The 100 Millionth [100,000,000th] copy of the Book of Mormon is published, on this Leap Day, the Year 2000! [It is the 3rd most published book in the world]
[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, United Kingdom, "On This Day," https://www.lds.org.uk/show_oda.php]
160 years ago today - Feb 29, 1860
The Deseret News publishes a guide for the Deseret Alphabet, an experimental phonetic alphabet developed under the direction of President Brigham Young. The effort, headed by Church member George D. Watt, was intended to help foreign converts immigrating to Utah learn English.
175 years ago today - Feb 29, 1845
[Heber C. Kimball marriage]
wife #15. Clarissa Cutler (Kimball Fletcher), 1824-1852; 1 child: Abraham Alonzo (1846-1889).
[Hatch, Charles M. and Compton, Todd M. editors, 'A Widow's Tale: 1884-1896 Diary of Helen Mar Kimball Whitney' p. 37]
wife #15. Clarissa Cutler (Kimball Fletcher), 1824-1852; 1 child: Abraham Alonzo (1846-1889).
[Hatch, Charles M. and Compton, Todd M. editors, 'A Widow's Tale: 1884-1896 Diary of Helen Mar Kimball Whitney' p. 37]
85 years ago today - 85 years ago - End of February 1935
[J. Reuben Clark]
Tithing-Death Benefit.
It is the intention of the First Presidency to give, as a matter of aid and reward for faithfulness, from and after January 1, 1936, to one or more or all of the faithful Church members of the family of a deceased tithe-payer dying after January 1, 1936, an amount equal to one-tenth (1/10) of the tithing paid by such deceased tithe-payer after January 1, 1935.
The First Presidency may change, modify, or discontinue the plan and practice thereof in whole or as to any individual case if wisdom or the necessities of the Church seem in their opinion to make such a course desirable.
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
Tithing-Death Benefit.
It is the intention of the First Presidency to give, as a matter of aid and reward for faithfulness, from and after January 1, 1936, to one or more or all of the faithful Church members of the family of a deceased tithe-payer dying after January 1, 1936, an amount equal to one-tenth (1/10) of the tithing paid by such deceased tithe-payer after January 1, 1935.
The First Presidency may change, modify, or discontinue the plan and practice thereof in whole or as to any individual case if wisdom or the necessities of the Church seem in their opinion to make such a course desirable.
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
160 years ago today - Feb 28, 1860
[Brigham Young]
President Young remarked to his Bro. Phineas that Joseph Smith Jun [III] (little Joseph as he is called) will be a good latter day saint; in time it may want a revelation from the Lord; but blessings will rest upon the posterity of Joseph Smith the Prophet; and the spirit of the Lord will probably rest upon Joseph that he will be constrained to enquire of the Lord what he would have him do. -- Salt Lake City
[Brigham Young Office Journals, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
President Young remarked to his Bro. Phineas that Joseph Smith Jun [III] (little Joseph as he is called) will be a good latter day saint; in time it may want a revelation from the Lord; but blessings will rest upon the posterity of Joseph Smith the Prophet; and the spirit of the Lord will probably rest upon Joseph that he will be constrained to enquire of the Lord what he would have him do. -- Salt Lake City
[Brigham Young Office Journals, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
170 years ago today - Feb 28, 1850
Originally named the University of Deseret, the University of Utah is the oldest state university west of the Missouri River. Founded in Salt Lake City on 28 February 1850, the school's first term - for men only - in November of 1850. The second term was opened to both women and men.
[Hosea Stout diary] "Met with the Legislature again[.] The fore noon was mostly spent in passing a bill providing for a University for the State which provided for a Chancellor 12 Regents & Treasurer to be appointed by the Legislature which was donealso 5000 dollars voted out of the Treasurey to commence it."
[Utah History Encyclopedia: University of Utah, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
[Hosea Stout diary] "Met with the Legislature again[.] The fore noon was mostly spent in passing a bill providing for a University for the State which provided for a Chancellor 12 Regents & Treasurer to be appointed by the Legislature which was donealso 5000 dollars voted out of the Treasurey to commence it."
[Utah History Encyclopedia: University of Utah, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
175 years ago today - Feb 28, 1845, Friday
[William Clayton]
``The State of Illinois has severed from us every tie that could possibly bind us to them as a government ... and as a last mark of their vengeance they have taken away our charter and left us open to the enemy without the least shield of law to protect us.'' The Masonic lodge, too, had taken away its charter from Nauvoo, thus breaking another bond with the people of the state, ``so that every tie is gone, and we can now rely on the arm of Jehovah alone for protection and safety from our enemies.'' ... ``We are an independent people claiming n o aliance with any of the kingdoms of the earth. We are hunted and oppressed something like the Lamanites were on the first settlement of the United States by the whites. The mobs are continually getting out writs for the best of our men and seem determined to blot us out from the face of the earth.'' ...
[Fillerup, Robert C., compiler; William Clayton Nauvoo Diaries and Personal Writings, A chronological compilation of the personal writings of William Clayton while he was a resident of Nauvoo, Illinois. http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/clayton-diaries]
``The State of Illinois has severed from us every tie that could possibly bind us to them as a government ... and as a last mark of their vengeance they have taken away our charter and left us open to the enemy without the least shield of law to protect us.'' The Masonic lodge, too, had taken away its charter from Nauvoo, thus breaking another bond with the people of the state, ``so that every tie is gone, and we can now rely on the arm of Jehovah alone for protection and safety from our enemies.'' ... ``We are an independent people claiming n o aliance with any of the kingdoms of the earth. We are hunted and oppressed something like the Lamanites were on the first settlement of the United States by the whites. The mobs are continually getting out writs for the best of our men and seem determined to blot us out from the face of the earth.'' ...
[Fillerup, Robert C., compiler; William Clayton Nauvoo Diaries and Personal Writings, A chronological compilation of the personal writings of William Clayton while he was a resident of Nauvoo, Illinois. http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/clayton-diaries]
185 years ago today - Feb 28, 1835
The First Quorum of the Seventy was organized in Kirtland, and its first seven presidents, who were also selected from members of Zion's Camp, were named.
[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]
85 years ago today - Feb 27, 1935
[President Heber J. Grant]
I read many years ago that fifteen or twenty minutes of exercise in the nude was very beneficial to health and I have kept it up ever since, when I am home and have the bathroom to myself.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I read many years ago that fifteen or twenty minutes of exercise in the nude was very beneficial to health and I have kept it up ever since, when I am home and have the bathroom to myself.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
110 years ago today - Feb 27, 1910; Sunday
[George F. Richards]
Last night I dreamed a dream in which I saw that the Twelve who have been digging for some time had found the grave which contains the body for which they have been looking. The Barlow case and the subject of Secret plural marriages were associated in my dream with the case i.e. the dream if it has any significance, refers to that matter. ...
[George F. Richards, Diary]
Last night I dreamed a dream in which I saw that the Twelve who have been digging for some time had found the grave which contains the body for which they have been looking. The Barlow case and the subject of Secret plural marriages were associated in my dream with the case i.e. the dream if it has any significance, refers to that matter. ...
[George F. Richards, Diary]
115 years ago today - Feb 27, 1905
[Thomas A. Clawson Diary]
At Alberta Stake Conference, "Among the reports I noted, both in this and the Taylor Stakes, the great children population under 8 years of age. One Bishop said if they would only give him time he would be able to build up a good ward from the children. Many reports showed where there was a population of 80 there were 30 and 40 children under 8 years of age. One ward that has a population of 1200 shows 400 children under 8 years of age which to me was a grand showing."
[Diary Excerpts of Thomas A. Clawson, Signature Books Library, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
At Alberta Stake Conference, "Among the reports I noted, both in this and the Taylor Stakes, the great children population under 8 years of age. One Bishop said if they would only give him time he would be able to build up a good ward from the children. Many reports showed where there was a population of 80 there were 30 and 40 children under 8 years of age. One ward that has a population of 1200 shows 400 children under 8 years of age which to me was a grand showing."
[Diary Excerpts of Thomas A. Clawson, Signature Books Library, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
145 years ago today - Feb 27, 1875
Deseret News reports Orson Pratt's sermon: "Little did we suppose when we were driven out from Jackson County, the place where God has promised to give his Saints their inheritances, and in the regions round about, that nearly half a century would pass over our heads before we would be restored back to that land." He adds that a few who were in the church at the time they were driven from Jackson County "will live to behold the day, and will return and receive their inheritances."
[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 )]]
150 years ago today - Feb 27, 1870
Thomas C. Griggs, a faithful Mormon, writes in his diary: "in the afternoon we had a lengthy if not interesting discourse from Elder Erastus Snow."
[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 - Feb 27, 1845
[Council of Fifty]
Br. [Lewis] Dana is acquainted with nearly all the tribes, & he can take a company right from here to the Pacific -- the Flat Heads have 200,000 warriors-- ano[the]r. tribe 180 & anr. 150,000 they want Mormonism-- we want some to stay among them as missionaries--
[William W.] Phelps says the U.S. report only abt. 2 or 300,000-- & also reported the speechs of Sacs & Foxes-- who are dissatisfied-- we can now make a virtue-- unite our teams & plow with Ephraim as well as the Gentiles-- ...
[Heber C. Kimball:] ... These men [apostles] can make vessels of you, & fit you for God-- there are some who say that the 12 are hard task masters but the day will come when it will be found outâ€" this Council does not justify Lyman Wight-- Emmett or [Sidney] Rigdon, all working against us-- they are sealing women to one another & running into adultry-- we can shew that most of Rigdon's followers enter into the Spiritual Wife doctrine ...
B. Y. ... Jos. wanted we -- visit the Lamanites --I commit to Br B. the keys of the Kingdom to the Lamanites-- he committed them to me-- we visited & preached to them they believed it, we have heard a many times from them--
Phelps sd. or 8. went over the boundaries of the U.S. [in 1831] to preach-- Jos. went to prayer-- he then commenced a revelation that Martin [Harris] was to marry among the Laminites-- & that I was to preach that day-- &c &c it was a long revelation-- we have a living Constitution ...
[Joseph Smith Papers: Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844-January 1846]
Br. [Lewis] Dana is acquainted with nearly all the tribes, & he can take a company right from here to the Pacific -- the Flat Heads have 200,000 warriors-- ano[the]r. tribe 180 & anr. 150,000 they want Mormonism-- we want some to stay among them as missionaries--
[William W.] Phelps says the U.S. report only abt. 2 or 300,000-- & also reported the speechs of Sacs & Foxes-- who are dissatisfied-- we can now make a virtue-- unite our teams & plow with Ephraim as well as the Gentiles-- ...
[Heber C. Kimball:] ... These men [apostles] can make vessels of you, & fit you for God-- there are some who say that the 12 are hard task masters but the day will come when it will be found outâ€" this Council does not justify Lyman Wight-- Emmett or [Sidney] Rigdon, all working against us-- they are sealing women to one another & running into adultry-- we can shew that most of Rigdon's followers enter into the Spiritual Wife doctrine ...
B. Y. ... Jos. wanted we -- visit the Lamanites --I commit to Br B. the keys of the Kingdom to the Lamanites-- he committed them to me-- we visited & preached to them they believed it, we have heard a many times from them--
Phelps sd. or 8. went over the boundaries of the U.S. [in 1831] to preach-- Jos. went to prayer-- he then commenced a revelation that Martin [Harris] was to marry among the Laminites-- & that I was to preach that day-- &c &c it was a long revelation-- we have a living Constitution ...
[Joseph Smith Papers: Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844-January 1846]
175 years ago today - 1845 27 Feb.
At a meeting of apostles with several Council of Fifty members, W. W. Phelps says, "B. Young has found out that we are in Eternity, the Millennium has now commenced." In the "evening some person or persons took Washington Peck and bedaubed him all over with privy dirt. ...This is one of those mean traitors who lurks about continually in our midst communicating with our enemies & seeking to have the twelve destroyed. He is marked as a mean conspirator." Apostle John Taylor, in the Nauvoo Neighbor, soon writes: "But one person [Washington Peck] has been introduced to 'Queen Peggy's privy cabinet,' and so every man minds his own business." William Marks hurriedly leaves Nauvoo to avoid similar treatment.
[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]
180 years ago today - Feb 27, 1840
William Clayton, on a mission in England writes: "Sarah [Crooks] appeared rather tempted to get married. I felt to sorrow on this account. I don't want Sarah to be married. I was much [] and tempted on her account and felt to pray that the Lord would preserve me from impure affections. She gave me an orange. I certainly feel my love towards her to increase but shall strive against it. I feel too much to covet her and afraid lest her troubles should cause her to get married. The Lord keep me pure and preserve me from doing wrong." Clayton has a wife in Nauvoo but is falling in love with Sarah Crooks. Later in Nauvoo, when Joseph explains plural marriage to Clayton he sends for Sarah but the two never do marry each other.
185 years ago today - Feb 27, 1835
Joseph Smith discussed how the of the twelve Apostles different from the other callings or of the Church" He continued, are the Twelve Apostles, who called to the offcie of traveling high who are to preside over all the of the Saints among the Gentiles, there is no [stake] presidency and they are to travel and among the Gentiles, until the Lord command them to go to the Jews. They to hold the keys of this ministry to the door of the kingdom of heaven unto nations and to preach the Gospel to every This is the power, authority and of their Apostleship" High Council Book, p. 40, Church
[Lisle G Brown, compiler, "A Chronology of the Development of Apostolic Succession of the First Presidency, 1831-1848"]
[Lisle G Brown, compiler, "A Chronology of the Development of Apostolic Succession of the First Presidency, 1831-1848"]
35 years ago today - Feb 26, 1985
Steve Christensen writes to Gordon B. Hinckley asking if he would like him to donate the "Salamander Letter" to the LDS Church. Hinckley responds with a phone call saying that the Church wanted the letter. On Apr. 12 Christensen gives the letter to the Church
40 years ago today - Feb 26, 1980.
Ezra Taft Benson as president of the Quorum of the Twelve gives a controversial speech at Brigham Young University titled, "Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophets," including: ". The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything. 2. The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works. 3. The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet. 4. The prophet will never lead the church astray. 5. The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time. 6. The prophet does not have to say `Thus Saith the Lord' to give us scripture. . . . 11. The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich."
J. D. Williams, a professor in the University of Utah political science department, calls "Benson's speech `a plea in anticipation' of his becoming church president." Don LeFevre, public communications spokesman, responding to press inquiries, agrees that "Benson's speech accurately portrayed the church's position that a prophet can receive revelations from God on any matter--temporal or spiritual" and that "the prophet's word is scripture, as far as the church is concerned, and the living prophet's words take precedence in interpreting the written scripture as it applies to the present." However, he denies as "simply not true" a newspaper report which says the president of the church "is God's prophet and his word is law on all issues-- including politics."
The First Presidency immediately issued a statement that Benson was misquoted. However, it was difficult to finesse his words for the capacity BYU audience in the 25,000-seat Marriott Center or for the thousands of other Utahns who listened to the broadcast on radio and television of Benson's "Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophets." To most observers, Benson's 1980 talk at BYU was a defiant announcement of his own future intentions as church president.
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1;Benson, "Fourteen Fundamentals In Following the Prophets," transcript of his talk to BYU's devotional, 26 Feb. 1980, folder 24, box 5, Buerger Papers; Devotional Speeches of the Year (Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Press, 1981); "Prophet's Word 'Law' Benson Tells Group," Ogden Standard-Examiner, 26 Feb. 1980, A-2; "Benson Backs Prophet on Politics," Salt Lake Tribune, 27 Feb. 1980, B-3; "Mormon Leader's Word Is Law—Benson," San Jose Mercury News, 27 Feb. 1980, A-2; "Interpretation of Speech Not Correct, Church Says," Ogden Standard-Examiner, 27 Feb. 1980, C-l; "Mormon Professor Says Benson Speech Was Plea Anticipating Rise to LDS Presidency," Idaho State Journal, 28 Feb. 1980, A-2; "U. Teacher Replies To Benson" and "Savant Hits 'Theocracy' He Says Benson Wants," Salt Lake Tribune, 28 Feb. 1980, B-l, B-3; "Pres. Benson Outlines Way to Follow Prophet," Deseret News "Church News," 1 Mar. 1980, 14; "No. 2 Mormon Says Leader's Word is Law," Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 1980, Pt. I, 35; "Benson Speech Stirs Speculation on LDS Changes," Ogden Standard-Examiner, 2 Mar. 1980, A-l, A-5; Sterling M. McMurrin, "Case for Vigilance," Salt Lake Tribune, 18 Mar. 1980, A-9; Dew, Ezra Taft Benson, 468-69. From D. Michael Quinn, Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992), also in Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3.]
J. D. Williams, a professor in the University of Utah political science department, calls "Benson's speech `a plea in anticipation' of his becoming church president." Don LeFevre, public communications spokesman, responding to press inquiries, agrees that "Benson's speech accurately portrayed the church's position that a prophet can receive revelations from God on any matter--temporal or spiritual" and that "the prophet's word is scripture, as far as the church is concerned, and the living prophet's words take precedence in interpreting the written scripture as it applies to the present." However, he denies as "simply not true" a newspaper report which says the president of the church "is God's prophet and his word is law on all issues-- including politics."
The First Presidency immediately issued a statement that Benson was misquoted. However, it was difficult to finesse his words for the capacity BYU audience in the 25,000-seat Marriott Center or for the thousands of other Utahns who listened to the broadcast on radio and television of Benson's "Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophets." To most observers, Benson's 1980 talk at BYU was a defiant announcement of his own future intentions as church president.
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1;Benson, "Fourteen Fundamentals In Following the Prophets," transcript of his talk to BYU's devotional, 26 Feb. 1980, folder 24, box 5, Buerger Papers; Devotional Speeches of the Year (Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Press, 1981); "Prophet's Word 'Law' Benson Tells Group," Ogden Standard-Examiner, 26 Feb. 1980, A-2; "Benson Backs Prophet on Politics," Salt Lake Tribune, 27 Feb. 1980, B-3; "Mormon Leader's Word Is Law—Benson," San Jose Mercury News, 27 Feb. 1980, A-2; "Interpretation of Speech Not Correct, Church Says," Ogden Standard-Examiner, 27 Feb. 1980, C-l; "Mormon Professor Says Benson Speech Was Plea Anticipating Rise to LDS Presidency," Idaho State Journal, 28 Feb. 1980, A-2; "U. Teacher Replies To Benson" and "Savant Hits 'Theocracy' He Says Benson Wants," Salt Lake Tribune, 28 Feb. 1980, B-l, B-3; "Pres. Benson Outlines Way to Follow Prophet," Deseret News "Church News," 1 Mar. 1980, 14; "No. 2 Mormon Says Leader's Word is Law," Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 1980, Pt. I, 35; "Benson Speech Stirs Speculation on LDS Changes," Ogden Standard-Examiner, 2 Mar. 1980, A-l, A-5; Sterling M. McMurrin, "Case for Vigilance," Salt Lake Tribune, 18 Mar. 1980, A-9; Dew, Ezra Taft Benson, 468-69. From D. Michael Quinn, Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992), also in Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3.]
75 years ago today - Feb 26, 1945
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Office of the First Presidency Salt Lake City, Utah February 26, 1945
Rev. R. B. Searcie Minister Pilgrim Baptist Church 868 West 3rd South Street Salt Lake City 4, Utah
Dear Mr. Searcie:
In response to your letter of February 3, 1945, in which you request some assistance, either by our taking an "ad" on your program or by a direct contribution to help in meeting the expense of repairs to your Church building, we are enclosing herewith a check for $100.00, not only as an aid to you in your present need, but as a token of our good wishes for your success in your worthy calling.
Yours very sincerely, HEBER J. GRANT, J. REUBEN CLARK, JR., DAVID O. MCKAY, First Presidency.
[Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
Rev. R. B. Searcie Minister Pilgrim Baptist Church 868 West 3rd South Street Salt Lake City 4, Utah
Dear Mr. Searcie:
In response to your letter of February 3, 1945, in which you request some assistance, either by our taking an "ad" on your program or by a direct contribution to help in meeting the expense of repairs to your Church building, we are enclosing herewith a check for $100.00, not only as an aid to you in your present need, but as a token of our good wishes for your success in your worthy calling.
Yours very sincerely, HEBER J. GRANT, J. REUBEN CLARK, JR., DAVID O. MCKAY, First Presidency.
[Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
130 years ago today - Feb 26, 1890
[President Wilford Woodruff]
We decided in Council to Heat the Temple with hot water & the Tabernacle with steam. It was a Cold night 6 degrees below zero.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
We decided in Council to Heat the Temple with hot water & the Tabernacle with steam. It was a Cold night 6 degrees below zero.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
135 years ago today - Feb 26, 1885
[Apostle Heber J. Grant]
Wrote a letter regarding my brother George S. Grant's widow to Prest Jos. F. Smith and asked him the question which one of George's brothers should step forward and fulfill the law by marrying his widow, Morgan, Hyrum or myself.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Wrote a letter regarding my brother George S. Grant's widow to Prest Jos. F. Smith and asked him the question which one of George's brothers should step forward and fulfill the law by marrying his widow, Morgan, Hyrum or myself.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
175 years ago today - Feb 26, 1845
[Brigham Young]
The nation has severed us from them in every respect, and made us a distinct nation just as much as the Lamanites, and it is my prayer that we may soon find a place where we can have a home and live in peace according to the Law of God.
[William Clayton Minutes, Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
The nation has severed us from them in every respect, and made us a distinct nation just as much as the Lamanites, and it is my prayer that we may soon find a place where we can have a home and live in peace according to the Law of God.
[William Clayton Minutes, Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
180 years ago today - 1840 Feb 26
Elias Higbee sends a series of letters to Joseph about progress in Washington . He relates his efforts in taking the Mormon case before the various congressional committees, and explains many of the opposing viewpoints and rumors he has run into (such as the Mormons had tried to take over the state, and the Mormons were the aggressors). His final letter states that "the decision is against us, or in other words unfavorable, that they believe redress can only be had in Missouri." (Joseph Smith escaped prison so can-t go back or he'll be arrested and probably hanged for treason)
[https://docs.google.com/document/d/10ttN3vOzf2UcVhruCrvDf9pF27T0o0PP0Xj1X98tKBc/edit?fbclid=IwAR3HXLgL-X-M_c5LT2W-_F7AYqsqqaQ0yIhfNuyeFsX85irSPuEO6_Q993A]
[https://docs.google.com/document/d/10ttN3vOzf2UcVhruCrvDf9pF27T0o0PP0Xj1X98tKBc/edit?fbclid=IwAR3HXLgL-X-M_c5LT2W-_F7AYqsqqaQ0yIhfNuyeFsX85irSPuEO6_Q993A]
40 years ago today - 40 years ago - Feb 25, 1980-Monday
[Leonard Arrington]
I just learned from a more dependable and informed source more about the preparation of the ERA pamphlet in the March issue[s] of the New Era and Ensign. [[The pamphlet, The Church and the Proposed Equal Rights Amendment: A Moral Issue, was inserted in the March 1980 issues.]] The question of what to do about the Sonia Johnson affair had been discussed among the Twelve. That this had been going on was mentioned in the First Quorum of Seventies meeting. Elder [M. Russell] Ballard, in trying to think of something that the Church magazines could do for the Church, conceived the idea of including this pamphlet in the two issues. He convened a meeting of Jay Todd and Brian Kelly, at which he instructed them to prepare such a pamphlet and to put it in the March issue. "But the March issue is due to go to press in two weeks!" "Yes, but we can still make it. You have a week to prepare a first draft and then we can have a week to refine it in the final form and send it to the printer."
... The first draft went through Jay and Brian and Elder Ballard. The seventh draft went to Elder [Gordon B.] Hinckley. His judgment was that it needed to be a little more pointed, or emotional, or propagandizing in nature, and they ended up with the ninth draft being published. On the other hand, those who prepared it would have much preferred the seventh draft. It was more matter-of-fact, more factual; on the other hand, it could have been far more defensive and forensic than the draft finally approved. ...
Maureen said that the insert on ERA in the March New Era and Ensign was done over a weekend on a hurried-up basis by staff members of the Ensign. Brother [M. Russell] Ballard told them to do it. Presumably he had instructions from Elder [Gordon B.] Hinckley. Lavina Fielding Anderson was not involved. Presumably it was Jay Todd, Janet Brigham, and one or two others. Maureen emphasized the hurried nature of it.
I asked Maureen on a confidential basis how she felt personally on the issue of ERA. She of course defends the Church in a public capacity and tries to put the best face on the Church posture, but as for her private opinion, Maureen said she thought it would be helpful for ERA to pass. It is a symbolic thing to a large number of "angry women," including a few angry LDS women. Maureen said that things have now developed to the point that it will not make any difference legally whether or not ERA passes. What would be accomplished by ERA has already been accomplished in other ways. What would represent a problem for ERA will be a problem anyway. So Maureen thinks it will not make any difference one way or the other to the status of womenthat it would be a psychological matter to help quiet the vociferous minority.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
I just learned from a more dependable and informed source more about the preparation of the ERA pamphlet in the March issue[s] of the New Era and Ensign. [[The pamphlet, The Church and the Proposed Equal Rights Amendment: A Moral Issue, was inserted in the March 1980 issues.]] The question of what to do about the Sonia Johnson affair had been discussed among the Twelve. That this had been going on was mentioned in the First Quorum of Seventies meeting. Elder [M. Russell] Ballard, in trying to think of something that the Church magazines could do for the Church, conceived the idea of including this pamphlet in the two issues. He convened a meeting of Jay Todd and Brian Kelly, at which he instructed them to prepare such a pamphlet and to put it in the March issue. "But the March issue is due to go to press in two weeks!" "Yes, but we can still make it. You have a week to prepare a first draft and then we can have a week to refine it in the final form and send it to the printer."
... The first draft went through Jay and Brian and Elder Ballard. The seventh draft went to Elder [Gordon B.] Hinckley. His judgment was that it needed to be a little more pointed, or emotional, or propagandizing in nature, and they ended up with the ninth draft being published. On the other hand, those who prepared it would have much preferred the seventh draft. It was more matter-of-fact, more factual; on the other hand, it could have been far more defensive and forensic than the draft finally approved. ...
Maureen said that the insert on ERA in the March New Era and Ensign was done over a weekend on a hurried-up basis by staff members of the Ensign. Brother [M. Russell] Ballard told them to do it. Presumably he had instructions from Elder [Gordon B.] Hinckley. Lavina Fielding Anderson was not involved. Presumably it was Jay Todd, Janet Brigham, and one or two others. Maureen emphasized the hurried nature of it.
I asked Maureen on a confidential basis how she felt personally on the issue of ERA. She of course defends the Church in a public capacity and tries to put the best face on the Church posture, but as for her private opinion, Maureen said she thought it would be helpful for ERA to pass. It is a symbolic thing to a large number of "angry women," including a few angry LDS women. Maureen said that things have now developed to the point that it will not make any difference legally whether or not ERA passes. What would be accomplished by ERA has already been accomplished in other ways. What would represent a problem for ERA will be a problem anyway. So Maureen thinks it will not make any difference one way or the other to the status of womenthat it would be a psychological matter to help quiet the vociferous minority.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
20 years ago today - Feb 25, 2000
Stuart Matis commits suicide on the steps of his local LDS building. His note stated: "I am now free…I am no longer in pain and I no longer hate myself. As it turns out, God never intended for me to be straight. Perhaps my death might become the catalyst for some good."
[Timeline of Mormon Thinking About Homosexuality, http://rationalfaiths.com/timeline-of-mormon-thinking-about-homosexuality/]
[Timeline of Mormon Thinking About Homosexuality, http://rationalfaiths.com/timeline-of-mormon-thinking-about-homosexuality/]
85 years ago today - Feb 25, 1935
[Heber J. Grant]
You inquire as to whether or not the negroes can hold the priesthood?
In answer will say that no person having negro blood in his veins is permitted to hold the priesthood, nor do we allow such persons to go through the temple to receive endowments for themselves or their kindred dead. ...
You ... ask, 'Who are the brown and yellow races of people?'
I take it for granted that you refer to the Mongolians, including the Chinese and Japanese and the East Indian who are not of the black race. If so it is my understanding that these people are descendants of Shem and Japheth.
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Brigham H. Clegg, 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]
You inquire as to whether or not the negroes can hold the priesthood?
In answer will say that no person having negro blood in his veins is permitted to hold the priesthood, nor do we allow such persons to go through the temple to receive endowments for themselves or their kindred dead. ...
You ... ask, 'Who are the brown and yellow races of people?'
I take it for granted that you refer to the Mongolians, including the Chinese and Japanese and the East Indian who are not of the black race. If so it is my understanding that these people are descendants of Shem and Japheth.
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Brigham H. Clegg, 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]
105 years ago today - Feb 25, 1915
At the afternoon meeting [of the Nebo Stake conference] a resolution was passed expressing the sentiment of the people of the Stake in favor of prohibition. This was done with a view to sending the same to the members representing the county in the legislature. ...
[Journal History, 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]
[Journal History, 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]
120 years ago today - Feb 25, 1900
Returned missionary from Southern States Mission speaks in tongues at Salt Lake tabernacle and gives "the interpretation which was very beautiful" This may not be first time, but is probably the last, that someone speaks in "unknown tongue" (glossolalia) in Tabernacle.
145 years ago today - Feb 25, 1875
Brigham Young is ordered to pay disgruntled plural wife Ann Eliza Webb Young $3000 for counsel fees and $500 a month alimony. When he fails to obey, he is sentenced to pay a fine of $25 and to one day's imprisonment. Young is driven to his own residence by the deputy marshal for dinner, and, after taking what clothing he required, is conducted to the penitentiary, where he is locked up in a cell for a short time, and then placed in a room in the warden's office for the night. When the divorce case comes to trial in Apr, 1877, A different Judge accepts Young's argument that the marriage was not a legal marriage but an "ecclesiastical" arrangement. He decrees that the polygamous marriage is void, annuls all orders for alimony, and assesses the costs against Ann Eliza.
165 years ago today - Feb 25, 1855
Apostle Wilford Woodruff preached:"That same organization and Gospel that Christ died for…is again established in this generation. How did it come? By the ministering of an holy angel from God…The angel taught Joseph Smith those principles which are necessary for the salvation of the world…He told him the Gospel wasnot among men, and that there was not a true organization of His kingdom in the world…"
["Journal of Discourses", Vol. 2, pp.196-197 as quoted in A Documented History of Joseph Smith's First Vision, http://beggarsbread.org/2013/04/01/a-documented-history-of-joseph-smiths-first-vision/]
["Journal of Discourses", Vol. 2, pp.196-197 as quoted in A Documented History of Joseph Smith's First Vision, http://beggarsbread.org/2013/04/01/a-documented-history-of-joseph-smiths-first-vision/]
165 years ago today - Feb 25, 1855 (Council Meeting)
William Smith has got to live some years before he comes to his senses... He [Joseph Smith III] will not always feel as he does now. Emma tried to poison her husband and was connived with the mob that did kill him. I will be glad when I die if it is written in truth that Brigham Young never rebelled against Joseph Smith nor the priesthood, but I would like to see all the devils kicked off this continent.
[Leonard J. Arrington Papers, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.. (A reference reading LJA 12-55-5, 10, means LJA Series 12, Box 55, Folder 5, page 10.) 9-13-4, 120 as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
[Leonard J. Arrington Papers, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.. (A reference reading LJA 12-55-5, 10, means LJA Series 12, Box 55, Folder 5, page 10.) 9-13-4, 120 as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
190 years ago today - Feb 25, 1830
The first all-county Antimasonic gathering assembled at Chardon, Geauga County [Ohio, 9 miles from Kirtland], and the 300 delegates who attended helped organize the party on a statewide basis. ... some sixty Masons also attended and attempted to cause a disturbance about passage of a resolution disapproving of "all secret combinations." (Moses 5:31, 35; Alma 37:30-31; Ether 8:19, 22; 14:8, 10; 9:1; 13:18; 2 Ne. 9:9; 26:22; Hel. 3:23; 3 Ne. 4:29; Morm. 8:27; D&C 42:64)
[Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source]
[Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source]
45 years ago today - 45 years ago - Feb 24, 1975-Monday
[Leonard Arrington]
... Ernest Wilkinson made some comments which are worth recording in this diary.
In President Wilkinson's judgment President Harold B. Lee was disappointed, perhaps to some extent bitter, that he had been passed over four times to be a member of the First Presidency of the Church. This at a time when he was obviously destined to become president of the Church. President [David O.] McKay preferred to have older men that had been associated with him when he was a younger apostle.
President [Henry D.] Moyle, when a member of the First Presidency, used his power freely. He might telephone somebody to put somebody on a committee or in an important position or to remove somebody peremptorily or have this bought or that sold. He was very free wheeling in his use of his position to achieve goals which he thought should be achieved, even to some extent when he knew President McKay might oppose it.
On the other hand, President Moyle did not harbor grudges nor was he vindictive and if you disagreed with him or defeated him, he did not hold it against you. This was not true of President Lee and Boyd Packer, both of whom have long memories and found it difficult to forgive and forget.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
... Ernest Wilkinson made some comments which are worth recording in this diary.
In President Wilkinson's judgment President Harold B. Lee was disappointed, perhaps to some extent bitter, that he had been passed over four times to be a member of the First Presidency of the Church. This at a time when he was obviously destined to become president of the Church. President [David O.] McKay preferred to have older men that had been associated with him when he was a younger apostle.
President [Henry D.] Moyle, when a member of the First Presidency, used his power freely. He might telephone somebody to put somebody on a committee or in an important position or to remove somebody peremptorily or have this bought or that sold. He was very free wheeling in his use of his position to achieve goals which he thought should be achieved, even to some extent when he knew President McKay might oppose it.
On the other hand, President Moyle did not harbor grudges nor was he vindictive and if you disagreed with him or defeated him, he did not hold it against you. This was not true of President Lee and Boyd Packer, both of whom have long memories and found it difficult to forgive and forget.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
15 years ago today - Feb 24, 2005
Hugh Nibley, Mormon scholar, defender of the LDS faith, and sometimes critic of Mormon society, dies at his home in Provo, Utah at age 94. Coincidentally on the same day the New York Times runs an article about a book by his daughter, Martha Nibley Beck, titled LEAVING THE SAINTS: HOW I LOST THE MORMONS AND FOUND MY FAITH. In the book the daughter, who had resigned from the Church, accuses her father of ritual sexual abuse of her when she was a child. The accusations are based upon "recovered memories" that Beck had (some while undergoing therapy involving hypnosis) over a decade previously. The article states "Dr. Beck's seven siblings have condemned her assertions and have hired a psychologist and lawyer who has worked on lawsuits against therapists practicing recovered-memory therapy."
35 years ago today - Feb 24, 1985
SALT LAKE TRIBUNE article tells of Darla Tarrant's attempt to become excommunicated from LDS church. Tarrant, a teminally ill widow, wishes to sever any connections with LDS church before she dies. In writing, she asks three bishops three different times to be formally excommunicated. Her requests, however, are responded to with "vague excuses" and "the same patronizing response of having my wish ignored." Because of Tarrant case and case of Norman Hancock in Mesa, Arizona who sues the church to be allowed to resign his membership, procedures for membership resignation are put in the 1989 edition of the CHURCH HANDBOOK OF INSTRUCTIONS.
40 years ago today - Feb 24, 1980
A full- page ad appears in the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE describing Jerald and Sandra Tanner's THE CHANGING WORLD OF MORMONISM. The ad draws attention to changes in the Church's position on such matters as polygamy and the granting of the priesthood to blacks and thereby questioned the consistency of the prophetic leadership of the Church. Two days later Ezra Taft Benson gives a speech at BYU, in which he dismisses the issue of conflicting past and present policies by declaring that the words of living prophets supplant or make moot the directives of past prophets.
60 years ago today - Feb 24, 1960
Counselor J. Reuben Clark tells BYU's president: "You have got some members of the faculty who are destroying the faith of our students. You ought to get rid of them"
70 years ago today - Feb 24, 1950
The last two missionaries of the Czechoslovakian Mission were released from prison after 27 days and expelled from communist Czechoslovakia.
[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]
75 years ago today - Feb 24, 1945
DESERET NEWS "CHURCH NEWS" prints letter concerning DLS captain Denmark C. Jensen of Idaho during U.S. invasion of Philippines: "The next day-Christmas Day-Mark issued the same order [to his men], that they were not to kill any Japs they found but to send for him. During the course of the day another Jap was located with his rifle by his side, bathing his feet in a small mountain stream. They called Mark and unobserved he crept up on the Jap, took his rifle away from him and led his captive down to his waiting men." Captain Jensen explains that "it just didn't seem right to kill even a Jap on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day-the time we have set aside to commemorate the birth of our Lord and Savior."
105 years ago today - Feb 24, 1915
In an affidavit to Church Historian Andrew Jenson Josephine Sessions describes how her mother, faithful Mormon and polyandrous wife of Joseph Smith, Sylvia Sessions (Lyon), on her deathbed told her daughter of her true parentage: "Just prior to my mothers death in 1882 she called me to her bedside and told me that her days on earth were about numbered and before she passed away from mortality she desired to tell me something which she had kept as an entire secret from me and all others but which she now desired to communicate to me. She then told me that I was the daughter of the Prophet Joseph Smith, she having been sealed to the Prophet at the time that her husband Mr. [Windsor P.] Lyon was out of fellowship with the Church."
[Affidavit to Church Historian Andrew Jenson, 24 Feb. 1915]
[Affidavit to Church Historian Andrew Jenson, 24 Feb. 1915]
140 years ago today - Feb 24, 1880
Pres. Jensen referred to the condition of some of the High Priests in the Malad Ward who were contending one with another concerning some point of doctrine, which they did not understand. The point in dispute being, was Adam our God, some taking the affirmation and some the negative of the question.
[Minutes of the High Priests Quorum", p. 86; Box Elder Stake as quoted in Quotations Dealing with the Relationship of Our First Earthy Parents to Our Heavenly Parents (1830-1978)]
[Minutes of the High Priests Quorum", p. 86; Box Elder Stake as quoted in Quotations Dealing with the Relationship of Our First Earthy Parents to Our Heavenly Parents (1830-1978)]
150 years ago today - Feb 24, 1870
As a matter of course the people desired to see and hear President Young. No meeting was complete unless he spoke. He seldom led in speaking; but the cap-stone was laid by him. Usually all present were silent, all who were out came indoors, and the indifferent listeners woke up. The great leader cut right and left, handling the subjects affecting the interests of the people with a fearless, decisive dignity, which unmistakably indicated his broadminded views of the people's needs. -- American Fork, Utah
[Improvement Era. LDS Church. Salt Lake City, 1897-1970. 3:4 as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
[Improvement Era. LDS Church. Salt Lake City, 1897-1970. 3:4 as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
160 years ago today - Feb 24, 1860
President Young in the course of his remarks alluded to the zeal of Hyrum Smith Brother of the Prophet, in his views of the word of wisdom. who prophesied that every Saint who chewed tobacco would apostatize. President Young observed he prophesied by Hyrum Smith and not by the Spirit of the Lord. and that he (Hyrum) would eat about 3 lb. of fat pork in a day; and yet be so severe upon a tobacco chewer; upon other points observed the President Hyrum Smith was a man of knowledge. Once Joseph told his Brother Hyrum if he would suffer him to dictate [to] him he should lead the Church to Hell; and he would frequently sit and sneer at the remarks of Bro. Hyrum, which were frequently delivered to the congregation when they were weary with the remarks of the preachers that had preceded him.
[Brigham Young Office Journals, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.; Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.; New Mormon Studies CD-ROM as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
[Brigham Young Office Journals, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.; Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.; New Mormon Studies CD-ROM as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
170 years ago today - Feb 24, 1850
[Wilford Woodruff]
... I felt the spirit of God like fire shut up [in] my bones as I spoke upon the things of the kingdom of God.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
... I felt the spirit of God like fire shut up [in] my bones as I spoke upon the things of the kingdom of God.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
180 years ago today - Feb 24, 1840. Monday.
[William Clayton]
... Have advised the Saints to give up the practice of kissing.
[George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton]
... Have advised the Saints to give up the practice of kissing.
[George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton]
185 years ago today - Feb 24, 1835
[Patriarchal Blessing of Jared Carter given by Joseph Smith, Sr.]
... if necessary thou shalt pass through the fire without being harmed; for the Lord hath spoken unto thee, and thou need not fear. Thou shalt proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth, even to nations thou knowest not of, if thou desire it, and proclaim to them in their own language. ... And thou shalt stand upon the earth till the heavens shall be revealed and the Son of Man descends in flaming fire.
[Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:28-29 as quoted in Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]
... if necessary thou shalt pass through the fire without being harmed; for the Lord hath spoken unto thee, and thou need not fear. Thou shalt proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth, even to nations thou knowest not of, if thou desire it, and proclaim to them in their own language. ... And thou shalt stand upon the earth till the heavens shall be revealed and the Son of Man descends in flaming fire.
[Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:28-29 as quoted in Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]
25 years ago today - Feb 23, 1995
The Hawaii Public Affairs Council issues a news release under LDS Church letterhead. In it church spokesperson Ms. Napua Baker announced that the Church had decided to petition the court to be admitted as codefendants with the state in the Baehr v. Lewin case in order to protect freedom of religion to solemnize marriages between a man and a woman under Hawaiian law.
[Crapo, Richley, Chronology Of Mormon / LDS Involvement In Same-Sex Marriage Politics http://www.mormonsocialscience.org/?q=node/59]
[Crapo, Richley, Chronology Of Mormon / LDS Involvement In Same-Sex Marriage Politics http://www.mormonsocialscience.org/?q=node/59]
55 years ago today - Feb 23, 1965
[Hugh B. Brown]
"All of us are one hundred percent against Communism in all its phases, but the leaders of the Church are not convinced that any conspiracy exists within our own country."
[Brown & Benson; Brown to Mrs. W. E. Daddow, 23 Feb. 1965, LDS archives, photocopy in my possession. See D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) for full cite and context.]
"All of us are one hundred percent against Communism in all its phases, but the leaders of the Church are not convinced that any conspiracy exists within our own country."
[Brown & Benson; Brown to Mrs. W. E. Daddow, 23 Feb. 1965, LDS archives, photocopy in my possession. See D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) for full cite and context.]
85 years ago today - Feb 23, 1935
[Heber J. Grant]
I note from your letter of the 20th, that your husband is working for the S.E.R.A. and is earning $12.00 a week; that there are five in your family and you are expecting a new arrival soon. You ask if tithing should be paid on your husband's income.
The question of tithing is one between the individual and the Lord and you must do what you think the Lord would have you do. The law of tithing is given in the Doctrine & Covenants, and I refer you particularly to Section 119 in this connection. ...
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Zola Zena, 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]
I note from your letter of the 20th, that your husband is working for the S.E.R.A. and is earning $12.00 a week; that there are five in your family and you are expecting a new arrival soon. You ask if tithing should be paid on your husband's income.
The question of tithing is one between the individual and the Lord and you must do what you think the Lord would have you do. The law of tithing is given in the Doctrine & Covenants, and I refer you particularly to Section 119 in this connection. ...
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Zola Zena, 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]
85 years ago today - Feb 23, 1935
[Heber J. Grant]
... Of course no hard and fast line can be drawn, and where people desire to take a small quantity of [concecrated] oil inwardly in connection with the administration it should be permitted; but it must be emphasized that it is no part of the administration for the healing of the sick.
Where people desire to take consecrated oil from time to time for their health, as is the case with Sister Porter, we see no objection whatever to their doing so; ...
[Heber J. Grant and J. Reuben Clark, Letter to Joseph F. Merrill, 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]
... Of course no hard and fast line can be drawn, and where people desire to take a small quantity of [concecrated] oil inwardly in connection with the administration it should be permitted; but it must be emphasized that it is no part of the administration for the healing of the sick.
Where people desire to take consecrated oil from time to time for their health, as is the case with Sister Porter, we see no objection whatever to their doing so; ...
[Heber J. Grant and J. Reuben Clark, Letter to Joseph F. Merrill, 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]
120 years ago today - Friday, Feb 23, 1900
[Apostle John Henry Smith]
I went through the Temple for my 7th great uncle William Smith and, and my sister, Elizabeth Smith Cartwright for his wife and we had them sealed. Prest. Joseph F. Smith and his family acted for some of his children, and all were adopted to the Prophet Joseph Smith.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
I went through the Temple for my 7th great uncle William Smith and, and my sister, Elizabeth Smith Cartwright for his wife and we had them sealed. Prest. Joseph F. Smith and his family acted for some of his children, and all were adopted to the Prophet Joseph Smith.
[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]
140 years ago today - Feb 23, 1880
[Joseph F. Smith]
I attend a council meeting of the Twelve at the E[ndowment]. H[ouse]. Brother Moses Thatcher said before the council some propositions of Mr. [Emilio] Beybeck of the city of Mexico, looking towards the colonization of some parts of Mexico by our people. This gentleman has a contract with the Mexican government to furnish 300 families as settlers in 5 years and for which he is paid $40 for children and $80 for adults per head. He offered us the benefit of his contract.
[Joseph F. Smith, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
I attend a council meeting of the Twelve at the E[ndowment]. H[ouse]. Brother Moses Thatcher said before the council some propositions of Mr. [Emilio] Beybeck of the city of Mexico, looking towards the colonization of some parts of Mexico by our people. This gentleman has a contract with the Mexican government to furnish 300 families as settlers in 5 years and for which he is paid $40 for children and $80 for adults per head. He offered us the benefit of his contract.
[Joseph F. Smith, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
180 years ago today - Feb 23, 1840
[Brigham Young]
At the last meeting I held, I told the people I was on a mission to England with my brethren; I had never asked for a dime in all my preaching, but we had not sufficient means to proceed, and if any one wished to contribute to help us, I would thankfully receive it. -- Long Island, New York
[Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801- 1844. Elden J. Watson, ed. Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968.:67 as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
At the last meeting I held, I told the people I was on a mission to England with my brethren; I had never asked for a dime in all my preaching, but we had not sufficient means to proceed, and if any one wished to contribute to help us, I would thankfully receive it. -- Long Island, New York
[Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801- 1844. Elden J. Watson, ed. Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968.:67 as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
20 years ago today - Feb 22, 2000
Three days before his suicide, Stuart Matis wrote a letter to the student newspaper at Brigham Young University, from which he graduated in 1994, urging students to harbor more tolerance toward gays.
"I am gay. I am also LDS. I realized the significance of my sexuality when I was around 13, and for the next two decades, I traveled down a tortuous path of internalized homophobia, immense self-hatred, depression and suicidal thoughts. Despite the calluses on my knees, frequent trips to the temple, fasts and devotion to my mission and church callings such as Elders' Quorum president, I continually failed to attenuate my homosexuality," Matis wrote. " . . . I read a recent letter to the editor with great regret. The author compared my friends and me to murderers, satanists, prostitutes and pedophiles. Imagine having to live with this rhetoric constantly being spewed at you."
[Timeline of Mormon Thinking About Homosexuality, http://rationalfaiths.com/timeline-of-mormon-thinking-about-homosexuality/]
"I am gay. I am also LDS. I realized the significance of my sexuality when I was around 13, and for the next two decades, I traveled down a tortuous path of internalized homophobia, immense self-hatred, depression and suicidal thoughts. Despite the calluses on my knees, frequent trips to the temple, fasts and devotion to my mission and church callings such as Elders' Quorum president, I continually failed to attenuate my homosexuality," Matis wrote. " . . . I read a recent letter to the editor with great regret. The author compared my friends and me to murderers, satanists, prostitutes and pedophiles. Imagine having to live with this rhetoric constantly being spewed at you."
[Timeline of Mormon Thinking About Homosexuality, http://rationalfaiths.com/timeline-of-mormon-thinking-about-homosexuality/]
50 years ago today - Feb 22, 1970
First Presidency writes: "We may say that there is no direct revelation upon the subject of when the spirit enters the body; it has always been a moot question. That there is life in the child before birth is an undoubted fact, but whether that life is the result of the affinity of the child in embryo with the life of its mother, or because the spirit has entered it remains an unsolved mystery."
145 years ago today - Feb 22, 1875
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff]
This is not ownly the birth day of George Washington But it was the day when the first Couple of Lamanites were together as man and wife for time & Eternity at the Altar in the Endowment House according to the Holy Priesthood in the last dispensation & fulness of times. Wilford Woodruff Sealed at the Altar two Couple of Lamanites. The first Couple was Indian Named OhetoCump But Baptized and Sealed by the name of James Laman. His wife Named Mine [Minnie]. 2d Couple Isiqwich & Mogogah.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
This is not ownly the birth day of George Washington But it was the day when the first Couple of Lamanites were together as man and wife for time & Eternity at the Altar in the Endowment House according to the Holy Priesthood in the last dispensation & fulness of times. Wilford Woodruff Sealed at the Altar two Couple of Lamanites. The first Couple was Indian Named OhetoCump But Baptized and Sealed by the name of James Laman. His wife Named Mine [Minnie]. 2d Couple Isiqwich & Mogogah.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
155 years ago today - Feb 22, 1865
Brigham Young receives confirmation of the Church's purchase of 6,500 acres of land on the island of Oahu, Hawaii "thirty miles from Honolulu." The price is "$14,000 in gold" to be paid off in two years. "This purchase contains 600 head of cows, worth $8 per head, 500 head of sheep [at] $1.50 per head, 250 goats [at] 75 cts, 20 horses [at] $5, also hoags chickens, turkeys, guinea hens, & peacocks. Had 5 acres of cotton looking well. This is the best peace of ground on the island."
160 years ago today - Feb 22, 1860
DESERET NEWS article, "How to Impress Niggers." The end of a talk by Orson Pratt appears on the second page of the DESERET NEWS. The talk, which was scheduled to run on the first page, was removed by order of Brigham Young but the second page had already been printed. The sermon had been a confession by Pratt of his errors in differing with Brigham Young. Young, however, was unsatisfied with it and called Pratt before the rest of the apostles for further confession. The main point of contention is Young's doctrine that God continues to increase in knowledge. In 1980 Apostle Bruce R. McConkie calls Brigham Young's doctrine on this "false-utterly, totally, and completely. There is not one sliver of truth in it," and lists it first among "seven deadly heresies."
175 years ago today - Feb 22, 1845
[Hosea Stout]
... met Bishop Miller, when we three went to the Temple while consulting on matters pertaining to our safety and also the manner to pursue to rid ourselves of traitors who are in our midst seeking our lives. From thence Brother Harmon & myself went to Br C. C. Richs and talked the same matter over again while we were all going down at the flat. Br Rich went to the High Council and we went to the Lodge room and locked ourselves up and talked over some particular matters reletive to our Eternal exaltation in the Kingdom of God and the absolute necessity of the brethrens being united and maintaining our integrity to each other. We both were highly pleased with our interview and went on our way rejoicing.
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
... met Bishop Miller, when we three went to the Temple while consulting on matters pertaining to our safety and also the manner to pursue to rid ourselves of traitors who are in our midst seeking our lives. From thence Brother Harmon & myself went to Br C. C. Richs and talked the same matter over again while we were all going down at the flat. Br Rich went to the High Council and we went to the Lodge room and locked ourselves up and talked over some particular matters reletive to our Eternal exaltation in the Kingdom of God and the absolute necessity of the brethrens being united and maintaining our integrity to each other. We both were highly pleased with our interview and went on our way rejoicing.
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
40 years ago today - 40 years ago - Feb 21, 1980-Thursday
[Leonard Arrington]
Elder Durham asked me if I had complete confidence in Andy Ehat. He is asking to see certain manuscripts in the vault of the First Presidency, and Brother Durham wanted to know whether he should endorse them. I told him that I did not know Andy Ehat that well. Brother Durham said he resembles Mike Quinn-a person of insatiable curiosity. I told him I had full confidence in Mike Quinn and in Ron Esplin, but I had no basis for having confidence in Andy Ehat. In response to a specific question I told him I did not think Andy was a double agent, but that I thought it would be wisdom to watch him and to be careful.
I was prompted by something to begin a list of leading Mormon intellectuals. I consulted with Davis [Bitton] on this. Here are some names we came up with: Henry Eyring, H. Tracy Hall, James Jensen, D. LaMar Jensen, Homer Durham, Lowry Nelson, Nels Anderson, Glen Vernon, Meredith Wilson, Sterling McMurrin, Hugh Nibley, Truman Madsen, Lowell Bennion, Spencer Palmer, Neal Maxwell, Dallin Oaks. Davis wanted to add my name and I wanted to add his name.
Maureen [Beecher]'s list [of ] Mormon women intellectuals-too soon to be sure: Claudia Bushman, Cheryll May, Jill Mulvay Derr, Lavina Fielding Anderson, Melodie Moench Charles, Chris Rigby Arrington, Adele Brannon McCollum, Christine Meaders Durham, Marilyn Arnold, Reba Keele, Margaret Woodworth, Gail Bell Peterson, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, Janath Cannon (before officialdom set in), Josephine Meyer Cassie, Ann Stringham Tingle, Francine Russell Bennion, Emma Lou Thayne, Lucile Reading, Dorothy Carson, [[In the margin, Arrington wrote: "These are women whom I know personally. The criterion is how high we reach in private talk-the intellectual games bit-combined with the nature of their thinking once we get there." Peterson was managing editor of BYU Press, Bennion a past member of the Young Women's general board, Reading was editor of the Friend, and Carson was an Arizona county court judge. For the remaining two women, an English professor at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Partridge) and a political science professor at Weber State (White), he added, "These I don't know, but suspect of intellectual mindset. Obviously a great gap here-generational as well as opportunity created."]] Elinore Hughes Partridge, Jean Bickmore White.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
Elder Durham asked me if I had complete confidence in Andy Ehat. He is asking to see certain manuscripts in the vault of the First Presidency, and Brother Durham wanted to know whether he should endorse them. I told him that I did not know Andy Ehat that well. Brother Durham said he resembles Mike Quinn-a person of insatiable curiosity. I told him I had full confidence in Mike Quinn and in Ron Esplin, but I had no basis for having confidence in Andy Ehat. In response to a specific question I told him I did not think Andy was a double agent, but that I thought it would be wisdom to watch him and to be careful.
I was prompted by something to begin a list of leading Mormon intellectuals. I consulted with Davis [Bitton] on this. Here are some names we came up with: Henry Eyring, H. Tracy Hall, James Jensen, D. LaMar Jensen, Homer Durham, Lowry Nelson, Nels Anderson, Glen Vernon, Meredith Wilson, Sterling McMurrin, Hugh Nibley, Truman Madsen, Lowell Bennion, Spencer Palmer, Neal Maxwell, Dallin Oaks. Davis wanted to add my name and I wanted to add his name.
Maureen [Beecher]'s list [of ] Mormon women intellectuals-too soon to be sure: Claudia Bushman, Cheryll May, Jill Mulvay Derr, Lavina Fielding Anderson, Melodie Moench Charles, Chris Rigby Arrington, Adele Brannon McCollum, Christine Meaders Durham, Marilyn Arnold, Reba Keele, Margaret Woodworth, Gail Bell Peterson, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, Janath Cannon (before officialdom set in), Josephine Meyer Cassie, Ann Stringham Tingle, Francine Russell Bennion, Emma Lou Thayne, Lucile Reading, Dorothy Carson, [[In the margin, Arrington wrote: "These are women whom I know personally. The criterion is how high we reach in private talk-the intellectual games bit-combined with the nature of their thinking once we get there." Peterson was managing editor of BYU Press, Bennion a past member of the Young Women's general board, Reading was editor of the Friend, and Carson was an Arizona county court judge. For the remaining two women, an English professor at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Partridge) and a political science professor at Weber State (White), he added, "These I don't know, but suspect of intellectual mindset. Obviously a great gap here-generational as well as opportunity created."]] Elinore Hughes Partridge, Jean Bickmore White.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
100 years ago today - Feb. 21, Mon. [1920]
[James E. Talmage]
... the branch hitherto known as the West Tintic branch of the Tintic Stake of Zion was disorganized. Thus all semblance of Church supervision in the affairs of that unfortunate little group of people has been taken away.
When, more than a year ago, reports reached the First Presidency, to the effect that the people in West Tintic had undertaken to establish the "United Order", they to have all things in common and to abolish all private ownership, I was appointed to investigate the matter. As a result of my first visit to the Tintic Stake with this as one of my appointed duties, I reported the facts as I found them, which were briefly these: That Moses Gudmundson, who was the leader and dominating figure in the movement, denied all intention of going ahead of the Church, specifically in the matter of attempting to start a colony according to the United Order plan; that I did not believe his protestations, but on the other hand was convinced that the people of West Tintic, then organized into an independent branch in the Tintic Stake, were being led by an evil influence.
Many other investigations have followed; and we have found to our sorrow that what we saw as the inevitable development of evil unless the people placed themselves in strict harmony with the order and government of the Church, had become a reality, namely, erotic ideas and practises [sic] concerning the marital state and the sexual relation. The best I can say of the people is that they have become fanatical through the power of evil. They have made sacrifice their hobby. The eating of meat, the taking of animal life even to provide food, and many other practises common with other people have been forbidden there; while long fasts and particularly the sacrificing of comforts and wholesome desires have been held up as ideals. Now they have reached the abominable status of men sacrificing their wives to other men; and by this means they have put themselves subject to the punishment provided for by the law of the land. The present state is one of abominable immorality. Some of the women, notably the wife of Moses Gudmundson, and the wife of Gerald Lowry, withdrew promptly from the colony rather than countenance to any degree these ungodly practices. I believe that the judgment of the High Council in these cases is just; and that others than those already tried are involved. ...
[James E. Talmage Journal, Transcription reproduced by Trevor Antley, Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University]
... the branch hitherto known as the West Tintic branch of the Tintic Stake of Zion was disorganized. Thus all semblance of Church supervision in the affairs of that unfortunate little group of people has been taken away.
When, more than a year ago, reports reached the First Presidency, to the effect that the people in West Tintic had undertaken to establish the "United Order", they to have all things in common and to abolish all private ownership, I was appointed to investigate the matter. As a result of my first visit to the Tintic Stake with this as one of my appointed duties, I reported the facts as I found them, which were briefly these: That Moses Gudmundson, who was the leader and dominating figure in the movement, denied all intention of going ahead of the Church, specifically in the matter of attempting to start a colony according to the United Order plan; that I did not believe his protestations, but on the other hand was convinced that the people of West Tintic, then organized into an independent branch in the Tintic Stake, were being led by an evil influence.
Many other investigations have followed; and we have found to our sorrow that what we saw as the inevitable development of evil unless the people placed themselves in strict harmony with the order and government of the Church, had become a reality, namely, erotic ideas and practises [sic] concerning the marital state and the sexual relation. The best I can say of the people is that they have become fanatical through the power of evil. They have made sacrifice their hobby. The eating of meat, the taking of animal life even to provide food, and many other practises common with other people have been forbidden there; while long fasts and particularly the sacrificing of comforts and wholesome desires have been held up as ideals. Now they have reached the abominable status of men sacrificing their wives to other men; and by this means they have put themselves subject to the punishment provided for by the law of the land. The present state is one of abominable immorality. Some of the women, notably the wife of Moses Gudmundson, and the wife of Gerald Lowry, withdrew promptly from the colony rather than countenance to any degree these ungodly practices. I believe that the judgment of the High Council in these cases is just; and that others than those already tried are involved. ...
[James E. Talmage Journal, Transcription reproduced by Trevor Antley, Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University]
120 years ago today - Feb 21, 1900
George P. Frisby and George D. Cole of Church of Christ, Temple Lot ("Hedrickite"), meet with First Presidency, Quorum of Twelve Apostles, and Presiding Bishopric. Elders Frisby and Cole propose that their church, LDS church , and RLDS church each send four delegates to jointly agree on construction of temple at Independence, Missouri. After discussion of pros and cons, President Lorenzo Snow decided against proposal because "he naturally feared some trick being played against us." However, he is willing to pay travel expenses of Hedrickite elders.
125 years ago today - Feb 21, 1895
[President Wilford Woodruff]
21 I met with the Twelve in the Temple. The Doctrins of <[---]> was Discused in one of his sermons about The Apostles not Having the Gift of the Holy Ghost untill after the death of the Savior.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
21 I met with the Twelve in the Temple. The Doctrins of <[---]> was Discused in one of his sermons about The Apostles not Having the Gift of the Holy Ghost untill after the death of the Savior.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
125 years ago today - Thursday, Feb 21, 1895
[John Henry Smith]
The question of the character and operation of the Holy Ghost was taken up, the matter being brought forward by Prest. G. Q. Cannon over a sermon of Prest. J. F. Smith on that subject.
No decision being reached by the Council, although several spoke.
[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]
The question of the character and operation of the Holy Ghost was taken up, the matter being brought forward by Prest. G. Q. Cannon over a sermon of Prest. J. F. Smith on that subject.
No decision being reached by the Council, although several spoke.
[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]
150 years ago today - Feb 21, 1870
Gov. Brigham Young delivered a short written Message & an oral one. He spoke plain. These are interesting & important times. All the United States as it were are at war with us trying to pass Bills through Congress to destroy us for our religion. -- Salt Lake City
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal. 9 Vols. Scott G. Kenney, ed. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1983-85. 6:529 as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal. 9 Vols. Scott G. Kenney, ed. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1983-85. 6:529 as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
160 years ago today - Feb 21, 1860
Brigham Young visits the Historian's office and requests five books be written including "Short Biography of the life of Brigham Young." Young also orders the DESERET NEWS to "take out Orson Pratt's sermon" from the front page and "put another sermon in instead and give a reason for so doing."
185 years ago today - Feb 21, 1835
The final three of the first Twelve Apostles of the church (Parley P. Pratt, Thomas B. Marsh and Orson Pratt) are ordained and blessed. Joseph Smith then gives the Twelve their charge before sending them out as missionaries. He says, "Should you in the least degree come short of your duty, great will be your condemnation, for the greater the calling, the greater the transgression. . . .Never cease striving until you have seen God, face to face. Strengthen your faith, cast off your doubts, your sins and all your unbelief and nothing can prevent you from coming to God. Your ordination is not full and complete till God has laid his hand upon you." Parley P. Pratt's blessing states " that nothing shall prevail against him, . . . Let sickness and death have no power over him; . . . No arm that is formed and lifted against thee shall prosper, . . ."
40 years ago today - Feb 20, 1980-Wednesday
[Leonard Arrington]
I asked [Dialogue editor] Mary [Bradford] some questions about [ERA activist] Sonia Johnson, and here are some things I learned. Sonia, Mary says, is a very good example of a very orthodox Mormon; that is, in terms of beliefs and doctrines. She is a straight arrow. She has never been plagued by doubts. From this standpoint she is a very sincere, believing, confiding, practicing Latter-day Saint. After the ERA business came out, as one who believed that Mormonism had given women an elevated status, she thought ERA was quite consistent with the gospel. She accepted it on the basis that it was in line with gospel principles and Church practices. Some of the women in Sonia's ward had gotten together for "awareness" meetings. Most of these women who were regular attenders"activists"-were women who had had trouble with their husbands. They were divorcees or separated. ... This little group ... were very upset when they discovered that certain elements in the Church were conducting an intensive campaign against ERA.
This group interpreted that as beyond the proper limits of Church activity and felt that if these Church "right wingers" could carry out a campaign against the amendment, they (the Mormons for ERA) could seek to counteract them. They did organize "Mormons for ERA." After long discussion they decided that Sonia should be their front-person. They decided this because she was the one person in the group who was not divorced, she had a reputation for being a straight arrow and orthodox in her doctrines and beliefs, and she was a sincere, intelligent, and dedicated person. Most of the members of this group now feel that it may have been a mistake to have chosen Sonia to be their spokesperson. They had not counted upon her excommunication. The excommunication would not have hurt the others as much as it hurt Sonia, and of course Sonia subsequently had the divorce from her husband-something they had not expected. Mary said that some of the things that were done by Mormons for ERA were the ideas of Teddy Wood. For example, the ideas of running the airplane over conference in October trailing the banner Mormons for ERA was strictly Teddy Wood's idea. Mary says that this thing went farther than any of them expected-especially farther than Sonia expected. Mary says that she does not believe Sonia is on an ego trip and that she has [not] reveled in the wide publicity and place in the national news which she has come to have. Mary said this whole business, as far as Sonia is concerned, started with her questioning by [Utah] Senator [Orrin] Hatch. [[Hatch invited Johnson to address the US Senate Subcommittee on Constitutional Rights in August 1978. See Bradley, Pedestals and Podiums, 335-36.]] If that episode had not occurred, none of the rest that followed would have; but Hatch sort of dared her and she was courageous enough to take the dare. Mary says Sonia has ego, but not nearly as much as people have supposed. Mary says that while Sonia has been excommunicated by her bishop, the other sisters, Teddy Wood, Maidia Withers, etc., have spoken up in their wards and have not particularly had any trouble with their bishops. Mary thinks that Sonia could have lived in a dozen wards in the area and never have been brought to trial. Mary does not suppose that Bishop [Jeffrey] Willis was put up to this; he was simply a person who perhaps showed an excess of zeal in doing what he thought was the right thing. Mary said she would not be surprised if the stake president decided to suggest a new trial or to overrule the bishop's judgment. Mary says that Sonia has repented of the extreme things she said in her Montana talk and in the paper she gave to the American Psychological Association. But she of course has not repented of her opposition to ERA. Sonia is delighted with one development. She has gotten the Church to openly state that one may speak up for ERA without jeopardizing membership in the Church. It is just the extreme of her speaking against President [Spencer W.] Kimball and urging people not to accept the missionaries that got her into trouble. Mary thinks that Sonia's mother's support of her is undoubtedly due to her knowledge that Sonia is basically an orthodox girl. Mary says that she finds these angry LDS women who favor ERA to be made up almost exclusively of women who had highly orthodox, stern fathers and who had husbands who were not considerate. ...
I have been surprised, this week, to be visited by two persons who wanted to "set me straight" on some issues. It was important to set me straight, they inferred, because I was a leader of the Mormon intellectual community. I have never regarded myself in that light. ... Intellectual leaders are deep thinkers; I have never regarded myself as a deep thinker. Intellectual leaders take themselves seriously; I have never taken myself and my own thoughts very seriously. ... If I were to list those who are intellectual leaders in the Mormon community, I would mention Sterling McMurrin, Lowell Bennion, Henry Eyring, Lowry Nelson, Homer Durham, Claudia Bushman, Adele McCollum, Lavina Fielding Anderson, and Hugh Nibley. If anybody should regard me in that company, I would be honored. I suppose some people may have mistaken my readiness in writing for readiness in thinking. I see myself as primarily a conveyor of ideas, not an originator of ideas. To use historical analogy, I am more like James E. Talmage than B. H. Roberts; more like Parley P. Pratt than Orson Pratt. Nevertheless, even if undeserved, it is pleasant to be considered "in the group" of LDS intellectuals.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
I asked [Dialogue editor] Mary [Bradford] some questions about [ERA activist] Sonia Johnson, and here are some things I learned. Sonia, Mary says, is a very good example of a very orthodox Mormon; that is, in terms of beliefs and doctrines. She is a straight arrow. She has never been plagued by doubts. From this standpoint she is a very sincere, believing, confiding, practicing Latter-day Saint. After the ERA business came out, as one who believed that Mormonism had given women an elevated status, she thought ERA was quite consistent with the gospel. She accepted it on the basis that it was in line with gospel principles and Church practices. Some of the women in Sonia's ward had gotten together for "awareness" meetings. Most of these women who were regular attenders"activists"-were women who had had trouble with their husbands. They were divorcees or separated. ... This little group ... were very upset when they discovered that certain elements in the Church were conducting an intensive campaign against ERA.
This group interpreted that as beyond the proper limits of Church activity and felt that if these Church "right wingers" could carry out a campaign against the amendment, they (the Mormons for ERA) could seek to counteract them. They did organize "Mormons for ERA." After long discussion they decided that Sonia should be their front-person. They decided this because she was the one person in the group who was not divorced, she had a reputation for being a straight arrow and orthodox in her doctrines and beliefs, and she was a sincere, intelligent, and dedicated person. Most of the members of this group now feel that it may have been a mistake to have chosen Sonia to be their spokesperson. They had not counted upon her excommunication. The excommunication would not have hurt the others as much as it hurt Sonia, and of course Sonia subsequently had the divorce from her husband-something they had not expected. Mary said that some of the things that were done by Mormons for ERA were the ideas of Teddy Wood. For example, the ideas of running the airplane over conference in October trailing the banner Mormons for ERA was strictly Teddy Wood's idea. Mary says that this thing went farther than any of them expected-especially farther than Sonia expected. Mary says that she does not believe Sonia is on an ego trip and that she has [not] reveled in the wide publicity and place in the national news which she has come to have. Mary said this whole business, as far as Sonia is concerned, started with her questioning by [Utah] Senator [Orrin] Hatch. [[Hatch invited Johnson to address the US Senate Subcommittee on Constitutional Rights in August 1978. See Bradley, Pedestals and Podiums, 335-36.]] If that episode had not occurred, none of the rest that followed would have; but Hatch sort of dared her and she was courageous enough to take the dare. Mary says Sonia has ego, but not nearly as much as people have supposed. Mary says that while Sonia has been excommunicated by her bishop, the other sisters, Teddy Wood, Maidia Withers, etc., have spoken up in their wards and have not particularly had any trouble with their bishops. Mary thinks that Sonia could have lived in a dozen wards in the area and never have been brought to trial. Mary does not suppose that Bishop [Jeffrey] Willis was put up to this; he was simply a person who perhaps showed an excess of zeal in doing what he thought was the right thing. Mary said she would not be surprised if the stake president decided to suggest a new trial or to overrule the bishop's judgment. Mary says that Sonia has repented of the extreme things she said in her Montana talk and in the paper she gave to the American Psychological Association. But she of course has not repented of her opposition to ERA. Sonia is delighted with one development. She has gotten the Church to openly state that one may speak up for ERA without jeopardizing membership in the Church. It is just the extreme of her speaking against President [Spencer W.] Kimball and urging people not to accept the missionaries that got her into trouble. Mary thinks that Sonia's mother's support of her is undoubtedly due to her knowledge that Sonia is basically an orthodox girl. Mary says that she finds these angry LDS women who favor ERA to be made up almost exclusively of women who had highly orthodox, stern fathers and who had husbands who were not considerate. ...
I have been surprised, this week, to be visited by two persons who wanted to "set me straight" on some issues. It was important to set me straight, they inferred, because I was a leader of the Mormon intellectual community. I have never regarded myself in that light. ... Intellectual leaders are deep thinkers; I have never regarded myself as a deep thinker. Intellectual leaders take themselves seriously; I have never taken myself and my own thoughts very seriously. ... If I were to list those who are intellectual leaders in the Mormon community, I would mention Sterling McMurrin, Lowell Bennion, Henry Eyring, Lowry Nelson, Homer Durham, Claudia Bushman, Adele McCollum, Lavina Fielding Anderson, and Hugh Nibley. If anybody should regard me in that company, I would be honored. I suppose some people may have mistaken my readiness in writing for readiness in thinking. I see myself as primarily a conveyor of ideas, not an originator of ideas. To use historical analogy, I am more like James E. Talmage than B. H. Roberts; more like Parley P. Pratt than Orson Pratt. Nevertheless, even if undeserved, it is pleasant to be considered "in the group" of LDS intellectuals.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
85 years ago today - Feb 20, 1935
[Heber J. Grant]
Had a long chat today with Charles A. Callis, telling him of my having nominated Richard W. Young a number of times to be an Apostle, the first time way back when M. W. Merrill, Anthon H. Lund and Abram H. Cannon were chosen, at the organization of the Presidency with Wilford Woodruff as President. The three names that I sent on that occasion were Anthon H. Lund, Richard W. Young, and Abram H. Cannon. I also nominated Richard W. Young a time or two more when there was a vacancy, but when I became the President and it was up to me to nominate someone of the Council of the Twelve I told the Lord in prayer that he knew who I wanted for an Apostle, namely, Richard W. Young, but that I wanted the impression of the Spirit as to whom he wanted, and I finally nominated Melvin J. Ballard.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
Had a long chat today with Charles A. Callis, telling him of my having nominated Richard W. Young a number of times to be an Apostle, the first time way back when M. W. Merrill, Anthon H. Lund and Abram H. Cannon were chosen, at the organization of the Presidency with Wilford Woodruff as President. The three names that I sent on that occasion were Anthon H. Lund, Richard W. Young, and Abram H. Cannon. I also nominated Richard W. Young a time or two more when there was a vacancy, but when I became the President and it was up to me to nominate someone of the Council of the Twelve I told the Lord in prayer that he knew who I wanted for an Apostle, namely, Richard W. Young, but that I wanted the impression of the Spirit as to whom he wanted, and I finally nominated Melvin J. Ballard.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
100 years ago today - Feb. 20, Sunday [1920]
[James E. Talmage]
Complaints of wicked and dangerous teachings and practises [sic] had been made against Moses S. Gudmundson, J. Elvan Houtz and others; and the Council of the Presidency and Twelve had directed that President Clawson and I be present at the trial. The case of J. Elvan Houtz was called first. His trial was followed by that of David Whyte. The testimony adduced proved conclusively that these men and other residents of the West Tintic branch had been so far misled as to disregard the sanctity of the marriage obligation, as administered in the Temples, and had adopted a system of "wife-sacrifice", whereby men were required to give up their wives to other men, and this under a diabolical misinterpretation of Scripture as to the law of sacrifice requiring one to give up all he has, even wife and children. At the evening session, which lasted until a late hour, Gerald Lowry, who had refused to answer certain questions put to him in the afternoon meeting, and who defiantly showed his disregard of the authority of the High Council, was by formal action and unanimous vote disfellowshiped from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
[James E. Talmage Journal, Transcription reproduced by Trevor Antley, Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University]
Complaints of wicked and dangerous teachings and practises [sic] had been made against Moses S. Gudmundson, J. Elvan Houtz and others; and the Council of the Presidency and Twelve had directed that President Clawson and I be present at the trial. The case of J. Elvan Houtz was called first. His trial was followed by that of David Whyte. The testimony adduced proved conclusively that these men and other residents of the West Tintic branch had been so far misled as to disregard the sanctity of the marriage obligation, as administered in the Temples, and had adopted a system of "wife-sacrifice", whereby men were required to give up their wives to other men, and this under a diabolical misinterpretation of Scripture as to the law of sacrifice requiring one to give up all he has, even wife and children. At the evening session, which lasted until a late hour, Gerald Lowry, who had refused to answer certain questions put to him in the afternoon meeting, and who defiantly showed his disregard of the authority of the High Council, was by formal action and unanimous vote disfellowshiped from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
[James E. Talmage Journal, Transcription reproduced by Trevor Antley, Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University]
120 years ago today - Tuesday, Feb 20, 1900
[Apostle John Henry Smith]
Salt Lake City
I called upon Prest. Lorenzo Snow. He was pleased to see me.
He told me there were two brethren of the Hedrekite church wanted to form a combination with us and the Reorganized Church to build a Temple at Independence, Mo.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
Salt Lake City
I called upon Prest. Lorenzo Snow. He was pleased to see me.
He told me there were two brethren of the Hedrekite church wanted to form a combination with us and the Reorganized Church to build a Temple at Independence, Mo.
[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]
150 years ago today - Feb 20, 1870
Brigham Young preaches, "Now the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes every word of truth believed in by the holy Catholic Church."
[Brigham Young, "The Saints Are a Strange People Because They Practice What They Profess," JD 13:233 - 242; The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[Brigham Young, "The Saints Are a Strange People Because They Practice What They Profess," JD 13:233 - 242; The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
150 years ago today - Feb 20, 1870
[Brigham Young]
'... Oh dear, it makes me blush!'" Yes, it makes one think of a little circumstance that transpired with one of our Elders who went after machinery to Massachusetts. He went to inquire about machinery for a cotton factory, and the gentleman to whom he applied said, '"Where are you from?'" '"Utah.'" '"O, you are out among the Mormons?'" '"Yes.'" '"Are you a Mormon?'" '"Yes.'" '"Well, I believe,'" said the interrogator, '"you, out there, believe in having more wives than one?'" '"Yes, that is true,'" said the Elder. '"Well,'" said the gentleman, '"I want you to come up and see my partner.'" So our brother was invited up to see the partner of the gentleman who had questioned him so closely, in order to talk a little about the number of people here, and the improvements, etc. The first thing, on meeting the partner, was to pitch into the '"Mormon'" about how many wives he had, and he replied that '"he had just enough to enable him to keep from troubling his neighbors' wives.'"
[Journal of Discourses. Liverpool, England, 1853-86. 13:233-242; Deseret News. Also Deseret Evening News, Deseret News Weekly, Deseret News Semi- Weekly, and Deseret News Extra, Salt Lake City as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
'... Oh dear, it makes me blush!'" Yes, it makes one think of a little circumstance that transpired with one of our Elders who went after machinery to Massachusetts. He went to inquire about machinery for a cotton factory, and the gentleman to whom he applied said, '"Where are you from?'" '"Utah.'" '"O, you are out among the Mormons?'" '"Yes.'" '"Are you a Mormon?'" '"Yes.'" '"Well, I believe,'" said the interrogator, '"you, out there, believe in having more wives than one?'" '"Yes, that is true,'" said the Elder. '"Well,'" said the gentleman, '"I want you to come up and see my partner.'" So our brother was invited up to see the partner of the gentleman who had questioned him so closely, in order to talk a little about the number of people here, and the improvements, etc. The first thing, on meeting the partner, was to pitch into the '"Mormon'" about how many wives he had, and he replied that '"he had just enough to enable him to keep from troubling his neighbors' wives.'"
[Journal of Discourses. Liverpool, England, 1853-86. 13:233-242; Deseret News. Also Deseret Evening News, Deseret News Weekly, Deseret News Semi- Weekly, and Deseret News Extra, Salt Lake City as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
160 years ago today - Feb 20, 1860
[Brigham Young]
... he believed he had as little affection for money as any man that lived, but he valued it for its use. This evening the Chancellor & Board of Regents met at the office to consider the best plan for educating the people. The Deseret alphabet was then discussed. It was proposed that the Regents lecture in the Social Hall, and other places on such subjects which would be favorable to arousing a desire general improvement. Pres. Young lectured on the importance of the Deseret alphabet.
[Brigham Young Office Journals, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.; Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.; New Mormon Studies CD-ROM as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
... he believed he had as little affection for money as any man that lived, but he valued it for its use. This evening the Chancellor & Board of Regents met at the office to consider the best plan for educating the people. The Deseret alphabet was then discussed. It was proposed that the Regents lecture in the Social Hall, and other places on such subjects which would be favorable to arousing a desire general improvement. Pres. Young lectured on the importance of the Deseret alphabet.
[Brigham Young Office Journals, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.; Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.; New Mormon Studies CD-ROM as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
180 years ago today - Feb. 20-26, 1840
Elias Higbee sends a series of letters to Joseph about progress in Washington. He relates his efforts in taking the Mormon case before the various congressional committees, and explains many of the opposing viewpoints and rumors he has run into (such as the Mormons had tried to take over the state, and the Mormons were the aggressors). His final letter states that "the decision is against us, or in other words unfavorable, that they believe redress can only be had in Missouri."
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
185 years ago today - Feb 20, 1835
[Patriarchal Blessing of John Murdock by Joseph Smith, Sr]
... Thou shalt have power to bring souls unto Jesus by proclaiming the gospel, till the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in power and glory. and if thine enemies cast thee into prison it shall not hold thee. If thou cleavest to the Lord and desirest with all thy heart, thou shall be wafted to glory in a chariot of fire like Elijah of old ...
[Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]
... Thou shalt have power to bring souls unto Jesus by proclaiming the gospel, till the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in power and glory. and if thine enemies cast thee into prison it shall not hold thee. If thou cleavest to the Lord and desirest with all thy heart, thou shall be wafted to glory in a chariot of fire like Elijah of old ...
[Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]
30 years ago today - Feb 19, 1990
The government of the Cook Islands issues a postage stamp honoring Osborne J.P. Widtsoe, the first LDS missionary there in 1899.
[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 - Feb 19, 1965
At the end of Janurary, the ultra-conservative John Birch Society released its Bulletin which announced that Apostle Ezra Taft Benson would speak at a testimonial for Birch Society founder Robert Welch in Seattle on 19 February "with the full approval of President McKay of the Mormon Church."
[The John Birch Society Bulletin (Feb. 1966): 30. See D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) for full cite and context.]
[The John Birch Society Bulletin (Feb. 1966): 30. See D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992) for full cite and context.]
150 years ago today - Feb 19, 1870
During the nine-day interim between the first meeting of the Ladies' Cooperative Retrenchment Society and this second meeting held on February 19, 1870, Utah's acting territorial governor, Stephen A. Mann, signed into law a woman suffrage bill. When women from various ward Relief Societies gathered for their second retrenchment meeting, they discussed the developing movement for table retrenchment formally initiated nine days earlier. Additionally, they shared a range of opinions regarding their newly granted right to vote and women's rights generally. The varied nature of the discussion suggests that by the second time these Latter-day Saint women assembled as the Ladies' Cooperative Retrenchment Society, they had some sense that this interward gathering could serve as a forum for sharing, vetting, and directing their expanding collective responsibilities. ...
[3.16 Ladies' Cooperative Retrenchment Meeting, Minutes, February 19, 1870, as quoted in Matthew J. Grow, Jill Derr, Carol Madsen, and Kate Holbrook, editors, The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women's History, The Church Historian's Press, 2016, https://churchhistorianspress.org/the-first-fifty-years-of-relief-society/]
[3.16 Ladies' Cooperative Retrenchment Meeting, Minutes, February 19, 1870, as quoted in Matthew J. Grow, Jill Derr, Carol Madsen, and Kate Holbrook, editors, The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women's History, The Church Historian's Press, 2016, https://churchhistorianspress.org/the-first-fifty-years-of-relief-society/]
150 years ago today - Feb 19, 1870
On February 19 the Ladies' Cooperative Retrenchment Society met in the hall of the Fifteenth Ward, with representatives from most Salt Lake City wards present. Eliza R. Snow, who presided over the meeting, suggested that the women write "an expression of gratitude" to Governor Mann "for signing the Document of Woman Suffrage in Utah, for, she said we could not have had the right without his sanction." The group then selected a committee to write a letter to Mann, which wrote the letter and delivered it to Mann that same day, February 19. George A. Smith commented, "The Ladies said they thought the Governor was about as much embarrass'd as they were."
[3.17 Eliza R. Snow and Others, Letter to Stephen A. Mann, and Stephen A. Mann Reply, February 19, 1870, as quoted in Matthew J. Grow, Jill Derr, Carol Madsen, and Kate Holbrook, editors, The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women's History, The Church Historian's Press, 2016, https://churchhistorianspress.org/the-first-fifty-years-of-relief-society/]
[3.17 Eliza R. Snow and Others, Letter to Stephen A. Mann, and Stephen A. Mann Reply, February 19, 1870, as quoted in Matthew J. Grow, Jill Derr, Carol Madsen, and Kate Holbrook, editors, The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women's History, The Church Historian's Press, 2016, https://churchhistorianspress.org/the-first-fifty-years-of-relief-society/]
155 years ago today - Feb 19, 1865
First counselor Heber C. Kimball testifies of healing people with his special handkerchief, cane, and cloak.
[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 )]]
160 years ago today - Feb 19, 1860
[Brigham Young ]
Prest Young made a few remarks to the 3 Quorum of Seventies this evening; observed when the Spirit and power of the Office of a Seventy rest upon an Elder he will stand before the ruler of the Earth and they will feel like grasshoppers before him. -- Salt Lake City
[Brigham Young Office Journals, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.; Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.; New Mormon Studies CD-ROM as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
Prest Young made a few remarks to the 3 Quorum of Seventies this evening; observed when the Spirit and power of the Office of a Seventy rest upon an Elder he will stand before the ruler of the Earth and they will feel like grasshoppers before him. -- Salt Lake City
[Brigham Young Office Journals, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.; Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.; New Mormon Studies CD-ROM as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
180 years ago today - Feb 19, 1840
[Wilford Woodruff]
One by name of Robert Brown rejected my testimony & said I should go to the Bottomless pit & all that followed me. ... I dreamed that I saw men & children killed to be eat because of the soreness of a famine.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
One by name of Robert Brown rejected my testimony & said I should go to the Bottomless pit & all that followed me. ... I dreamed that I saw men & children killed to be eat because of the soreness of a famine.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
180 years ago today - Feb 19, 1840. Wednesday.
[Missionary William Clayton]
... Sister Poole has been and says Susan is jealous of Thomas [Miller]. He wants her out of the way. If she was to die he would be married again in 3 months &c. Thomas wanted to know who he would be married to &c. She would not tell him. He says he will not go to his work untill she does tell him and she says she will not. Thomas is very much troubled &c. Thomas has practiced kissing all in the house before he goes to bed &c. Went to Bewshers to dinner. She gave me a pint of Porter. ...
[George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton]
... Sister Poole has been and says Susan is jealous of Thomas [Miller]. He wants her out of the way. If she was to die he would be married again in 3 months &c. Thomas wanted to know who he would be married to &c. She would not tell him. He says he will not go to his work untill she does tell him and she says she will not. Thomas is very much troubled &c. Thomas has practiced kissing all in the house before he goes to bed &c. Went to Bewshers to dinner. She gave me a pint of Porter. ...
[George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton]
45 years ago today - Feb 18 1975
Utah legislature, with solid Church support after rallying thousands of Mormon women against the issue, votes down Equal Rights Amendment.
[Chronology of Mormon History (Mormon Stories), http://www.mormonstories.org/truth-claims/chronology-of-mormon-history/]
[Chronology of Mormon History (Mormon Stories), http://www.mormonstories.org/truth-claims/chronology-of-mormon-history/]
25 years ago today - Feb 18, 1995
'On one occasion Paul H. Dunn, a newly appointed General Authority approached McKay with a request:
'I said to him, "President McKay, some day I would like to just have a little while with you to ask some questions that kids have been asking me for thireen years." That quick, he said "Well,I don't have anything schedule for the next hour or so let's do it now." And so I sat there and asked him every question I could thing of that those college kids were asking me. I guess a full 40-50% of his responses were, "I don't know. I don't know. The Lord hasn't told us yet."'
[David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism, by Greg Prince, Chapter 1, Footnote 72, Interview with Paul H. Dunn, February 18, 1995.]
'I said to him, "President McKay, some day I would like to just have a little while with you to ask some questions that kids have been asking me for thireen years." That quick, he said "Well,I don't have anything schedule for the next hour or so let's do it now." And so I sat there and asked him every question I could thing of that those college kids were asking me. I guess a full 40-50% of his responses were, "I don't know. I don't know. The Lord hasn't told us yet."'
[David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism, by Greg Prince, Chapter 1, Footnote 72, Interview with Paul H. Dunn, February 18, 1995.]
60 years ago today - Thu Feb 18, 1960
[David O. McKay]
10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Was engaged in the meeting of the First Presidency and Council of the Twelve in the Salt Lake Temple. One matter considered at this meeting wasBrother Mark E. Petersen's report on an assignment given him to investigate a game called "Exaltation," which has been prepared by the Bookcraft Company, and which is being sold in various stores, Z.C.M.I., Deseret Book Company, etc., and said that he had made an investigation of the game and explained to the Brethren just what the nature of it is. I commented that the Church is a sacred institution, that it is the only "Light" that the world has today, the only means by which peace can be established and the world saved, and anything that will cast reflection upon it should be avoided. I said I certainly did not think such games are uplifting when played in a group of people who are assembled for pleasure and recreation. I said that devotion and reverence are elements that need to be developed. =Humor, amusement, recreation, are elements intended to build character also, but the name of deity should not be associated with amusement and pleasure. I feel that the association used in this game is not reverential. and I think it would be well to let the Bookcraft Company know that we look upon the selling of this game in that way.
[McKay, David O., Office Journal]
10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Was engaged in the meeting of the First Presidency and Council of the Twelve in the Salt Lake Temple. One matter considered at this meeting wasBrother Mark E. Petersen's report on an assignment given him to investigate a game called "Exaltation," which has been prepared by the Bookcraft Company, and which is being sold in various stores, Z.C.M.I., Deseret Book Company, etc., and said that he had made an investigation of the game and explained to the Brethren just what the nature of it is. I commented that the Church is a sacred institution, that it is the only "Light" that the world has today, the only means by which peace can be established and the world saved, and anything that will cast reflection upon it should be avoided. I said I certainly did not think such games are uplifting when played in a group of people who are assembled for pleasure and recreation. I said that devotion and reverence are elements that need to be developed. =Humor, amusement, recreation, are elements intended to build character also, but the name of deity should not be associated with amusement and pleasure. I feel that the association used in this game is not reverential. and I think it would be well to let the Bookcraft Company know that we look upon the selling of this game in that way.
[McKay, David O., Office Journal]
85 years ago today - Feb 18, 1935
[Heber J. Grant]
We have never presumed to tell Church members how large their families should be. That is a matter that people must decide for themselves and accept the responsibility for their decision. We have always advocated large families under normal conditions. Of course, ill health, disease, and perhaps other conditions may be justifiable reasons for restrain in such matters. The first great commandment given to Adam and Eve was to multiply and replenish the earth. The teachings of the Church are reasonably clear upon the subject, but it is worth considering whether or not we should not avoid extremes in pressing our doctrines.
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Samuel F. Smith, 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]
We have never presumed to tell Church members how large their families should be. That is a matter that people must decide for themselves and accept the responsibility for their decision. We have always advocated large families under normal conditions. Of course, ill health, disease, and perhaps other conditions may be justifiable reasons for restrain in such matters. The first great commandment given to Adam and Eve was to multiply and replenish the earth. The teachings of the Church are reasonably clear upon the subject, but it is worth considering whether or not we should not avoid extremes in pressing our doctrines.
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Samuel F. Smith, 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]
160 years ago today - Feb 18, 1860
Brigham Young's office journal records: "Pres[iden]t Young made a few remarks to the 3 Quorum of Seventies this evening; observed when the Spirit and power of the Office of a Seventy rest upon an Elder he will stand before the ruler of the Earth and they will feel like grasshoppers before him."
165 years ago today - Feb 18, 1855
[Wilford Woodruff]
Notice had been given out a week ago that President Brigham Young would preach to the people to day upon our views concerning the government of the United States and all strangers were invited to attend. At an early hour the tabernacle was filled & a thousand people that could not get into the House....
President Young arose & said ... He sustained the constitution of the United States also its laws but He used a sharp two edged sword against wickedness & wicked men. He sharply rebuked sin in high places & when the address was finished He followed with a lengthy sharp Cutting Oral Speech which was more pointed than his written...
At the close of the afternoon meeting I met in the prayer Circle & at the close of prayer I had the Happy privilege of seeing John Smith the son of Hiram Smith the martered Patriarch set in the middle of the circle & Presidents Young, Kimball & Grant & O. Pratt W. Woodruff G. A. Smith & Lorenzo Snow of the Twelve Apostles laid Hands upon his head & ordained Him unto the office of the first Patriarch in the church & kingdom of God. This blessing was sealed upon him as it belonged to him by right through the linage of his Fathers. ...
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Notice had been given out a week ago that President Brigham Young would preach to the people to day upon our views concerning the government of the United States and all strangers were invited to attend. At an early hour the tabernacle was filled & a thousand people that could not get into the House....
President Young arose & said ... He sustained the constitution of the United States also its laws but He used a sharp two edged sword against wickedness & wicked men. He sharply rebuked sin in high places & when the address was finished He followed with a lengthy sharp Cutting Oral Speech which was more pointed than his written...
At the close of the afternoon meeting I met in the prayer Circle & at the close of prayer I had the Happy privilege of seeing John Smith the son of Hiram Smith the martered Patriarch set in the middle of the circle & Presidents Young, Kimball & Grant & O. Pratt W. Woodruff G. A. Smith & Lorenzo Snow of the Twelve Apostles laid Hands upon his head & ordained Him unto the office of the first Patriarch in the church & kingdom of God. This blessing was sealed upon him as it belonged to him by right through the linage of his Fathers. ...
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
165 years ago today - Feb 18, 1855
Orson Pratt preaches: "I will tell you what I believe in regard to the Holy Ghost's being a person: but I know of no revelation that states that this is the fact." Wilford Woodruff preaches: "I would far prefer to bury any wife or child I have than to have them live to dishonor my name & disgrace themselves by commiting sin with the gentiles."
165 years ago today - Feb 18, 1855
... I well knew a man who, to get the plates, rode over sixty miles three times the same season they were obtained by Joseph Smith. About the time of their being delivered to Joseph by the angel, the friends of this man sent for him, and informed him that they were going to lose that treasure, though they did not know what it was. The man I refer to was a fortune-teller, a necromancer, an astrologer, a soothsayer, and possessed as much talent as any man that walked on the American soil, and was one of the wickedest men I ever saw. The last time he went to obtain the treasure he knew where it was, and told where it was, but did not know its value. Allow me to tell you that a Baptist deacon and others of Joseph's neighbors were the very men who sent for this necromancer the last time he went for the treasure. I never heard a man who could swear like that astrologer; he swore scientifically, by rule, by note. To those who love swearing, it was musical to hear him, but not so to me, for I would leave his presence. He would call Joseph everything that was bad, and say, '"I believe he will get the treasure after all.'" He did get it, and the war commenced directly. When Joseph obtained the treasure, the priests, the deacons, and religionists of every grade, went hand in hand with the fortune-teller, and with every wicked person, to get it out of his hands, and, to accomplish this, a part of them came out and persecuted him. ...
But He did send His angel to this same obscure person, Joseph Smith Jun., who afterwards became a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and informed him that he should not join any of the religious sects of the day, for they were all wrong; that they were following the precepts of men instead of the Lord Jesus; that He had a work for him to perform, inasmuch as he should prove faithful before Him.
Brethren and sisters, our friends wish to know our feelings towards the Government. I answer, they are first-rate, and we will prove it too, as you will see if you only live long enough, for that we shall live to prove it is certain; and when the Constitution of the United States hangs, as it were, upon a single thread, they will have to call for the '"Mormon'" Elders to save it from utter destruction; and they will step forth and do it. We love the Constitution of our country; it is all we could ask; though in some few instances there might be some amendments made which would better it. We love the Federal Government, and the laws of Congress. There is nothing in those laws that in the least militates against us, not even to our excluding common law from this Territory. ... It was told him, while he was on the plains, that President Zachary Taylor was dead and damned, and it has gone through the States, from side to side, that I said so. It was first given out that the '"Mormons'" said so, and then that Brigham said so; well, I backed it up, because I knew it was true. I have just as good a right to say that President Taylor is in hell, as to say that any other miserable sinner is there. ... The newspapers are teeming with statements that I said, '"President Pierce and all hell could not remove me from office.'" I will tell you what I did say, and what I now say; the Lord reigns and rules in the armies of the heavens, and does His pleasure among the inhabitants of the earth. ... I conclude that I shall be Governor of Utah Territory, just as long as He [God] wants me to be; and for that time, neither the President of the United States, nor any other power, can prevent it. ...
Formerly the rumor was that '"they were agoing to tamper with the slaves,'" when we had never thought of such a thing. The seed of Ham, which is the seed of Cain descending through Ham, will, according to the curse put upon him, serve his brethren, and be a '"servant of servants'" to his fellowcreatures, until God removes the curse; and no power can hinder it. These are my views upon slavery. I will here say a little more upon this point. The conduct of the whites towards the slaves will, in many cases, send both slave and master to hell. This statement comprises much in a few words. The blacks should be used like servants, and not like brutes, but they must serve. It is their privilege to live so as to enjoy many of the blessings which attend obedience to the first principles of the Gospel, though they are not entitled to the Priesthood. ... I will take the Government of the United States, and the laws of Missouri and Illinois, from the year 1833 to 1845, and if they had been carried out according to their letter and spirit, they would have strung up the murderers and mobocrats who illegally and unrighteously killed, plundered, harassed, and expelled us. I will tell you how much I love those characters. If they had any respect to their own welfare, they would come forth and say, whether Joseph Smith was a Prophet or not, '"We shed his blood, and now let us atone for it;'" and they would be willing to have their heads chopped off, that their blood might run upon the ground, and the smoke of it rise before the Lord as an incense for their sins. I love them that much. ...
[Journal of Discourses. Liverpool, England, 1853-86. 2:179-191; Deseret News. Also Deseret Evening News, Deseret News Weekly, Deseret News Semi- Weekly, and Deseret News Extra, Salt Lake City as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
But He did send His angel to this same obscure person, Joseph Smith Jun., who afterwards became a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, and informed him that he should not join any of the religious sects of the day, for they were all wrong; that they were following the precepts of men instead of the Lord Jesus; that He had a work for him to perform, inasmuch as he should prove faithful before Him.
Brethren and sisters, our friends wish to know our feelings towards the Government. I answer, they are first-rate, and we will prove it too, as you will see if you only live long enough, for that we shall live to prove it is certain; and when the Constitution of the United States hangs, as it were, upon a single thread, they will have to call for the '"Mormon'" Elders to save it from utter destruction; and they will step forth and do it. We love the Constitution of our country; it is all we could ask; though in some few instances there might be some amendments made which would better it. We love the Federal Government, and the laws of Congress. There is nothing in those laws that in the least militates against us, not even to our excluding common law from this Territory. ... It was told him, while he was on the plains, that President Zachary Taylor was dead and damned, and it has gone through the States, from side to side, that I said so. It was first given out that the '"Mormons'" said so, and then that Brigham said so; well, I backed it up, because I knew it was true. I have just as good a right to say that President Taylor is in hell, as to say that any other miserable sinner is there. ... The newspapers are teeming with statements that I said, '"President Pierce and all hell could not remove me from office.'" I will tell you what I did say, and what I now say; the Lord reigns and rules in the armies of the heavens, and does His pleasure among the inhabitants of the earth. ... I conclude that I shall be Governor of Utah Territory, just as long as He [God] wants me to be; and for that time, neither the President of the United States, nor any other power, can prevent it. ...
Formerly the rumor was that '"they were agoing to tamper with the slaves,'" when we had never thought of such a thing. The seed of Ham, which is the seed of Cain descending through Ham, will, according to the curse put upon him, serve his brethren, and be a '"servant of servants'" to his fellowcreatures, until God removes the curse; and no power can hinder it. These are my views upon slavery. I will here say a little more upon this point. The conduct of the whites towards the slaves will, in many cases, send both slave and master to hell. This statement comprises much in a few words. The blacks should be used like servants, and not like brutes, but they must serve. It is their privilege to live so as to enjoy many of the blessings which attend obedience to the first principles of the Gospel, though they are not entitled to the Priesthood. ... I will take the Government of the United States, and the laws of Missouri and Illinois, from the year 1833 to 1845, and if they had been carried out according to their letter and spirit, they would have strung up the murderers and mobocrats who illegally and unrighteously killed, plundered, harassed, and expelled us. I will tell you how much I love those characters. If they had any respect to their own welfare, they would come forth and say, whether Joseph Smith was a Prophet or not, '"We shed his blood, and now let us atone for it;'" and they would be willing to have their heads chopped off, that their blood might run upon the ground, and the smoke of it rise before the Lord as an incense for their sins. I love them that much. ...
[Journal of Discourses. Liverpool, England, 1853-86. 2:179-191; Deseret News. Also Deseret Evening News, Deseret News Weekly, Deseret News Semi- Weekly, and Deseret News Extra, Salt Lake City as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
195 years ago today - Feb 18, 1825
Rev. Alexander Proudfit, of Salem, N.Y. writes to Ethan Smith: "Reverend and esteemed Brother: I have examined with no inconsiderable interest your 'View of the Hebrews,' and have been highly entertained, and instructed. From the view given of their Language, and from the similarity of their customs and religious rites, with those of ancient Israel; from their belief in the existence of the one Great Spirit. as the Creator and Judge of the world; from their existing in tribes, during the lapse of so many ages; from the coincidence of their traditions with the events recorded in the inspired volume; we have in my opinion satisfactory evidence that the aborigines of our country are the remnant of the ten tribes of Israel."
195 years ago today - 1825 Feb 18
Russell Stoddard sues Joseph Smith Sr. for $66.59 for work completed on frame house. Stoddard wins judgment
[https://docs.google.com/document/d/10ttN3vOzf2UcVhruCrvDf9pF27T0o0PP0Xj1X98tKBc/edit?fbclid=IwAR3HXLgL-X-M_c5LT2W-_F7AYqsqqaQ0yIhfNuyeFsX85irSPuEO6_Q993A]
[https://docs.google.com/document/d/10ttN3vOzf2UcVhruCrvDf9pF27T0o0PP0Xj1X98tKBc/edit?fbclid=IwAR3HXLgL-X-M_c5LT2W-_F7AYqsqqaQ0yIhfNuyeFsX85irSPuEO6_Q993A]
25 years ago today - Feb 17, 1995-Friday
[Leonard Arrington]
Sterling McMurrin, who was at the ballet, told me a J. Golden Kimball story. Said he was present when his grandmother [Mary Ellen], a wife of Joseph W. McMurrin [Sr.], the Seventy (now deceased), was visited by J. Golden. She was complaining of poor treatment by the Church. After her husband died, she had little to live on. She finally complained to the Church, and they soon started sending her a $10 check each month. She was insulted and sent the check back. J. Golden then said he prayed every night that his wife died before he did so she would not have to be subjected to depending on the Church for subsistence.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
Sterling McMurrin, who was at the ballet, told me a J. Golden Kimball story. Said he was present when his grandmother [Mary Ellen], a wife of Joseph W. McMurrin [Sr.], the Seventy (now deceased), was visited by J. Golden. She was complaining of poor treatment by the Church. After her husband died, she had little to live on. She finally complained to the Church, and they soon started sending her a $10 check each month. She was insulted and sent the check back. J. Golden then said he prayed every night that his wife died before he did so she would not have to be subjected to depending on the Church for subsistence.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
130 years ago today - Feb 17, 1890
First Counselor George Q. Cannon meets with the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Senator Calvin S. Brice. He argues against Brice's recommendation that the Church make a public announcement of the cessation of plural marriages by saying that plural marriages have ceased in the church and that older polygamists will eventually die off. He does not mention that church-sanctioned plural marriages are being conducted in Mexico by Alexander McDonald. Later at home, he writes in his diary, "How could any man come out and say that it [polygamy] was not right or that it must be discontinued, and set themselves up in opposition to God."
165 years ago today - Feb 17, 1855
'The Mormon' first published in New York City; John Taylor, editor. Ceases publication in 1857. Its motto was ―it is better to represent ourselves than to be represented by others. Proclaimed its desire to be the ―true representative of Mormonism to the world.
[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]
185 years ago today - Feb 17, 1835
The committee in charge of compiling Latter Day Saint revelations, comprising Joseph Smith, Jr., Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams, issue a letter that later becomes the preface to the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants. The preface describes the Lectures on Faith as "embracing the important doctrine of salvation", and describes the remaining section as containing "items of principles for the regulation of the church, as taken from the revelations which have been given since its organization, as well as from former ones." In the process of compilation, many of these earlier revelations were extensively revised by the committee.
[Wikipedia: Chronology of Mormonism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Mormonism]
[Wikipedia: Chronology of Mormonism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Mormonism]
20 years ago today - Feb 16, 2000
Utah lawmakers excluded unmarried, single adults who live together from adopting children in an attempt to keep gay couples from adopting.
[Timeline of Mormon Thinking About Homosexuality, http://rationalfaiths.com/timeline-of-mormon-thinking-about-homosexuality/]
[Timeline of Mormon Thinking About Homosexuality, http://rationalfaiths.com/timeline-of-mormon-thinking-about-homosexuality/]
50 years ago today - Feb 16, 1970
Provo DAILY HEARALD quotes BYU Football coach Tommy Hudspeth that BYU "discourage[d] the Negroes because [it was felt] they would not be happy in the social situation here. We have certain rules and regulations which we won't change; we will not allow inter-racial dating"
55 years ago today - Feb 16, 1965
A student letter to the editor of BYU's DAILY UNIVERSE complains that the use of "racial slurs" by BYU students at sporting events is not just a few isolated incidents but "it has happened every time I have witnessed an athletic event where Negroes have participated at BYU"
60 years ago today - Tue Feb 16, 1960
[David O. McKay]
at meeting of Presidency: Billboard advertising of "Mormon Church" The billboard advertising soliciting attendance at "Mormon Church" meetings was considered, and it was agreed that since it does not comport with the dignity of the Church that this billboard advertising should be discontinued.
[McKay, David O., Office Journal]
at meeting of Presidency: Billboard advertising of "Mormon Church" The billboard advertising soliciting attendance at "Mormon Church" meetings was considered, and it was agreed that since it does not comport with the dignity of the Church that this billboard advertising should be discontinued.
[McKay, David O., Office Journal]
160 years ago today - Feb 16, 1860
[Brigham Young]
The President also remarked when conversing upon the doctrine of polygamy that it was practiced now to give men an experience and prepare them for a time when polygamy will be more extensively practiced. -- Salt Lake City
[Brigham Young Office Journals, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.; Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.; New Mormon Studies CD-ROM as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
The President also remarked when conversing upon the doctrine of polygamy that it was practiced now to give men an experience and prepare them for a time when polygamy will be more extensively practiced. -- Salt Lake City
[Brigham Young Office Journals, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.; Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.; New Mormon Studies CD-ROM as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
175 years ago today - Feb 16, 1845
[Wilford Woodruff]
This day fulfilled a prophecy which I predicted in the house of the Lord in Kirtland Ohio in 1837 that I should attend a Conference with Elder Milton Holmes in one of the British Isles.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
This day fulfilled a prophecy which I predicted in the house of the Lord in Kirtland Ohio in 1837 that I should attend a Conference with Elder Milton Holmes in one of the British Isles.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
185 years ago today - about Feb 16, 1835
Kirtland, Ohio. Joseph Smith saw in vision the order of the priesthood and the postmortal condition of those who died in Zion's Camp.
[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]
35 years ago today - Feb 15, 1985
Don LeFevre, director of the LDS press relations, issues a statement warning that "privately arranged placement of any children without a licensed agency's sanction is frequently in violation of local or national law. Church officers or members should not be involved in such arrangements." Recently a baby-smuggling ring, which sold some infants to childless had been broken and Nelda Karen Cotwell of Layton, Utah, convicted for conspiring to illegally bring Mexican infants into the United States and sell them..
80 years ago today - Feb 15, 1940
HOLLYWOOD CITIZEN article about actress Laraine Day: "Wonders never cease and today we met in the center of Hollywood a movie actress, and a beautiful one, too, who never has tasted a cocktail nor smoked a cigarette. Her name is Laraine Day, and lips that touch liquor shall never touch hers, and if there is any other movie star with a record like that, we'll put it in our pipe and smoke it. We're not trying to spoof Miss Day, either. She is a member of the Church of the Latter-day Saints, she's engaged to a missionary, and we have the greatest of respect for her. Only we're a little surprised that a girl of her temperament and background is in the movies. . . .Miss Day, who is hazel-eyed, barely 20, and one of the brightest of M-G-M's younger stars, likes night clubs, where she drinks either soda pop or milk."
85 years ago today - Feb 15, 1935
[Heber J. Grant]
I note what you say in your letter of February 12 regarding the activities of the Moose fraternity in your Stake. I have no recollection of having written letters recommending that our people join the Loyal Order of Moose. We have always advised Church members against joining secret societies, as we feel that there is an abundance of opportunity in the Church for young and old to devote all their spare time in helping the Wards or Branches where they reside, or in rendering assistance to our auxiliary associations, and that there is no need to join any other organization of any kind or description, thus dividing their activities. However, it is my understanding that the Moose is not a secret organization, in which event we would not be justified in asking our people not to become affiliated with it.
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Josiah Call, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
I note what you say in your letter of February 12 regarding the activities of the Moose fraternity in your Stake. I have no recollection of having written letters recommending that our people join the Loyal Order of Moose. We have always advised Church members against joining secret societies, as we feel that there is an abundance of opportunity in the Church for young and old to devote all their spare time in helping the Wards or Branches where they reside, or in rendering assistance to our auxiliary associations, and that there is no need to join any other organization of any kind or description, thus dividing their activities. However, it is my understanding that the Moose is not a secret organization, in which event we would not be justified in asking our people not to become affiliated with it.
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Josiah Call, 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 - Feb 15, 1905
The Smoot hearing had concentrated attention on the practice of polygamy in Utah. However Chairman Burrows was extending the investigation to Mormon practice in other states such as New Mexico. The church felt that the main issue in the Smoot hearing was not simply the seating of the Senator from Utah.
[1905-February 15-Original letter, Reed Smoot collection,, Brigham Young University Library, Archives, Provo, Utah, as quoted in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
[1905-February 15-Original letter, Reed Smoot collection,, Brigham Young University Library, Archives, Provo, Utah, as quoted in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
145 years ago today - Feb 15, 1875
In TRUE L.D.S. HERALD, President Joseph Smith III writes: "We are pained to learn that some few Elders are making an unnecessary distinction between the white and colored races in regard to gospel ordinances and fellowship....It is unjust to the Church for one, two or more Elders to teach, preach, or advise a distinction and exclusion from church fellowship and communion upon the ground of race or color; while the 'articles and covenants of the Church' nowhere warrant such exclusion, and the practice of the Church has never sanctioned it....We think it derogatory to the teaching of Jesus, as found in the New Testament, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants to insist upon a separation of the races." The RLDS (Community of Christ) Church differs with The Utah Church on race relations.
[E[lisha]. W[oodward]. Vanderhoof (1832-?), Historical Sketches of Western New York (Buffalo, New York: Printed for private distribution by the Matthews-Northrop Works, 1907), 138-39., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Elisha W. Vanderhoof Account]
[E[lisha]. W[oodward]. Vanderhoof (1832-?), Historical Sketches of Western New York (Buffalo, New York: Printed for private distribution by the Matthews-Northrop Works, 1907), 138-39., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Elisha W. Vanderhoof Account]
150 years ago today - Feb 15, 1870
Oliver Cowdery's widow, Elizabeth Ann Whitmer Cowdery Johnson, a daughter of David Whitmer, made a statement regarding the translation of the Book of Mormon. "I cheerfully certify that I was familiar with the manner of Joseph Smith's translating the book of Mormon. He translated the most of it at my father's house. And I often sat by and saw and heard them translate and write for hours together. Joseph never had a curtain drawn between him and his scribe while he was translating. He would place the director in his hat, and then place his face in his hat, so as to exclude the light, . . ."
175 years ago today - Feb 15, 1845
Sidney Rigdon asks, in the LDS newspaper MESSENGER AND ADVOCATE "Did the Lord ever tell any people that sleeping with their neighbor's wives and daughters had any thing to do with preparing the way of the Savior's coming[?]" Ridgon's daughter, Nancy, had been approached by Joseph Smith and asked to become a secret plural wife. This caused a rift between Rigdon and Smith.
185 years ago today - Feb 15, 1835
In Kirtland Oliver Cowdery contintues ordinations and blessings of original Twelve Apostles chosen the previous day. Though he never spoke to his associates about his ethnic heritage, William E. McLellin, whose mother was Cherokee, is ordained an apostle to become the first general authority of native American extraction. McLellin is blessed: "his days may be prolonged until the coming of the Son of Man. He shall be wafted as on eagles wings from country to country and from people to people and be able to do wonders in the midst of this generation, . . ."
Twenty-three-year-old John F. Boynton is ordained to the apostleship as the first and only never-married bachelor in the hierarchy. He remains a bachelor eleven months. Boynton is blessed: "Thou shalt see the face of thy Redeemer in the flesh."
Orson Hyde is blessed: "He shall be equal with his brethren in holding the keys of the kingdom; that he may stand on the earth and bring souls till Christ comes."
David W. Patten is blessed: "May he have power to smite his enemies before him with utter destruction. May he continue until the Lord comes."
Luke Johnson is blessed: "The nations shall tremble before him. He shall hear the voice of God, he shall comfort the hearts of the saints always. The angels shall bear him up till he shall finish his ministry."
William Smith is blessed: "He shall be preserved and remain on earth until Christ shall come to take vengeance on the wicked."
Twenty-three-year-old John F. Boynton is ordained to the apostleship as the first and only never-married bachelor in the hierarchy. He remains a bachelor eleven months. Boynton is blessed: "Thou shalt see the face of thy Redeemer in the flesh."
Orson Hyde is blessed: "He shall be equal with his brethren in holding the keys of the kingdom; that he may stand on the earth and bring souls till Christ comes."
David W. Patten is blessed: "May he have power to smite his enemies before him with utter destruction. May he continue until the Lord comes."
Luke Johnson is blessed: "The nations shall tremble before him. He shall hear the voice of God, he shall comfort the hearts of the saints always. The angels shall bear him up till he shall finish his ministry."
William Smith is blessed: "He shall be preserved and remain on earth until Christ shall come to take vengeance on the wicked."
195 years ago today - Feb 15, 1825
The Boston Medical Intelligencer notes "The students of the Medical Institution in New-Haven, have engaged Mr S. F. B. Morse to paint a portrait of Professor Smith ..." This was Dr. Nathan Smith, who had saved Joseph Smith's leg a dozen years earlier.
[Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source]
[Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source]
35 years ago today - Feb 14, 1985
In the United States, the Rabbinical Assembly of Conservative Judaism formally announced that they would begin to accept women as rabbis.
[Cline, Austin, History of American Religion: Timeline]
[Cline, Austin, History of American Religion: Timeline]
40 years ago today - Feb 14, 1980-Thursday
[Leonard Arrington]
To my weekly meeting with Elder [G. Homer] Durham this morning he had invited Don Schmidt as well. ... The Brethren are very concerned about the leaks that have occurred in the past that have resulted in the Kirtland revelation book, the Joseph Smith diary, and the projected publication of other works by the [Jerald and Sandra] Tanners. [[In 1979 the Tanners had published both of the mentioned items, Joseph Smith's 1832-34 Diary and Joseph Smith's Kirtland Revelation Book, as reproductions of photographic images they had obtained from microfilm copies.]] With respect to our division, he wanted me to emphasize the importance of security with the staff. Specifically, he wanted to know what happened with the materials Sister [Edyth] Romney typed. ...
Jan said that Robert Hullinger, the Lutheran minister who was at Concordia Lutheran College in Kentucky, is now a minister in St. Louis or thereabouts. He called her one day to say he was in trouble. He had earlier prepared an article on why Joseph Smith wrote the Book of Mormon. It was complimentary to Joseph Smith, but still was an interpretation based on the assumption that Joseph Smith wrote it; and the reason he wrote it, Hullinger said, was in order to show further evidence to the divinity and relevance of Jesus to contemporary America. Jan replied in her note to him at that time as follows: ["]If you assume that Joseph Smith wrote the Book of Mormon, and if you assume that he was influenced by contemporary thought, this seems to be a sound approach." In the years afterwards, as we had known, Hullinger had expanded that article into a little book entitled Mormon Answer to the Skeptics: Why Joseph Smith Wrote the Book of Mormon. It was accepted for publication by the Lutheran Press. At Hullinger's suggestion, the press had placed on the back of this paperback book an abbreviated quote from Jan Shipps, which said simply, "I believe this is a sound interpretation of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon." Signed, Jan Shipps, President of MHA. Hullinger had finally realized he ought to have her permission to do this. She said under no circumstances would he have her permission and it must be removed. He said unfortunately the book was already out, and they would have to redo the back page, which would cost several hundred dollars-and he was putting up the money. She said that it must be removed, there was no way out of it. When he discovered he couldn't persuade her otherwise, he asked her to get in touch with the publisher. She phoned her university lawyer, who told her to try to persuade them to change it-in a nice way. If unable to do so, she should mention an injunction against them selling the book, but to hold that threat in reserve. She talked to the lady at the press, who was so upset that she was crying, but Jan pointed out it would have to be removed. She regarded herself as an intermediary between the Mormons and non-Mormons, and she was furthermore the president of the Mormon History Association and she could not possibly lose her standing and credibility and the confidence and trust in her by Mormon historians. And so it would simply have to be removed. They finally agreed to do it, and she didn't have to mention the threat of an injunction. So the book is now out and you can tell from the back page that something has been blotted out but it doesn't appear there.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
To my weekly meeting with Elder [G. Homer] Durham this morning he had invited Don Schmidt as well. ... The Brethren are very concerned about the leaks that have occurred in the past that have resulted in the Kirtland revelation book, the Joseph Smith diary, and the projected publication of other works by the [Jerald and Sandra] Tanners. [[In 1979 the Tanners had published both of the mentioned items, Joseph Smith's 1832-34 Diary and Joseph Smith's Kirtland Revelation Book, as reproductions of photographic images they had obtained from microfilm copies.]] With respect to our division, he wanted me to emphasize the importance of security with the staff. Specifically, he wanted to know what happened with the materials Sister [Edyth] Romney typed. ...
Jan said that Robert Hullinger, the Lutheran minister who was at Concordia Lutheran College in Kentucky, is now a minister in St. Louis or thereabouts. He called her one day to say he was in trouble. He had earlier prepared an article on why Joseph Smith wrote the Book of Mormon. It was complimentary to Joseph Smith, but still was an interpretation based on the assumption that Joseph Smith wrote it; and the reason he wrote it, Hullinger said, was in order to show further evidence to the divinity and relevance of Jesus to contemporary America. Jan replied in her note to him at that time as follows: ["]If you assume that Joseph Smith wrote the Book of Mormon, and if you assume that he was influenced by contemporary thought, this seems to be a sound approach." In the years afterwards, as we had known, Hullinger had expanded that article into a little book entitled Mormon Answer to the Skeptics: Why Joseph Smith Wrote the Book of Mormon. It was accepted for publication by the Lutheran Press. At Hullinger's suggestion, the press had placed on the back of this paperback book an abbreviated quote from Jan Shipps, which said simply, "I believe this is a sound interpretation of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon." Signed, Jan Shipps, President of MHA. Hullinger had finally realized he ought to have her permission to do this. She said under no circumstances would he have her permission and it must be removed. He said unfortunately the book was already out, and they would have to redo the back page, which would cost several hundred dollars-and he was putting up the money. She said that it must be removed, there was no way out of it. When he discovered he couldn't persuade her otherwise, he asked her to get in touch with the publisher. She phoned her university lawyer, who told her to try to persuade them to change it-in a nice way. If unable to do so, she should mention an injunction against them selling the book, but to hold that threat in reserve. She talked to the lady at the press, who was so upset that she was crying, but Jan pointed out it would have to be removed. She regarded herself as an intermediary between the Mormons and non-Mormons, and she was furthermore the president of the Mormon History Association and she could not possibly lose her standing and credibility and the confidence and trust in her by Mormon historians. And so it would simply have to be removed. They finally agreed to do it, and she didn't have to mention the threat of an injunction. So the book is now out and you can tell from the back page that something has been blotted out but it doesn't appear there.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
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