature for justice, claiming "it is not our object to complain—to asperse any one. All we ask is a fair and impartial trial. We ask the sympathies of no one. We ask sheer justice." (History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (7 volumes) 3:247-49.)
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
130 years ago today - Thursday, Jan 24, 1889
[Apostle John Henry Smith]
Bluff
The brethren interested in the Mancos Mill Co.s affairs met with B. Young and myself. The day was spent in taking testimony, three meetings being held.
[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]
Bluff
The brethren interested in the Mancos Mill Co.s affairs met with B. Young and myself. The day was spent in taking testimony, three meetings being held.
[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 - Jan 24, 1844
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff]
24th I preached at Br Haws house in the evening. Had the spirit of the Lord & an interesting time.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
24th I preached at Br Haws house in the evening. Had the spirit of the Lord & an interesting time.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
25 years ago today - Jan 23, 1994
Colombian rebels blow up an LDS chapel in Medellin.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
30 years ago today - Jan 23, 1989
Eight large-city television stations in the United States begin airing Together Forever, a program produced by the Church. Within four months of this event, every commercial station in the United States where mission headquarters are located broadcasts the program.
40 years ago today - Jan 23, 1979-Tuesday
[Leonard Arrington]
I expressed a caution to Elder [G. Homer] Durham about a proposed plan to distribute a copy of The Mormon Experience to each member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Elder Durham agreed with that caution and said he would distribute copies only to Elder [Boyd K.] Packer and Elder [Gordon B.] Hinckley and to the First Presidency. Jim Allen and Dean Jessee came in to mention that there are a number of things in the William Clayton Nauvoo diary which they are now reading which pertain to dealings with Emma Smith. They said that there is not only a good deal of reference to her and her attitudes, but that what is found there will tend to strengthen our own position with respect to Emma, that we [Utah Mormons] attempted to treat her fairly and she refused to allow us to do so, but insisted on having her own way in everything. They asked whether this information should not be shared with Richard Anderson, who is editing the Joseph and Emma letters, and with Valeen [Tippetts] Avery and Linda [King] Newell, who are writing the biography of Emma. I am going to bring this up with Brother Durham on Thursday if possible to get his reaction. If not able to do so, I'll bring it up next Tuesday when we have our meeting.
Gunn McKay phoned this afternoon to reflect that in the early years the Church gave the appearance of being "up front" or avant-garde, in our enlightened approach to the family, recreation, education, new thought, and so on, and today many people think that the only proper stance is one of ultra conservatism, aka Cleon Skousen. He wanted to know if anyone had reflected on this and written articles or given speeches that might be helpful for him to read. He obviously is feeling a little uncomfortable with the application of labels like liberal and conservative, and wants to demonstrate that a person can be labeled liberal and still be right in line with Mormon tradition.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
I expressed a caution to Elder [G. Homer] Durham about a proposed plan to distribute a copy of The Mormon Experience to each member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Elder Durham agreed with that caution and said he would distribute copies only to Elder [Boyd K.] Packer and Elder [Gordon B.] Hinckley and to the First Presidency. Jim Allen and Dean Jessee came in to mention that there are a number of things in the William Clayton Nauvoo diary which they are now reading which pertain to dealings with Emma Smith. They said that there is not only a good deal of reference to her and her attitudes, but that what is found there will tend to strengthen our own position with respect to Emma, that we [Utah Mormons] attempted to treat her fairly and she refused to allow us to do so, but insisted on having her own way in everything. They asked whether this information should not be shared with Richard Anderson, who is editing the Joseph and Emma letters, and with Valeen [Tippetts] Avery and Linda [King] Newell, who are writing the biography of Emma. I am going to bring this up with Brother Durham on Thursday if possible to get his reaction. If not able to do so, I'll bring it up next Tuesday when we have our meeting.
Gunn McKay phoned this afternoon to reflect that in the early years the Church gave the appearance of being "up front" or avant-garde, in our enlightened approach to the family, recreation, education, new thought, and so on, and today many people think that the only proper stance is one of ultra conservatism, aka Cleon Skousen. He wanted to know if anyone had reflected on this and written articles or given speeches that might be helpful for him to read. He obviously is feeling a little uncomfortable with the application of labels like liberal and conservative, and wants to demonstrate that a person can be labeled liberal and still be right in line with Mormon tradition.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
55 years ago today - Jan 23, 1964
Apostle Delbert L. Stapley writes to Michigan governor George Romney with concern over Romney's "liberal" views on civil rights. Stapley agrues against the 1964 Civil Rights bill (which later passed) stating that "the Negro" is not entitled to "full social benefits nor inter-marriage privileges with the Whites, nor should the Whites be forced to accept them into restricted White areas." Stapley states that his position is due to the statements of Joseph Smith on the subject.
80 years ago today - Jan 23, 1939
First counselor J. Reuben Clark confides to Brigham Young University's president that in 1938 the church spent nearly $900,000 more than its revenues. As a result Clark begins the policy in 1939 of having a fixed annual budget for all church expenditures to avoid deficit-spending. On 1 Apr. 1940 Clark informs a meeting of all the church auxiliary leaders about the 1939 deficit, as well as "a deficit of over $100,000, from the point of income and expenditures" in 1937. He also refers to this deficit-spending in general terms during his remarks to general conference in Apr. 1940.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
105 years ago today - Jan 23, 1914
[George Albert Smith]
"Spent Friday hearing testimony at Bishops Bldg with my Quorum in the cases of Reuben Miller and [apostle] Matthias F. Cowley who are charged with encouraging disobedience to the rule of the church with reference to the Manifesto prohibiting Polygamy. We were in meeting seven hours and I was nearly used up."
[Meeting Minutes:]
[Matthias F. Cowley speaking:] Brother [John] Woolley said to me that he thought it was alright and related to me how President John Taylor had spent the whole night at his place and the President had said in the morning that the principle would not be done away with and I told Brother Woolley that I could have nothing to do with it. President [Francis M.] Lyman: Brother [Judson] Tolman also claimed that you sent men to him. Cowley: This I never did. I never sent a man to Brother Tolman. ... [Matthias F. Cowley:] In answer to Brother [Heber J.] Grant, I deny that I ever asked Brother Woolley if he was familiar with the sealing ordinance or that I told him not to turn a good man down if he came to him. ... Brother [Reuben G.] Miller explained that Brother Woolley had told him how abolishing of plural marriage was being agitated by the legal advisers of the Church and how President Taylor had spent the entire night in pondering over the question and in the morning came into the room where Brother Woolley was with his face illuminated and said this principle was not to be done away with but to remain on the earth and this had strengthened Brother Woolley in believing that the practice should maintained and had also influenced Brother Miller. ...
[Journals of George Albert Smith; Minutes, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
"Spent Friday hearing testimony at Bishops Bldg with my Quorum in the cases of Reuben Miller and [apostle] Matthias F. Cowley who are charged with encouraging disobedience to the rule of the church with reference to the Manifesto prohibiting Polygamy. We were in meeting seven hours and I was nearly used up."
[Meeting Minutes:]
[Matthias F. Cowley speaking:] Brother [John] Woolley said to me that he thought it was alright and related to me how President John Taylor had spent the whole night at his place and the President had said in the morning that the principle would not be done away with and I told Brother Woolley that I could have nothing to do with it. President [Francis M.] Lyman: Brother [Judson] Tolman also claimed that you sent men to him. Cowley: This I never did. I never sent a man to Brother Tolman. ... [Matthias F. Cowley:] In answer to Brother [Heber J.] Grant, I deny that I ever asked Brother Woolley if he was familiar with the sealing ordinance or that I told him not to turn a good man down if he came to him. ... Brother [Reuben G.] Miller explained that Brother Woolley had told him how abolishing of plural marriage was being agitated by the legal advisers of the Church and how President Taylor had spent the entire night in pondering over the question and in the morning came into the room where Brother Woolley was with his face illuminated and said this principle was not to be done away with but to remain on the earth and this had strengthened Brother Woolley in believing that the practice should maintained and had also influenced Brother Miller. ...
[Journals of George Albert Smith; Minutes, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
130 years ago today - Jan 23, 1889
[Wilford woodruff to temple president/apostle Marriner W. Merrill]
This will authorize you to attend to the ordinance of second anointing for the wives of Elder David M. Stuart, of Ogden, which have not been anointed to him, and are now living; also to those of his wives who are dead that were sealed to him, and lived with him in the flesh.
[[Wilford Woodruff to Marriner Wood Merrill, Jan. 23, 1889, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
This will authorize you to attend to the ordinance of second anointing for the wives of Elder David M. Stuart, of Ogden, which have not been anointed to him, and are now living; also to those of his wives who are dead that were sealed to him, and lived with him in the flesh.
[[Wilford Woodruff to Marriner Wood Merrill, Jan. 23, 1889, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
130 years ago today - Jan 23, 1889
Russian author Leo Tolstoy writes in his diary: "I wrote down a few things. I read both the Mormon Bible and the life of Smith and I was horrified. Yes, religion, religion proper, is the product of deception, lies for a good purpose. An illustration of this is obvious, extreme in the deception: The Life of Smith; but also other religions, religions proper, only in differing degrees." He had been sent the Book of Mormon and George Q. Cannon's LIFE OF JOSEPH SMITH by Susa Young Gates, a daughter of Brigham Young.
160 years ago today - Jan 23, 1859
[Wilford Woodruff]
I asked President Young If Robert Scholes & Susan C. Woodruff my second daughter might be married. He had no objections to it.
<He asked me about Phebe. I told him all about her. He remembers her and said how if he had any wish to take any more he said we should be pressed for an [offer?].>
I met with the Quorum of the Twelve for Prayer. ... In speaking of the Deserett Alphabet they thought we would have to Continue the English Books as well as the Deserett Alphabet as we could not print but few Books in the Deseret Alphabet.
[Note the angled brackets represent text coded in shorthand. This reference is probably to Wilford's 16-year old daughter Phebe as a potential wife to Brigham Young.]
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I asked President Young If Robert Scholes & Susan C. Woodruff my second daughter might be married. He had no objections to it.
<He asked me about Phebe. I told him all about her. He remembers her and said how if he had any wish to take any more he said we should be pressed for an [offer?].>
I met with the Quorum of the Twelve for Prayer. ... In speaking of the Deserett Alphabet they thought we would have to Continue the English Books as well as the Deserett Alphabet as we could not print but few Books in the Deseret Alphabet.
[Note the angled brackets represent text coded in shorthand. This reference is probably to Wilford's 16-year old daughter Phebe as a potential wife to Brigham Young.]
[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 - Jan 23, 1844
Joseph Smith has W. W. Phelps, Newell K. Whitney, and Willard Richards "pricing the printing office and Lot at $1500 printing apparatus $950.00, Bindery [$]112, foundry [$]270. Total $2832. Joseph being about selling to J. Taylor." The next day Joseph writes in his journal, "thought the appraisal of the printing office was too low."
80 years ago today - Jan 22, 1939
Moroni Timbimboo is the first Native American Indian ordained and set apart as a bishop (Washakie Ward).
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
125 years ago today - Jan 22, 1894
[Apostle Francis M. Lyman]
[Grantsville conference] [Preached] that no man will attain to the Godhead as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob have done unless they do the works of Abraham as plainly taught in the law on celestial marriage, either in time or in eternity. [After meeting] I was soon made to feel that my remarks on plural marriage were not at all agreeable to bro[ther] C. L. Anderson. He told me they could not be able to live with Sammy Wolley after what I had said. He evidently expects Sammy to goad the monogamists with my talk.
[Excerpts of Apostle Francis M. Lyman Diaries, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Grantsville conference] [Preached] that no man will attain to the Godhead as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob have done unless they do the works of Abraham as plainly taught in the law on celestial marriage, either in time or in eternity. [After meeting] I was soon made to feel that my remarks on plural marriage were not at all agreeable to bro[ther] C. L. Anderson. He told me they could not be able to live with Sammy Wolley after what I had said. He evidently expects Sammy to goad the monogamists with my talk.
[Excerpts of Apostle Francis M. Lyman Diaries, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
150 years ago today - Jan 22, 1869
At a banquet "Joseph B. Nobles said that he performed the first Marriage Ceremony according to the Patriarchal order of Marriage ever performed in this dispensation By sealing Eliza Be[a]man to Joseph Smith on the 6 day of May 1841." Joseph Smith had least one plural wife before Eliza Beaman: Fanny Alger in 1833. It is also probable that he married Lucinda Morgan Harris in 1838.
175 years ago today - Jan 22, 1844
Joseph Smith leases the "Nauvoo Mansion House to Ebenezer Robinson for $1000 per annum" plus "board for myself and family and horses, reserving myself 3 rooms in the house." Robinson continues operating the rest of the building as a bed and breakfast complete with tavern as Joseph Smith had previously.
15 years ago today - Jan 21, 2004
"LDS Church [is] not opposed to birth control."
[2004 BYU NewsNet article (now BYU Universe); Exploring Mormonism: Bishop's Interview Timeline, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/bishops-interview-timeline/]
[2004 BYU NewsNet article (now BYU Universe); Exploring Mormonism: Bishop's Interview Timeline, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/bishops-interview-timeline/]
105 years ago today - Jan 21, 1914
The General Relief Society Presidency ask for and receive counsel of the First Presidency on the establishment of a system of benefit insurance for Relief Society members.
Salt Lake City, Utah, Jan. 21, 1914. Pres. Joseph F. Smith and Counsellors:
Dear Brethren:
We would like to know your mind in regard to introducing some benefit insurance into the Relief Society.
A number of social and other insurance companies for women are doing quite a profitable business in this community, among them being the Ladies of the Maccabees, the Women of Woodcraft, The Rebecca Lodge, as well as others. These fraternal orders-for men and women took out of the state last year $177,213.79. The Ladies of the Maccabees alone took out $11,455.91.
Some of our sisters join those lodges, while others take out the small benefit insurance from regular companies, some of them located in foreign lands. The idea of having a little fund put by with which to meet burial expense is very attractive to our women.
Our sisters have contributed liberally to every form of charity and public activity, such as the building of temples and meeting houses, schools and amusement halls; while doing very much towards furnishing these places. Few have acquired the saving habit, and fewer still are inculcating saving habits in the minds of the young children of today. Too many of our sisters, when they die, are left to the indifferent mercy of relatives, or to the ward authorities. They would be glad to be placed where they could have this last liberal service performed without being a burden on anyone. They could, and many would be willing, to pay a small sum monthly which would insure them their modest burial expenses. ...
We have applied to the Beneficial Life Insurance Company which has our President Joseph F. Smith at its head, and which is also officered by our own brethren, to give us rates and details of such a scheme as we have suggested. ... Agents would be appointed in each ward and stake... We are Your sisters in the Gospel, Emmeline B. Wells, President Clarissa S. Williams, First Counsellor Julina L. Smith, Second Counsellor
[REPLY] ...
Dear Sisters: We approve the suggestion ... Your brethren, JOSEPH F. SMITH, ANTHON H. LUND, CHARLES W. PENROSE, First Presidency.
[1914-January 21-Relief Society Bulletin, Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 13-15, in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
Salt Lake City, Utah, Jan. 21, 1914. Pres. Joseph F. Smith and Counsellors:
Dear Brethren:
We would like to know your mind in regard to introducing some benefit insurance into the Relief Society.
A number of social and other insurance companies for women are doing quite a profitable business in this community, among them being the Ladies of the Maccabees, the Women of Woodcraft, The Rebecca Lodge, as well as others. These fraternal orders-for men and women took out of the state last year $177,213.79. The Ladies of the Maccabees alone took out $11,455.91.
Some of our sisters join those lodges, while others take out the small benefit insurance from regular companies, some of them located in foreign lands. The idea of having a little fund put by with which to meet burial expense is very attractive to our women.
Our sisters have contributed liberally to every form of charity and public activity, such as the building of temples and meeting houses, schools and amusement halls; while doing very much towards furnishing these places. Few have acquired the saving habit, and fewer still are inculcating saving habits in the minds of the young children of today. Too many of our sisters, when they die, are left to the indifferent mercy of relatives, or to the ward authorities. They would be glad to be placed where they could have this last liberal service performed without being a burden on anyone. They could, and many would be willing, to pay a small sum monthly which would insure them their modest burial expenses. ...
We have applied to the Beneficial Life Insurance Company which has our President Joseph F. Smith at its head, and which is also officered by our own brethren, to give us rates and details of such a scheme as we have suggested. ... Agents would be appointed in each ward and stake... We are Your sisters in the Gospel, Emmeline B. Wells, President Clarissa S. Williams, First Counsellor Julina L. Smith, Second Counsellor
[REPLY] ...
Dear Sisters: We approve the suggestion ... Your brethren, JOSEPH F. SMITH, ANTHON H. LUND, CHARLES W. PENROSE, First Presidency.
[1914-January 21-Relief Society Bulletin, Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 13-15, in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
150 years ago today - Jan 21, 1869 (Thursday)
An observatory was erected on the south-east corner of the Temple Block, Salt Lake City.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
175 years ago today - Jan 21, 1844
[Joseph Smith]
... What shall I talk about today? I know what Br Cahoon wants me to speak about, he wants me to speak about the comeing of Elijah in the last days. I can see it in his eye. I will speak upon that Subject then. The Bible says "I will send you Elijah before the great & dredful day of the Lord Come that he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the Children & the hearts of the children to their fathers lest I come & smite the whole earth with a Curse." Now the word turn here should be translated (bind or seal).
But what is the object of this important mission or how is it to be fulfilled? The keys are to be deliverd the spirit of Elijah is to come, The gospel to be esstablished the Saints of God gatherd, Zion built up, & the Saints to come up as Saviors on mount Zion. But how are they to become Saviors on Mount Zion? By building their temples erecting their Baptismal fonts & going forth & receiving all the ordinances, Baptisms, confirmations, washings anointings ordinations, & sealing powers upon our heads in behalf of all our Progenitors who are dead & redeem them that they may come forth in the first resurrection & be exhalted to thrones of glory with us, & herein is the Chain that binds the hearts of the fathers to the Children & the Children to the Fathers which fulfills the mission of Elijah & I would to God that this temple was now done that we might go into it & go to work & improve our time & make use of the seals while they are on earth.
And the Saints have none to much time to save & redeem their dead, & gather together their living relatives that they may be saved also, before the earth will be smitten & the consumption decreed falls upon the world & I would advise all the Saints to go to with their might & gather together all their living relatives to this place that they may be sealed & saved that they may be prepared against the day that the destroying angel goes forth & if the whole Church should go to with all their might to save their dead seal their posterity & gather their living friends & spend none of their time in behalf of the world they would hardly get through before night would come when no man Could work.
And my ownly trouble at the present time is concerning ourselves that the Saints will be divided & broken up & scattered before we get our salvation secure. For their is so many fools in the world for the devil to operate upon it gives him the advantage often times.
The question is freequently asked can we not be saved without going through with all thes ordinances &c. I would answer No not the fulness of Salvation. Jesus Said their was many mansions in his fathers house & he would go & prepare a place for them. House here named should have been translated (Kingdom) & any person who is exhalted to the highest mansion has to abide a celestial law & the whole law to.
But their has been a great difficulty in getting anything into the heads of this generation. It has been like splitting hemlock knots with a corn doger for a wedge & a pumpkin for a beetle; even the Saints are slow to understand. I have tried for a number of years to get the minds of the saints prepared to recieve the things of God, but we free-quently see some of them after suffering all they have for the work of God will fly to peaces like glass as soon as any thing Comes that is Contrary to their traditions. They cannot stand the fire at all. How many will be able to abide a Celestial law & go through & recieve their exhaltation I am unable to say but many are called & few are Chosen.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
... What shall I talk about today? I know what Br Cahoon wants me to speak about, he wants me to speak about the comeing of Elijah in the last days. I can see it in his eye. I will speak upon that Subject then. The Bible says "I will send you Elijah before the great & dredful day of the Lord Come that he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the Children & the hearts of the children to their fathers lest I come & smite the whole earth with a Curse." Now the word turn here should be translated (bind or seal).
But what is the object of this important mission or how is it to be fulfilled? The keys are to be deliverd the spirit of Elijah is to come, The gospel to be esstablished the Saints of God gatherd, Zion built up, & the Saints to come up as Saviors on mount Zion. But how are they to become Saviors on Mount Zion? By building their temples erecting their Baptismal fonts & going forth & receiving all the ordinances, Baptisms, confirmations, washings anointings ordinations, & sealing powers upon our heads in behalf of all our Progenitors who are dead & redeem them that they may come forth in the first resurrection & be exhalted to thrones of glory with us, & herein is the Chain that binds the hearts of the fathers to the Children & the Children to the Fathers which fulfills the mission of Elijah & I would to God that this temple was now done that we might go into it & go to work & improve our time & make use of the seals while they are on earth.
And the Saints have none to much time to save & redeem their dead, & gather together their living relatives that they may be saved also, before the earth will be smitten & the consumption decreed falls upon the world & I would advise all the Saints to go to with their might & gather together all their living relatives to this place that they may be sealed & saved that they may be prepared against the day that the destroying angel goes forth & if the whole Church should go to with all their might to save their dead seal their posterity & gather their living friends & spend none of their time in behalf of the world they would hardly get through before night would come when no man Could work.
And my ownly trouble at the present time is concerning ourselves that the Saints will be divided & broken up & scattered before we get our salvation secure. For their is so many fools in the world for the devil to operate upon it gives him the advantage often times.
The question is freequently asked can we not be saved without going through with all thes ordinances &c. I would answer No not the fulness of Salvation. Jesus Said their was many mansions in his fathers house & he would go & prepare a place for them. House here named should have been translated (Kingdom) & any person who is exhalted to the highest mansion has to abide a celestial law & the whole law to.
But their has been a great difficulty in getting anything into the heads of this generation. It has been like splitting hemlock knots with a corn doger for a wedge & a pumpkin for a beetle; even the Saints are slow to understand. I have tried for a number of years to get the minds of the saints prepared to recieve the things of God, but we free-quently see some of them after suffering all they have for the work of God will fly to peaces like glass as soon as any thing Comes that is Contrary to their traditions. They cannot stand the fire at all. How many will be able to abide a Celestial law & go through & recieve their exhaltation I am unable to say but many are called & few are Chosen.
[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 - Jan 21, 1844
[Wilford Woodruff]
(P.P.P.) Received his 2d Anointing. Joseph said Concerning Parley P Pratt that He had no wife sealed to him for Eternity and asked if their was any harm for him to have another wife for time & Eternity as He would want a wife in the Resurrection or els his glory would be Cliped. Many arguments He used upon this subject which were rational & consistant. Br Joseph said now what will we do with Elder P P Pratt? He has no wife sealed to him for Eternity. He has one living wife but she had a former Husband and did not wish to be sealed to Parly for Eternity. Now is it not right for Parley to have another wife that can [ ]?
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
(P.P.P.) Received his 2d Anointing. Joseph said Concerning Parley P Pratt that He had no wife sealed to him for Eternity and asked if their was any harm for him to have another wife for time & Eternity as He would want a wife in the Resurrection or els his glory would be Cliped. Many arguments He used upon this subject which were rational & consistant. Br Joseph said now what will we do with Elder P P Pratt? He has no wife sealed to him for Eternity. He has one living wife but she had a former Husband and did not wish to be sealed to Parly for Eternity. Now is it not right for Parley to have another wife that can [ ]?
[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 - Jan 21, 1839
Emma takes Hyrum's wife Mary and her baby, Joseph F., to visit Joseph Jr. and Hyrum at Liberty Jail. It is Emma's third visit. Mercy Fielding Thompson (Mary Fielding Smith's sister), Mercy's own eight-month-old baby, and Joseph III also were in the group.
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books, http://bit.ly/lucys-book]
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books, http://bit.ly/lucys-book]
215 years ago today - Jan 21, 1804
Eliza R. Snow, later an author, poetess, women's leader, and the second general Relief Society president, is born in Becket, Massachusetts.
70 years ago today - Jan 20,1949
President George Albert Smith begins week's stay in California Lutheran Hospital for his "tired nerves," which his diary first refers to at Oct 1948 general conference. He is first LDS president with history of severe emotional illness and hospitalization. He does not recover from this episode until mid May 1949, when able to be in First Presidency office at least half day. Smith is absent from church headquarters 12 Jan to 27 Feb 1950 to stay at Laguna Beach, California, "to rest my nerves." He returns there to recuperate again for ten days in Mar. Year later his nurse notes that church president is "very confused, very nervous." Ten days before his death, nurse adds that George Albert Smith is "irrational at times."
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-1996, http://amzn.to/extensions-power]
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-1996, http://amzn.to/extensions-power]
105 years ago today - Jan 20, 1914
[George F. Richards]
From 2:00 to 5:00 o'clock P.M. I sat with the members of my quorum in the P[residing]. B[isho]p's building hearing the Nathan G. Clark case resulting in his excommunication for insubordination to Church government and discipline in marrying a plural wife within the past year, the ceremony having been performed by Patriarch John Woolley of Centerville [Utah].
[George F. Richards 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]
From 2:00 to 5:00 o'clock P.M. I sat with the members of my quorum in the P[residing]. B[isho]p's building hearing the Nathan G. Clark case resulting in his excommunication for insubordination to Church government and discipline in marrying a plural wife within the past year, the ceremony having been performed by Patriarch John Woolley of Centerville [Utah].
[George F. Richards 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]
110 years ago today - Jan 20, 1909 (Wednesday)
Hon. [apostle] Reed Smoot was re-elected Senator of the State of Utah by a unanimous vote of both branches of the Utah legislature.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
170 years ago today - Saturday, Jan 20, 1849
The council [of Fifty] met in Heber C. Kimball's house. ... Voted that an armorer be appointed to take charge of the public arms. The chairman [Brigham Young] appointed Thomas Tanner accordingly. Voted that a building be erected forthwith for an armory, that Reynolds Cahoon be a committee for the erection thereof, and that Thomas Bullock be the treasurer. Thirty-two dollars was subscribed towards the expenses of the building. ...
J^John^ Pack stated that the two hunting companies for the destruction of wolves, ravens, etc., had selected 100 men each and had appointed February 1st as the day of counting. Voted that the companies continue hunting till March 1st.
[Journal History, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
J^John^ Pack stated that the two hunting companies for the destruction of wolves, ravens, etc., had selected 100 men each and had appointed February 1st as the day of counting. Voted that the companies continue hunting till March 1st.
[Journal History, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
175 years ago today - Jan 20, 1844
[Anointed Quorum]
Prayer circle meeting in upper room of Joseph Smith's store at 6 p.m.; second anointing for Heber and Vilate Kimball .
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Signature Books, 1994, Appendex: Meetings and Initiations of the Anointed Quorum, 1842-45, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
Prayer circle meeting in upper room of Joseph Smith's store at 6 p.m.; second anointing for Heber and Vilate Kimball .
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Signature Books, 1994, Appendex: Meetings and Initiations of the Anointed Quorum, 1842-45, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
30 years ago today - Jan 19, 1989
President-elect George Bush says that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is "the nation's choir," when it performs at his inaugural gala. The choir performs again at his formal inauguration on 1/20/1989.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
140 years ago today - Jan 19, 1879
Patriarchal Blessing of Susan Elvira Martineau Johnson by Joel H. Johnson ... Messengers from behind the vail [veil] shall visit thee in times of sorrow and trial, and give thee counsel and comfort. ... Thou shalt live long upon the earth and when the ressurrection [resurrection] are given thou shalt be quickened. I seal upon thy head all the blessings that thy heart can conceive or desire, and seal thee up unto eternal lives with thy companion, to inherit thrones, powers and dominions, and come forth in the morning of the first resurrection shouldst thou fall asleep, with glory, immortality and eternal lives.
[Patriarchal Blessings]
[Patriarchal Blessings]
160 years ago today - Jan 19, 1859
[Brigham Young] said If I had been President of the United States 7 years ago I would have disbanded all of the armey and expended the same amount of money in building a Navy of armed Steamers. I would have setled the Southern Mexico with americans & bought out the Mexicans & finally annexed it to the United States. ...
He also said I have found out of Late what I have said before that the British Government sent four regiments to Lake superior to stop the mormons from going into the British possessions & told the Govornor that England would support him with all the British force if necessary to keep the mormons from entering the British possessions.
President Young said we are here in these valley whare we shall stay untill the Lord shall lead us. We shall never be driven from these Mountains I do not believe.
Elder Hyde told a dream which He had a short time since. Thought that He was riding on a horse through a vast water like a roaring [...]terock. His horse had to wade in deep water one narrow strip of land in order to keep from Drowning but he got out safe.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
He also said I have found out of Late what I have said before that the British Government sent four regiments to Lake superior to stop the mormons from going into the British possessions & told the Govornor that England would support him with all the British force if necessary to keep the mormons from entering the British possessions.
President Young said we are here in these valley whare we shall stay untill the Lord shall lead us. We shall never be driven from these Mountains I do not believe.
Elder Hyde told a dream which He had a short time since. Thought that He was riding on a horse through a vast water like a roaring [...]terock. His horse had to wade in deep water one narrow strip of land in order to keep from Drowning but he got out safe.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
165 years ago today - Jan 19, 1854
The official announcement adopting the Deseret Alphabet was made in the Deseret News.
[Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html]
[Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html]
170 years ago today - Jan 19, 1849
A [patriarchal] blessing by John Smith, Patriarch, upon the head of Phebe Young ... the sick shall be healed under thy hands thou shalt have the ministering of Angels to comfort their heart in thine old age.
[Patriarchal Blessings]
[Patriarchal Blessings]
40 years ago today - Jan 18, 1979
Utah law enforcement officers kill Mormon fundamentalist John Singer as a climax to the armed stand-off about the home schooling of his wives' children. To his adversaries Singer is shot while armed and resisting arrest. To his sympathizers he is a polygamy martyr, who is literally shot in the back as he flees the anti-polygamist Mormon police. Utah courts exonerate the police officers.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
55 years ago today - Jan 18, 1964
The Church News reports that LDS headquarters has donated $10,000 toward the construction of the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. In 1974, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs in the Kennedy Center with attendance by newly installed U.S. president Gerald R. Ford.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
65 years ago today - Jan 18, 1954
[J. Reuben Clark]
Pres. Jos. Fielding Smith'inquiry about adoption of Korean child by some woman and question if child had negro blood if it could be sealed in temple. Pres. Smith said that had never been done.
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
Pres. Jos. Fielding Smith'inquiry about adoption of Korean child by some woman and question if child had negro blood if it could be sealed in temple. Pres. Smith said that had never been done.
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
175 years ago today - Jan 18, 1844
Senator (later President) James Buchanan introduced a resolution in the United States Senate that the United States be declared a Christian Nation and acknowledge Jesus Christ as America's Savior. The resolution was rejected, but many similar resolutions would be introduced during the following years, including at least one that would have amended the Constitution.
[Cline, Austin, History of American Religion: Timeline]
[Cline, Austin, History of American Religion: Timeline]
175 years ago today - Jan 18, 1844
Patriarchal Blessing of Joel Hills Johnson ... Thou shalt have power to command the winds and the waves to ride upon the wings of wind so mighty and great shall be thy faith. The Lord shall give His angels charge over thee to deliver thee in time of danger and feed thee in time of famine; and thou shalt converse with them face to face as a man converseth with his friend. ... I seal thee up unto eternal life to inherit thrones, dominions, principalities and power to bring all thy children with thee in due time. If thou observe the Word of Wisdom and eternal life, all these blessings shall be thine. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
[Patriarchal Blessings]
[Patriarchal Blessings]
175 years ago today - 1844: 18 January
Patriarchal blessing of Susan Johnson Given by John Smith
"... Thou shalt have that portion of the Priesthood in thy companion that he holds, and power to drive the destroyer from thy house when thy companion is not present to assist thee. Length of days in thy right hand and in thy left riches and honor, I seal all the blessings upon thee enjoyed by thy companion and also with him seal thee up unto Eternal life ...
[Selected LDS Patriarchal Blessings, New Mormon Studies CD ROM, Signature Book, 2009, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
"... Thou shalt have that portion of the Priesthood in thy companion that he holds, and power to drive the destroyer from thy house when thy companion is not present to assist thee. Length of days in thy right hand and in thy left riches and honor, I seal all the blessings upon thee enjoyed by thy companion and also with him seal thee up unto Eternal life ...
[Selected LDS Patriarchal Blessings, New Mormon Studies CD ROM, Signature Book, 2009, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
35 years ago today - Jan 17, 1984-Tuesday
[Leonard Arrington]
Elder [Mark E.] Petersen ... wrote editorials for 53 years. According to my understanding he has written all, or nearly all of the editorials in the Church News. Who will write them now? Will their character change? People are beginning to speculate about the vacancy on the Twelve. There has existed one vacancy since LeGrande Richards died [in January 1983]. Now there are two. If they couldn't fill the vacancy of Elder Richards because President [Spencer W.] Kimball was not able to do it, [[Kimball's health was failing. His son noted that "his words nearly always came out wrong and he almost stopped trying to talk." Kimball, Lengthen Your Stride, 614.]] will they be forced to fill both of them now? Who will write editorials for the Church News? Who will direct the church exhibits? Who will direct missionary work? Elder Petersen had enormous influence in many directions. Who will take over his work?
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
Elder [Mark E.] Petersen ... wrote editorials for 53 years. According to my understanding he has written all, or nearly all of the editorials in the Church News. Who will write them now? Will their character change? People are beginning to speculate about the vacancy on the Twelve. There has existed one vacancy since LeGrande Richards died [in January 1983]. Now there are two. If they couldn't fill the vacancy of Elder Richards because President [Spencer W.] Kimball was not able to do it, [[Kimball's health was failing. His son noted that "his words nearly always came out wrong and he almost stopped trying to talk." Kimball, Lengthen Your Stride, 614.]] will they be forced to fill both of them now? Who will write editorials for the Church News? Who will direct the church exhibits? Who will direct missionary work? Elder Petersen had enormous influence in many directions. Who will take over his work?
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
45 years ago today - Jan 17, 1974
The ROLLING STONE publishes an article "The Mormon Word: No Hair, Sex or 3 Dog Night" which tells of the ASBYU Social Office's cancellation of a scheduled appearance by the group "Three Dog Night" immediately after a conference address by Boyd K. Packer. The article quotes Mark Alexander, BYU social vice-president: "In light of Elder Packer's talk, we are taking a closer look at the groups we are booking, and we are making sure we are in harmony with church standards". In the previous Oct General Conference, Packer referred to the "shabbiness, the irreverence, the immorality, and the addictions" associated with many contemporary entertainers, and intimated that the music itself was inherently evil.
65 years ago today - Jan 17, 1954
David O. McKay tells a meeting of LDS missionaries in South Aftrica that he wanted to ordain an African-American in 1921 but that is not possible "until the Lord gives us another revelation changing this practice." McKay acknowledges two exceptions to this policy: one African-American (Elijah Abel) received the priesthood during Joseph Smith's presidency and one other (identity unknown and probably myth) received the endowment during Brigham Young's presidency. However, McKay liberalizes the church's policy by no longer requiring priesthood eligibility to depend on the South African's ability to trace all his ancestral lines to Europe.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
80 years ago today - Jan 17, 1939
[David O. McKay]
President George H. Robinson of the Bear Lake Stake called and considered the following questions:
1st: Where should the line be drawn in releasing or sustaining officers of the Church who are selling tobacco and beer?
Answer: Thus far tobacco has been considered a commodity that might be kept in stores and sold as other commodities, and an officer of the Church is not considered to be out of harmony who deals in that product.
With beer it is different'beer is intoxicating. No Stake Officer, member of a Bishopric, or President of a Quorum, or an officer in an auxiliary should be sustained who sells beer to young people.
[David O. McKay 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]
President George H. Robinson of the Bear Lake Stake called and considered the following questions:
1st: Where should the line be drawn in releasing or sustaining officers of the Church who are selling tobacco and beer?
Answer: Thus far tobacco has been considered a commodity that might be kept in stores and sold as other commodities, and an officer of the Church is not considered to be out of harmony who deals in that product.
With beer it is different'beer is intoxicating. No Stake Officer, member of a Bishopric, or President of a Quorum, or an officer in an auxiliary should be sustained who sells beer to young people.
[David O. McKay 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]
95 years ago today - Jan 17, 1924
More people arrive at the Salt Lake Temple to perform endowments than the temple can handle. People are turned away due to overcrowding.
120 years ago today - Jan 17, 1899; Tuesday
Presidents [Lorenzo] Snow and [George Q.] Cannon were called upon by Sister Susa Young Gates, who had received a communication from Mrs. May Wright Sewall, complimenting her on her recent address at the Women's meeting in Omaha [Nebraska], and inviting her to take a more active and a more prominent part in the proceedings of the next National Council of Women. The Presidency encouraged Sister Gates to accept Mrs. Sewall's invitation.
A number of small appropriations were made to cover various items of expense incurred by officers and members of the Church, mostly in the public interest.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
A number of small appropriations were made to cover various items of expense incurred by officers and members of the Church, mostly in the public interest.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
125 years ago today - Jan 17, 1894
[John M. Whitaker]
On the 17th day of January, an important meeting was held in the Assembly Room of the Temple by the First Presidency, the Twelve, the First Council of Seventy, at which President Wilford Woodruff made plain the rights of the Priesthood and the matter of ordaining Seventies was plainly settled. He stated that from now on no more Seventies will be made direct from the Elders Quorums, but as the Elders are set apart as missionaries, they will be ordained Seventies and sent forth as Seventies as that is their special calling to preach the gospel to all nations; he said that the brethren do not seem to appreciate the priesthood sufficiently, and greater care should be taken in ordaining men to the priesthood.
[John M. Whitaker, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
On the 17th day of January, an important meeting was held in the Assembly Room of the Temple by the First Presidency, the Twelve, the First Council of Seventy, at which President Wilford Woodruff made plain the rights of the Priesthood and the matter of ordaining Seventies was plainly settled. He stated that from now on no more Seventies will be made direct from the Elders Quorums, but as the Elders are set apart as missionaries, they will be ordained Seventies and sent forth as Seventies as that is their special calling to preach the gospel to all nations; he said that the brethren do not seem to appreciate the priesthood sufficiently, and greater care should be taken in ordaining men to the priesthood.
[John M. Whitaker, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
155 years ago today - Jan 17, 1864
Brigham Young informs the Twelve that he has received a letter from members in Hawaii that Hawaiian Mission Leader Walter M. Gibson "had ordained on the Island a Quorum of Twelve Apostles & Seventies & Bishops & High Priests &c. He Charged $100 for Ordaining the 12 each & $50 for 70, $5 for a Bishop $2.50 for a Bishops Councelor &c And He claimed all the Island to himself & said that Brigham Young had no dominion over those Islands And all his conduct is Accordingly. He has taken possession of the Island & takes from the Saints all they they raise & is playing the Tyrant over all the Saints on those Islands." Young sends a party headed by Ezra T. Benson and Lorenzo Snow to Hawaii to set things straight. Gibson is excommunicated in Jul.
175 years ago today - Jan 17, 1844
Elizabeth Ann Whitney, wife of Bishop Newel K. Whitney gives birth to the first child, a girl whom Joseph Smith named Mary, born "heir to the Holy Priesthood and in the New and Everlasting Covenant in this dispensation."
10 years ago today - 1/16/2009
[Same-Sex Marriage]
Last of the amicus briefs are filed in the Proposition 8 constitutionality cases. Several indicate that Prop 8 supporters, including ProtectMarriage's legal counsel Andrew Pugno, intended that all same-sex marriages previously legally performed be nullified. Some briefs suggest those marriages could be turned into civil unions.
[Mormons for Marriage: A Prop 8 Timeline, http://mormonsformarriage.com/?page_id=68;http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/highprofile/prop8.htm]
Last of the amicus briefs are filed in the Proposition 8 constitutionality cases. Several indicate that Prop 8 supporters, including ProtectMarriage's legal counsel Andrew Pugno, intended that all same-sex marriages previously legally performed be nullified. Some briefs suggest those marriages could be turned into civil unions.
[Mormons for Marriage: A Prop 8 Timeline, http://mormonsformarriage.com/?page_id=68;http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/supreme/highprofile/prop8.htm]
40 years ago today - Jan 16, 1979-Tuesday
[Leonard Arrington]
In the meeting this morning with Elder [G. Homer] Durham, he reported that he had started reading the "final" form of The Mormon Experience. ... He thought the chapter that might cause problems, if any, was the first chapter. If we could get people over the first chapter, then it would be downhill all the way. He was sure that many members of the Church, including ecclesiastical officials, "do not know enough about the historiography of the Joseph Smith period to appreciate what a contribution you have made in that chapter." The Church is very sensitive right now, he said, about the different accounts of the First Vision. You have handled it very well, but there will still be a few raised eyebrows about it, simply because the ecclesiastical officials are not well enough informed on the subject.
... He suggested that a copy which we might present to Elder [Boyd K.] Packer might be marked with a red pen at various places through the book to indicate that a modification at that point had been made because of his suggestions. He hoped we saved the copy that contains Elder Packer's suggestions and comments, and that we would go through the final volume and indicate changes made as the result of his suggestions. This would help him to realize the extent to which we had complied with his suggestions. Otherwise he might forget and think that he had made suggestions on certain things which we did
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
In the meeting this morning with Elder [G. Homer] Durham, he reported that he had started reading the "final" form of The Mormon Experience. ... He thought the chapter that might cause problems, if any, was the first chapter. If we could get people over the first chapter, then it would be downhill all the way. He was sure that many members of the Church, including ecclesiastical officials, "do not know enough about the historiography of the Joseph Smith period to appreciate what a contribution you have made in that chapter." The Church is very sensitive right now, he said, about the different accounts of the First Vision. You have handled it very well, but there will still be a few raised eyebrows about it, simply because the ecclesiastical officials are not well enough informed on the subject.
... He suggested that a copy which we might present to Elder [Boyd K.] Packer might be marked with a red pen at various places through the book to indicate that a modification at that point had been made because of his suggestions. He hoped we saved the copy that contains Elder Packer's suggestions and comments, and that we would go through the final volume and indicate changes made as the result of his suggestions. This would help him to realize the extent to which we had complied with his suggestions. Otherwise he might forget and think that he had made suggestions on certain things which we did
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
105 years ago today - Jan 16, 1914
[John Wolley]
Some months ago I met [apostle] Mat[t]hias F. Cowley on the street and he asked me if I was familiar with the Sealing Ceremony. I told him I was. He said: If any good man come to you don't turn them down. I believed from that statement that it was still proper that plural marriages be solemnized, and that President [Joseph F.] Smith had authorized Cowley to instruct me. Since that time I have married wives to [a number of men are listed].
[John W. Woolley, Affidavit, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
Some months ago I met [apostle] Mat[t]hias F. Cowley on the street and he asked me if I was familiar with the Sealing Ceremony. I told him I was. He said: If any good man come to you don't turn them down. I believed from that statement that it was still proper that plural marriages be solemnized, and that President [Joseph F.] Smith had authorized Cowley to instruct me. Since that time I have married wives to [a number of men are listed].
[John W. Woolley, Affidavit, 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 - Jan 16, 1899; Monday
[Heber J. Grant]
My bump of self confidence is unusually large and therefor I have no doubt that notwithstanding my present financial distress I school live to yet be acknowledged as a financial success.
[Heber J. Grant, Diary]
My bump of self confidence is unusually large and therefor I have no doubt that notwithstanding my present financial distress I school live to yet be acknowledged as a financial success.
[Heber J. Grant, Diary]
120 years ago today - Jan 16, 1899; Monday
Presidents [Lorenzo] Snow and
[George Q.] Cannon at 1 P.M. were called upon by Brother James E. Talmage, in relation to his work "Articles of Faith", which is about to be published. A paper connected with it on the subject of the Holy Ghost had been submitted to President Snow for his consideration, and he now told Brother Talmage that he had read it, was very much pleased with it, and thought it might with propriety he made a part of the book. Brother Talmage then read a chapter on plural marriage, which it was decided not to publish in this work, which was being issued under Church auspices, lest it might be construed by our enemies as an attempt by the Church to propagate a belief in polygamy. The use made by local ministers in their reply to President Snow's recent communication to the New York World, of a paper advocating polygamy printed by Brother B. H. Roberts, editor of the Improvement Era, mentioned in this connection.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
[George Q.] Cannon at 1 P.M. were called upon by Brother James E. Talmage, in relation to his work "Articles of Faith", which is about to be published. A paper connected with it on the subject of the Holy Ghost had been submitted to President Snow for his consideration, and he now told Brother Talmage that he had read it, was very much pleased with it, and thought it might with propriety he made a part of the book. Brother Talmage then read a chapter on plural marriage, which it was decided not to publish in this work, which was being issued under Church auspices, lest it might be construed by our enemies as an attempt by the Church to propagate a belief in polygamy. The use made by local ministers in their reply to President Snow's recent communication to the New York World, of a paper advocating polygamy printed by Brother B. H. Roberts, editor of the Improvement Era, mentioned in this connection.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
125 years ago today - Jan 16, 1894
Presidency and apostles vote for church to pay $25,000 to Brigham Young Trust Company to act as the intermediary in making "a loan" to repay that amount of monies which Bishop Leonard G. Hardy has embezzled from Salt Lake County.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
130 years ago today - Jan 16, 1889
[James E. Talmage]
Talmage delivers a lecture in the Sixth Ward meeting house on "Effects of Stimulants and Narcotics." ("Drinks and Narcotics," Deseret Weekly 38, no. 4 (19 Jan 1889): 97-101)
[Chronology of the Life and Work of James E. Talmage, J. Trevor Antley, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MJsHY83JZL_n6CjWq11y1trT_CVXMMXAx2uYOWAwn0c/edit#heading=h.2zfdaoa]
Talmage delivers a lecture in the Sixth Ward meeting house on "Effects of Stimulants and Narcotics." ("Drinks and Narcotics," Deseret Weekly 38, no. 4 (19 Jan 1889): 97-101)
[Chronology of the Life and Work of James E. Talmage, J. Trevor Antley, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MJsHY83JZL_n6CjWq11y1trT_CVXMMXAx2uYOWAwn0c/edit#heading=h.2zfdaoa]
135 years ago today - Jan 16, 1884
Patriarchal Blessing of George Albert Smith by Zebedee Coltrin ... And thou shalt attain to all the blessings and sealing powers that shall be given in the holy temples of the Lord and thou shalt behold the Lord when he shall come in the clouds of heaven, and shall be enabled to do a great work upon the earth, both for the living and the dead, and shall assist in the redemption of thy father's house. And thou shalt become a mighty prophet in the midst of the sons of Zion. And the angels of the Lord shall administer unto you, and the choice blessings of the heavens shall rest upon you.
And thy posterity shall become great upon the earth, and the Holy Melchisedek Priesthood shall rest upon them throughout all their generations and thy sons shall become mighty men before the Lord, filled with the wisdom of the heavens, and many of them shall become prophets and apostles and shall dwell in the midst of the Zion of the Lord as their posterity shall become very great and they shall become kings and priests of the most high. And thy daughters shall become women of great renown and shall become the mothers of mighty men before the Lord, and shall dwell among the sanctified of the Lord, and shall become a vast multitude dwelling in the midst of the Zion of the Lord, and shall live and reign a thousand years upon the earth and unto thy generations there shall be no end.
And thou shalt be wrapt in the visions of the heavens ... for thou shalt become a mighty apostle in the church and kingdom of God upon the earth, for none of thy father's family shall have more power with God than thou shalt have, for none shall excel thee... And I now seal all of these blessings upon thy head, and [seal] thee up unto all the powers of exaltation of thrones and dominions, and powers of eternal lives in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ, Amen.
[Patriarchal Blessings]
And thy posterity shall become great upon the earth, and the Holy Melchisedek Priesthood shall rest upon them throughout all their generations and thy sons shall become mighty men before the Lord, filled with the wisdom of the heavens, and many of them shall become prophets and apostles and shall dwell in the midst of the Zion of the Lord as their posterity shall become very great and they shall become kings and priests of the most high. And thy daughters shall become women of great renown and shall become the mothers of mighty men before the Lord, and shall dwell among the sanctified of the Lord, and shall become a vast multitude dwelling in the midst of the Zion of the Lord, and shall live and reign a thousand years upon the earth and unto thy generations there shall be no end.
And thou shalt be wrapt in the visions of the heavens ... for thou shalt become a mighty apostle in the church and kingdom of God upon the earth, for none of thy father's family shall have more power with God than thou shalt have, for none shall excel thee... And I now seal all of these blessings upon thy head, and [seal] thee up unto all the powers of exaltation of thrones and dominions, and powers of eternal lives in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ, Amen.
[Patriarchal Blessings]
140 years ago today - Jan 16, 1879
Editorial comment of LDS political newspaper, the Salt Lake Herald: "We question if seventy-six polygamous marriages have been solemnized in the Endowment house, this city, in a year, or even twice that period." In fact, during 1878, 113 men entered polygamous marriages in the Endowment House.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
175 years ago today - Jan 16, 1844
An "Ordinance concerning the sale of Spirituous Liquors" is passed by the Nauvoo City Council. It states: "Be it ordained by the City Council of the city of Nauvoo. that the Mayor of this city is hereby authorized to sell said liquors in such quantities as he may deem expedient." The ordinance is signed by "Joseph Smith, Mayor."
175 years ago today - Jan 16, 1844
[Wilford Woodruff]
I had a pig in the sullar & I believe the devil got into him. He leaped out of the pen destroyed one Jar of Butter one Jar of lard scattered ashes all over the sullar & kapered about over the Corn. I gave him a dismissal from the sullar and never saw him afterwards.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I had a pig in the sullar & I believe the devil got into him. He leaped out of the pen destroyed one Jar of Butter one Jar of lard scattered ashes all over the sullar & kapered about over the Corn. I gave him a dismissal from the sullar and never saw him afterwards.
[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 - Jan 16, 1839
Lyman R Sherman: In a letter 16 Jan. 1839 First Presidency called Lyman R Sherman to replace the apostatized Orson Hyde in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, but Lyman R Sherman died before being ordained an apostle
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 6, Biographical Sketches of General Officers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 6, Biographical Sketches of General Officers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
180 years ago today - Jan 16, 1839
Joseph Smith, in Liberty jail, writes a letter to "Brothers H. C. Kimball and B. Young," including the post-script: "Appoint the oldest of those of the twelve who were first appointed to be the President of your Quorum." Joseph (who may have thought the balding Kimball was older than Young) does not name the president of the Quorum. But because Brigham Young is thirteen days older than Heber, and because the senior Apostle Lyman E. Johnson had left the church, Young becomes the president of the Quorum of the Twelve and the Prophet's successor as president of the church.
30 years ago today - Jan 15, 1989
The SALT LAKE TRIBUNE reports that ourgoing director of the Utah ACLU chapter Robyn Blumner had "a heightened understanding of the culture, leaving 250 more card-carrying ACLU members in the state" than when she had arrived. Blumner is quoted as saying that "Utah is a very special place. The thing that makes it so special is that there are more unsung heroes per capita here than probably any other state in the nation." She says she had been surprised by the complexity of the society, "I have never before lived in a place where one's religion so affected one's social choices, one's religion here seems to dictate the choice of friends, associates, activities and even business contacts. I find that disquieting."
50 years ago today - Jan 15, 1969
BYU president Ernest L. Wilkinson forwards three clippings from the UNIVERSE to his assistant, Stephen R. Covey, with a memo reading, "I wish you would take the time to prepare a careful answer to the letter published Jan 6, and we will find some way of getting it in the Universe under some student's name."
60 years ago today - Jan 15, 1959
BYU Studies begins publishing faith-promoting works of LDS scholarship, including articles, essays, and poetry on a variety of subjects.
95 years ago today - Jan 15, 1924
[James E. Talmage]
In the evening I went to Farmington and sat with the high council in an advisory capacity, in the case of Lorin C. Woolley. The man himself was not present, and according to statements made before the council his absence was premeditated and deliberate. ... There were three [witnesses] called, and each gave strong testimony, agreeing in every particular of importance, though no one of them had known that either of the others would be a witness, nor had they been together in connection with this case. Lorin C. Woolley, according to the evidence presented, has persistently given out and declared that President Heber J. Grant and others of the General Authorities (including myself, according to one witness) have violated the rule of the Church against plural marriage and have taken wives during the recent past. After a patient hearing, conducted in the form prescribed, Lorin C. Woolley was excommunicated from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
[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]
In the evening I went to Farmington and sat with the high council in an advisory capacity, in the case of Lorin C. Woolley. The man himself was not present, and according to statements made before the council his absence was premeditated and deliberate. ... There were three [witnesses] called, and each gave strong testimony, agreeing in every particular of importance, though no one of them had known that either of the others would be a witness, nor had they been together in connection with this case. Lorin C. Woolley, according to the evidence presented, has persistently given out and declared that President Heber J. Grant and others of the General Authorities (including myself, according to one witness) have violated the rule of the Church against plural marriage and have taken wives during the recent past. After a patient hearing, conducted in the form prescribed, Lorin C. Woolley was excommunicated from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
[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]
105 years ago today - Jan 15, 1914
[Heber J. Grant]
... F M Lyman's office.'He, Rudger Clawson & I met J. G. Kimball and chatted with regarding his sermon in Ensign Ward a week ago Sunday & counseled more thoughtful consideration as to the nature of his remarks.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
... F M Lyman's office.'He, Rudger Clawson & I met J. G. Kimball and chatted with regarding his sermon in Ensign Ward a week ago Sunday & counseled more thoughtful consideration as to the nature of his remarks.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
125 years ago today - Jan 15, 1894
[Franklin D. Richards]
Last night in a dream I was shown distinctly that the people of Utah Territory were politically Democratic & that if their honest vote could be had it would so appear & that they had been counted out dishonestly by the Republican Commission.
[Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Last night in a dream I was shown distinctly that the people of Utah Territory were politically Democratic & that if their honest vote could be had it would so appear & that they had been counted out dishonestly by the Republican Commission.
[Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
135 years ago today - Jan 15, 1884
Patriarchal Blessing of Lucy M. Smith [wife of George A. Smith, daughter of Josiah and Lucy M. Bean Smith] by Zebedee Coltrin ... thou shall attain unto all the blessings of eternal lives for thy reward shall be great in the heavens and thou shalt partake of all the sealing powers that shall be given in the holy temples of the Lord and thou shalt behold the Lord when he shall come to His temple ... and the angels of the Lord shall administer unto you for thou shall be a mighty prophetess in the midst of the daughters of Zion and thou shall be wrapped in the visions of the heavens and shall be clothed with salvation as with the garment and shall remain upon the earth until thou are satisfied with life ... I seal all these blessings upon thy head and thee unto all the powers of exaltation of thrones and dominions and powers of eternal lives in the morning of our Lord Jesus, Amen.
[Patriarchal Blessings]
[Patriarchal Blessings]
135 years ago today - 135 years ago - Monday, Jan. 14th, 1884
[Abraham H. Cannon]
"The Territorial legislature, composed entirely of monogamists, convened today."
[Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
"The Territorial legislature, composed entirely of monogamists, convened today."
[Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
45 years ago today - Jan 14, 1974
The names of the stakes throughout the Church are changed to identify them uniformly with their geographical areas.
55 years ago today - Jan 14, 1964
Church subsidiary Wasatch Radio & Television Company purchases KIRO-TV and KIRO-AM/FM in Seattle (Gordon B. Hinckley named as a director). Its broadcasting interests now include three properties: KSL, KIRO, and WRUL.
[Sherry Baker: Mormon Media History Timeline: 1827-2007, http://byustudies.byu.edu/showTitle.aspx?title=7984]
[Sherry Baker: Mormon Media History Timeline: 1827-2007, http://byustudies.byu.edu/showTitle.aspx?title=7984]
175 years ago today - Jan 14, 1844
Brigham Young records in his journal, "My wife Mary Ann and I received our second anointing."
25 years ago today - Jan 13, 1994
Emanuel Tov, Hebrew University professor and editor-in-chief of the Dead Sea Scrolls publication projects, invites BYU Professor Donald W. Parry to join the international team of editors working on publication of the scrolls. Later, BYU Professors David R. Seely, Dana M. Pike, and Andrew C. Skinner are added to the team.
35 years ago today - Jan 13, 1984-Friday
[Leonard Arrington]
... All of my experiences with him [Mark E. Peterson], however, were not positive.
Item. When I published in the first issue of BYU Studies [Winter 1959] my study "An Economic Interpretation of the Word of Wisdom," he saw to the suspension of that publication for a full year, and he always held it against me that I wrote the piece.
Item. The talk which he gave in 1963, "Race Problems as They Affect the Church," opposing granting the priesthood to the blacks, a talk widely circulated, apparently with his approval, was one of the most bigoted and narrow-minded talks ever given by a "disciple of Christ." [[Petersen, "Race Problems-As They Affect the Church, at the Convention of Teachers of Religion on the College Level," Aug. 27, 1954, Church History Library, Salt Lake City.]]
Item. That he should have received and encouraged the submission of the reports of Tom Truitt about the writings and speeches of our historians, and that he should have circulated these among the Twelve without once talking to any of us to check on their accuracy or intention, was unfair, a manifestation of suspicious attitudes, and partook of retribution.
Item. His calling the meeting with me to defend our action in writing Story of the Latter-day Saints, without prior notice so as to prevent us from preparing a defense, and with charges that were unfair and incorrect, shows his receptivity to rumormongers, the suspicious, the anti-intellectuals, and represents an attempt to embarrass us before the First Presidency.
Item. Elder Petersen is the authority who sicced Tom Truitt and Roy Doxey on the historians last spring by calling their stake presidents and bishops to determine if they were loyal and active members of the church.
I have had a real concern that he might become President of the Twelve or, eventually, President of the Church. Now, at least, [with his recent death] that will not happen. The Lord has preserved us from that kind of leadership.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
... All of my experiences with him [Mark E. Peterson], however, were not positive.
Item. When I published in the first issue of BYU Studies [Winter 1959] my study "An Economic Interpretation of the Word of Wisdom," he saw to the suspension of that publication for a full year, and he always held it against me that I wrote the piece.
Item. The talk which he gave in 1963, "Race Problems as They Affect the Church," opposing granting the priesthood to the blacks, a talk widely circulated, apparently with his approval, was one of the most bigoted and narrow-minded talks ever given by a "disciple of Christ." [[Petersen, "Race Problems-As They Affect the Church, at the Convention of Teachers of Religion on the College Level," Aug. 27, 1954, Church History Library, Salt Lake City.]]
Item. That he should have received and encouraged the submission of the reports of Tom Truitt about the writings and speeches of our historians, and that he should have circulated these among the Twelve without once talking to any of us to check on their accuracy or intention, was unfair, a manifestation of suspicious attitudes, and partook of retribution.
Item. His calling the meeting with me to defend our action in writing Story of the Latter-day Saints, without prior notice so as to prevent us from preparing a defense, and with charges that were unfair and incorrect, shows his receptivity to rumormongers, the suspicious, the anti-intellectuals, and represents an attempt to embarrass us before the First Presidency.
Item. Elder Petersen is the authority who sicced Tom Truitt and Roy Doxey on the historians last spring by calling their stake presidents and bishops to determine if they were loyal and active members of the church.
I have had a real concern that he might become President of the Twelve or, eventually, President of the Church. Now, at least, [with his recent death] that will not happen. The Lord has preserved us from that kind of leadership.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
45 years ago today - Jan 13, 1974
Three missionaries in Pennsylvania are killed in a head-on collision after a car repeatedly bumps the rear of their car and finally forces them into the path of an oncoming car.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
120 years ago today - Jan 13, 1899
[James E. Talmage]
One of the questions referred to the First Presidency by the Committee was as to the advisability of reprinting the lecture entitled "The Holy Ghost" ... I have incorporated it in the prospective book [Articles of Faith] in practically an unaltered form. President Snow took the article under advisement today. In conversation Pres. Geo. Q. Cannon supported the view of the distinct personality of the Holy Ghost and stated that he had actually heard the voice of the third member of the Godhead, actually talking to him.
[Chronology of the Life and Work of James E. Talmage, J. Trevor Antley, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MJsHY83JZL_n6CjWq11y1trT_CVXMMXAx2uYOWAwn0c/edit#heading=h.2zfdaoa]
One of the questions referred to the First Presidency by the Committee was as to the advisability of reprinting the lecture entitled "The Holy Ghost" ... I have incorporated it in the prospective book [Articles of Faith] in practically an unaltered form. President Snow took the article under advisement today. In conversation Pres. Geo. Q. Cannon supported the view of the distinct personality of the Holy Ghost and stated that he had actually heard the voice of the third member of the Godhead, actually talking to him.
[Chronology of the Life and Work of James E. Talmage, J. Trevor Antley, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MJsHY83JZL_n6CjWq11y1trT_CVXMMXAx2uYOWAwn0c/edit#heading=h.2zfdaoa]
120 years ago today - Jan 13, 1899
The First Presidency decides that James E. Talmage's book, Articles of Faith, will "be published by the Church" due to the review of its contents by the First Presidency and committee which included three apostles. Its discussion of Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial Kingdoms (420-421) states that "advancement from grade to grade within any kingdom, and from kingdom to kingdom, will be provided for." The eleventh edition deletes the latter phrase in 1919, and the twelfth edition in 1924 says: "as to possible progress from one kingdom to another the scriptures make no positive affirmation."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
40 years ago today - Jan 12, 1979-Friday
[Leonard Arrington]
Charles Graves from [LDS] Public Communications came in to say that he understood that the [Jerald and Sandra] Tanners now have available for sale a reproduction of Joseph Smith's diary covering the years 1832-34. This is the diary which Dean Jessee has been preparing for publication for some time. ... We understand that an article is coming out in Utah Holiday which describes the Tanner publication, which will then result in a big sale of it. Once again, it is unfortunate that Dean Jessee has not been able to complete our volume for publication. We planned this as early as 1972 and hoped for sure to have it out by 1974; but for a variety of reasons it has been postponed and postponed and now we are reaping the consequences of that postponement.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
Charles Graves from [LDS] Public Communications came in to say that he understood that the [Jerald and Sandra] Tanners now have available for sale a reproduction of Joseph Smith's diary covering the years 1832-34. This is the diary which Dean Jessee has been preparing for publication for some time. ... We understand that an article is coming out in Utah Holiday which describes the Tanner publication, which will then result in a big sale of it. Once again, it is unfortunate that Dean Jessee has not been able to complete our volume for publication. We planned this as early as 1972 and hoped for sure to have it out by 1974; but for a variety of reasons it has been postponed and postponed and now we are reaping the consequences of that postponement.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
100 years ago today - Jan 12, 1919
[David O. McKay]
At 11:15 A.M., I called on Thos. J. Steed 2742 Adams Ave., relative to his having entered into an alleged plural marriage.
Several important things he admitted; viz.,
(1) That he has entered into such a marriage.
(2) That the one performing ceremony claimed authority to do so.
(3) That it was hinted to him that there is a 'union' or 'secret organization' attempting to perpetuate such marriages; but he says 'To hell with such a union'.
(4) That perhaps the best way to learn more about this would be to attend the funerals of men and women how have recently entered into alleged plural marriages.
[David O. McKay 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]
At 11:15 A.M., I called on Thos. J. Steed 2742 Adams Ave., relative to his having entered into an alleged plural marriage.
Several important things he admitted; viz.,
(1) That he has entered into such a marriage.
(2) That the one performing ceremony claimed authority to do so.
(3) That it was hinted to him that there is a 'union' or 'secret organization' attempting to perpetuate such marriages; but he says 'To hell with such a union'.
(4) That perhaps the best way to learn more about this would be to attend the funerals of men and women how have recently entered into alleged plural marriages.
[David O. McKay 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]
110 years ago today - Jan 12, 1909
[George Albert Smith]
"Was present in Temple when Father baptized F.M. Lyman for his father [previously excommunicated apostle Amasa M. Lyman] and Pres Jos F. Smith restored his rights etc in the Priesthood."
[Journals of George Albert Smith]
"Was present in Temple when Father baptized F.M. Lyman for his father [previously excommunicated apostle Amasa M. Lyman] and Pres Jos F. Smith restored his rights etc in the Priesthood."
[Journals of George Albert Smith]
120 years ago today - Thursday, Jan 12, 1899
[Rudger Clawson]
At this point the tables were spread and the brethren partook of the sacrament. After the bread and wine were blessed by Pres. Snow, [they] ate and drank freely until satisfied. It was indeed a time of refreshing and one long to be remembered. Benediction by Pres. Geo. Q. Cannon.
[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]
At this point the tables were spread and the brethren partook of the sacrament. After the bread and wine were blessed by Pres. Snow, [they] ate and drank freely until satisfied. It was indeed a time of refreshing and one long to be remembered. Benediction by Pres. Geo. Q. Cannon.
[Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
125 years ago today - Jan 12, 1894
[James E. Talmage]
A meeting of the Theological Class Committee, and the Presidency, to consider the subject of the sacrament. After the acceptance of a paragraph written by me on the duties of the priesthood in seeing that the Sacrament is not administered to any but Church members, and to none who are unworthy, I asked concerning the custom of administering the sacrament in our Tabernacle, where all classes assemble, where indeed it is known that many outsiders partake and others show by strong demonstration their scorn for the ordinance, where in short no supervision that is effective can be exercised. In answer I found that the First Presidency and the Twelve were united in desiring the administration of the sacrament removed from the Tabernacle to the Ward houses, where the local authorities could properly guard the sacredness of the ordinance. I understand instructions to this effect will soon be issued.
[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]
A meeting of the Theological Class Committee, and the Presidency, to consider the subject of the sacrament. After the acceptance of a paragraph written by me on the duties of the priesthood in seeing that the Sacrament is not administered to any but Church members, and to none who are unworthy, I asked concerning the custom of administering the sacrament in our Tabernacle, where all classes assemble, where indeed it is known that many outsiders partake and others show by strong demonstration their scorn for the ordinance, where in short no supervision that is effective can be exercised. In answer I found that the First Presidency and the Twelve were united in desiring the administration of the sacrament removed from the Tabernacle to the Ward houses, where the local authorities could properly guard the sacredness of the ordinance. I understand instructions to this effect will soon be issued.
[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]
135 years ago today - Jan 12, 1884
[J.D.T. McAllister Diary]
Certain Women not to be sealed to Joseph Smith
read a letter from Prest. Taylor approving our action in the E.G. Defriez matter. also that sister Maria Iverson Moss could be Sealed to some good man. Such cases should not be Sealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith.
[Diary Excerpts of J.D.T. McAllister, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Certain Women not to be sealed to Joseph Smith
read a letter from Prest. Taylor approving our action in the E.G. Defriez matter. also that sister Maria Iverson Moss could be Sealed to some good man. Such cases should not be Sealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith.
[Diary Excerpts of J.D.T. McAllister, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
150 years ago today - Jan 12, 1869
Deseret News editorial against universal male suffrage for the United States: "Education and intelligence should precede the suffrage, otherwise the latter would be like a razor in the hands of a child - more likely to prove destructive than otherwise." Since Utah is not a state, it is unable to cast its vote against the 15th amendment (Mar. 1870).
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
155 years ago today - Jan 12, 1864
Having been publicly accused of using improper language, First Counselor Heber C. Kimball writes in his memorandum book: "I was told by the Lord that I should not be removed from my place as first counselor to President Young, and those who had oppressed me when it was in their power to do me good, shall be removed from their places. That [second counselor] Daniel H. Wells, [future apostle] Albert Carrington, [future apostle and son of Brigham] Jos. A. Young and others were among that number."
155 years ago today - Jan 12, 1864
[Wilford Woodruff]
At Eleven oclok I Called at the prision & was with the prisioner untill a few moments before his Execution. His Mother Brothe[rs?] wife & 5 children visited him last night also this morning. He had gotton a woman with Child who was not his wife. He requested his Brothers to take care of this woman & if they were permitted to take more than one wife to take her to wife. He had a vary hard time to part with his wife Children & Friends. He felt to Confess all of his [crimes] and ask the forgiveness of God & all men for all his Crimes. He had worn his garments up to within an hour before his death. I advised him to take it off which He did. He Converse with me untill abut 12 oclok. He asked me to pray with him that he might have strength to go to his Execution & pay the penalty of his Crimes. I prayed with him according to his request & then bid him good by as did others who were with him.
He then walked to his place of Execution. There was a large number out side the wall & some one hundred in the Court House pl[aced?] at the windows to witness the Execution. Jason Luce sat in a Chair with his feet maniceled. He addressed the people a few moments Renounced Wm. A. Hickman as his betrayer bid the People good by. Sherif Burton drew the Black Cap over his face & at a given signal 5 Balls was shot through or near his heart & his spirit left his body without a groan or hardly a movemet of his body. His Corps was taken to the gate & Exhibited to the Croud. It was then taken to his Brothers House & laid out.
[Luce had killed a man by slitting his throat with a Bowie knife on Dec. 7, 1863. The execution occurred 36 days after the crime was committed.]
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
At Eleven oclok I Called at the prision & was with the prisioner untill a few moments before his Execution. His Mother Brothe[rs?] wife & 5 children visited him last night also this morning. He had gotton a woman with Child who was not his wife. He requested his Brothers to take care of this woman & if they were permitted to take more than one wife to take her to wife. He had a vary hard time to part with his wife Children & Friends. He felt to Confess all of his [crimes] and ask the forgiveness of God & all men for all his Crimes. He had worn his garments up to within an hour before his death. I advised him to take it off which He did. He Converse with me untill abut 12 oclok. He asked me to pray with him that he might have strength to go to his Execution & pay the penalty of his Crimes. I prayed with him according to his request & then bid him good by as did others who were with him.
He then walked to his place of Execution. There was a large number out side the wall & some one hundred in the Court House pl[aced?] at the windows to witness the Execution. Jason Luce sat in a Chair with his feet maniceled. He addressed the people a few moments Renounced Wm. A. Hickman as his betrayer bid the People good by. Sherif Burton drew the Black Cap over his face & at a given signal 5 Balls was shot through or near his heart & his spirit left his body without a groan or hardly a movemet of his body. His Corps was taken to the gate & Exhibited to the Croud. It was then taken to his Brothers House & laid out.
[Luce had killed a man by slitting his throat with a Bowie knife on Dec. 7, 1863. The execution occurred 36 days after the crime was committed.]
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
15 years ago today - Jan 11, 2004
First LDS temple dedicated in black Africa (Accra, Ghana).
[Sherry Baker: Mormon Media History Timeline: 1827-2007, http://byustudies.byu.edu/showTitle.aspx?title=7984]
[Sherry Baker: Mormon Media History Timeline: 1827-2007, http://byustudies.byu.edu/showTitle.aspx?title=7984]
40 years ago today - Jan 11, 1979-Thursday
[Leonard Arrington]
Jim Allen was in this morning and said he had had a conversation with Ellis Rasmussen yesterday. Ellis and the group in the [BYU] College of Religion have been working on the new set of scriptures that is being prepared. It is well along. He reported to Jim two or three interesting things.
1. The two revelations accepted in conference a couple of years ago-the one by Joseph Smith and the other by Joseph F. Smith-are being placed in the new edition of the Doctrine & Covenants as new sections.
2. The letter of the First Presidency on the priesthood revelation of June 9, 1978, will be in the new edition of the D&C as Official Declaration No. 2.
3. Bruce McConkie is writing new introductions or editorial notes to each of the sections. The publication is still some months away [October 1981].
Brother [G. Homer] Durham ... said Brother [Boyd K.] Packer is worried about our frank acknowledgment of the different versions of the accounts of the First Vision [in new book _The_Mormon_Experience_].
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
Jim Allen was in this morning and said he had had a conversation with Ellis Rasmussen yesterday. Ellis and the group in the [BYU] College of Religion have been working on the new set of scriptures that is being prepared. It is well along. He reported to Jim two or three interesting things.
1. The two revelations accepted in conference a couple of years ago-the one by Joseph Smith and the other by Joseph F. Smith-are being placed in the new edition of the Doctrine & Covenants as new sections.
2. The letter of the First Presidency on the priesthood revelation of June 9, 1978, will be in the new edition of the D&C as Official Declaration No. 2.
3. Bruce McConkie is writing new introductions or editorial notes to each of the sections. The publication is still some months away [October 1981].
Brother [G. Homer] Durham ... said Brother [Boyd K.] Packer is worried about our frank acknowledgment of the different versions of the accounts of the First Vision [in new book _The_Mormon_Experience_].
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
120 years ago today - Jan 11, 1899; Wednesday
Abraham Owen Woodruff ... Referred to the fact that he had no children. He loved children and so did his wife and did not know why he was not blessed of the Lord with children.
Expressed great delight with the promise of the Lord through Pres[iden]t [Franklin D.] Richards to Bro[ther] [Heber J.] Grant yesterday that he shall live to have sons. ...
One of the brethren of this Quorum had said unless a man had seen the face of the Savior was not worthy of being a special witness of Jesus Christ. Bore strong testimony of his knowledge of God, Jesus Christ & that Joseph Smith was a Prophet although he had not seen the face of the Savior, He had seen the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Franklin D. Richards told Bro[ther] Woodruff to have no uneasiness but to be willing to wait the due time of the Lord to have fulfilled All of the promises made to you. They are sure to come. Things are going to take a turn and brother Grant will have things turn around and he will have things easier than he ever had them. He shall maintain his good name and have great influence financially. Feel the same regarding Bro[ther] Jno [John] W Taylor. Brother Woodruff will be blessed abundantly.
We must become separated for the world. I feel full of prophesy [sic] & great things are to happen among the people. Times will come that all those who are not willing to labor for God and His Kingdom will find it so warm here that they will want to dispose of their property and go elsewhere to live....
Some day we may find it necessary to build temples in New Zealand & other places. ... Said if we were faithful that sooner or later we will see the face of the Savior.
John W. Taylor said Bro[ther] Woodruff had had very great promises made to him and they will come true and they must come through his wife. Spoke of many of the Prophets of God being born of women who for a time were barren. Believed God was preparing Bro[ther] Woodruff's wife to perform her part in bearing Bro[ther] W[oodruff]. a son.
[Heber J. Grant, Diary]
Expressed great delight with the promise of the Lord through Pres[iden]t [Franklin D.] Richards to Bro[ther] [Heber J.] Grant yesterday that he shall live to have sons. ...
One of the brethren of this Quorum had said unless a man had seen the face of the Savior was not worthy of being a special witness of Jesus Christ. Bore strong testimony of his knowledge of God, Jesus Christ & that Joseph Smith was a Prophet although he had not seen the face of the Savior, He had seen the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Franklin D. Richards told Bro[ther] Woodruff to have no uneasiness but to be willing to wait the due time of the Lord to have fulfilled All of the promises made to you. They are sure to come. Things are going to take a turn and brother Grant will have things turn around and he will have things easier than he ever had them. He shall maintain his good name and have great influence financially. Feel the same regarding Bro[ther] Jno [John] W Taylor. Brother Woodruff will be blessed abundantly.
We must become separated for the world. I feel full of prophesy [sic] & great things are to happen among the people. Times will come that all those who are not willing to labor for God and His Kingdom will find it so warm here that they will want to dispose of their property and go elsewhere to live....
Some day we may find it necessary to build temples in New Zealand & other places. ... Said if we were faithful that sooner or later we will see the face of the Savior.
John W. Taylor said Bro[ther] Woodruff had had very great promises made to him and they will come true and they must come through his wife. Spoke of many of the Prophets of God being born of women who for a time were barren. Believed God was preparing Bro[ther] Woodruff's wife to perform her part in bearing Bro[ther] W[oodruff]. a son.
[Heber J. Grant, Diary]
120 years ago today - Wednesday, Jan 11, 1899
[Rudger Clawson]
Pres. Richards explained the nature of the Holy Ghost. Said the Holy Ghost presides over all righteous spirits, and that when the Holy Ghost is conferred upon a man, in his opinion, it is a righteous spirit, or in other words, a Holy Ghost under the direction of the Holy Ghost.
[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]
Pres. Richards explained the nature of the Holy Ghost. Said the Holy Ghost presides over all righteous spirits, and that when the Holy Ghost is conferred upon a man, in his opinion, it is a righteous spirit, or in other words, a Holy Ghost under the direction of the Holy Ghost.
[Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
125 years ago today - Jan 11, 1894
[Heber J. Grant]
[Regarding the return of church property by court which had been confiscated over legal issues related to plural marriage:] I feel to thank the Lord with all my heart that He has moved on Congress to restore this property as getting it will take a great load off the minds of Prests Woodruff, Cannon and Smith. There has been a wonderful change in public opinion in favor of our people and I feel that we should thank the Lord for this change.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
[Regarding the return of church property by court which had been confiscated over legal issues related to plural marriage:] I feel to thank the Lord with all my heart that He has moved on Congress to restore this property as getting it will take a great load off the minds of Prests Woodruff, Cannon and Smith. There has been a wonderful change in public opinion in favor of our people and I feel that we should thank the Lord for this change.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
155 years ago today - Jan 11, 1864
[Wilford Woodruff]
... I Called at the Court House and had another interview with Jason Luce who is sentenced to die tomorrow. He still feels sure that He will not die. He thinks that he has the testimony of the spirit of the Lord that He will live & not die. He said that he was innocent of many things that the people thought he was guilty off. He said that he had never killed any person or had any hand in the death of any person except Rhodes & Bunting & said that he Could not fell that he was guilty of murder in the death of Either of them. He had killed them in self defence. He said Wm. Hickman had advised him to do many things that made his flesh Crawl but he had not followed Hickmans advise in these things. He told the Jailors (which I did not Hear) that Hickman once asked him to go & knock an old man in the Head for no other purpose ownly to obtain an old mare that was not worth more than $30. And He feels that Wm. Hickman has betrayed him and done him much injury & he looks upon Hickman as a vary bad man. He said he would like to see me tomorrow. He thought to day was the time appointed for his Execution untill I told him it was tomorrow. ...
I Called upon Governor Reed & asked him if he would Commute Jason Luce sentence to the Penetentiary for life as Hickman had held out this promise to Lute. Soon Hickman & Wilford Luce Came in for their answer & Mr Reed told them He Could do nothing in the premises that He Considered that He would be Commiting Crime to Change the sentence of Luce unless he had better ground than any thing He had seen.
So when I arived at the prision in the Evening I told Jason Luce there was no chance for him to live & I wished him to prepare to die. He then spent more than an hour giving us an account of what He had done & what he knew. He said in the Case of Drown & Arnold that Hickman was responsible for their death. He killed them with the help of one or two others. He said Wm. A Hickman robed Carpenter's store took the goods in his waggon & carried them to Huntingtons & from Huntingtons to his house over Jordon & then told Furguson if he would kill Carpenter He would Clear him that He Should not lie in Jail one day. Furguson killed Carpenter & was Hung for it & Hickman made him believe that he would be liberated up to the last minute. Luce said that Hickman Murdered [ ] for no other purpose ownly to obtain his gold watch & money & thinks he has the watch yet.
He said that Hickman was at the head of a Band of thieves. They have stolen as high as 100 Head of Cattle at a time from Camp Floyd & gone out onto the prairie & divided them & taken them to different parts of the Territory. Lute also said that Hickman had many men around him that Had to be fed & that men under him would go onto the range & drive up a Beef & kill & Eat it & sell the Hides or make them into Larretts or throw them away as the Case might be without any regard to whom might be the owners. Luce said that Hickman had been his ruin and the ruin of others and in all these things He had Carried his point by declairing that President Brigham Young had given him Council to do all these things (which is a Cursed lie). Luce made many other remarks which was reported by G. D. Watt.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
... I Called at the Court House and had another interview with Jason Luce who is sentenced to die tomorrow. He still feels sure that He will not die. He thinks that he has the testimony of the spirit of the Lord that He will live & not die. He said that he was innocent of many things that the people thought he was guilty off. He said that he had never killed any person or had any hand in the death of any person except Rhodes & Bunting & said that he Could not fell that he was guilty of murder in the death of Either of them. He had killed them in self defence. He said Wm. Hickman had advised him to do many things that made his flesh Crawl but he had not followed Hickmans advise in these things. He told the Jailors (which I did not Hear) that Hickman once asked him to go & knock an old man in the Head for no other purpose ownly to obtain an old mare that was not worth more than $30. And He feels that Wm. Hickman has betrayed him and done him much injury & he looks upon Hickman as a vary bad man. He said he would like to see me tomorrow. He thought to day was the time appointed for his Execution untill I told him it was tomorrow. ...
I Called upon Governor Reed & asked him if he would Commute Jason Luce sentence to the Penetentiary for life as Hickman had held out this promise to Lute. Soon Hickman & Wilford Luce Came in for their answer & Mr Reed told them He Could do nothing in the premises that He Considered that He would be Commiting Crime to Change the sentence of Luce unless he had better ground than any thing He had seen.
So when I arived at the prision in the Evening I told Jason Luce there was no chance for him to live & I wished him to prepare to die. He then spent more than an hour giving us an account of what He had done & what he knew. He said in the Case of Drown & Arnold that Hickman was responsible for their death. He killed them with the help of one or two others. He said Wm. A Hickman robed Carpenter's store took the goods in his waggon & carried them to Huntingtons & from Huntingtons to his house over Jordon & then told Furguson if he would kill Carpenter He would Clear him that He Should not lie in Jail one day. Furguson killed Carpenter & was Hung for it & Hickman made him believe that he would be liberated up to the last minute. Luce said that Hickman Murdered [ ] for no other purpose ownly to obtain his gold watch & money & thinks he has the watch yet.
He said that Hickman was at the head of a Band of thieves. They have stolen as high as 100 Head of Cattle at a time from Camp Floyd & gone out onto the prairie & divided them & taken them to different parts of the Territory. Lute also said that Hickman had many men around him that Had to be fed & that men under him would go onto the range & drive up a Beef & kill & Eat it & sell the Hides or make them into Larretts or throw them away as the Case might be without any regard to whom might be the owners. Luce said that Hickman had been his ruin and the ruin of others and in all these things He had Carried his point by declairing that President Brigham Young had given him Council to do all these things (which is a Cursed lie). Luce made many other remarks which was reported by G. D. Watt.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
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