The announcement of two temple, one to be constructed for Boston and one for White Plains, New York. Additionally, there is a withdrawal of a previous announcement of a temple for Hartford Connecticut, and is the first such cancellation. Even the unused (yet dedicated in 1839) temple site of Far West, Missouri, has not been formally cancelled. The Samoa Temple first slated for Pago Pago.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
55 years ago today - Sep 30, 1965
Cover story of The John Birch Society Bulletin for September 1965: "Fully expose the `civil rights' fraud and you will break the back of the Communist Conspiracy!" Robert Welch concluded the article: "And we repeat once more: It is on the `civil rights' sector of their total [Communist] front that we now have the best chance there has been since 1952 of setting them back with some really effective blows. Let's put our best into the job."
[The John Birch Society Bulletin (Sept. 1965): cover and 23. The October Bulletin (dated 30 Sept. 1965): 2, concluded its reminder about the Birch battle with the African-American civil rights movement: "And in setting out seriously on this gigantic endeavor, we have really stirred up the animals." 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.]
[The John Birch Society Bulletin (Sept. 1965): cover and 23. The October Bulletin (dated 30 Sept. 1965): 2, concluded its reminder about the Birch battle with the African-American civil rights movement: "And in setting out seriously on this gigantic endeavor, we have really stirred up the animals." 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.]
130 years ago today - Tuesday, Sep 30, 1890
Salt Lake City
During the morning hour I was busy about the City.
At 2 p.m. the following named brethren of the Twelve met in Council. Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Moses Thatcher, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor and Abraham H. Cannon, Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Moses Thatcher, and Francis M. Lyman spoke upon the President's Manifesto in regard to the solemnization of Plural marriages and endorsed it. John W. Taylor was somewhat mixed but acknowledged the hand of the Lord in it.
[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]
During the morning hour I was busy about the City.
At 2 p.m. the following named brethren of the Twelve met in Council. Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Moses Thatcher, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor and Abraham H. Cannon, Lorenzo Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Moses Thatcher, and Francis M. Lyman spoke upon the President's Manifesto in regard to the solemnization of Plural marriages and endorsed it. John W. Taylor was somewhat mixed but acknowledged the hand of the Lord in it.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
130 years ago today - Sep 30, 1890
In a meeting of Apostles who discuss the recently released Manifesto of Wilford Woodruff Heber J. Grant says, "I approve of the Manifesto and feel that it is merely a public announcement of the course which we had already in our private councils decided to adopt and this being the case I do not know why we should not receive any possible benefits which may arise from a public declaration. Yet I believe greater trouble will follow the prominent Elders in the Church through the adoption of this policy. If this plan had been accepted in the beginning of this crusade the nation would not have been tried as it has been and would not be worthy of condemnation such as it now merits, hence I feel this has come at a proper time." Apostle Franklin D. Richards notes, "how the Lord had suspended the operations of His laws in various occasions & held the enemies of his Church responsible for the same."
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
165 years ago today - Sep 30, 1855 (Council Meeting)
[Brigham Young]
I remember I told Thomas B. Marsh one day we shall have more power than we can wield - there is no man but can say he will have more than he can wield they will have all they can do ... Oliver told the lawyer in Michigan he did not believe the Book of Mormon to be true, but he knew it to be true - he died at Far West - Oliver sent me Joseph's first seer stone, Oliver always kept it until he sent it to me - the second seer stone Dr. Williams had - the third one was a very large - and Joseph found two small ones on the beach in Nauvoo - a little larger than a black walnut without the shock on - Joseph said there is a stone for every person on the earth - I don't know that I have ever had a desire to have one ...
[The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
I remember I told Thomas B. Marsh one day we shall have more power than we can wield - there is no man but can say he will have more than he can wield they will have all they can do ... Oliver told the lawyer in Michigan he did not believe the Book of Mormon to be true, but he knew it to be true - he died at Far West - Oliver sent me Joseph's first seer stone, Oliver always kept it until he sent it to me - the second seer stone Dr. Williams had - the third one was a very large - and Joseph found two small ones on the beach in Nauvoo - a little larger than a black walnut without the shock on - Joseph said there is a stone for every person on the earth - I don't know that I have ever had a desire to have one ...
[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 - Tuesday, Sep 30, 1845
[Heber C. Kimball]
The Kingdom [Council of Fifty] met at the Sevntis Hall, adjourned at 12 Oclock as Genral Harden had come in to town with his Possa [Posse] to serch for property and lost men. ...
The Twelve and Bishops met at W[illard] Richards for prair and council. We asked the Lord to f[r]ustrat[e] the designs of our Enimes, and to blind there Eis [eyes] and caus the trops to leave our City. Soon got through about 4 in the after noon. Held council in the Eve at John Tailors. Rote another propersition [proposition] to people of the State, that we was going [a]way, and [if they would] come and purches [purchase] our Lands and houses, we would Leave.
[Heber C. Kimball diary, 137, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
The Kingdom [Council of Fifty] met at the Sevntis Hall, adjourned at 12 Oclock as Genral Harden had come in to town with his Possa [Posse] to serch for property and lost men. ...
The Twelve and Bishops met at W[illard] Richards for prair and council. We asked the Lord to f[r]ustrat[e] the designs of our Enimes, and to blind there Eis [eyes] and caus the trops to leave our City. Soon got through about 4 in the after noon. Held council in the Eve at John Tailors. Rote another propersition [proposition] to people of the State, that we was going [a]way, and [if they would] come and purches [purchase] our Lands and houses, we would Leave.
[Heber C. Kimball diary, 137, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
175 years ago today - Sep 30, 1845
A commission orderd by Illinois Governor Ford arrives in Nauvoo for the purpose of arranging some compromise which would avoid further bloodshed and open civil war. Headed by Stephen A. Douglas, the commission confers with Brigham Young and other prominent men. The following day an agreement is reached to the effect that the Mormons would voluntarily commence to move from Nauvoo and Hancock County in late Apr or early May of the following year, if left unmolested, so they might construct wagons, secure animals to pull them, and be allowed to dispose of their property.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
175 years ago today - Tuesday, Sep 30, 1845
Pres. Brigham Young met in general council [of Fifty] at the Seventies Hall in Nauvoo. Pres. Brigham Young related the following: "I dreamed last night that we had a room the size of the Seventies Hall full of all sorts of people, some with long faces, four feet long, some with clean faces, some with dirty faces, some with pigs' heads, etc. I went and looked at them. Judge [Stephen A.] Douglass said he had been looking at those objects of pity and thought this generation had come to a pretty pass. I thought they had no power to hurt any one."
[Journal History, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
[Journal History, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
175 years ago today - Tuesday, Sep 30, 1845
[Benjamin F. Johnson]
The great idea now was to finish the Temple to the acceptance of the Lord, and prepare for the great move [west] that the Saints now contemplated. I was now called by the Council [of Fifty] to rent and keep open the Nauvoo Mansion. ... At the last meeting of the Council to which I have referred, and which, after the death of the Prophet had been called together, I was appointed with Bishop Newel K. Whitney, to visit sister Emma Smith for the last time, and if possible persuade her to remain with the Church. Nearly all night we labored with her, and all we could learn, was that she was willing to go with the Church on condition she would be the leading Spirit. And so we left her. And she did lead all who would follow her so long as she lived.
[Benjamin F. Johnson autobiography, 93–94, 96, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
The great idea now was to finish the Temple to the acceptance of the Lord, and prepare for the great move [west] that the Saints now contemplated. I was now called by the Council [of Fifty] to rent and keep open the Nauvoo Mansion. ... At the last meeting of the Council to which I have referred, and which, after the death of the Prophet had been called together, I was appointed with Bishop Newel K. Whitney, to visit sister Emma Smith for the last time, and if possible persuade her to remain with the Church. Nearly all night we labored with her, and all we could learn, was that she was willing to go with the Church on condition she would be the leading Spirit. And so we left her. And she did lead all who would follow her so long as she lived.
[Benjamin F. Johnson autobiography, 93–94, 96, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
85 years ago today - Sep 29, 1935
[African American] Elijah Abel, grandson of Elijah Abel [ordained by Joseph Smith], is ordained an Elder.
[Crapo, Richley, Chronology Pertaining to Blacks and the LDS Priesthood]
[Crapo, Richley, Chronology Pertaining to Blacks and the LDS Priesthood]
110 years ago today - Sep 29, 1910; Thursday
[Charles W. Penrose]
Met Temple fasting. There all day till 6 pm. Sacrament. ... [Francis M.] Lyman presented application of 12 for increase of compensation.
[Charles W. Penrose, Diary]
Met Temple fasting. There all day till 6 pm. Sacrament. ... [Francis M.] Lyman presented application of 12 for increase of compensation.
[Charles W. Penrose, Diary]
35 years ago today - Sep 28, 1985.
Keith Perkins, chair of the BYU Department of Church History and Doctrine, says that "officials have established their own symposiums because MHA wasn't allowing orthodox views to be presented. . . . Employees may attend MHA meetings but BYU no longer pays travel costs." Jerry Cahill attributes the policy change to "budget cuts." Two CES employees say "supervisors have questioned them about papers they've published." Stan Peterson, CES associate commissioner, says he knows of no supervisor questioning employees about published works." Bill Russell, for fifteen years a member of MHA and its 1982-83 president, counters with a letter to the editor that "I know of no proposal that has ever been rejected for being too orthodox" while, in contrast, "the program committee for the 1984 meeting, held at BYU, opted not to accept program proposals from four Mormons because of their liberal views." Several BYU history department faculty members later attend the Mormon History Association annual meeting of May 1987 in Oxford, England, with department funding.
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1]
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1]
55 years ago today - Sep 28, 1965
The NAACP issued an official statement which tried to instill calm in Utah but also accurately identified Birchers (headed by Ezra Taft Benson's son Reed) as responsible for the September 1965 race-war hysteria in Utah. "The NAACP deplores the malicious and totally irresponsible rumors circulating in many sections of the state to the effect that Negroes are planning a riot at the LDS conference," the statement began. Then the statement continued that the NAACP had "reason to believe the rumors started with certain right-wing societies that make a practice of scaring people."
[The first part of quote is from the version of the statement in "NAACP Chapter Claims Riot Report 'Malicious,'" Ogden Standard-Examiner, 28 Sept. 1965, A-6; the second part is from the version in "Rumors of Riot Hit By Area NAACP," Deseret News, 28 Sept. 1965, B-l; "NAACP Assails Rumors of Protest at LDS Meet," Salt Lake Tribune, 29 Sept. 1965, 18. 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.]
[The first part of quote is from the version of the statement in "NAACP Chapter Claims Riot Report 'Malicious,'" Ogden Standard-Examiner, 28 Sept. 1965, A-6; the second part is from the version in "Rumors of Riot Hit By Area NAACP," Deseret News, 28 Sept. 1965, B-l; "NAACP Assails Rumors of Protest at LDS Meet," Salt Lake Tribune, 29 Sept. 1965, 18. 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.]
70 years ago today - Sep 28, 1950
[Henry D. Moyle]
Spent day in Temple with the brethren. Pres. McKay, David O'was sustained as Pres. of the Twelve and Joseph Fielding Smith as acting Pres of the Twelve'a new apostle [i.e., Delbert L. Stapley] was nominated by Pres. [George Albert] Smith and unanimously sustained by the Twelve'a wonderful selection the one most of the twelve had recommended.
[Henry D. Moyle Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
Spent day in Temple with the brethren. Pres. McKay, David O'was sustained as Pres. of the Twelve and Joseph Fielding Smith as acting Pres of the Twelve'a new apostle [i.e., Delbert L. Stapley] was nominated by Pres. [George Albert] Smith and unanimously sustained by the Twelve'a wonderful selection the one most of the twelve had recommended.
[Henry D. Moyle Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
75 years ago today - Sep 28, 1945
Instructions for admission to the Solemn Assembly at the coming October Conference for the sustaining of Elder George Albert Smith as President of the Church.
[ Original circular letter, L.D.S., in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
[ Original circular letter, L.D.S., in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
110 years ago today - Sep 28, 1910; Wednesday
I attended council meeting of the Twelve in temple from 10 A.M. to 1 P.M. and from 2:30 P.M. to 6 P.M. At the morning session Israel Barlow Jr. was excommunicated for entering into illegal marriage contrary to the rule & di[s]cipline of the Church, for lying and for contempt.
[George F. Richards, Diary]
[George F. Richards, Diary]
115 years ago today - Sep 28, 1905; Thursday
A letter was read from C. A. Moody, managed editor of the Out West Magazine. this gentleman had recently met President [Joseph F.] Smith at Los Angeles [California], informing him of a plan the Magazine company wished to carry out in the interest of statehood for Arizona, namely, to devote the whole of one number to of [sic] the magazine, probably that of January next, to a complete presentation by text and illustrations of the fitness of Arizona for statehood, her need of it, and her right to it. And to issue say 100,000 copies, and distribute same free in quarters and to parties where they will do the most good. President Smith invited Mr. Moody to write his proposition, hence this letter, in which that gentleman asks President Smith to contribute $2,000. in this cause?
The matter was now considered, the Council agreeing, on motion of Brother [Rudger] Clawson, seconded by Brother [Charles W.] Penrose, to appropriate $1,000 for this purpose, it being understood that our settlements and people of Arizona are to receive fair, and favorable treatment in the write-up of the territory. ...
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
The matter was now considered, the Council agreeing, on motion of Brother [Rudger] Clawson, seconded by Brother [Charles W.] Penrose, to appropriate $1,000 for this purpose, it being understood that our settlements and people of Arizona are to receive fair, and favorable treatment in the write-up of the territory. ...
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
125 years ago today - Sep 28, 1895
Had a pleasant visit with Pres[iden]t W. Woodruff at his home B[isho]p Hardy took me there in his buggy, Pres[iden]t related many of his dreams & visits from or with the prophet Joseph & father, He said to me you are a staunch man Bro[ther] Cannon and all the brethren have confidence in you and I prophecy that you are beyond the foolish things at [sic] this life and you are filled with the spirit of your mission, I would rather not that you be Governor or rather that you do not mingle in politics you are not so suitable for that department. And promised me the grace of God all my days. All of the conversation was of a most interesting character. [Brigham Young had been solicited by both democrats and republicans to run for Governor, but had expressed a strong distaste in that regard for sectional politics; 9 July 1895; 28 Sept 1895. In this last instance he records that he would only run if the First Presidency gave him a mission to do so, and then not on a party ticket. Throughout his journals he expresses distaste for the party machine, sectional politics, and the involvement of high church leaders therein.]
[My reference says the Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., but the reference to "Bro Cannon" suggests George Q. Cannon. Please pass on any clarfication of the source. This is form the New Mormon Studies CD Rom]
[My reference says the Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., but the reference to "Bro Cannon" suggests George Q. Cannon. Please pass on any clarfication of the source. This is form the New Mormon Studies CD Rom]
150 years ago today - Sep 28, 1870
[Wilford Woodruff]
"Martin Harris talked a great Deal to us But had been out of the Church so long he was far Behind the times of Mormonism."
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
"Martin Harris talked a great Deal to us But had been out of the Church so long he was far Behind the times of Mormonism."
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
150 years ago today - Sep 28, 1870
Baptism at Salt Lake City of Martin Harris, the second of the three Book of Mormon witnesses to return to the church as led by Brigham Young.
[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)]]
190 years ago today - Sep 28, 1830
Levi Daggett swears out a warrant for Hyrum's arrest for a debt of $21.07; it is returned on 26 October stating that neither Hyrum nor any of his property can be found. This may be the nighttime invasion that Lucy describes in which William routs the intruders. [Joseph has a revelation on the say day that Hyrum should move].
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books, http://bit.ly/lucys-book]
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books, http://bit.ly/lucys-book]
55 years ago today - Sep 27, 1965
Reflecting Ezra Taft Benson's son Reed Benson's instructions to Utah members of the Birch Society, one rumor claimed that "2,000 professional demonstrators and Black Muslims will be imported to this area under NAACP sponsorship." Other widely circulated stories were that "all plane flights from Los Angeles to Salt Lake are chartered by `Watts Negroes,'" and that "3500 `transient Negroes' have already arrived in Salt Lake." As a result, the Utah National Guard began "riot control" maneuvers.
["NAACP Says 'Too Fantastic' Rumors of Demonstrations," Ogden Standard-Examiner, 27 Sept. 1965, 20; "Race Riots in Utah?" Daily Utah Chronicle, 28 Sept. 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.]
["NAACP Says 'Too Fantastic' Rumors of Demonstrations," Ogden Standard-Examiner, 27 Sept. 1965, 20; "Race Riots in Utah?" Daily Utah Chronicle, 28 Sept. 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.]
70 years ago today - Sep 27, 1950
Instructions on calling of missionaries-- Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah. ... Age: Young men should be twenty years of age before they depart for their missions unless they have had two years of college or military service, in which event the age requirement is waived. Young women should be twenty-three before they are recommended for missionary service. However, because of special requests from mission presidents for more experienced help, the age limit has temporarily been lowered to twenty-one. /... GEO. ALBERT SMITH, J. REUBEN CLARK, JR., DAVID O. MCKAY, First Presidency.
[Original circular letter, L.D.S. Church in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
[Original circular letter, L.D.S. Church in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
80 years ago today - Sep 27, 1940
[Heber J. Grant]
I had an appointment this morning to be at the President's office to have a picture taken by the Tribune-Telegram, at 9 o'clock, but Brother McKay was not present. We waited a half hour for him, and when we went to take the pictures President Clark objected to my being dressed in a summer suit of gray clothes and the others in black. I went home and changed my clothes, and by the time I got back with a blue black suit an hour had passed.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I had an appointment this morning to be at the President's office to have a picture taken by the Tribune-Telegram, at 9 o'clock, but Brother McKay was not present. We waited a half hour for him, and when we went to take the pictures President Clark objected to my being dressed in a summer suit of gray clothes and the others in black. I went home and changed my clothes, and by the time I got back with a blue black suit an hour had passed.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
85 years ago today - Sep 27, 1935
[Heber J. Grant]
I have heard many people say that President Joseph F. Smith always appointed relatives to positions of importance in the Church. Every time that any one mentioned a relative he has appointed, I would ask that person who he would suggest for the position, and I was capable on all occasions of making him admit that President Smith's relative was better qualified for the position than the person he suggested.
I have to take it for granted, of course, that Bother Jones as the President of the Moapa Stake, in making appointments has selected the best person for the office; if he has done this, the fact that those appointed are relatives should have no bearing on the subject.
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Kate L. Taylor, 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 have heard many people say that President Joseph F. Smith always appointed relatives to positions of importance in the Church. Every time that any one mentioned a relative he has appointed, I would ask that person who he would suggest for the position, and I was capable on all occasions of making him admit that President Smith's relative was better qualified for the position than the person he suggested.
I have to take it for granted, of course, that Bother Jones as the President of the Moapa Stake, in making appointments has selected the best person for the office; if he has done this, the fact that those appointed are relatives should have no bearing on the subject.
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Kate L. Taylor, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
130 years ago today - Sep 27, 1890
Utah Governor Arthur L. Thomas, in an interview in the SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, points out that Wilford Woodruff's manifesto "in no way asserts that polygamy is wrong or the law right." The SALT LAKE TRIBUNE opines that the "manifesto was not intended to be accepted as a command by the President of the Church, but as a little bit of harmless dodging to deceive the people of the East."
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
160 years ago today - Sep 27, 1860
President spoke of early times in the church. He said a devil stood at his head when he had chills and fevers, the Devil touched him several times sometimes on his hand and sometimes on his forehead, then the chills would commence again; by exercising faith and rebuking the Devil he kept him off the Devil and the chills & fever also. -- Salt Lake City
[Brigham Young Office Journals, 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, 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 - 1845 27 Sept.
Young criticizes Nauvoo police for shooting "a good man," apparently seventeen-year-old Isaac C. Phippen, out of "envy, hatred & malice." The official report is that this young Mormon was shot "accidentally."
[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]
175 years ago today - Sep 27, 1845
[Brigham Young]
I would also caution you against using the name of God in vain; it has been used too much and will be with us; like the ancients of old, they forbade them the frequent use of the same. For I tell you, the time is coming when that man who uses the name of the Lord and is used, the penalty will be affixed and immediately be executed on the spot. Why should we use it in our private and public conversation'"the ancients have given us an example of reverencing they had for the name of the deity by calling the priesthood not after God, but after Melchizedek. It must be held sacred, nor must it be the common practice from this time and henceforth.
[On the Mormon Frontier, the Diaries of Hosea Stout. Juanita Brooks, ed. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1964. 1:74-76, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
I would also caution you against using the name of God in vain; it has been used too much and will be with us; like the ancients of old, they forbade them the frequent use of the same. For I tell you, the time is coming when that man who uses the name of the Lord and is used, the penalty will be affixed and immediately be executed on the spot. Why should we use it in our private and public conversation'"the ancients have given us an example of reverencing they had for the name of the deity by calling the priesthood not after God, but after Melchizedek. It must be held sacred, nor must it be the common practice from this time and henceforth.
[On the Mormon Frontier, the Diaries of Hosea Stout. Juanita Brooks, ed. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1964. 1:74-76, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
65 years ago today - Sep 26, 1955
The Church College of Hawaii, now BYU-Hawaii, was opened.
[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 - Sep 26, 1935
[Heber J. Grant]
Had a nice long visit with Brother Alonzo A. Hinckley and asked him if he had had any impressions as to the appointing of a [the presiding] patriarch. He said his impression is that nothing should be done until I feel perfectly free to nominate the patriarch. He felt that if the Lord wanted Hyrum G.'s son he would manifest it to me, and he felt sure that if the Lord did manifest to me the name Willard R. Smith or Hyrum G. Smith's son, the brethren would unanimously accept my nomination. I told him they had always assured me of that but that up to date I had no impression favoring Hyrum G.'s boy.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Had a nice long visit with Brother Alonzo A. Hinckley and asked him if he had had any impressions as to the appointing of a [the presiding] patriarch. He said his impression is that nothing should be done until I feel perfectly free to nominate the patriarch. He felt that if the Lord wanted Hyrum G.'s son he would manifest it to me, and he felt sure that if the Lord did manifest to me the name Willard R. Smith or Hyrum G. Smith's son, the brethren would unanimously accept my nomination. I told him they had always assured me of that but that up to date I had no impression favoring Hyrum G.'s boy.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
125 years ago today - Sep 26, 1895
[Heber J. Grant]
Attended a meeting in the Temple Pres[iden]ts Woodruff and Smith Apostles Snow, Richards, Teasdale, Grant and Cannon present. There was some talk about brothers Thatcher and Taylor being away from our meetings so much, and some of us expressed the sentiment that it was not right for them to be absent so much. I said that I felt that they should make an effort to be with us. I said that I felt that there should be a unanimous feeling about all matters in which any one of the apostles engaged. I thought that Bro[ther] Moses should not have accepted the nomination to be one of the United States States Senators without first having had a full and free chat with his brethren of the Apostles and also with the Presidency.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Attended a meeting in the Temple Pres[iden]ts Woodruff and Smith Apostles Snow, Richards, Teasdale, Grant and Cannon present. There was some talk about brothers Thatcher and Taylor being away from our meetings so much, and some of us expressed the sentiment that it was not right for them to be absent so much. I said that I felt that they should make an effort to be with us. I said that I felt that there should be a unanimous feeling about all matters in which any one of the apostles engaged. I thought that Bro[ther] Moses should not have accepted the nomination to be one of the United States States Senators without first having had a full and free chat with his brethren of the Apostles and also with the Presidency.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
130 years ago today - Sep 26, 1890
[Wilford Woodruff]
Elder H. S. Palmer of Freemont [Utah] writes to us that you have refused to give him a recommend to the House of the Lord because at his late trial he promised to obey the law. If this is the only reason you have for withholding his recommend, and if he is otherwise in good standing in the Church, and were it not for this action of his you could freely recommend him, we do not think it advisable for that reason alone to withhold from him the privileges of the temple.
[Wilford Woodruff to William H. Seegmiller, Sept. 26, 1890, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
Elder H. S. Palmer of Freemont [Utah] writes to us that you have refused to give him a recommend to the House of the Lord because at his late trial he promised to obey the law. If this is the only reason you have for withholding his recommend, and if he is otherwise in good standing in the Church, and were it not for this action of his you could freely recommend him, we do not think it advisable for that reason alone to withhold from him the privileges of the temple.
[Wilford Woodruff to William H. Seegmiller, Sept. 26, 1890, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
130 years ago today - Sep 26, 1890
[Abraham H. Cannon]
There is considerable comment and fault-finding among some of the Saints because of a manifesto which Pres. Woodruff issued on the 24th inst., in reply to a statement made by the Utah Commission that plural marriages were still authorized and celebrated, and that within the past year some 40 or more had been performed. Pres. W. denied this allegation, and said that such marriages were forbidden by the Church in this Territory, and he called upon the Saints to submit to the law of the land in this particular. In his declaration, however, there is no renunciation of principle nor abandonment of families recommended, as some fault-finders try to make it appear.
[Abraham H. Cannon (Author), Edward Leo Lyman (Editor), Candid Insights of a Mormon Apostle: The Diaries of Abraham H. Cannon, 1889-1895, Signature Books]
There is considerable comment and fault-finding among some of the Saints because of a manifesto which Pres. Woodruff issued on the 24th inst., in reply to a statement made by the Utah Commission that plural marriages were still authorized and celebrated, and that within the past year some 40 or more had been performed. Pres. W. denied this allegation, and said that such marriages were forbidden by the Church in this Territory, and he called upon the Saints to submit to the law of the land in this particular. In his declaration, however, there is no renunciation of principle nor abandonment of families recommended, as some fault-finders try to make it appear.
[Abraham H. Cannon (Author), Edward Leo Lyman (Editor), Candid Insights of a Mormon Apostle: The Diaries of Abraham H. Cannon, 1889-1895, Signature Books]
155 years ago today - Sep 26, 1865
[Wilford Woodruff]
Presidet Young spok 40 Minuts. In speaking of the daughter of Zion He said ye Elders & young men Court up the girls & marry them & not let them go to the gentiles. I Cannot take them all. If any woman does not want me more than any other man on Earth I do not want her. Let her have her Choice. I am not under the necessity of driving away any Elder to get a wife. I have Chances Enough. ...
I told the people we had visited the Saints all Summer to prepare them to be sanctified before the Lord that they might have power to build up the kingdom of God & prepare for his Coming.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Presidet Young spok 40 Minuts. In speaking of the daughter of Zion He said ye Elders & young men Court up the girls & marry them & not let them go to the gentiles. I Cannot take them all. If any woman does not want me more than any other man on Earth I do not want her. Let her have her Choice. I am not under the necessity of driving away any Elder to get a wife. I have Chances Enough. ...
I told the people we had visited the Saints all Summer to prepare them to be sanctified before the Lord that they might have power to build up the kingdom of God & prepare for his Coming.
[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 - 1835: 26 September
[Patriarchal Blessing]
John Smith (brother of Joseph, Sr.). (Given by Joseph Smith, Sen.) ... the number of thy years shall be according to thy faith, even to be like those of Moses; thine eye shall not be dim neither shall thy natural forces be abated; thy name shall be known to the ends of the earth; & they shall seek to thee for counsel, even the great men, from the ends of the earth ...
[Selected LDS Patriarchal Blessings, New Mormon Studies CD ROM, Signature Book, 2009, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
John Smith (brother of Joseph, Sr.). (Given by Joseph Smith, Sen.) ... the number of thy years shall be according to thy faith, even to be like those of Moses; thine eye shall not be dim neither shall thy natural forces be abated; thy name shall be known to the ends of the earth; & they shall seek to thee for counsel, even the great men, from the ends of the earth ...
[Selected LDS Patriarchal Blessings, New Mormon Studies CD ROM, Signature Book, 2009, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
185 years ago today - Sep 26, 1835
Patriarchal Blessing of George M. Hinkle given by Joseph Smith, Sr. on September 26, 1835 ... if needful to accomplish thy mission, thou shalt have power to call down fire, to remove mountains; and if thou art cast into pits or prisons, they shall have no power over thee to hold thee.
Thou shalt bring thousands and tens of thousands to a knowledge of the truth; yea, even thou shalt baptize hundreds and thousands, and great shall be the power of thy God which shall attend thee in thy ministry, if thou art faithful. If thou wilt receive it, thou shalt receive all these blessings, and stand upon the earth at the coming of the Lord.
[Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:28, 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]
Thou shalt bring thousands and tens of thousands to a knowledge of the truth; yea, even thou shalt baptize hundreds and thousands, and great shall be the power of thy God which shall attend thee in thy ministry, if thou art faithful. If thou wilt receive it, thou shalt receive all these blessings, and stand upon the earth at the coming of the Lord.
[Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:28, 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]
185 years ago today - Sep 26, 1835
Patriarchal Blessing of Clarrisa Smith given by Joseph Smith, Sr. on September 26, 1835 ... the Lord shall return thine apostate brother to the bosom of the church and the days of thy mourning for him shall cease ...
[Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:143, 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]
[Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:143, 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]
190 years ago today - Sep 26, 1830
A church conference is held. Notable events include: (1) The discussion of the Hiram Page seerstone and its refutation by unanimous vote. (2) 35 new members are added, bringing the total number to 62. (3) Peter Whitmer, Jr. is called to preach with Oliver Cowdery to the Native Americans. John Whitmer is also called to preach (D&C 30).
[Wikipedia: Chronology of Mormonism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Mormonism]
[Wikipedia: Chronology of Mormonism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Mormonism]
190 years ago today - Sep 26, 1830
Doctrine and Covenants 29: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, in the presence of six elders, at Fayette, New York, September 1830. HC 1: 111-115. This revelation was given some days prior to the conference beginning September 26, 1830.
1-8, Christ gathers his elect; 9-11, His coming ushers in the Millennium; 12-13, The Twelve shall judge all Israel; 14-21, Signs, plagues, and desolations will precede the Second Coming; 22-28, The last resurrection and final judgment follow the Millennium; 29-35, All things are spiritual unto the Lord; 36-39, The devil and his hosts were cast out of heaven to tempt man; 40-45, Fall and atonement bring salvation; 46-50, Little children are redeemed through the atonement.
[Doctrine and Covenants, http://amzn.to/DoctrineandCovenants]
1-8, Christ gathers his elect; 9-11, His coming ushers in the Millennium; 12-13, The Twelve shall judge all Israel; 14-21, Signs, plagues, and desolations will precede the Second Coming; 22-28, The last resurrection and final judgment follow the Millennium; 29-35, All things are spiritual unto the Lord; 36-39, The devil and his hosts were cast out of heaven to tempt man; 40-45, Fall and atonement bring salvation; 46-50, Little children are redeemed through the atonement.
[Doctrine and Covenants, http://amzn.to/DoctrineandCovenants]
110 years ago today - Sunday, Sep 25, 1910
[Second Counselor John Henry Smith]
The funeral of President Bathsheba W. Bigler Smith of the Relief Societies of the Church was held at 2 p.m. in the Tabernacle.
[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 funeral of President Bathsheba W. Bigler Smith of the Relief Societies of the Church was held at 2 p.m. in the Tabernacle.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
120 years ago today - Sep 25, 1900; Tuesday
An order for $94.50 was issued in favor of Sister Susa Y. Gates which is to pay her fare to Toronto [Canada] and return where she is going to deliver an address by invitation before the National Women's association of which she is a director.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
125 years ago today - Sep 25, 1895
[Franklin D. Richards]
Sister Mary Bowdige Berry Smith asks me what about & why Angus M. Cannon will not sign her recommend to the Temple to do work in connexion with her son James F. Smith by her 2nd husband that she may be sealed to his father & he to them because she married & had two dau[ghter]'s by a former husband James Preston Berry who had negro blood in him.
[Franklin D. Richards Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
Sister Mary Bowdige Berry Smith asks me what about & why Angus M. Cannon will not sign her recommend to the Temple to do work in connexion with her son James F. Smith by her 2nd husband that she may be sealed to his father & he to them because she married & had two dau[ghter]'s by a former husband James Preston Berry who had negro blood in him.
[Franklin D. Richards Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
130 years ago today - Sept 25, 1890
Wilford Woodruff writes in his diary: "arived at a point in the History of my life as the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints whare I am under the necessity of acting for the Temporal Salvation of the Church. The United State Governmet has taken a Stand & passed Laws to destroy the Latter day Saints upon the Subjet of poligamy or Patriarchal order of Marriage. And after Praying to the Lord & feeling inspired by his spirit I have issued . . . [a] Proclamation which is sustained by my Councillors and the 12 Apostles." The Church had been disincorporated and all its property in excess of $50,000 confiscated by the federal government; more than a thousand men had been sentenced to prison for unlawful cohabitation. In February the Supreme Court had upheld the Idaho law which disfranchised anyone unwilling to take an oath denouncing plural marriage.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
130 years ago today - Sep 25, 1890
... Upon examining the papers this morning we found there was a very meager account of President [Wilford] Woodruff's manifesto [issued the previous day]. We sent for Brother W. B. Dougall and got him to prepare a dispatch to the Associated Press agent at Chicago [Illinois], asking him to publish it in full, and whatever charges there were would be met. ... Brother [Hiram B.] Clawson was requested to translate the manifesto into cipher and send it to Colonel [Isaac] Trumbo for publication in California. Brother Lorenzo Snow failed to come down yesterday, but reached here today, and the manifesto was submitted to him. He read it carefully and approved of it, and also thought it a judicious move to have it issued at the present time. A copy of the manifesto was also sent to Brother John T. Caine, and he was requested to have it published as widely as possible.
[Franklin D. Richards Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
[Franklin D. Richards Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
130 years ago today - Sep 25, 1890
At 2pm met with 3 1st Pres[iden]ts & L[orenzo]. Snow for prayer at Gardo House ... deliberated about the Manifesto as LS was not present then [yesterday].
[Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
160 years ago today - Sep 25, 1860
I never saw Presidet Young feel Better. He gave a short address... He blessed the Saints, and gave instruction to the Sisters upon the subject of wearing Hoops. He said when we followed that Custom we followed the Custom of Hores & prostitute women and all who ware large hoops expose themselves and show there folly. He advised the Sisters to lay them aside....
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
130 years ago today - Sep 24, 1890
[President Wilford Woodruff]
24 I signed 25 Recommends. I receivd 19 letter. I signed 23 School Certificits. I met with 3 of the Twelve & my Councillors upon an important Subject.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
24 I signed 25 Recommends. I receivd 19 letter. I signed 23 School Certificits. I met with 3 of the Twelve & my Councillors upon an important Subject.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
130 years ago today - Sep 24, 1890
[Marriner W. Merrill]
I went to Salt Lake and met in council with President Woodruff, George Q. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith, F. D. Richards, and Moses Thatcher, where President Woodruff had an article read he had prepared for the press of the country declaring to the world that we did not celebrate plural marriages now in the Church and that he counseled the members of the Church not to break the law in relation to plural marriage. The article was approved by all the brethren present, including myself, which seems the only way to retain the possession of our Temples and continue the ordinance work for the living and dead, which was considered more important than continuing the practice of plural marriages for the present.
[Notes from the Miscellaneous Record Book, 1886-1906: Selected diary notes from the journal books of Marriner Wood Merrill, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I went to Salt Lake and met in council with President Woodruff, George Q. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith, F. D. Richards, and Moses Thatcher, where President Woodruff had an article read he had prepared for the press of the country declaring to the world that we did not celebrate plural marriages now in the Church and that he counseled the members of the Church not to break the law in relation to plural marriage. The article was approved by all the brethren present, including myself, which seems the only way to retain the possession of our Temples and continue the ordinance work for the living and dead, which was considered more important than continuing the practice of plural marriages for the present.
[Notes from the Miscellaneous Record Book, 1886-1906: Selected diary notes from the journal books of Marriner Wood Merrill, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
130 years ago today - Sep 24, 1890
[George Q. Cannon]
[Regarding the Manifesto] The word "permission" which was changed in the committee's document, I felt ought to be changed, because if it were not it would make the parties whose marriages this referred to unhappy, as it would throw a doubt on the legality of their marriage. This whole matter has been at President Woodruff's own instance. He has felt strongly impelled to do what he has, and he has spoken with great plainness to the brethren in regard to the necessity of something of this kind being done. He has stated that the Lord has made it plain to him that this was his duty, and he felt perfectly clear in his mind that it was the right thing.
...
COPY OF ORIGINAL[Manifesto before modifications]
It is reported by the press of the nation that the Utah Commission in their recent report to Congress state that the Mormons are still carrying on the plural marriages in our temples or otherwise; and that ....., marriages have been attended to during the past month; and the press throughout the land is stirred up bitterly against us, and are making many false accusations against us for political effect, to take away our rights as citizens. We wish here to state to the government and people of the nation that these charges are false, and also to say that as soon as the Edmund-Tucker law was passed President John Taylor gave orders for all plural marriages to cease, that no plural marriages should be performed in our temples, and further, that he took steps to not only obey the law himself, but to have the people, and we have endeavored to carry out the same principle since his death. There has never been any plural marriages in our temples since the passage of that law, by our consent or to our knowledge. And inasmuch as the nation has passed a law forbidding plural marriages we feel to obey that law, and leave the event in the hands of God. We have not been teaching neither are we now teaching the principle to the Church or the world since the passage of that law, and wherever any member of the Church has taught it he has been reproved for the same.
Therefore we make this public declaration that we are neither teaching nor practicing the doctrine of polygamy. And while we have been accused of preaching it in our public sermons there is no sentence which we have uttered since the enactment of that law that can rightly be construed as teaching that doctrine. Our teachings to the members of the Church have been to obey the law. And in one instance where a man testified that he had married a plural wife in the endowment house, this marriage was not with our permission or knowledge, neither could we ever learn who performed the ceremony; but in consequence of this testimony we had the endowment house taken down.
As to man's religious belief, that is something with which we have nothing to do; we can deal only with their acts—a doctrine held by the highest court of the nation. Our religious faith is based 553 upon the Bible. We believe fully in all the principles taught by Jesus Christ and the apostles, and we teach no gospel or religion but that taught by them. And we now publicly declare that our advice to the Latter-day Saints is to obey the law of the land, leaving the nation responsible for their acts in this respect.
We are misrepresented by the press and those who are opposed to us. It is reported that the Utah Commission has reported that there have been some 80 cases of plural marriages in the last month. There is no truth in these charges.
[George Q. Cannon diary as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
[Regarding the Manifesto] The word "permission" which was changed in the committee's document, I felt ought to be changed, because if it were not it would make the parties whose marriages this referred to unhappy, as it would throw a doubt on the legality of their marriage. This whole matter has been at President Woodruff's own instance. He has felt strongly impelled to do what he has, and he has spoken with great plainness to the brethren in regard to the necessity of something of this kind being done. He has stated that the Lord has made it plain to him that this was his duty, and he felt perfectly clear in his mind that it was the right thing.
...
COPY OF ORIGINAL[Manifesto before modifications]
It is reported by the press of the nation that the Utah Commission in their recent report to Congress state that the Mormons are still carrying on the plural marriages in our temples or otherwise; and that ....., marriages have been attended to during the past month; and the press throughout the land is stirred up bitterly against us, and are making many false accusations against us for political effect, to take away our rights as citizens. We wish here to state to the government and people of the nation that these charges are false, and also to say that as soon as the Edmund-Tucker law was passed President John Taylor gave orders for all plural marriages to cease, that no plural marriages should be performed in our temples, and further, that he took steps to not only obey the law himself, but to have the people, and we have endeavored to carry out the same principle since his death. There has never been any plural marriages in our temples since the passage of that law, by our consent or to our knowledge. And inasmuch as the nation has passed a law forbidding plural marriages we feel to obey that law, and leave the event in the hands of God. We have not been teaching neither are we now teaching the principle to the Church or the world since the passage of that law, and wherever any member of the Church has taught it he has been reproved for the same.
Therefore we make this public declaration that we are neither teaching nor practicing the doctrine of polygamy. And while we have been accused of preaching it in our public sermons there is no sentence which we have uttered since the enactment of that law that can rightly be construed as teaching that doctrine. Our teachings to the members of the Church have been to obey the law. And in one instance where a man testified that he had married a plural wife in the endowment house, this marriage was not with our permission or knowledge, neither could we ever learn who performed the ceremony; but in consequence of this testimony we had the endowment house taken down.
As to man's religious belief, that is something with which we have nothing to do; we can deal only with their acts—a doctrine held by the highest court of the nation. Our religious faith is based 553 upon the Bible. We believe fully in all the principles taught by Jesus Christ and the apostles, and we teach no gospel or religion but that taught by them. And we now publicly declare that our advice to the Latter-day Saints is to obey the law of the land, leaving the nation responsible for their acts in this respect.
We are misrepresented by the press and those who are opposed to us. It is reported that the Utah Commission has reported that there have been some 80 cases of plural marriages in the last month. There is no truth in these charges.
[George Q. Cannon diary as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
130 years ago today - Sep 24, 1890
Manifesto is issued as a press release
Wilford Woodruff met with councilor Joseph F. Smith and three members of the Council of the Twelve, presenting papers containing what Woodruff felt were the solution to the churchs current problems. Wilford Woodruff drew upon the previously discarded documents concerning polygamy, both generated within the outside the church, and delivered a 510 word document. George Reynolds, Charles Penrose and John Winder were instructed to take the document and arrange it for publication, to be submitted to us after they had prepared it. When it was read later that day, President Cannon suggested several emendations, which were adopted. Only three apostles were present Franklin D. Richards, Moses Thatcher, and Marriner W. Merrill. After a few small additional changes, George Reynolds sent the telegram for publishing in the eastern national newspapers. Apostle Lorenzo Snow was aware of the Manifesto, but was out of town. He was Wilford Woodruffs son in law. He had previously told the leadership that he was in favor of a Manifesto-like declaration. None of the other eight apostles knew of the press release since they were away from Salt Lake City at the time. The final document contained 356 words. (Quinn, LDS, p 44 & 45).
[Tungate, Mel, Mormon Polygamy, http://www.tungate.com/polygamy.htm]
Wilford Woodruff met with councilor Joseph F. Smith and three members of the Council of the Twelve, presenting papers containing what Woodruff felt were the solution to the churchs current problems. Wilford Woodruff drew upon the previously discarded documents concerning polygamy, both generated within the outside the church, and delivered a 510 word document. George Reynolds, Charles Penrose and John Winder were instructed to take the document and arrange it for publication, to be submitted to us after they had prepared it. When it was read later that day, President Cannon suggested several emendations, which were adopted. Only three apostles were present Franklin D. Richards, Moses Thatcher, and Marriner W. Merrill. After a few small additional changes, George Reynolds sent the telegram for publishing in the eastern national newspapers. Apostle Lorenzo Snow was aware of the Manifesto, but was out of town. He was Wilford Woodruffs son in law. He had previously told the leadership that he was in favor of a Manifesto-like declaration. None of the other eight apostles knew of the press release since they were away from Salt Lake City at the time. The final document contained 356 words. (Quinn, LDS, p 44 & 45).
[Tungate, Mel, Mormon Polygamy, http://www.tungate.com/polygamy.htm]
150 years ago today - Sep 24, 1870
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff]
Attended the school of the prophets. A lecture on faith was read & short speeches maid from Many. I spoke a short time. While speaking G. A. Smith Came in & followed me & gave an Account of a raid made upon the City of Provo by some 25 Drunken U.S. soldiers. They broke in the doors & windows of several Houses & tried to burn the Meeting House took several Citizens prisioners & mistreated them.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Attended the school of the prophets. A lecture on faith was read & short speeches maid from Many. I spoke a short time. While speaking G. A. Smith Came in & followed me & gave an Account of a raid made upon the City of Provo by some 25 Drunken U.S. soldiers. They broke in the doors & windows of several Houses & tried to burn the Meeting House took several Citizens prisioners & mistreated them.
[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 - Sep 24, 1865
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff]
Presidet Young spoke 40. He spoke his Feelings in great plainness Concerning O. Pratt & his publications. He said Orson Pratt would go to Hell. Joseph Smith said he would when Orson said that he would believe his wife Sarah before he would Joseph Smith. He will go to Hell as Joseph Said. He would Sell this people for gold. What would I give for Such an Apostle? Not much and yet we hold him in Fellowship in the Church. ...
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Presidet Young spoke 40. He spoke his Feelings in great plainness Concerning O. Pratt & his publications. He said Orson Pratt would go to Hell. Joseph Smith said he would when Orson said that he would believe his wife Sarah before he would Joseph Smith. He will go to Hell as Joseph Said. He would Sell this people for gold. What would I give for Such an Apostle? Not much and yet we hold him in Fellowship in the Church. ...
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
160 years ago today - Sep 24, 1860 (Monday)
The second handcart company of the season, under Capt. Oscar O. Stoddard, arrived in G.S.L. City, having left Florence July 6th, with 126 persons and 22 handcarts. These were the last immigrants who crossed the plains with handcarts.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
175 years ago today - 1845 24 Sept.
Brigham Young signs a pledge to lead the Mormons out of Nauvoo in the spring for an anticipated re-settlement in Oregon or on Vancouver Island. On 1 Oct. the anti-Mormon leaders agree to these terms of peace.
[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]
185 years ago today - Sep 24, 1835
[Wilford Woodruff]
Spent the day in Perusing the Book from Br Cowdery [Doctrine and Covenants] & found it to be A precious treasure A legacy from heaven.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Spent the day in Perusing the Book from Br Cowdery [Doctrine and Covenants] & found it to be A precious treasure A legacy from heaven.
[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 - Sep 24, 1835
[Joseph Smith]
This day the High Council met at my house to take into consid[e]ration the redeem[p]tion of Zion. It was the voice of the spirit of the Lord that we petition to the Governer [of Missouri]. That is those who have been driven out /should/ to do so to be set back on their Lands next spring. We [should] go next season to live or dy [die] to this end so the dy is cast in Jackson County.
We truly had a good time and Covena[n]ted to strug[g]le for this thing u[n]till death shall desolve [dissolve] this union. And if one falls that the rest be not discouraged but pe[r]sue this object untill it is ac[c]omplished. Which may God grant u[n]to us in the name of Christ our Lord.
[Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1835-36, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
This day the High Council met at my house to take into consid[e]ration the redeem[p]tion of Zion. It was the voice of the spirit of the Lord that we petition to the Governer [of Missouri]. That is those who have been driven out /should/ to do so to be set back on their Lands next spring. We [should] go next season to live or dy [die] to this end so the dy is cast in Jackson County.
We truly had a good time and Covena[n]ted to strug[g]le for this thing u[n]till death shall desolve [dissolve] this union. And if one falls that the rest be not discouraged but pe[r]sue this object untill it is ac[c]omplished. Which may God grant u[n]to us in the name of Christ our Lord.
[Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1835-36, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
185 years ago today - 1835 24 Sept.
The Kirtland high council "by revelation" appoints Joseph Smith as "head" of the "war department" of the "Lord's Host," in imitation of the national Secretary of War. The latter phrase would appear three years later in the "Danite" constitution's description of the unnamed Smith's military role.
[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]
25 years ago today - Sep 23, 1995
At a general meeting of the LDS Relief Society, the First Presidency and Twelve issue the "Proclamation on the Family" including the statement: "We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife." It concludes: "We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society." Aside from this statement's usefulness in LDS campaign against the legalization of same-sex marriages in Hawaii, the hierarchy's repeated emphasis on the importance of its being a "proclamation" suggests that this announcement will one day be presented for the sustaining vote of the general conference and added as a numbered document in the Doctrine and Covenants. However, the change in the wording of President Packer's 2010 conference talk, where the proclamation was origianlly called a 'revelation' but was changed to a 'guide' might indicate that canonization isn't inevitable.
[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)]]
115 years ago today - Sep 23, 1905; Saturday
[John W. Taylor:] Speaking of Pres[ident]. [Joseph F.] Smiths answers to questions at Washington [D.C. (Smoot Hearings)], said that Pres[ident]. Smith was by odds the best witness and had no chance to properly explain many things ask[ed] of him and any person denouncing him as having born false evidence should be handled for their fellowship. It is none of their business what goes on in other nations. Much expense and inconvenience has been gone into in order to honor the nations & keep their laws. I am not one to get worked up over the brethren & things said about them. The Lord is directing this work and it will prevail.
A great many persons are filling their mission as liars and scandle mongers but do not let them sway you in any way....
When you see the children of those in high authority dropping away, you can depend that it will fall in other places.
People who get the big head soon die in this church. Keep in a normal state in your faith, support the authorities of this Church in the hour of opposition. Protect your brethren and do your duty. To betray the brethren of this Church is a serious matter.
I have entered into Eternal engagements in my family affairs and feel proud that I have twenty three children.
I would not give one of my children for all the politic in the world. Dont worship Satan nor love liars or their works.
[Taylor (Canada) Stake Record of High Council and General Priesthood Meetings, excerpts in Quinn Papers, original in LDS Archives]
A great many persons are filling their mission as liars and scandle mongers but do not let them sway you in any way....
When you see the children of those in high authority dropping away, you can depend that it will fall in other places.
People who get the big head soon die in this church. Keep in a normal state in your faith, support the authorities of this Church in the hour of opposition. Protect your brethren and do your duty. To betray the brethren of this Church is a serious matter.
I have entered into Eternal engagements in my family affairs and feel proud that I have twenty three children.
I would not give one of my children for all the politic in the world. Dont worship Satan nor love liars or their works.
[Taylor (Canada) Stake Record of High Council and General Priesthood Meetings, excerpts in Quinn Papers, original in LDS Archives]
160 years ago today - Sep 23, 1860 (Evening)
The subject of Orson Pratt Came up again Concerning his false doctrine. President Kimball wished him to make satisfaction to President Young But President Young said he did not wish him to make any acknowledgements to him. Brother Pratt was strangely Constituted. He had acquired a good deal of knowledge upon many things but in other things He was one of the most ignorant men he ever saw in his life. He was full of integrity & would lie down & have his head Cut off for me or his religion if necessary but he will never see his Error until he goes into the spirit world. Then he will say Brother Brigham how foolish I was. Now Brother Pratt thinks that he and all the Gods will be learning for many millions of years but by & by will know all things & all will know it alike & that will be the End of their Exaltations & knowledge. ...
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal. 9 Vols. Scott G. Kenney, ed. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1983-85. 5:506-507 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. 5:506-507 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 - Sep 23, 1860 (Evening)
Pres. Young spoke very comforting words to the Twelve. He said his love for them was far above that of woman's -- Salt Lake City
[Journal History of the Church, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
[Journal History of the Church, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
165 years ago today - Sep 23, 1855
Apostle George A. Smith preaches that Mohammed "was no doubt raised up by God on purpose to scourge the world for their idolatry." He states that Mohammed had, "cautioned his people not to drink wine, or in other words, he had given them a 'word of wisdom.'" He gives a history of Islam and states "I relate this to show you what religious zeal will accomplish." Parley P. Pratt follows Smith and preaches: "Now, if we take Mohammedanism [Islam] during those dark ages, and the corruptions that are so universally prevalent over the earth, and the idolatrous systems of religion, falsely called Christianity, and weigh them in a balance; with all my education in favor of Christian nations and Christian powers, and Christian institutions, so called, with all my prejudices of early youth, and habits of thought and reading, my rational faculties would compel me to admit that the Mahometan history and Mahometan doctrine was a standard raised against the most corrupt and abominable idolatry that over perverted our earth, found in the creeds and worship of Christians, falsely so named."
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
165 years ago today - Sep 23, 1855 (Sunday)
James W. Hunt, Wm. Behunin and Edward Edwards, of the Elk Mountain mission, were killed by Indians, who also wounded Pres. Alfred N. Billings, besides burning hay and stealing cattle. The following day the colonists left their fort and started for Manti, where they arrived Sept. 30th.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
165 years ago today - Sep 23, 1855 (Evening)
[Brigham Young]
If Christ is our elder brother and Adam's Son, he must be half brother or half uncle...Did you ever think that Adam had power to eat the forbidden fruit, and then redeem himself? God had power to beget a child in the womb of the Virgin Mary - he was begotten of his Father without falling but of his mother he partook of death and had to die. Jesus Christ's advantage, he had power to lay down his life and take it up again because power was given to him to redeem the human family. He was the Son of his Father. -- Salt Lake City
[Leonard J. Arrington Papers, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
If Christ is our elder brother and Adam's Son, he must be half brother or half uncle...Did you ever think that Adam had power to eat the forbidden fruit, and then redeem himself? God had power to beget a child in the womb of the Virgin Mary - he was begotten of his Father without falling but of his mother he partook of death and had to die. Jesus Christ's advantage, he had power to lay down his life and take it up again because power was given to him to redeem the human family. He was the Son of his Father. -- Salt Lake City
[Leonard J. Arrington Papers, 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 - 1845 23 Sept.
A non-Mormon at Warsaw, Illinois, writes that "a young man by the name of McBracking" died after Mormons found him trying to burn their homes at Morley's settlement: "after shooting him in two or three places they cut his throat from ear to ear, stabbed him through the heart, cut off one ear & horribly mutilated [castrated] other parts of his body." Friends discover his corpse.
[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]
185 years ago today - Sep 23, 1835
[Wilford Woodruff]
Br Utley ... had Just returned from Kirtland he brought me A letter from W Parish also A Book Containing the doctrins & Covenants of the Church of the Latter Day Saints as A Present from O Cowdery.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Br Utley ... had Just returned from Kirtland he brought me A letter from W Parish also A Book Containing the doctrins & Covenants of the Church of the Latter Day Saints as A Present from O Cowdery.
[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 - Sep 23, 1835
[Joseph Smith]
My heart is full of desire to day, to /be/ blessed of the God of Abraham with prosperity untill I will be able to pay all my depts [debts]. For it is /the/ delight of my soul to /be/ honest. Oh Lord that thou knowes[t] right well! Help me and I will give to the poor.
[Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1835-36, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
My heart is full of desire to day, to /be/ blessed of the God of Abraham with prosperity untill I will be able to pay all my depts [debts]. For it is /the/ delight of my soul to /be/ honest. Oh Lord that thou knowes[t] right well! Help me and I will give to the poor.
[Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1835-36, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
5 years ago today - 2015 September 22
LDS apostle Richard G. Scott dies at 86, leaving three vacancies in the quorum for the first time since 1906.
[Wikipedia, 21st Century (Mormonism), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/21st_century_(Mormonism)]
[Wikipedia, 21st Century (Mormonism), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/21st_century_(Mormonism)]
120 years ago today - Sep 22, 1900
[Brigham Young Jr.]
Called upon Bro[ther]. B[enjamin]. F. Johnson who seems to be getting his eysight again. Advised him to begin to labor in the ministry as it the only way I know of to get his wives back again. Poor old man not a wife that will come near him in his forlorn condition.
[Brigham Young Jr., Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
Called upon Bro[ther]. B[enjamin]. F. Johnson who seems to be getting his eysight again. Advised him to begin to labor in the ministry as it the only way I know of to get his wives back again. Poor old man not a wife that will come near him in his forlorn condition.
[Brigham Young Jr., Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
110 years ago today - Sep 22, 1910; Thursday
[George F. Richards]
At our Council meeting I asked permission to become a director in the Utah Implement Co[mpany] to which all consented saying there could be no objection to such action and that several of the members of our Council and the presidency are members of one or more business company boards.
[George F. Richards, Diary]
At our Council meeting I asked permission to become a director in the Utah Implement Co[mpany] to which all consented saying there could be no objection to such action and that several of the members of our Council and the presidency are members of one or more business company boards.
[George F. Richards, Diary]
130 years ago today - Sep 22, 1890
[George Q. Cannon]
Brothers F[ranklin]. S. Richards and C[harles]. W. Penrose came in this morning and had a lengthy conversation with the First Presidency concerning the political situation and the report of the Utah Commission. The report was evidently handed by the Commission to the 'Tribune' people in this city for the latter to publish what they call a synopsis of the Report. It is said to be the most damaging Report ever made. They have accused us of teaching polygamyand encouraging people in its practice, and since June 1889, there have been at least 45 plural marriages contracted in this Territory. I felt considerably stirred up over this, and thought that there should be a square denial, and I remarked that perhaps no better chance had been offered to us to officially, as leaders of the Church, make public our views concerning the doctrine and the law that had been enacted. It is evident from that which is being done by our enemies that they are determined, now that Congress is 551 so near its adjournment, to bring pressure to bear from the enactment of some bills pending before it.
[George Q. Cannon Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
Brothers F[ranklin]. S. Richards and C[harles]. W. Penrose came in this morning and had a lengthy conversation with the First Presidency concerning the political situation and the report of the Utah Commission. The report was evidently handed by the Commission to the 'Tribune' people in this city for the latter to publish what they call a synopsis of the Report. It is said to be the most damaging Report ever made. They have accused us of teaching polygamyand encouraging people in its practice, and since June 1889, there have been at least 45 plural marriages contracted in this Territory. I felt considerably stirred up over this, and thought that there should be a square denial, and I remarked that perhaps no better chance had been offered to us to officially, as leaders of the Church, make public our views concerning the doctrine and the law that had been enacted. It is evident from that which is being done by our enemies that they are determined, now that Congress is 551 so near its adjournment, to bring pressure to bear from the enactment of some bills pending before it.
[George Q. Cannon Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
140 years ago today - Sep 22, 1880
Patriarchal Blessing of Mary E. Lightner [polyamdrous wife of Joseph Smith & Brigham Young] given by Levi Hancock ... as the Spirit of the Lord God of Joseph the Prophet, will suggest to my mind to seal upon thee ... thy Fathers have Prayed for thee, which were among th[e] Prophets, when they sought for Blessings to rest upon their children, the Lord answered them to the - of their hearts, that they should be remembered forever in the last days, thou did'st agree to come and take thy chances, among the Daughters of Israel and assist the Sons of the Prophets to establish upon the Earth ...
[Patriarchal Blessings]
[Patriarchal Blessings]
155 years ago today - Sep 22, 1865
Presidet B Young 13 Minuts. He said that this people are the best people that Ever dwelt upon the Earth. They have advanced far more in the same time than the people of Enoch did. G Q Cannon dismissed.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
155 years ago today - Sep 22, 1865 (Friday)
Captain Miner G, Atwood's company of immigrating Saints was attacked by Indians west of Fort Laramie. Several of the brethren were wounded and one woman (Mrs. Grundtvig) carried away by the savages.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
160 years ago today - Sep 22, 1860
[Brigham Young]
The Lord don't care a groat about a man's being drunk, it is us and the weak who stumble over his [weaknesses] and go to hell, and we have to tie the threads up. God don't care a groat about a man's getting drunk, it is the weak who stumble over into hell over them, and we have to tie the threads up'- It is the imperative duty of all who have means to go and cloth themselves, and like Paul be chargeable to no one, and if you get money without begging, take it [before] the people. The people have subscribed liberally, seems as though the bottom fell out. -- SLC Seventies Hall
[General Church Minutes, 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 Lord don't care a groat about a man's being drunk, it is us and the weak who stumble over his [weaknesses] and go to hell, and we have to tie the threads up. God don't care a groat about a man's getting drunk, it is the weak who stumble over into hell over them, and we have to tie the threads up'- It is the imperative duty of all who have means to go and cloth themselves, and like Paul be chargeable to no one, and if you get money without begging, take it [before] the people. The people have subscribed liberally, seems as though the bottom fell out. -- SLC Seventies Hall
[General Church Minutes, 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 - Sep 22, 1850 (Afternoon)
[Brigham Young]
... I have no fault to find, in killing the Indians - when they will tear down the fences, destroy the grain - I will not have it from whites, or the red man - my feelings are exquisite - death on the mobocrat ...
[Thomas Bullock Minutes, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
... I have no fault to find, in killing the Indians - when they will tear down the fences, destroy the grain - I will not have it from whites, or the red man - my feelings are exquisite - death on the mobocrat ...
[Thomas Bullock Minutes, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
185 years ago today - Sep 22, 1835
[Patriarchal]
Blessing for John Corrill by Joseph Smith Jr. on September 22, 1835... his name shall be had in remembrance and be known among all nations; and it shall be said of him among governors, rulers and kings: This man reared the temple of God in Zion. And he shall be reverenced because of his great sagacity. His life shall be prolonged until he is very old. He shall be accounted among the wise counsellors of Israel, and he shall hear the voice of the Lord his God, and receive counsel by the ministering of angels; and shall be very terrible unto his enemies, and his soul shall be satisfied in seeing the wrath of God poured out upon them to the uttermost. ...
[Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:14, 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]
Blessing for John Corrill by Joseph Smith Jr. on September 22, 1835... his name shall be had in remembrance and be known among all nations; and it shall be said of him among governors, rulers and kings: This man reared the temple of God in Zion. And he shall be reverenced because of his great sagacity. His life shall be prolonged until he is very old. He shall be accounted among the wise counsellors of Israel, and he shall hear the voice of the Lord his God, and receive counsel by the ministering of angels; and shall be very terrible unto his enemies, and his soul shall be satisfied in seeing the wrath of God poured out upon them to the uttermost. ...
[Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:14, 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]
185 years ago today - Sep 22, 1835
[Patriarchal]
Blessing for David Whitmer by Joseph Smith Jr. ... He shall yet stand upon the land of Zion, from whence he has been driven, and shall find inheritance there, and shall be a ruler in Zion until he is old and well stricken in years. ... his testimony shall shine as fair as the Sun, and as a diamond it shall remain untarnished. There shall not be spot upon his character while he lives, neither upon his seed after him unto the latest posterity. ... Given like the foregoing blessings, by vision, to Joseph Smith, Jr. the Seer, September 22, 1835, and recorded Oct. 2, 1835.
[Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:13-14, 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]
Blessing for David Whitmer by Joseph Smith Jr. ... He shall yet stand upon the land of Zion, from whence he has been driven, and shall find inheritance there, and shall be a ruler in Zion until he is old and well stricken in years. ... his testimony shall shine as fair as the Sun, and as a diamond it shall remain untarnished. There shall not be spot upon his character while he lives, neither upon his seed after him unto the latest posterity. ... Given like the foregoing blessings, by vision, to Joseph Smith, Jr. the Seer, September 22, 1835, and recorded Oct. 2, 1835.
[Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:13-14, 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]
185 years ago today - 1835: 22 September
Vision to Oliver concerning Joseph Smith, Jr....
Blessed of the Lord is my brother for the integrity of his heart and the steadfastness of his soul. Upheld by the aim of the Almighty, he shall never fall, but shall be strengthened by his right hand till he overcomes. Like Jacob of old he shall wrestle with the angel, and as a prince shall he have power with God, and shall prevail. Ever faithful to his friends and true to his word, the goodness of the Most High shall sustain him, and thousands shall stand up to defend him from the hand of his enemies... ... From amid the burning bush, like Moses of old, shall he hear the voice, saying, I am the God of thy fathers ... In due time, shall he go forth toward the north, and by the power of his word shall the deep begin to give way and the ice melt before the sun. By the keys of the Kingdom shall he lead Israel into the land of Zion ... his feet shall be swift to execute the commandment of the Most High when he shall say, Destroy. His name shall be had in everlasting remembrance, and his seed often before they shall be saved to the uttermost. ... In palaces of governors, rulers and kings shall he be honored, even in his person... He shall partake of ... the chief things of the ancient mountains, the precious things that couch beneath, and of the treasures hid in the sand. The record of past ages and generations, and the histories of ancient days shall he bring forth: even the record of the Nephites shall he again obtain, with all those hid up by Mormon, and others who were righteous, and many others, till he is overwhelmed with knowledge. ... In his hands shall the Urim and Thummim remain and the holy ministry, and the keys of the evangelical priesthood, also, for an everlasting priesthood forever, even the patriarchal; for behold he is the first patriarch in the last days. He shall sit in the great assembly and general council of patriarchs, and execute the will and commandment of God under the direction of the Ancient of Days... Multitudes, multitudes, shall come to acknowledge of the truth through his ministry, and he shall be welcomed into the presence of Kings and the great ones of the earth, for he shall claim his place among the nobles of the earth and shall be reverenced by them. He shall also be filled with abundance of the fat of the earth: his flocks shall bring forth thousands and tens of thousands: his fats [sic] shall overflow with wine and oil: his cattle shall increase to a multitude: he shall have horses and mules, asses, she asses and dromedaries, camels and elephants, and all swift beasts, and when he goes forth in haste his chariots shall roar like the approach of an army: he shall have gold and silver, precious stones, diamonds, pearls, and the pure platina, with the antiquities of every kind. Thus shall God bless, and thus shall he be prospered: and he shall have peace after a little; for his enemies shall be consumed, many of them, and many shall turn and be his friends in very deed: he shall remain to a good old age, even till his head is like the pure wool. ... Thus closes the vision, and thus it shall be; even so. Amen...."
[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]
Blessed of the Lord is my brother for the integrity of his heart and the steadfastness of his soul. Upheld by the aim of the Almighty, he shall never fall, but shall be strengthened by his right hand till he overcomes. Like Jacob of old he shall wrestle with the angel, and as a prince shall he have power with God, and shall prevail. Ever faithful to his friends and true to his word, the goodness of the Most High shall sustain him, and thousands shall stand up to defend him from the hand of his enemies... ... From amid the burning bush, like Moses of old, shall he hear the voice, saying, I am the God of thy fathers ... In due time, shall he go forth toward the north, and by the power of his word shall the deep begin to give way and the ice melt before the sun. By the keys of the Kingdom shall he lead Israel into the land of Zion ... his feet shall be swift to execute the commandment of the Most High when he shall say, Destroy. His name shall be had in everlasting remembrance, and his seed often before they shall be saved to the uttermost. ... In palaces of governors, rulers and kings shall he be honored, even in his person... He shall partake of ... the chief things of the ancient mountains, the precious things that couch beneath, and of the treasures hid in the sand. The record of past ages and generations, and the histories of ancient days shall he bring forth: even the record of the Nephites shall he again obtain, with all those hid up by Mormon, and others who were righteous, and many others, till he is overwhelmed with knowledge. ... In his hands shall the Urim and Thummim remain and the holy ministry, and the keys of the evangelical priesthood, also, for an everlasting priesthood forever, even the patriarchal; for behold he is the first patriarch in the last days. He shall sit in the great assembly and general council of patriarchs, and execute the will and commandment of God under the direction of the Ancient of Days... Multitudes, multitudes, shall come to acknowledge of the truth through his ministry, and he shall be welcomed into the presence of Kings and the great ones of the earth, for he shall claim his place among the nobles of the earth and shall be reverenced by them. He shall also be filled with abundance of the fat of the earth: his flocks shall bring forth thousands and tens of thousands: his fats [sic] shall overflow with wine and oil: his cattle shall increase to a multitude: he shall have horses and mules, asses, she asses and dromedaries, camels and elephants, and all swift beasts, and when he goes forth in haste his chariots shall roar like the approach of an army: he shall have gold and silver, precious stones, diamonds, pearls, and the pure platina, with the antiquities of every kind. Thus shall God bless, and thus shall he be prospered: and he shall have peace after a little; for his enemies shall be consumed, many of them, and many shall turn and be his friends in very deed: he shall remain to a good old age, even till his head is like the pure wool. ... Thus closes the vision, and thus it shall be; even so. Amen...."
[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]
195 years ago today - Sep 22, 1825
Joseph Smith visits Cumorah and returns empty handed. Prior to this date, Smith had selected Samuel T. Lawrence as the "right person", and either Smith changed his mind and visited Cumorah alone, or brought Lawrence to the hill but the angel failed to appear. .
[Quinn 1998, p. 162; Anderson 2001, chronology; Wikipedia: Chronology of Mormonism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Mormonism]
[Quinn 1998, p. 162; Anderson 2001, chronology; Wikipedia: Chronology of Mormonism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Mormonism]
55 years ago today - Sep 21, 1965
The First Presidency establishes a missionary quota in the United States, limiting the number of those serving to two per ward to comply with U.S. Selective Service rules during the Vietnam War.
60 years ago today - Sep 21, 1960
[David O. McKay Office Journal]
While at my apartment at the Hotel, talked to Ezra Taft Beneon in Washington, D.C. Told him that we do not want him to enter the political campaigns this Fall. [Some had urged him to run for governer of Utah]
[McKay, David O., Office Journal]
While at my apartment at the Hotel, talked to Ezra Taft Beneon in Washington, D.C. Told him that we do not want him to enter the political campaigns this Fall. [Some had urged him to run for governer of Utah]
[McKay, David O., Office Journal]
65 years ago today - Sep 21, 1955
Joel F. LeBaron incorporates the Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times, the only Mormon Fundamentalist group to aggressively proselytize.
[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)]]
85 years ago today - Sep 21, 1935
[David O. McKay]
You state in your letter that you 'have been going with girl for the past two years whose mother and your grandmother are half sisters, both having the same father,' and you ask my opinion as to the advisability of your marrying.
Of course you understand that the laws of Utah prohibit first cousins from marrying. The Church however, has made no ruling against such unions. One of my dearest friends, a leading man in the Stat of Utah, married his first cousin and has reared one of the choicest families in the State' they excel in intellectuality and in moral character.
[David O. McKay, Letter to Darrel L. Crane, 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 state in your letter that you 'have been going with girl for the past two years whose mother and your grandmother are half sisters, both having the same father,' and you ask my opinion as to the advisability of your marrying.
Of course you understand that the laws of Utah prohibit first cousins from marrying. The Church however, has made no ruling against such unions. One of my dearest friends, a leading man in the Stat of Utah, married his first cousin and has reared one of the choicest families in the State' they excel in intellectuality and in moral character.
[David O. McKay, Letter to Darrel L. Crane, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
125 years ago today - Sep 21, 1895
[Francis M. Lyman]
[Bunkerville] Bro[ther]s Dudly Leavitt and Nephi Johnson were in the meeting. I talked with those two about the Mountain Meadows Massacre. The first gave me but little information. Bro[ther] Johnson was the man who gave the word to the Indians to fire at the last general killing. He denies that Higby and White did the killing that Adair tells of. He says white men did most of the killing. He says Kirby deserves mercy.
[Excerpts of Apostle Francis M. Lyman Diaries, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Bunkerville] Bro[ther]s Dudly Leavitt and Nephi Johnson were in the meeting. I talked with those two about the Mountain Meadows Massacre. The first gave me but little information. Bro[ther] Johnson was the man who gave the word to the Indians to fire at the last general killing. He denies that Higby and White did the killing that Adair tells of. He says white men did most of the killing. He says Kirby deserves mercy.
[Excerpts of Apostle Francis M. Lyman Diaries, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
135 years ago today - Sep 21, 1885
[Wilford Woodruff]
21 I have felt for several years that there was a Change coming over Zion & over our Nation & the world at large. I have spoken of it in public in several instances and it has Commenced. The United States Government has sent Judges & Marshals to Utah to prosicute all the Mormons they Can for Poligamy & Cohabitation with their own wives and they have turned it more into persecution than prosecution untill our prisions are Crouded with the Leading Men of the Church. All the Leading Men are Either in prision or Exhile. All of the 3 first presidency are hid up & myself & the Twelve Apostles are in Exhile and many other leading men of the Church. And the United States Government with the Editors & Priest are laboring to destroy the Saints of God. We shall see.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
21 I have felt for several years that there was a Change coming over Zion & over our Nation & the world at large. I have spoken of it in public in several instances and it has Commenced. The United States Government has sent Judges & Marshals to Utah to prosicute all the Mormons they Can for Poligamy & Cohabitation with their own wives and they have turned it more into persecution than prosecution untill our prisions are Crouded with the Leading Men of the Church. All the Leading Men are Either in prision or Exhile. All of the 3 first presidency are hid up & myself & the Twelve Apostles are in Exhile and many other leading men of the Church. And the United States Government with the Editors & Priest are laboring to destroy the Saints of God. We shall see.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
175 years ago today - Sep 21, 1845
... Mrs Woodruff was more composed concerning the death of her Mother & slep comfortible during the night. We had both dreamed of loosing teath which is generally a sign of a death of some friend.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
180 years ago today - Sep 21, 1840. Monday.
[William Clayton]
Good sail. At night Elder Turley spoke considerable on cleanliness and afterwards went round the births to see if all the company undressed. Some was found with their cloths on and some had never pulled their cloths off since they came on deck but had done their dirt in their cloths. Others had dirt in the corner of their birth. This made the most awful smell when discovered almost to much to bear. Elder Turley undressed and washed them and ordered the place cleaned out. [Some of the company] are filthy indeed.
[George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://bit.ly/WilliamClayton]
Good sail. At night Elder Turley spoke considerable on cleanliness and afterwards went round the births to see if all the company undressed. Some was found with their cloths on and some had never pulled their cloths off since they came on deck but had done their dirt in their cloths. Others had dirt in the corner of their birth. This made the most awful smell when discovered almost to much to bear. Elder Turley undressed and washed them and ordered the place cleaned out. [Some of the company] are filthy indeed.
[George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://bit.ly/WilliamClayton]
180 years ago today - 1840: 21 September
[Patriarchal Blessing]
John C. Bennett. (Given by Hyrum Smith.) ... Thy name shall be known in many nations, and thy voice shall be heard among many people. Yea, unto many of the remnants of Israel shalt thou be known, and when they shall bear of thy coming they shall rejoice, and thou shalt proclaim the gospel unto many tribes of the house of Israel.
If thou shouldst step aside from the path of rectitude at any time because of temptation, the Lord shall call after thee, because of the integrity of thine heart, and thou shalt return to the path from whence thou hast strayed...
God is with thee, and has wrought upon thy heart to come up to this place... Turn not aside from the truth for the popularity of the world; but be like Paul. ... If thou continue faithful and steadfast in the Everlasting Covenant, thou shalt have power over the winds and the waves, and they shall obey thy voice when thou shalt speak in the name of Jesus Christ.
The power of God shall shield thee while thou art laboring for Zion. Thou shalt outride the storm of adversity with patience, and shalt be crowned with immortality in the Celestial Kingdom, when Christ shall descend. Even so, Amen."
[The History of the Saints, or an Expose of Joe Smith and Mormonism, Boston: Leland & Whiting, 1842; pp. 42-44, in Selected LDS Patriarchal Blessings, New Mormon Studies CD ROM, Signature Book, 2009, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
John C. Bennett. (Given by Hyrum Smith.) ... Thy name shall be known in many nations, and thy voice shall be heard among many people. Yea, unto many of the remnants of Israel shalt thou be known, and when they shall bear of thy coming they shall rejoice, and thou shalt proclaim the gospel unto many tribes of the house of Israel.
If thou shouldst step aside from the path of rectitude at any time because of temptation, the Lord shall call after thee, because of the integrity of thine heart, and thou shalt return to the path from whence thou hast strayed...
God is with thee, and has wrought upon thy heart to come up to this place... Turn not aside from the truth for the popularity of the world; but be like Paul. ... If thou continue faithful and steadfast in the Everlasting Covenant, thou shalt have power over the winds and the waves, and they shall obey thy voice when thou shalt speak in the name of Jesus Christ.
The power of God shall shield thee while thou art laboring for Zion. Thou shalt outride the storm of adversity with patience, and shalt be crowned with immortality in the Celestial Kingdom, when Christ shall descend. Even so, Amen."
[The History of the Saints, or an Expose of Joe Smith and Mormonism, Boston: Leland & Whiting, 1842; pp. 42-44, in Selected LDS Patriarchal Blessings, New Mormon Studies CD ROM, Signature Book, 2009, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
190 years ago today - Sep 21, 1830
In the presence of six elders, Joseph Smith received D&C 29, a revelation concerning the Millennium.
[Joseph Smith Resource Center: Daily Events in the Life of Joseph Smith, http://josephsmith.net/josephsmith/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=e581001cfb340010VgnVCM1000001f5e340aRCRDlocale=0]
[Joseph Smith Resource Center: Daily Events in the Life of Joseph Smith, http://josephsmith.net/josephsmith/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=e581001cfb340010VgnVCM1000001f5e340aRCRDlocale=0]
30 years ago today - Sep 20, 1990
Bookcraft, Inc. releases Gerald N. Lund's first volume in the historical novel series The Work and the Glory. The series sells more than a million copies, becoming one of the most successful ventures in Church publication history.
70 years ago today - Sep 20, 1950
[George Albert Smith]
"LeRoy Snow came to see Arthur about Brother Romney writing the story of his father's lifePresident Lorenzo Snow. I instructed Arthur to have LeRoy see me at some time so that I could talk with him concerning this matter. I am sure that there is some phase of the book that Roy might like to include which would be inadvisable."
[Journals of George Albert Smith]
"LeRoy Snow came to see Arthur about Brother Romney writing the story of his father's lifePresident Lorenzo Snow. I instructed Arthur to have LeRoy see me at some time so that I could talk with him concerning this matter. I am sure that there is some phase of the book that Roy might like to include which would be inadvisable."
[Journals of George Albert Smith]
85 years ago today - Sep 20, 1935
I had a burning ambition, when I was a young man, to obtain an education, but left school at the age of fifteen, and went to work in order to support my widowed mother. I was offered a cadetship at the Naval Academy, and it nearly broke my heart to refuse the offer, but I said: 'Mother, I am going to stay home and take care of you.' The dream of my life was to get an education.
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Mr. C. F. Steed, 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]
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Mr. C. F. Steed, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
115 years ago today - Sep 20, 1905
As Joseph F. Smith and his wife sleep, a burglar robs their bedroom.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
120 years ago today - Sep 20, 1900
[Marriner W. Merrill]
I went to the Tabernacle and heard Mr. [President] Roosevelt and some of his party speak on the issues of the day. They complimented Utah people for having so many children to inhabit the land and build up the country. Had a good meeting. No vindictive feeling toward the Democratic Party was indulged in; the party were Republicans. (It was at this meeting, when Theodore Roosevelt was informed that father had 45 children, that he is reported to have said "Bully" and pulled out of his vest pocket a gold button to be given father as a souvenir. M. C. M.)
[I suspect the parenthetical note was added by one of Marriner Merrill's children]
[Notes from the Miscellaneous Record Book, 1886-1906: Selected diary notes from the journal books of Marriner Wood Merrill, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I went to the Tabernacle and heard Mr. [President] Roosevelt and some of his party speak on the issues of the day. They complimented Utah people for having so many children to inhabit the land and build up the country. Had a good meeting. No vindictive feeling toward the Democratic Party was indulged in; the party were Republicans. (It was at this meeting, when Theodore Roosevelt was informed that father had 45 children, that he is reported to have said "Bully" and pulled out of his vest pocket a gold button to be given father as a souvenir. M. C. M.)
[I suspect the parenthetical note was added by one of Marriner Merrill's children]
[Notes from the Miscellaneous Record Book, 1886-1906: Selected diary notes from the journal books of Marriner Wood Merrill, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
130 years ago today - Saturday, Sep 20, 1890
[John Henry Smith]
Kanab
The High Council met at 8 a.m. The following decision was made.
Decision
In the matter of the Bishopric of the Kanab Ward against the Presidency of the Kanab Stake of Zion.
In the first Count we find the rules of the ward in regard to public dances should not have been applied to private parties; but the Presidency of the Stake should have given instructions for the correction of this matter to the Bishopric of the Ward.
The second Count pertains to an incorporate[d] water company whose business policy should be dictated by the stockholders, and while we do not approve of ecclesiastical interference in such matters, if any influence is used it should be for the promotion of union.
... The fourth Count relates to the removal of the Kanab Bishopric by the Presidency of the Stake without a hearing before the High Council.
In this matter we find that it was a strained construction which enabled the Presidency to consider the letter of the Bishopric as a resignation, and their release was hasty and unwarranted....
The conference convened in the stake academy building at 10 a.m. ... Francis M. Lyman took up the ballance of the time explaining to the people their condition and calling for repentance from certain brethren who had made some very harsh remarks about the bishop.
... The High Council and Priesthood of the Stake met at 7 p.m. the brethren nominated a number of men from whom the apostles selected by the aid of those present the bishop and Council. Bishop L. C. Mariger having resigned in the morning at the High Council meeting this action was found necessary. Joel H. Johnson was chosen for Bishop, Alfred Young for first Councillor and Asa W. Judd for second Councillor. All were unanimously sustained.
[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]
Kanab
The High Council met at 8 a.m. The following decision was made.
Decision
In the matter of the Bishopric of the Kanab Ward against the Presidency of the Kanab Stake of Zion.
In the first Count we find the rules of the ward in regard to public dances should not have been applied to private parties; but the Presidency of the Stake should have given instructions for the correction of this matter to the Bishopric of the Ward.
The second Count pertains to an incorporate[d] water company whose business policy should be dictated by the stockholders, and while we do not approve of ecclesiastical interference in such matters, if any influence is used it should be for the promotion of union.
... The fourth Count relates to the removal of the Kanab Bishopric by the Presidency of the Stake without a hearing before the High Council.
In this matter we find that it was a strained construction which enabled the Presidency to consider the letter of the Bishopric as a resignation, and their release was hasty and unwarranted....
The conference convened in the stake academy building at 10 a.m. ... Francis M. Lyman took up the ballance of the time explaining to the people their condition and calling for repentance from certain brethren who had made some very harsh remarks about the bishop.
... The High Council and Priesthood of the Stake met at 7 p.m. the brethren nominated a number of men from whom the apostles selected by the aid of those present the bishop and Council. Bishop L. C. Mariger having resigned in the morning at the High Council meeting this action was found necessary. Joel H. Johnson was chosen for Bishop, Alfred Young for first Councillor and Asa W. Judd for second Councillor. All were unanimously sustained.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
135 years ago today - Sunday, Sep 20, 1885
[John Henry Smith]
Ashley, Uinta County
... The brethren voted to ... forgive each other their trespasses.
[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]
Ashley, Uinta County
... The brethren voted to ... forgive each other their trespasses.
[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]
155 years ago today - Sep 20, 1865
The Salt Lake Telegram reports that Salt Lake City's Jews celebrate Yom Kippur in the LDS 14th Ward chapel, as arranged by Brigham Young.
[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)]]
170 years ago today - Sep 20, 1850
Brigham Young: Appointed governor of Utah Territory by Millard Fillmore 20 September 1850.
[Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith]
[Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith]
175 years ago today - Sep 20, 1845
Lieutenant General Brigham Young said he laid hands on the deceased the day he was shot that he felt to pronounce a martyr blessing and the blessing of a Martyr crown, in he has died in the cause of mobocracy, I feel to sympathize with this Father Phippins. He died but he desired to live for the same cause as we do. He shall come forth in the first resurrection. I am for work and preach to live long upon the earth. God bless you, Amen. -- Nauvoo, Illinois
[On the Mormon Frontier, the Diaries of Hosea Stout. Juanita Brooks, ed. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1964. 1:69, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
[On the Mormon Frontier, the Diaries of Hosea Stout. Juanita Brooks, ed. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1964. 1:69, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
25 years ago today - Sep 19, 1995
Wallace B. Smith, president of the RLDS church, announces that his successor will be W. Grant McMurray, age forty-eight. Effective as of April 1996, this ends the patrilineal succession of Joseph Smith's descendants as presidents of the RLDS church since 1860.
[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)]]
45 years ago today - Sep 19, 1975
A First Presidency letter instructs that those Mormons who refuse to pay federal income taxes are violating the law and the church's 12th Article of Faith.
[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 - Sep 19, 1965
Reed Benson, son of Ezra Taft Benson, becomes national directory of public relations for the ultra-right wing John Birch Society
["John Birch Society Representative Reed Benson," Ogden Standard-Examiner, 19 Sept. 1965, A-6. 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.]
["John Birch Society Representative Reed Benson," Ogden Standard-Examiner, 19 Sept. 1965, A-6. 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.]
120 years ago today - Sep 19, 1900
Thursday the 19th of September 1900 was the OUTSTANDING DAY OF OUR LIFE, President Frank Y. Taylor was authorized by the First Presidency of the Church to invite Ida and I TO RECEIVE OUR SECOND ANNOINTINGS, AND IN THE TEMPLE, ON THIS MOMENTOUS DAY, President John R. Winder, President of the [Salt Lake] Temple, explained fully what the 2nd annontings were and told us of the glorious promises offered to those who keep the commandments of the Lord and live a worthy and holy life: that these were the highest of all earthly blessings and no one receives them but those selected by the President of the Church. No one else has that right. How wonderful they were, what hopes they inspire, what a strength they give, what anticipations they awaken in our hearts and how wonderful it is to feel a nearness to the Lord by righteous living. We were thrilled in expectancy and joyous in hopes of living worthy to secure all that was promised us. We have started on an everlasting journey and all depends on whether we endure until the end.
[John M. Whitaker journal, Sept. 19, 1900, Marriott Library; emphasis in original, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
[John M. Whitaker journal, Sept. 19, 1900, Marriott Library; emphasis in original, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
125 years ago today - Sep 19, 1895
Apostle Francis M. Lyman, visiting in St. Joseph, Nevada, writes "After meeting bro[ther] George Adair told me all about the Mountain Meadow affair. There were but few White men who shed blood. John M. Higby and Joseph White were the worst, having killed a dozen each. Haight did no killing. Stewart was not there. Lee also did much killing. White fired on the camp." Two days later he writes "Bro[ther]s Dudly Leavitt and Nephi Johnson were in the meeting. I talked with those two about the Mountain Meadows Massacre. The first gave me but little information. Bro[ther] Johnson was the man who gave the word to the Indians to fire at the last general killing. He denies that Higby and White did the killing that Adair tells of. He says white men did most of the killing."
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
175 years ago today - Sep 19, 1845
The terms of Peace which they [the mob] offered us – were about as follows if we would enter into bonds – that if by the 1st day of April next leave this state – & all things that appertained to them – & pledge all the property of the church for the performance of the same we shall live in peace this winter[.] ... President Brigham Young requested the Council to unite with him in prayer for the success of our troops &c which they did ... Scott reported that the Hiram Kimball our Mail Carrier with his guard were assaulted in the most inhuman manner their lives threatened & by submitting from an absolute to a sound whipping were permitted to make their way for nauvoo under penalty of death if as ever again seen in Leokuk [Keokuk]
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
175 years ago today - 19 [Sept 1845]
[Brigham Young]
From the movements it appears the time to favor Zion has come for our men have had perfect success, every shot the brethren have made has taken effect and not a gun missed fire. ... Let all other work be stoped (except the Temple, let the hands that are at work there continue if they have to cary the sword in one hand while they work with the other) ...
[Brigham Young Journal # 4 in the handwriting of: William Clayton, Evan Greene, John D. Lee, Willard Richards. First person account kept by others. 'Lieut. Genl Brigham Young's Journal 1844']
From the movements it appears the time to favor Zion has come for our men have had perfect success, every shot the brethren have made has taken effect and not a gun missed fire. ... Let all other work be stoped (except the Temple, let the hands that are at work there continue if they have to cary the sword in one hand while they work with the other) ...
[Brigham Young Journal # 4 in the handwriting of: William Clayton, Evan Greene, John D. Lee, Willard Richards. First person account kept by others. 'Lieut. Genl Brigham Young's Journal 1844']
175 years ago today - Sep 19, 1845
[Anointed Quorum]
"Before council broke up President Young and the company kneeled down and he offered up prayers that the Lord would preserve his servants and ddiver those who had been active in the mob that killed Joseph and Hyrum into our hands that they might received their desserts" .
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Signature Books, 1994, Appendex: Meetings and Initiations of the Anointed Quorum, 1842-45, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
"Before council broke up President Young and the company kneeled down and he offered up prayers that the Lord would preserve his servants and ddiver those who had been active in the mob that killed Joseph and Hyrum into our hands that they might received their desserts" .
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Signature Books, 1994, Appendex: Meetings and Initiations of the Anointed Quorum, 1842-45, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
190 years ago today - Sept 19, 1830
On his 19th birthday Orson Pratt is baptized into the Mormon Church by his brother Parley. He becomes one of the first apostles, almost commits suicide after finding that Joseph Smith had propositioned his wife, is excommunicated, rebaptized, fulfills 11 missions for the church. He teaches himself mathematics, physics and astronomy and publishes textbooks on advanced algebra. He differs in doctrinal matters with president Brigham Young and is threatened with disciplinary action over it but Pratt's views are later adopted by the Church while Young's are labeled as "heresy." Before he dies in 1881 Orson Pratt had been a Mormon longer than any other person.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
35 years ago today - Sep 18, 1985.
Stan Larson, a scripture-translation researcher in the LDS Translation Division, is suspended after his supervisor receives a copy of his paper, "The Sermon on the Mount: What Its Textual Transformation Discloses Concerning the Historicity of the Book of Mormon," from another ward member. Larson had compared the Sermon on the Mount in the Book of Mormon to the oldest known manuscripts, monastic documents, and papyri versions and found that Joseph Smith's translation contains errors which do not appear before the 1769 edition of the King James Version. Larson concluded that "Joseph Smith plagiarized from the KJV when dictating the biblical quotations in the Book of Mormon." He is given the choice of being fired or resigning with one month severance pay. He resigns.
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1]
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1]
110 years ago today - Sep 18, 1910
[Charles W. Penrose]
Aft[ernoo]n Big meeting [Joseph W.] McMurrin spoke I followed on forbidding plural marriages.
[Charles W. Penrose Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
Aft[ernoo]n Big meeting [Joseph W.] McMurrin spoke I followed on forbidding plural marriages.
[Charles W. Penrose Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
125 years ago today - Sep 18, 1895
[Joseph F. Smith]
... As to the matter of adoptions, you understand that children are to be sealed to their own parents so far as possible, and when not any further possible, the chain (Genealogical chain) is to be linked on to the Prophet who stands at the Head of this great dispensation. ...
[Joseph F. Smith to Charles F. Middleton, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
... As to the matter of adoptions, you understand that children are to be sealed to their own parents so far as possible, and when not any further possible, the chain (Genealogical chain) is to be linked on to the Prophet who stands at the Head of this great dispensation. ...
[Joseph F. Smith to Charles F. Middleton, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
135 years ago today - Sep 18, 1885
John Sharp, a local bishop, agrees in court to obey the anti-polygamy laws. He is the first Utah polygamist to be convicted and only fined. Regarded as a traitor, he is released as bishop on 1 Oct. However, Sharp remains as chair of the LDS People's Party central committees for Salt Lake County and Utah territory until 1887. Therefore, it is unlikely he would have been released from the Council of Fifty had it convened after Oct. 1884.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
140 years ago today - Sep 18, 1880
Orson Pratt gave his most specific identification of the personages in the First Vision:"…in the spring of 1820…in answer to his prayers, there was the manifestation of two of the great personages in the heavens—not angels, not messengers, but two persons that hold the keys of authority over all the creations of the universe. Who were they? God the Eternal Father and his Son Jesus Christ…"
["Journal of Discourses", Vol. 21, p.308, 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. 21, p.308, in A Documented History of Joseph Smith's First Vision, http://beggarsbread.org/2013/04/01/a-documented-history-of-joseph-smiths-first-vision/]
175 years ago today - Sep 18, 1845 (Thursday)
Sheriff Backenstos, with a posse consisting of some seven hundred men [including many Mormons], surrounded Carthage, Ill., to make arrests, but the house-burners had fled. He also issued a proclamation to the mobbers to disperse, which, however, was not obeyed, as they went to Missouri and other places, preparing for new depredations.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
180 years ago today - September 18, 1840. Friday.
William Clayton writes "I did not blieve it was the will of God we should lose one soul [to death]". Some of the branch believes a sick child will die and Clayton thought "this showed [] was some unbelief in our midst." "We prayed with the children and desired all to hold them by faith. But after all our exertions Brother hoomes' child died the same night. This as as a grief to our minds, but it was so."
[George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://bit.ly/WilliamClayton]
[George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://bit.ly/WilliamClayton]
15 years ago today - Sep 17, 2005
Elder [Bruce C.] Hafen recounted how, in 1953, a young staff member in the Missionary Department named Gordon B. Hinckley was called into the office of President [David O.] McKay and given the difficult assignment of devising a way to present the temple ordinances in eight languages. After weeks of studying the temple ordinances, pleading with the Lord and counseling with President McKay in the Salt Lake Temple, Brother Hinckley proposed presenting the endowment ordinances in movie form. When the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve approved the idea, the fifth floor of the Salt Lake Temple was organized into a sacred movie set where filming took place.
[Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
[Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
75 years ago today - Sep 17, 1945
... he [George Albert Smith] wishes me to say that he has not recollection of the incident to which you refer, but it might have happened, because while the Word of Wisdom mentions neither tea nor coffee, nevertheless, while the Prophet was still living his brother Hyrum specifically stated that 'hot drink' meant tea and coffee, and it has been also generally understood that it is the active drugs in those beverages that make them harmful and that where those drugs have been removed, the harmful effect resulting therefrom is absent. He feels that probably there would not be much injury result from imbibing of 1/33 of the caffeine in a cup of coffee. ...
On the question of tithing, the First Presidency have repeatedly left that matter where the revelation leaves it, namely, that you should pay one tenth of your 'interest annually,' leaving it to each individual to determine how much tithing he should pay under that rule. ...
[Joseph Anderson, Letter to J. Leland Anderson, 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]
On the question of tithing, the First Presidency have repeatedly left that matter where the revelation leaves it, namely, that you should pay one tenth of your 'interest annually,' leaving it to each individual to determine how much tithing he should pay under that rule. ...
[Joseph Anderson, Letter to J. Leland Anderson, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
95 years ago today - Sep 17, 1925
Heber J. Grant writes: "Had I had any knowledge of what is known as the Pari betting system I never would have consented to go to the races the opening day... The racing that is now being conducted is licensed gambling under a state law. The law was passed during my absence from the city and I regret exceedingly that it ever got on the statue books, and I am humiliated to think that I attended the races the first day." Four days later a First Presidency letter states: "The Church has been and now is unalterably opposed to gambling in any form whatever."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
130 years ago today - Sep 17, 1890 (Wednesday)
The motormen and conductors of the Salt Lake City Ry. struck for higher wages. This was the first genuine strike in Salt Lake City. It lasted several days.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
150 years ago today - Sep 17, 1870
[Wilford Woodruff journal]
/Martin Harris [re]Baptized./
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
/Martin Harris [re]Baptized./
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
150 years ago today - Saturday, September 17, 1870
[Payson School of the Prophets]
... Some are greatly tried with the official conduct of President Young, some with one thing and some with another. Showed how spiritualism is calculated to charm some men - believed that that alone will draw many away from the truth. ...
-Elder- -D. H. Holladay spoke next-. Spoke of the influences for evil that are abroad among the people. Said some of our brethren invite the devil into our homes and related his own experience in that matter. It is much easier to invite evil spirits into our houses than it is to cast them out.
[A Record of Sayings and Doings in the School of the Prophets, organized by President Brigham Young September 19, 1868, In Payson City, Utah County, U.T., typescript by Michael Nielsen]
... Some are greatly tried with the official conduct of President Young, some with one thing and some with another. Showed how spiritualism is calculated to charm some men - believed that that alone will draw many away from the truth. ...
-Elder- -D. H. Holladay spoke next-. Spoke of the influences for evil that are abroad among the people. Said some of our brethren invite the devil into our homes and related his own experience in that matter. It is much easier to invite evil spirits into our houses than it is to cast them out.
[A Record of Sayings and Doings in the School of the Prophets, organized by President Brigham Young September 19, 1868, In Payson City, Utah County, U.T., typescript by Michael Nielsen]
175 years ago today - Sep 17, 1845
[William Clayton]
While in council a brother came in and took up a loaded musket to show how he used it. When he raised it suddenly to show the manouver the gun went off and struck the wall on the under side the ceiling and glanc-'d through the glass window over the door. In our council yesterday a man took up a six shooter and began to examine it and pulling the trigger it went off. The ball passed between two of the brethrens heads and went through the celing and roof. We learned this morning that the person killed yesterday was Frank Worrell, the person who stood at the jail door when Joseph and Hyrum were killed beckoning the mob and urging them on.
[The Nauvoo Diaries of William Clayton, 1842-1846, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
While in council a brother came in and took up a loaded musket to show how he used it. When he raised it suddenly to show the manouver the gun went off and struck the wall on the under side the ceiling and glanc-'d through the glass window over the door. In our council yesterday a man took up a six shooter and began to examine it and pulling the trigger it went off. The ball passed between two of the brethrens heads and went through the celing and roof. We learned this morning that the person killed yesterday was Frank Worrell, the person who stood at the jail door when Joseph and Hyrum were killed beckoning the mob and urging them on.
[The Nauvoo Diaries of William Clayton, 1842-1846, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
175 years ago today - Sep 17, 1845
Lieutenant General Brigham Young went into the square and addressed the officers and soldiers as follows: It is my wish that every man from the age of 16 to 100 be enlisted in these companies ... I want this hollowings, beating of drums and firing of guns should cease. The police have their orders from this time to arrest every man or boy in our street found guilty of these acts or anyone walking our street after night, detain them till daylight and stripping off their clothes, show whether they are male or female. I am going to propose to Jacob B. Backenstos that he make every man a deputy then we may sally forth with our writs in our pockets in any number and arrest these mobbers. When you shoot, be sure and shoot right. If you die, die like Miner R. Deming in the defense of your country's rights. When we meet Demings in another world he will be happy in the death he died. God grant you may all live and die in the defense of your country's rights. Keep your guns to yourselves. Trust no one and when you shoot, take a good aim. -- Nauvoo, Illinois
[On the Mormon Frontier, the Diaries of Hosea Stout. Juanita Brooks, ed. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1964. 1:65, 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]
[On the Mormon Frontier, the Diaries of Hosea Stout. Juanita Brooks, ed. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1964. 1:65, 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 - 17 [Sept 1845]
[Brigham Young]
Spent the day in council, in the afternoon bro. Stephen Markham started out in persuit of the mob with about 80 men. and soon after bro Geo. Miller came in from his scout the company having killed two of the mob and wounded others who were surprised in the act of firing buildings.
[Brigham Young Journal # 4 in the handwriting of: William Clayton, Evan Greene, John D. Lee, Willard Richards. First person account kept by others. 'Lieut. Genl Brigham Young's Journal 1844']
Spent the day in council, in the afternoon bro. Stephen Markham started out in persuit of the mob with about 80 men. and soon after bro Geo. Miller came in from his scout the company having killed two of the mob and wounded others who were surprised in the act of firing buildings.
[Brigham Young Journal # 4 in the handwriting of: William Clayton, Evan Greene, John D. Lee, Willard Richards. First person account kept by others. 'Lieut. Genl Brigham Young's Journal 1844']
115 years ago today - Sep 16, 1905
Apostle Cowley married 4th wife, Lenora Taylor performed by John A. Woolf. Apostle Cowley was disfellowshiped, but never excommunicated. He was restored to full fellowship in 1936. Lenora passed away on 8 Jan 1971 making her the last living legitimate Polygamous wife in the LDS church (not in Mexico).
[Exploring Mormonism: Polygamy Timeline, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/polygamy-timeline/]
[Exploring Mormonism: Polygamy Timeline, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/polygamy-timeline/]
115 years ago today - Sep 16, 1905
Last polygamous marriages performed by Canadian patriarch commissioned by President Joseph F. Smith.
[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)]]
135 years ago today - Sep 16, 1885 (Wednesday)
Judge Zane, in his instructions to the grand jury, interpreted the law in such a way, that persons found guilty of u.c. [Unlawful Cohabitation, I.E. living with a polygamous wife] could be imprisoned for life. This was the commencement of the segregation policy.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
175 years ago today - Sep 16, 1845
Orrin Porter Rockwell shoots Robert F. Smith and Frank Worrell of the Carthage Greys militia who participated in the murder of Joseph Smith. Worrell dies. Later that day Rockwell kills four anti-Mormons at Highland Branch, near Warsaw, Illinois. A committee of five is appointed to carry a letter from Brigham Young to vigilante leader Col. Levi Williams "stating to him that if the mob would cease their destructive operations, it is our calculations to leave the country in the spring . . ."
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
175 years ago today - Sep 16, 1845
Phineas Wilcox was stabbed to death by fellow Mormons in Nauvoo, Illinois, because he was believed to be a Christian spy. Wilcox was one of the first victims of "blood atonement," a Mormon doctrine conceived of by Brigham Young, according to which murder is sometimes necessary in order to save a sinful soul.
[Legends of America, Old West Timeline, http://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-TimeLine2.html]
[Legends of America, Old West Timeline, http://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-TimeLine2.html]
175 years ago today - Sep 16, 1845
The Twelve called agents to confer with the Catholic Church about purchasing the Temple and other Church properties. They apparently approached Judge Ralston of Quincy, an influential Catholic, about such a transaction.
[Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple]
[Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple]
175 years ago today - Sept 16 [1845]
[Brigham Young]
... also said to the brethren put a stop to the mobs burning your property shoot the first man who attempts we also agreed to appoint agents to confer with the leading Catholic priests and sell our property to them. ... In the afternoon Mr Gridley returned Col. Backinstos, the mob having persued the col and he with two other men resisting one of the mob was killed a man by the name of Franklin World, (to be cosred) a posse commatitus of upwards of one hundred men was then surmmoned and sent with the col. to quell the mob, and all necessary preparations made to defend the city in case of an emergency
[Brigham Young Journal # 4 in the handwriting of: William Clayton, Evan Greene, John D. Lee, Willard Richards. First person account kept by others. 'Lieut. Genl Brigham Young's Journal 1844']
... also said to the brethren put a stop to the mobs burning your property shoot the first man who attempts we also agreed to appoint agents to confer with the leading Catholic priests and sell our property to them. ... In the afternoon Mr Gridley returned Col. Backinstos, the mob having persued the col and he with two other men resisting one of the mob was killed a man by the name of Franklin World, (to be cosred) a posse commatitus of upwards of one hundred men was then surmmoned and sent with the col. to quell the mob, and all necessary preparations made to defend the city in case of an emergency
[Brigham Young Journal # 4 in the handwriting of: William Clayton, Evan Greene, John D. Lee, Willard Richards. First person account kept by others. 'Lieut. Genl Brigham Young's Journal 1844']
180 years ago today - Sep 16, 1840
[Wilford Woodruff]
... Mr John Simons the Rector of the Church in Dymock manifested much of the Spirit of the Devil by stiring up mobs against the Saints which had disturbed the meetings of the Saints in several instances, & on this occasion as we began to gather together the beat of drums pails pans & Sticks was herd through the street, & the mob soon Collected & Parraded in the streets in front of the house. We Closed the window shutters & doors in the room whare we ware, & I opened meeting by Singing & Prayer & no sooner had we Commenced than the mob armed themselves with eggs, Bricks, rocks, & evry thing els they could lay their hands upon & began to throw them upon the house like a shower of hail Stones for nearly an hour. They dashed in the windows scatterd Stones, Brick, & glass, through the rooms, broke the tile on the rooff & continued such depredations untill the close of the meeting.
And the Brethren feeling disposed to try what virtue their was in the English laws which were strict against such procedings I proposed to accompanied them to go into the midst of the mob to see who they were that there might be testimony against them. But they would not permit me to go with them lest I should receive an injury from the shower of stones. But several of the Brethren went themselvfs into the midst of the mob & took the name of the leaders & returned to the house in the midst of Stones, & Brick bats, though without Injury. The mob soon broke up & after Clearing our rooms of brick, stones & glass we lay down & had a good nights rest. ....
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
... Mr John Simons the Rector of the Church in Dymock manifested much of the Spirit of the Devil by stiring up mobs against the Saints which had disturbed the meetings of the Saints in several instances, & on this occasion as we began to gather together the beat of drums pails pans & Sticks was herd through the street, & the mob soon Collected & Parraded in the streets in front of the house. We Closed the window shutters & doors in the room whare we ware, & I opened meeting by Singing & Prayer & no sooner had we Commenced than the mob armed themselves with eggs, Bricks, rocks, & evry thing els they could lay their hands upon & began to throw them upon the house like a shower of hail Stones for nearly an hour. They dashed in the windows scatterd Stones, Brick, & glass, through the rooms, broke the tile on the rooff & continued such depredations untill the close of the meeting.
And the Brethren feeling disposed to try what virtue their was in the English laws which were strict against such procedings I proposed to accompanied them to go into the midst of the mob to see who they were that there might be testimony against them. But they would not permit me to go with them lest I should receive an injury from the shower of stones. But several of the Brethren went themselvfs into the midst of the mob & took the name of the leaders & returned to the house in the midst of Stones, & Brick bats, though without Injury. The mob soon broke up & after Clearing our rooms of brick, stones & glass we lay down & had a good nights rest. ....
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
70 years ago today - Sep 15, 1950
[J. Reuben Clark]
[In conversation with Emily Smith Stewart, in part:] She talked about her father's [George Albert Smith's] health, and said that she thought he was going to die the night they were taking him down to California to start on the Hawaiian trip. I explained to her that I was trying to do all I could to help him, but that in some respects he was difficult to help. Called attention to the fact that he would read all these letters that we sent out, and also read the letters to which our letters were a reply. I said that President Grant would have one of the secretaries tell him what the letter was about, and the purport of it, and he would sign it. I observed that if her father could get confidence in us, it would save him a good deal of labor ...
She recalled to my mind that she had spoken to me after the last Conference indicating her desire that we should post some officer there to protect them against these cranks who may come there and apparently at times almost force an entry into the house to see her father. I told her that I would look after that. ...
We discussed at some length the condition of her father's health. I noted his apparent dislike of holidays, having the people away from the office, and his activation on holidays. She said that he never had learned how to take any relaxation. I noted that he seemed always to feel that he should he here on holidays. I thought maybe she might get something over to him that might make him feel a little easier.
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
[In conversation with Emily Smith Stewart, in part:] She talked about her father's [George Albert Smith's] health, and said that she thought he was going to die the night they were taking him down to California to start on the Hawaiian trip. I explained to her that I was trying to do all I could to help him, but that in some respects he was difficult to help. Called attention to the fact that he would read all these letters that we sent out, and also read the letters to which our letters were a reply. I said that President Grant would have one of the secretaries tell him what the letter was about, and the purport of it, and he would sign it. I observed that if her father could get confidence in us, it would save him a good deal of labor ...
She recalled to my mind that she had spoken to me after the last Conference indicating her desire that we should post some officer there to protect them against these cranks who may come there and apparently at times almost force an entry into the house to see her father. I told her that I would look after that. ...
We discussed at some length the condition of her father's health. I noted his apparent dislike of holidays, having the people away from the office, and his activation on holidays. She said that he never had learned how to take any relaxation. I noted that he seemed always to feel that he should he here on holidays. I thought maybe she might get something over to him that might make him feel a little easier.
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
105 years ago today - Sep 15, 1915
[First Presidency letter]
[Yours of the 7th] occasioned both amazement and regret; surprise that one of your experience would undertake to teach a novel doctrine to the First Presidency, using terms both dogmatic and dictatorial, and sorrow that you place yourself in direct antagonism to an established and well-known principle of the Church. That which you pronounce 'a fallacy' and condemn as 'erroneous' is not new nor does it originate with the authorities whose names you mention, but is set forth in the revelations of God both ancient and modern. That the Jesus Christ of the New Testament was the Jehovah of the Old Testament is an accepted feature of the faith of the Latter-day Saints, and yet you presume to assail it as 'error' and call for its 'elimination' from a book that has been inspected and endorsed by the presidency of the Church and the council of the Twelve Apostles! We now pronounce your theory in opposition to it as wrong and misleading and unauthorized and forbid its promulgation as doctrine.... The notion that Christ, the firstborn, could not possibly be a Creator before he received a body of flesh and passed through a mortal probation, is one of your own and is not a doctrine of the Church ...
[First Presidency, Letter to Ferdinand F. Hintze, 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]
[Yours of the 7th] occasioned both amazement and regret; surprise that one of your experience would undertake to teach a novel doctrine to the First Presidency, using terms both dogmatic and dictatorial, and sorrow that you place yourself in direct antagonism to an established and well-known principle of the Church. That which you pronounce 'a fallacy' and condemn as 'erroneous' is not new nor does it originate with the authorities whose names you mention, but is set forth in the revelations of God both ancient and modern. That the Jesus Christ of the New Testament was the Jehovah of the Old Testament is an accepted feature of the faith of the Latter-day Saints, and yet you presume to assail it as 'error' and call for its 'elimination' from a book that has been inspected and endorsed by the presidency of the Church and the council of the Twelve Apostles! We now pronounce your theory in opposition to it as wrong and misleading and unauthorized and forbid its promulgation as doctrine.... The notion that Christ, the firstborn, could not possibly be a Creator before he received a body of flesh and passed through a mortal probation, is one of your own and is not a doctrine of the Church ...
[First Presidency, Letter to Ferdinand F. Hintze, 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]
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