Louis C. Midgley of BYU's political science department attacks the New Mormon History and historians for a lack of faith. Joined periodically by David Earle Bohn and Gary Novak, he continues his vigorous assault on "objective" history to the present.
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1]
45 years ago today - Sep 30, 1976
At General Conference welfare Meeting, Relief Society turned over responsibility for wheat reserves managed to be administered by the General Church welfare Committee. The 226,291 bushels were valued at $1,651,157 ($5,614,320 in 2011 dollars). wheat fund assets valued at over three-quarters of a million dollars ($2,550,175 in 2011 dollars) were also turned over.
[Correlation Timeline, Compiled by Lisle Brown]
[Correlation Timeline, Compiled by Lisle Brown]
55 years ago today - Sep 30, 1966
By the end of September 1966 the BYU "spy ring" had unraveled as its principal members confessed their participation to BYU faculty, administrators, bishops, and general authorities.
[D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992)]
[D. Michael Quinn, "Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992)]
60 years ago today - Sep 30, 1961
Priesthood Correlation announced at the priesthood session General Conference by Harold B. Lee. President McKay said, "... It is one of the greatest undertakings that have yet been presented to the Priesthood. It has been under consideration for many years ..."
Elder Lee spoke of correlation's four goals: "First, that each organization was to have its specific function, and it was not to usurp the field of the other which would be like the eye saying to the hand, 'I have no need of thee.' Second, that each sub-division is of equal importance in the work of salvation, just as each part of the physical body is essential to a complete human being. Third, that all may be edified or educated together; and Fourth, that the system may be kept perfect, or in other words, that within the framework of the Lord's plan of organization for the salvation of his children, the Church will perform as a perfectly organized human body, with every member functioning as it was intended. Pres. McKay in his diary later noted that Elder Lee masterfully explained that three correlations committees would handle the activities and materials for the three age groups.
[Correlation Timeline, Compiled by Lisle Brown]
Elder Lee spoke of correlation's four goals: "First, that each organization was to have its specific function, and it was not to usurp the field of the other which would be like the eye saying to the hand, 'I have no need of thee.' Second, that each sub-division is of equal importance in the work of salvation, just as each part of the physical body is essential to a complete human being. Third, that all may be edified or educated together; and Fourth, that the system may be kept perfect, or in other words, that within the framework of the Lord's plan of organization for the salvation of his children, the Church will perform as a perfectly organized human body, with every member functioning as it was intended. Pres. McKay in his diary later noted that Elder Lee masterfully explained that three correlations committees would handle the activities and materials for the three age groups.
[Correlation Timeline, Compiled by Lisle Brown]
115 years ago today - Sep 30, 1906
Church President Joseph F. Smith is arrested, following his return from a trip to Europe, on a charge of illegal cohabitation, and released on his own recognizance. Under considerable pressure, the case is brought to trial, and on Nov 23, he pleads guilty and is fined $300.
125 years ago today - Sep 30, 1896; Wednesday
I had an Hour interview with the first Presidency on the subject of Temple affairs and Edlefsen complaint to them about Me in Placeing Him to recording and also His complaint about Me embezeling the Temple funds some years ago which did not come to My ears until recently which I wanted investigated. they turned the Matter Over to the Twelve to have the whole Matter investigated &c.
[Marriner Wood Merrill, Diary]
[Marriner Wood Merrill, Diary]
135 years ago today - Sep 30, 1886 (Thursday)
The Home Fire Insurance Company was incorporated in Salt Lake City, with Heber J. Grant as president.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
180 years ago today - Sep 30, 1841
Joseph draws up a bill of expenses caused by his trial in Monmouth in June 1841 and sends it to the deputy sheriff of Adams County because he officiated in the arrest initiated by Gov. Boggs. Joseph includes a note asking that the $685 be refunded to him as soon as possible.
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
90 years ago today - Sep 29, 1931
Talmage's address [i.e., 'The Earth and Man'] twice and with care. The subjects therein treated, delicately yet forcefully, are of high importance to our youth who in the midst of modern-day knowledge are seeking to anchor their faith. ... Early in the discussion [among the Twelve] one of the brethren said he could not see an objectionable utterance in the sermon whatever, that, in his opinion, it is exactly what is needed to be placed in the hands of our young people who are tinged with skepticism, to reconcile them to the teachings of the gospel. He reported that a great number of copies of the sermon had been applied for to distribute among the young people of the Church.
Others of the brethren did not apparently entertain this view.
The concensus of opinion was, as I interpreted it, that inferences might be drawn from the sermon, if published in its present form, that would lead to much discussion in the Church and possibly put into the minds of many people doubts in relation to the correctness of some matters, or doctrines, given to the Church by divine Revelation. As for instance, it is well understood by the brethren of this Council to be a doctrine of the gospel, given to the Church by Divine Revelation, through Joseph Smith, the Prophet, that Adam was the first man (on the earth); that he was and is the Father of the human family, and presides over the human family under Christ; that he is the Ancient of Days, which in itself is a very significant title; that mortality and death upon the earth came through the fall and the fall came by the transgression of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden....
The sermon in one paragraph sets forth the claim, (which to do justice to Brother Talmage, is given as the views of eminent scientific men) that there was life and death upon the earth in an endless succession of animals and plants running back into the ages and ages that are past, thus leaving one to infer that there was life and death upon the earth before Adam, or prior to the fall.
Wherever in the Church the discussion takes this phase our young people will be let to choose between Divine Revelation and the claims of science, which latter are often based on theory;
And again the scientific theory, or claim, is set forth in the sermon to the effect that man finally emerged, or was developed from and through a ie of animals life reaching back, into numberless ages of the past, to the protoplasm. This of course is the doctrine of evolution and is as I understand it repugnant to the teachings of the Church of Christ.
Should this phase of the sermon be discussed among our people, many misleading inferences would be drawn, and questions like this might arise: If there was life and death and a race of men before the fall of Adam, then there must have been two Adams and two falls, also two fathers of the human family, all of which would lead to utter confusion.
Finally a motion was made and seconded to the effect that in the opinion of the Twelve the sermon should not be published. This motion, after some further discussion, was followed by a substitute motion to the effect that the sermon be returned to Brother Talmage and that he be requested to remodel it if possible by cutting out the objectionable features. Brother Talmage consented to do this.
... Note: When this report was made to the Council some of the brethren took exception to the expression, 'reaching back, into numberless ages of the past, to the protoplasm.'
I presume I should have said 'reaching back, into numberless ages of the past, to the single- celled protozoan.'
[James E., 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]
Others of the brethren did not apparently entertain this view.
The concensus of opinion was, as I interpreted it, that inferences might be drawn from the sermon, if published in its present form, that would lead to much discussion in the Church and possibly put into the minds of many people doubts in relation to the correctness of some matters, or doctrines, given to the Church by divine Revelation. As for instance, it is well understood by the brethren of this Council to be a doctrine of the gospel, given to the Church by Divine Revelation, through Joseph Smith, the Prophet, that Adam was the first man (on the earth); that he was and is the Father of the human family, and presides over the human family under Christ; that he is the Ancient of Days, which in itself is a very significant title; that mortality and death upon the earth came through the fall and the fall came by the transgression of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden....
The sermon in one paragraph sets forth the claim, (which to do justice to Brother Talmage, is given as the views of eminent scientific men) that there was life and death upon the earth in an endless succession of animals and plants running back into the ages and ages that are past, thus leaving one to infer that there was life and death upon the earth before Adam, or prior to the fall.
Wherever in the Church the discussion takes this phase our young people will be let to choose between Divine Revelation and the claims of science, which latter are often based on theory;
And again the scientific theory, or claim, is set forth in the sermon to the effect that man finally emerged, or was developed from and through a ie of animals life reaching back, into numberless ages of the past, to the protoplasm. This of course is the doctrine of evolution and is as I understand it repugnant to the teachings of the Church of Christ.
Should this phase of the sermon be discussed among our people, many misleading inferences would be drawn, and questions like this might arise: If there was life and death and a race of men before the fall of Adam, then there must have been two Adams and two falls, also two fathers of the human family, all of which would lead to utter confusion.
Finally a motion was made and seconded to the effect that in the opinion of the Twelve the sermon should not be published. This motion, after some further discussion, was followed by a substitute motion to the effect that the sermon be returned to Brother Talmage and that he be requested to remodel it if possible by cutting out the objectionable features. Brother Talmage consented to do this.
... Note: When this report was made to the Council some of the brethren took exception to the expression, 'reaching back, into numberless ages of the past, to the protoplasm.'
I presume I should have said 'reaching back, into numberless ages of the past, to the single- celled protozoan.'
[James E., 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 29, 1896
President [Lorenzo] Snow said that whatever this Council unitedly agreed upon he would do, if it was to ask the Presidency. He thinks we are nearer to our going to Jackson county [Missouri] than we are apt to believe. He thinks it is not advisable to ask the Presidency for information or call them to account. Said he believed the privilege of the Twelve'when a Presidency was to be selected'had the right and power to select a First Presidency either in or outside of the Council of the Twelve.
[Minutes, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
[Minutes, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
45 years ago today - Sep 28, 1976
A First Presidency letter advises Mormons throughout the U.S. to obtain immunization against the swine flu.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
125 years ago today - Sep 28, 1896
[Marriner W. Merrill]
I had one hour's interview with the First Presidency on the subject of Temple affairs and Edlefsen's complaint to them about me in placing him to recording work, and also his complaint about me embezzling the Temple funds some years ago, which did not come to my ears until recently, and which I wanted investigated. They turned the matter over to the Twelve to have the whole matter investigated.
[Notes from the Miscellaneous Record Book, 1886-1906: Selected diary notes from the journal books of Marriner Wood Merrill, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I had one hour's interview with the First Presidency on the subject of Temple affairs and Edlefsen's complaint to them about me in placing him to recording work, and also his complaint about me embezzling the Temple funds some years ago, which did not come to my ears until recently, and which I wanted investigated. They turned the matter over to the Twelve to have the whole matter investigated.
[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 - Monday, Sep 28, 1891
[John Henry Smith]
Mesa
There is some drunken tramp here who claims he has papers for my arest.
[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]
Mesa
There is some drunken tramp here who claims he has papers for my arest.
[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 - Sep 28, 1886
[George Q. Cannon]
Abraham informs me that the Deputy Marshals have searched mylog house for me and from there had gone to my adopted daughters, Rose Lambert's house, which is at present unoccupied and searched that also. John Hoagland's house has also been watched. One man having laid down in the brush near his house and the other seemed to be on the watch on the other side of the road from the house. He saw them both in the early morning and having seen the man get out of the brush he went there and found the place where he had made his couch.
[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]
Abraham informs me that the Deputy Marshals have searched mylog house for me and from there had gone to my adopted daughters, Rose Lambert's house, which is at present unoccupied and searched that also. John Hoagland's house has also been watched. One man having laid down in the brush near his house and the other seemed to be on the watch on the other side of the road from the house. He saw them both in the early morning and having seen the man get out of the brush he went there and found the place where he had made his couch.
[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 28, 1881
Wilford Woodruff preaches, "(God) has had his endowments a great many years ago. He has ascended to his thrones, principalities and powers in the eternities."
165 years ago today - Sep 28, 1856
President Kimball said ... Joseph Smith took President Brigham Young & myself to the vary spot In adam Ondi Aman whare Adam offered up his first sacrafize on a spot now called Hogback.
D. H. Wells said I had a dream last night & saw a butchers Cleaver in the Heavens in the East. I tried to show it to Bishop Pettigrew & he could not see it. I felt that there was a Strugle near & a great Slaughter, & much nearer than the people are aware of.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
D. H. Wells said I had a dream last night & saw a butchers Cleaver in the Heavens in the East. I tried to show it to Bishop Pettigrew & he could not see it. I felt that there was a Strugle near & a great Slaughter, & much nearer than the people are aware of.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
165 years ago today - Sep 28, 1856
Brigham Young begins a sermon: "I think it is now proven to a certainty that men, women, and children can cross the Plains, from the settlements on the Missouri river to this place on foot, and draw hand-carts, loaded with a good portion of the articles needed to sustain them on the way. . . . As for health, it is far healthier to walk than to ride, and better every way for the people" Less than two months later over 200 handcart pioneers died in Wyoming when caught in an early snow storm.
30 years ago today - Sep 27, 1991.
Elder Neal A. Maxwell, speaking at the FARMS annual banquet, tells his listeners, "Joseph [Smith] will go on being vindicated in the essential things associated with his prophetic mission. Many of you here, both now and in the future, will be part of that on-rolling vindication through your own articulation. There is no place in the Kingdom for unanchored brilliance. Fortunately, those of you I know are both committed and contributive. In any case, ready or not, you serve as mentors and models for the rising generation of Latter-day Saint scholars and students. Let them learn, among other things, submissiveness from the eloquence of your example. God bless you!"
[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]
45 years ago today - Sep 27, 1976
President Spencer W. Kimball dedicates the first buildings of the new Language Training Mission (LTM), later known as the Missionary Training Center (MTC), in Provo, Utah.
55 years ago today - Sep 27, 1966
[David O. McKay]
After considering all the facts presented regarding the desire of a couple who have been sealed in the Temple to have sealed to them two children with Negroid blood, I indicated that I could see no objection to the sealing being done.
[David O. McKay diary in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
After considering all the facts presented regarding the desire of a couple who have been sealed in the Temple to have sealed to them two children with Negroid blood, I indicated that I could see no objection to the sealing being done.
[David O. McKay diary in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
130 years ago today - Sep 27, 1891 (Sunday)
Pres. Joseph F. Smith, who had not appeared in public for several years, addressed the congregation at the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
135 years ago today - Sep 27, 1886
My son John.... You have asked me concerning the new & everlasting covenant & how far it is binding upon my people
Thus saith the Lord all commandments that I give must be obeyed by those calling themselves by my name unless they are revoked by my [me] or by my authority and how can I revoke an everlasting covenant[?]
for I the Lord am everlasting & my everlasting covenants cannot be abrogated nor done away with; but they stand for ever.
... I the Lord do not change & my word & my covenants & my law do not & as I have heretofore said by my servant Joseph [Smith] all those who would enter into my glory must & shall obey my law & have I not commanded men that if they were Abraham[']s seed & would enter into my glory they must do the works of Abraham.
I have not revoked this law nor will I for it is everlasting & those who will enter into my glory must obey the conditions thereof, even so amen.
[Marquardt, H. Michael, http://www.xmission.com/~research/central/revel2.htm]
Thus saith the Lord all commandments that I give must be obeyed by those calling themselves by my name unless they are revoked by my [me] or by my authority and how can I revoke an everlasting covenant[?]
for I the Lord am everlasting & my everlasting covenants cannot be abrogated nor done away with; but they stand for ever.
... I the Lord do not change & my word & my covenants & my law do not & as I have heretofore said by my servant Joseph [Smith] all those who would enter into my glory must & shall obey my law & have I not commanded men that if they were Abraham[']s seed & would enter into my glory they must do the works of Abraham.
I have not revoked this law nor will I for it is everlasting & those who will enter into my glory must obey the conditions thereof, even so amen.
[Marquardt, H. Michael, http://www.xmission.com/~research/central/revel2.htm]
135 years ago today - Sep 27, 1886
John Taylor, in hiding at the home of monogamist John W. Woolley, gives a revelation about plural marriage: "I have not revoked this law nor will I for it is everlasting." Never formally presented to the Twelve, but Apostle John W. Taylor discusses the 1886 revelation in meetings on 2 Oct. 1889, 30 Sept. 1890, 1 Apr. 1892, and 22 Feb. 1911. On 15 July 1933 the First Presidency accepts custody of the 1886 revelation's original text which is in John Taylor's handwriting. The 1886 revelation has never been officially published (and its existence has been officially denied). Photocopies of the 1886 revelation have been unofficially published, and Apostle Melvin J. Ballard writes that it is definitely the handwriting of LDS president John Taylor.
[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)]]
165 years ago today - Sep 27, 1856
[Wilford Woodruff]
Presidet Young said He thought the Hand cart Company had a Better time than the teams had. They have not had as hard a time as we had in going to Missouri in 1833. Then I went to Missouri stayed in the cholera 15 days then returned to kirtland within three months over 3,000 miles & walked all the way & lay on the ground evry night.
But if I had to fit out a company I would have fitted out the Carts different from what they were.
Soon Came in Lewis Robinson & Ward from Green river. Presidet Young said that Washa[peek?] the Indian chief had cut up [the] smoothest bad trick that I ever heard of. So Brother Robinson related the circumstances as follows: Washa[peek?] with several other Indians came in to his store & ordered him to give them some spirits. He told them He had none to sell. They undertook to get it by force & Robinson pulled them out of the Store. He went away & soon came back with 100 Indians & pulled Robinson up to the door & told him he must open the door & give him some liquor. So they forced him to open the door & deal out Liquor to them. The 100 Indians drank 20 gallons & all got drunk but behaved vary well. They offered to pay for the Liquor. He has been used to such sprees. Brother Robinson said that if he was to do the same over again He should present a pistol to him & try his luck at it.
Elder Elsworth Came in. President Kimball Came to him & told him to pick him out a family to go & stop with him through the winter. Wanted a handy man. He said I have not a handy man in my Company but I will pick you out as good one as I Can.
Mr Dones Came in & gave president Young some Notes against Capt James Brown of some $3,000. Had paid some $1,400 in County orders. Asked president Young what He should do. He would sell the whole for $1,200 dollars. Presidet Young told him that He was able & as the Lord had made him Able the Law should make him willing. He said that He was willing the debt should be Collected but did not wish to collect it himself. He said he had trusted him upon the Credit of H. S. Eldridge. "It makes me righteously angry to see Elders go out on a mission & Come home Merchants get trusted for goods & not pay for them.
Presidets Young Kimball & Carrington Elsworth & myself rode down to the square to visit the Hand Cart Company. They generally looked well & Cheerful. They shook our hands warmly. They had a great quantity of provisions in Camp brought in by the people. I laid hands upon one brother who was taken sick last night. Presidet Young said the people might have their hand Carts after going through the Encampment & Elder Kimball got the family that He spoke for.
We rode back to the stray pen to look at the Cattle & Mules which the Company had brought in. Elder Elsworth pointed out a Mule which he rode after a Buffalo which He had wounded. The Mule took right after the buffalo & the Mad wounded Buffaloo turned & took after the Mule & they met almost together but the Mule turned & run back so suddenly that He flung Elsworth to the ground. The Buffalo plunged at him & Elsworth punched the animal with the muzzle of the rifle into the Eye so hard a blow that the Buffalo fell to his knees but rose up & run the other way. It broak his rifle. His Mule run 5 miles to Camp which left Elsworth to walk in.
Brother George W Bean came in from Los vegus & reported that Johns was getting on well with his l[an/ea?]d.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Presidet Young said He thought the Hand cart Company had a Better time than the teams had. They have not had as hard a time as we had in going to Missouri in 1833. Then I went to Missouri stayed in the cholera 15 days then returned to kirtland within three months over 3,000 miles & walked all the way & lay on the ground evry night.
But if I had to fit out a company I would have fitted out the Carts different from what they were.
Soon Came in Lewis Robinson & Ward from Green river. Presidet Young said that Washa[peek?] the Indian chief had cut up [the] smoothest bad trick that I ever heard of. So Brother Robinson related the circumstances as follows: Washa[peek?] with several other Indians came in to his store & ordered him to give them some spirits. He told them He had none to sell. They undertook to get it by force & Robinson pulled them out of the Store. He went away & soon came back with 100 Indians & pulled Robinson up to the door & told him he must open the door & give him some liquor. So they forced him to open the door & deal out Liquor to them. The 100 Indians drank 20 gallons & all got drunk but behaved vary well. They offered to pay for the Liquor. He has been used to such sprees. Brother Robinson said that if he was to do the same over again He should present a pistol to him & try his luck at it.
Elder Elsworth Came in. President Kimball Came to him & told him to pick him out a family to go & stop with him through the winter. Wanted a handy man. He said I have not a handy man in my Company but I will pick you out as good one as I Can.
Mr Dones Came in & gave president Young some Notes against Capt James Brown of some $3,000. Had paid some $1,400 in County orders. Asked president Young what He should do. He would sell the whole for $1,200 dollars. Presidet Young told him that He was able & as the Lord had made him Able the Law should make him willing. He said that He was willing the debt should be Collected but did not wish to collect it himself. He said he had trusted him upon the Credit of H. S. Eldridge. "It makes me righteously angry to see Elders go out on a mission & Come home Merchants get trusted for goods & not pay for them.
Presidets Young Kimball & Carrington Elsworth & myself rode down to the square to visit the Hand Cart Company. They generally looked well & Cheerful. They shook our hands warmly. They had a great quantity of provisions in Camp brought in by the people. I laid hands upon one brother who was taken sick last night. Presidet Young said the people might have their hand Carts after going through the Encampment & Elder Kimball got the family that He spoke for.
We rode back to the stray pen to look at the Cattle & Mules which the Company had brought in. Elder Elsworth pointed out a Mule which he rode after a Buffalo which He had wounded. The Mule took right after the buffalo & the Mad wounded Buffaloo turned & took after the Mule & they met almost together but the Mule turned & run back so suddenly that He flung Elsworth to the ground. The Buffalo plunged at him & Elsworth punched the animal with the muzzle of the rifle into the Eye so hard a blow that the Buffalo fell to his knees but rose up & run the other way. It broak his rifle. His Mule run 5 miles to Camp which left Elsworth to walk in.
Brother George W Bean came in from Los vegus & reported that Johns was getting on well with his l[an/ea?]d.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
40 years ago today - Sep 26, 1981
The Church published new editions of the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. The Doctrine and Covenants added two news Sections (137 and 138) which had previously been part of the Pearl of Great Price. The book had improved indexing, cross-referencing, and other study aids.
[Correlation Timeline, Compiled by Lisle Brown]
[Correlation Timeline, Compiled by Lisle Brown]
80 years ago today - Sep 26, 1941
First Presidency letter in favor of right to work without joining labor union.
140 years ago today - Sep 26, 1881
Heber J. Grant expresses his disappointment about his racehorse being disqualified from the upcoming race in Salt Lake City: "I had counted considerable, however, on Hyrum's winning the race and the horse becoming enough of a public favorite that I could sell him for a nice round sum." Heber becomes an apostle in 1882, and horse racing remains legal in Utah until 1913.
[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)]]
165 years ago today - Sep 26, 1856
This was a vary important day in the History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Word was brought in last evening that [the first] two Companies of the Saints called the Hand Cart Companies were camped between the two mountains & would be in to day. So president B. Young called together the company of Lancers, Ballows brass band, Accompanied by the Nauvoo Brass band, & President Kimball Gen Wells Professor Carrington with many other Citizens in Carriages & went out to escort them into the City.
They past up the Emigration Canyon & met the Company at the foot of the Little mountain on the west side of it. Elder Edmond Elsworth Brigham Youngs son in Law was the captain of the first Company & Daniel D. MCarthur was the captain of the 2d company. Both Companies contained 96 Hand Carts 8 waggons and 486 souls. It was a vary effecting meeting.
Presidents Young & Kimball walked up the mountain through the company saluted the saints then organized the company for travelling in to the City. One half of the Company of Lancers went in Front followed by the Presidency & citizens then the Marshal of the City J. C. Little then the bands of music then Capt Edmund Elsworth with his Hand Cart company then Daniel D. MCarthur with his hand Cart Company & the remainder of the Lancers brought up the rear. In this way they started for the City.
Capt Leonard Hardy took Bishop Hunter & myself into a Buggy & we met the company as they came into the edge of the City & we fell into the ranks behind the presidency. The people of the City gathered on each side of the road & the streets [ ] & it was an Effecting sight to see such a strange sight. About 500 people enter the City of the Great salt [Lake] who had traveled on foot 1,500 miles having drawn there hand Carts all the way. Women Children & old men had drawn their bedding clothing & food the whole distance & this company of poor people from England had travelled this whole distance in 9 weeks. They were covered with dust & some worn down but cheerful. They had beat any horse or Ox team during the time.
They past up on South Temple Street by President Youngs House the Deseret Store by W Woodruffs, down to the grove then down to the public square, there formed in two lines & Camped for the night. No torre can tel No pen Can write, the sensation it created in the reflecting mind to behold the scene.
As soon as they were Camped President Young stood up in his carriage & called upon the bishops & multitude who had gathered to see the Hand Cart Company to bring them provision & feed them to night to morrow morning & noon & night again & while they stop here.
I wish you all to tarry here untill you are dismissed & I bless you all in doing good & keeping the commandments of God. We then returned to our homes & the bishops & people brought them all the provisions that were neccessary.
Edmund Elsworth saluted his wives & Children as He past his house but did not stop for any thing untill his Company was camped. He lead the Hand Cart Company by drawing the front Hand Cart with 3 others. It reflected more honour upon him than if he had been mounted upon a fine horse decked with gold & silver. The sisters danced to the music as they drew the hand carts & walked through the streets.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
They past up the Emigration Canyon & met the Company at the foot of the Little mountain on the west side of it. Elder Edmond Elsworth Brigham Youngs son in Law was the captain of the first Company & Daniel D. MCarthur was the captain of the 2d company. Both Companies contained 96 Hand Carts 8 waggons and 486 souls. It was a vary effecting meeting.
Presidents Young & Kimball walked up the mountain through the company saluted the saints then organized the company for travelling in to the City. One half of the Company of Lancers went in Front followed by the Presidency & citizens then the Marshal of the City J. C. Little then the bands of music then Capt Edmund Elsworth with his Hand Cart company then Daniel D. MCarthur with his hand Cart Company & the remainder of the Lancers brought up the rear. In this way they started for the City.
Capt Leonard Hardy took Bishop Hunter & myself into a Buggy & we met the company as they came into the edge of the City & we fell into the ranks behind the presidency. The people of the City gathered on each side of the road & the streets [ ] & it was an Effecting sight to see such a strange sight. About 500 people enter the City of the Great salt [Lake] who had traveled on foot 1,500 miles having drawn there hand Carts all the way. Women Children & old men had drawn their bedding clothing & food the whole distance & this company of poor people from England had travelled this whole distance in 9 weeks. They were covered with dust & some worn down but cheerful. They had beat any horse or Ox team during the time.
They past up on South Temple Street by President Youngs House the Deseret Store by W Woodruffs, down to the grove then down to the public square, there formed in two lines & Camped for the night. No torre can tel No pen Can write, the sensation it created in the reflecting mind to behold the scene.
As soon as they were Camped President Young stood up in his carriage & called upon the bishops & multitude who had gathered to see the Hand Cart Company to bring them provision & feed them to night to morrow morning & noon & night again & while they stop here.
I wish you all to tarry here untill you are dismissed & I bless you all in doing good & keeping the commandments of God. We then returned to our homes & the bishops & people brought them all the provisions that were neccessary.
Edmund Elsworth saluted his wives & Children as He past his house but did not stop for any thing untill his Company was camped. He lead the Hand Cart Company by drawing the front Hand Cart with 3 others. It reflected more honour upon him than if he had been mounted upon a fine horse decked with gold & silver. The sisters danced to the music as they drew the hand carts & walked through the streets.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
165 years ago today - Sep 26, 1856
47-year old John Taylor takes 19-year old Margaret Young as his 7th wife. She bears him 9 children. She becomes a founding member of the Young Women's organization.
190 years ago today - 1831 ca. September 26 - October 11
[Bible Translation]
Matt. 26:1-71 revised again; Matt. 26:71-28:20; Mark 1:1-9:1 (KJV)
[Marquardt, H. Michael, The Four Gospels According to Joseph Smith, Xulon Press (2007), Chronology: Joseph Smith's Bible Revision, 1830-1835]
Matt. 26:1-71 revised again; Matt. 26:71-28:20; Mark 1:1-9:1 (KJV)
[Marquardt, H. Michael, The Four Gospels According to Joseph Smith, Xulon Press (2007), Chronology: Joseph Smith's Bible Revision, 1830-1835]
125 years ago today - Sep 25, 1896
[Franklin D. Richards]
Heard sisters Zina [Diantha Huntington Smith Young] Jane [S. Richards] & Bathsheba [W. Smith] interview Pres[iden]t GQC [George Q. Cannon] use Assembly Hall next Sat & evening for RS conference & in politics select "the best men."
[Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Heard sisters Zina [Diantha Huntington Smith Young] Jane [S. Richards] & Bathsheba [W. Smith] interview Pres[iden]t GQC [George Q. Cannon] use Assembly Hall next Sat & evening for RS conference & in politics select "the best men."
[Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
160 years ago today - Sep 25, 1861
In the evening Pres. Young discussed with his brother Joseph, the character of a few partly colored brethren. The Pres[ident] remarked there are men who have had the dark Skin of Cain partly so, who may have the blood of Abraham in them enough to control themselves in righteousness, and fulfill the requirements of the Gospel as well as many other whites. Some of these partly dark brethren may be shiftless, but there are many whites who are also shiftless. The Pres[ident] also spoke favorably of Isaac, a colored man who had worked for him for many years he also remarked he would confer any blessing to him he could, believing him to deserve it. -- 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]
180 years ago today - Sep 25, 1841
[Wilford Woodruff]
25 A vary rough morning. All sea sick. We stoped at Manitou Island. Cooked dinner on land & lay by the wharf untill sun set 4 oclok & started on the journey untill 12 oclock at night when a (tre-mendious storm & wind arose) which made the lake as rough as it could be by the force of wind & such a seenery as quickly followed I never before witnessed in all my travels either by sea or land on water or earth. The captain of the Chesepeak, with other officers, hands & passengers mostly expected to go to the bottom to have Judged from outward appearances. I should think here was twenty Chances of being lost to one of being saved. Yet I did not once expect during the whole seenery to be lost for I expected & felt that the Lord would Save us from a watery grave by some means.
We were about 40 miles from land at about 12 o-clock at night when I was awoke from a Sound sweet sleep in my birth by the cry of some one saying we shall all be lost. The first thought that entered my mind was I make No calculations on being lost. I however leaped out of my birth onto my feet & went on to the upper deck. I immediately saw we were in eminant danger of being wrecked. The wind blew almost a Huricane & the waves were running over her bow in a dreadful manner. The boat was rather heavy loaded.
Their was about 300 passengers on board with a large quantity of luggage & Jack Asses. Some geese & piggs were standing on the bow of the boat. Next to them was 40 cords of wood piled up. This with other loading kept the bow down in such a manner that it was judged their was 50 tons of water on her bow deck at a time. At one time the bow run under water & some thought she would never right.
One wave that broke over set the Asses afloat broke the petetion between them & the steerage cabin & washed two of the Asses down. Threw [them] into the births among men woman & Children. It killed one of the Asses in the fall. The Asses & water together drove all the steerage passengers out of their Cabin on deck.
About this time while the boat was labouring hard against wind & water she broke one of her wheel chains. I then herd the cry all is lost. But about 30 of us passengers caught hold of the two detatched ends of the chain & held them together untill they were mended with ropes.
The bote lay partly upon her side. It tore up the floor & broke down the births in the steerage state rooms oposite of us & we expected evry moment ours would share the same fate. In one instance the waves broke over the upper deck. It took four men to manage the wheel. They tried to turn the boat three times but could not untill day light when it was accomplished & returned to the manitau Island at about 3 o-clock being about 24 hours in the gale.
They again took on 40 cords of wood as they had flung 20 cords overboard in the storm to lighten the bow of the boat. Orders were given to that effect.
We remained at the Manitau Island untill next morning. I felt thankful to God to once more get my foot on land. I felt that the Lord herd our prayrs & deliverd us. Their was praying, crying, singing & swaring at the same time in the mids of the storm. It was a trying time to all.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
25 A vary rough morning. All sea sick. We stoped at Manitou Island. Cooked dinner on land & lay by the wharf untill sun set 4 oclok & started on the journey untill 12 oclock at night when a (tre-mendious storm & wind arose) which made the lake as rough as it could be by the force of wind & such a seenery as quickly followed I never before witnessed in all my travels either by sea or land on water or earth. The captain of the Chesepeak, with other officers, hands & passengers mostly expected to go to the bottom to have Judged from outward appearances. I should think here was twenty Chances of being lost to one of being saved. Yet I did not once expect during the whole seenery to be lost for I expected & felt that the Lord would Save us from a watery grave by some means.
We were about 40 miles from land at about 12 o-clock at night when I was awoke from a Sound sweet sleep in my birth by the cry of some one saying we shall all be lost. The first thought that entered my mind was I make No calculations on being lost. I however leaped out of my birth onto my feet & went on to the upper deck. I immediately saw we were in eminant danger of being wrecked. The wind blew almost a Huricane & the waves were running over her bow in a dreadful manner. The boat was rather heavy loaded.
Their was about 300 passengers on board with a large quantity of luggage & Jack Asses. Some geese & piggs were standing on the bow of the boat. Next to them was 40 cords of wood piled up. This with other loading kept the bow down in such a manner that it was judged their was 50 tons of water on her bow deck at a time. At one time the bow run under water & some thought she would never right.
One wave that broke over set the Asses afloat broke the petetion between them & the steerage cabin & washed two of the Asses down. Threw [them] into the births among men woman & Children. It killed one of the Asses in the fall. The Asses & water together drove all the steerage passengers out of their Cabin on deck.
About this time while the boat was labouring hard against wind & water she broke one of her wheel chains. I then herd the cry all is lost. But about 30 of us passengers caught hold of the two detatched ends of the chain & held them together untill they were mended with ropes.
The bote lay partly upon her side. It tore up the floor & broke down the births in the steerage state rooms oposite of us & we expected evry moment ours would share the same fate. In one instance the waves broke over the upper deck. It took four men to manage the wheel. They tried to turn the boat three times but could not untill day light when it was accomplished & returned to the manitau Island at about 3 o-clock being about 24 hours in the gale.
They again took on 40 cords of wood as they had flung 20 cords overboard in the storm to lighten the bow of the boat. Orders were given to that effect.
We remained at the Manitau Island untill next morning. I felt thankful to God to once more get my foot on land. I felt that the Lord herd our prayrs & deliverd us. Their was praying, crying, singing & swaring at the same time in the mids of the storm. It was a trying time to all.
[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 25, 1841
[Nauvoo Temple]
About two hundred individuals gathered as Joseph Smith supervised the placement of items in a cavity in the southeast cornerstone before it was sealed.. A sister wrote that the cavity "was cut out a square about a foot around and about as deep lined with zinc." The Prophet placed in it "a Bible, a Book of Mormon, hymn book, and other Church works along with silver money that had been coined in that year." Another brother stated that when the bible was presented " it was thought necessary that it should be complete-- containing the Apocrypha." When a suitable Bible could not be located nearby, Reynolds Cahoon raced home, cut out the Apocrypha from his large family Bible and brought the sheets back, making the book complete. This brother also mentioned that the Prophet approved the placement of certain books, periodicals, and coins. When someone offered a paper with a poem on, he had it read allowed, "See saw, Margery Daw, Sold her bed and laid in the straw." The Prophet rejected the it, "so the poor poem was left out in the cold."
[Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple]
About two hundred individuals gathered as Joseph Smith supervised the placement of items in a cavity in the southeast cornerstone before it was sealed.. A sister wrote that the cavity "was cut out a square about a foot around and about as deep lined with zinc." The Prophet placed in it "a Bible, a Book of Mormon, hymn book, and other Church works along with silver money that had been coined in that year." Another brother stated that when the bible was presented " it was thought necessary that it should be complete-- containing the Apocrypha." When a suitable Bible could not be located nearby, Reynolds Cahoon raced home, cut out the Apocrypha from his large family Bible and brought the sheets back, making the book complete. This brother also mentioned that the Prophet approved the placement of certain books, periodicals, and coins. When someone offered a paper with a poem on, he had it read allowed, "See saw, Margery Daw, Sold her bed and laid in the straw." The Prophet rejected the it, "so the poor poem was left out in the cold."
[Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple]
75 years ago today - Sep 24, 1946
[J. Reuben Clark]
Harry Clark called to say that Bp. Hunt had expressed the desire to have a talk with Pres. Clark sometime, he thought in connection with communism; Bp. Hunt is starting a series of radio talks and he will deal with this subject. Pres. Clark told Harry he could only speak for himself, but he had said that Communism is the Devil's counterpart of the United Order, that it originated with the devil, so he could not be much stronger than that.
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
Harry Clark called to say that Bp. Hunt had expressed the desire to have a talk with Pres. Clark sometime, he thought in connection with communism; Bp. Hunt is starting a series of radio talks and he will deal with this subject. Pres. Clark told Harry he could only speak for himself, but he had said that Communism is the Devil's counterpart of the United Order, that it originated with the devil, so he could not be much stronger than that.
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
125 years ago today - Sep 24, 1896; Thursday
Pres[iden]t. G[eorge]. Q. Cannon stated that the question had been asked him whether in blessing children a distinction should be made between those born in the covenant and those not born in the covenant. He answered no. He learned that the answer had created some feeling, as it had been the custom in the ward where the questioner lived, to pronounce the blessing of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob on children born in the covenant, but not on the others. President Cannon asked the brethren of the Council whether they had heard of this distinction. The answer was no.
Elder J[ohn]. W. Taylor inquired why the Church did not acknowledge or recognize what is called the new translation of the Bible by the Prophet Joseph Smith, as printed and sold by the Josephites [RLDS / Community of Christ]. It was explained to him that the book he spoke of was not correct; that the Josephites had changed the wording and meaning of certain parts relating to plural marriage, thereby making it appear that the principle was condemned. It was further explained that the Church was in possession of a corrected copy of the new translation by Joseph Smith, which had come into possession of the Church through the late J[ohn]. M. Bernhisel, and that comparison had been made with it and the Josephite edition, by a committee appointed for the purpose, one of them being Elder F[ranklin]. D. Richards.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
Elder J[ohn]. W. Taylor inquired why the Church did not acknowledge or recognize what is called the new translation of the Bible by the Prophet Joseph Smith, as printed and sold by the Josephites [RLDS / Community of Christ]. It was explained to him that the book he spoke of was not correct; that the Josephites had changed the wording and meaning of certain parts relating to plural marriage, thereby making it appear that the principle was condemned. It was further explained that the Church was in possession of a corrected copy of the new translation by Joseph Smith, which had come into possession of the Church through the late J[ohn]. M. Bernhisel, and that comparison had been made with it and the Josephite edition, by a committee appointed for the purpose, one of them being Elder F[ranklin]. D. Richards.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
130 years ago today - Sep 24, 1891
[Brigham Young Jr.]
Pres[iden]t Woodruff said before I left, "we must do something to save our Temples." Some one may ask Can't God save them? I answer yes, & you might even now be redeemed had the people obeyed the counsel our leaders were inspired to give them in the past. I will do whatever my leaders counsel, but, the base thought of taking clemency from U.S.A. that has destroyed the prophets and has thrust us out to perish, pains me more than I can tell. Don't think it hurts me more than it does Joseph F. to surrender [he has just received word of Joseph F. Smith s pardon by President Harrison] and I thank God he is free to go before the people. The First Presidency should be there before all men, and the Twelve follow. Spare me Father; but thy will be done not mine.
[Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Pres[iden]t Woodruff said before I left, "we must do something to save our Temples." Some one may ask Can't God save them? I answer yes, & you might even now be redeemed had the people obeyed the counsel our leaders were inspired to give them in the past. I will do whatever my leaders counsel, but, the base thought of taking clemency from U.S.A. that has destroyed the prophets and has thrust us out to perish, pains me more than I can tell. Don't think it hurts me more than it does Joseph F. to surrender [he has just received word of Joseph F. Smith s pardon by President Harrison] and I thank God he is free to go before the people. The First Presidency should be there before all men, and the Twelve follow. Spare me Father; but thy will be done not mine.
[Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
150 years ago today - Sep 24, 1871
Presidt Young spoke 58 Minuts. He said a Man may Embrace the Law of Celestial Marriage in his heart & not take the Second wife & be justified before the Lord.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
165 years ago today - Sep 24, 1856
Due to report that Stephen A. Douglas has called Utah's Mormons "an ulcer on the body politic," Deseret News publishes Joseph Smith's 1843 prophecy: "Judge [Douglas], you will aspire to the Presidency of the United States," with his warning of failure if he turns against Mormons. Douglas is defeated for presidency in 1860; dies next year.
[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 23, 1966
A First Presidency letter, "effective immediately," ending "missionary farewells" in LDS meetings. The letter asks local officers "that you counsel families against holding receptions for departing missionaries." Without a single reference to war, this letter responds to the disparity of holding joyous farewells for young missionaries, while also conducting funerals for young men who are drafted to serve in Vietnam without opportunity to serve a mission.
[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)]]
75 years ago today - Sep 23, 1946
[J. Reuben Clark]
Told Henry Smith about a woman representing herself to be a granddaughter of Pres. Clark getting a watch worth $300 from a Mr. Jensen at Boyd Park Jewelers under false pretenses. Suggested they carry a story in the News warning the people of this type of thing, without using Pres. Clark's name. There were other instances, Mrs. Adam Bennion's name being used to charge things. ...
Mr. H. Scott Johnston called again (he telephoned a few weeks ago to try to see Pres. Clark) and wanted an appointment. He is trying to set up an organization to fight Communism....
Told Helen Barton, that Pres. Clark said he did not say at Ensign Stake Confl that we would be at war with Russia within the year, that he does not make set date predictions.
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
Told Henry Smith about a woman representing herself to be a granddaughter of Pres. Clark getting a watch worth $300 from a Mr. Jensen at Boyd Park Jewelers under false pretenses. Suggested they carry a story in the News warning the people of this type of thing, without using Pres. Clark's name. There were other instances, Mrs. Adam Bennion's name being used to charge things. ...
Mr. H. Scott Johnston called again (he telephoned a few weeks ago to try to see Pres. Clark) and wanted an appointment. He is trying to set up an organization to fight Communism....
Told Helen Barton, that Pres. Clark said he did not say at Ensign Stake Confl that we would be at war with Russia within the year, that he does not make set date predictions.
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
120 years ago today - Monday, Sep 23, 1901
[Rudger Clawson]
I read Sec. 24, D.&C., and made remarks on the great importance of listening to the voice of the priesthood and giving heed thereto, otherwise the Lord would send a cursing instead of a blessing. ...
Pres. Jno. W. Hess made concluding remarks and spoke in great power. He blessed me by the power of the priesthood and said that the spirit of the apostleship rested upon me. He prophesied that I should become a mighty man in Israel. Testified that I was called by the Lord to the apostleship and that the spirit of it would rest upon me greatly and abundantly. Said that I should live long upon the earth. Thus ended a very interesting and profitable conference, and one from which it was hoped much good fruit would be borne.
[Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
I read Sec. 24, D.&C., and made remarks on the great importance of listening to the voice of the priesthood and giving heed thereto, otherwise the Lord would send a cursing instead of a blessing. ...
Pres. Jno. W. Hess made concluding remarks and spoke in great power. He blessed me by the power of the priesthood and said that the spirit of the apostleship rested upon me. He prophesied that I should become a mighty man in Israel. Testified that I was called by the Lord to the apostleship and that the spirit of it would rest upon me greatly and abundantly. Said that I should live long upon the earth. Thus ended a very interesting and profitable conference, and one from which it was hoped much good fruit would be borne.
[Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
135 years ago today - Sep 23, 1886
Federal deputy marshals search the Gardo House in Salt Lake City in an unsuccessful attempt to find and arrest President John Taylor for violation of antipolygamy laws.
150 years ago today - 23 September 1871
BOOK OF BLOOD.—It is believed that the Mormon church has a record of all the murders committed by ecclesiastical order in Utah during the past twenty-four years. The crimes of all the rest of the world in that time mould make a brief memorandum in competition to this.
["Book of Blood," Corinne Daily Reporter, 23 September 1871, 2/2–4 (provided by Will Bagley)]
["Book of Blood," Corinne Daily Reporter, 23 September 1871, 2/2–4 (provided by Will Bagley)]
245 years ago today - Sep 23, 1776
The expedition of two Spanish Franciscan priests generated the first heartbeat of Catholicism in Utah. Francisco Atanazio Dominguez and Silvestre V. de Escalante left Santa Fe in search of an overland route to Monterey. They circled northward through Colorado, Utah, and Arizona before returning to New Mexico, the first known non-Native Americans to enter the land that became Utah. Traveling without military escort, they bridged the cultures of white man and Native American and drew the first maps ever made of Utah. A thirty-seven-foot steel cross stands today in Spanish Fork Canyon to mark their entry into Utah Valley on 23 September 1776.
[Utah History Encyclopedia: Catholic Church in Utah, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
[Utah History Encyclopedia: Catholic Church in Utah, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
105 years ago today - Sep 22, 1916
[First Presidency to General Boards of the Relief Society, Y.L.M.I.A., and Primary Association]
Dear Sisters:
We feel that there exists a pressing need of improvement and reform among our young people, specifically in the matter of dress and in their social customs and practices. Our women are prone to follow the demoralizing fashions of the world; and some of the daughters of Zion appear to vie with one another in exhibitions of immodesty and of actual indecency in their attire. ... Many of our youth of both sexes are fast approaching a state of depravity in dancing, and in their feverish pursuit of frivolous and dissipating pleasures.
We are grateful in knowing that only a fraction of our people are seriously affected by the deadly contagion of Babylon ...
We call upon you, as the chief officers of a great and influential auxiliary within the Church, to give this matter immediate consideration ...
[1916-September 22-Original circular. Church Historian's Library,, in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
Dear Sisters:
We feel that there exists a pressing need of improvement and reform among our young people, specifically in the matter of dress and in their social customs and practices. Our women are prone to follow the demoralizing fashions of the world; and some of the daughters of Zion appear to vie with one another in exhibitions of immodesty and of actual indecency in their attire. ... Many of our youth of both sexes are fast approaching a state of depravity in dancing, and in their feverish pursuit of frivolous and dissipating pleasures.
We are grateful in knowing that only a fraction of our people are seriously affected by the deadly contagion of Babylon ...
We call upon you, as the chief officers of a great and influential auxiliary within the Church, to give this matter immediate consideration ...
[1916-September 22-Original circular. Church Historian's Library,, in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
125 years ago today - Sep 22, 1896
[Marriner W. Merrill]
[After a strong wind blew off the tin roof] We finished putting all the shingles on the Temple roof yesterday, 88 thousand in all. We had 36 carpenters shingling and 16 men and boys carrying shingles, and all worked with a vim to save the House of the Lord.
[Notes from the Miscellaneous Record Book, 1886-1906: Selected diary notes from the journal books of Marriner Wood Merrill, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[After a strong wind blew off the tin roof] We finished putting all the shingles on the Temple roof yesterday, 88 thousand in all. We had 36 carpenters shingling and 16 men and boys carrying shingles, and all worked with a vim to save the House of the Lord.
[Notes from the Miscellaneous Record Book, 1886-1906: Selected diary notes from the journal books of Marriner Wood Merrill, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
135 years ago today - Sep 22, 1886
[John D. T. McAllister]
Said, some time ago, on account of an expected raid by our enemies, the Temple was closed and the records taken away, and transcripts of work done could not be given. He could not lay his hands on them, but they are in a safe keeping. [He] felt the time would soon arrive when we can have access to the records again and accomodate the Saints. Said the word is now given, that those who come into this Temple must keep the Word of Wisdom. Wines, liquors &c are good in sickness and should be kept in the house for medicine but not [as] beverages; they are forbidden.
[Temple Minute Book, St. George, Sept. 22, 1886, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
Said, some time ago, on account of an expected raid by our enemies, the Temple was closed and the records taken away, and transcripts of work done could not be given. He could not lay his hands on them, but they are in a safe keeping. [He] felt the time would soon arrive when we can have access to the records again and accomodate the Saints. Said the word is now given, that those who come into this Temple must keep the Word of Wisdom. Wines, liquors &c are good in sickness and should be kept in the house for medicine but not [as] beverages; they are forbidden.
[Temple Minute Book, St. George, Sept. 22, 1886, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
160 years ago today - Sep 22, 1861 (Afternoon)
Brother Brigham said it was the word of the Lord to us to wean ourselves from the world and strive with all our might to become one with Christ as He is one with the Father. Touched on the absurdity of following after the Gentiles and their fashions. Said the Lord would just as soon bless us in an old tow frock as arrayed in silks and purple. It was not the outside he looked at but the heart of a person. Said that he looked upon good common sense as the greatest blessing as an individual could have. Gave us some God like exhortations pertaining to our duties. -- Salt Lake City
[Diary of Charles Lowell Walker. Andrew Karl Larson, ed. Logan: Utah State University Press, 1980. 199, 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]
[Diary of Charles Lowell Walker. Andrew Karl Larson, ed. Logan: Utah State University Press, 1980. 199, quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
170 years ago today - Sep 22, 1851 (Monday)
The first legislature of Utah Territory convened in G.S.L. City and organized by electing Heber C. Kimball president of the Council, and Wm. W. Phelps speaker of the House.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
170 years ago today - Sep 22, 1851 (Monday)
Amasa M. Lyman and party purchased the Ranche of San Bernardino, containing about one hundred thousand acres of land. The location was about one hundred miles from San Diego.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
175 years ago today - Sep 22, 1846
A report reached us that A mob or company of Armed men were coming toward us from Missouri on the west side of the river. We called the men together in the encampment & organized them into A legion. Brigham Young occupied his former place as Major General of the Legion. Mr Stephen Markham Appointed Coiloriel, Hosea Stout 1st Major Mr [ ] Scott 2d Major [ ] And officers to fill out the legion the whole numbering about 500 men including three companies of Artillery men of 25 each. The day was mostly spent in this way. All were well armed and equiped for self defence.
[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]
175 years ago today - Sep 22, 1846
At the re-organization in Iowa of the Nauvoo Legion, Hosea Stout instructs men in "the old Missouri Danite drill."
[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]
190 years ago today - Sep 22, 1831
Missionary Jared Carter records that he received the non-ordained "authority of an apostle." A revelation a year later contained the last known reference to Mormon missionaries as "apostles."
[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]
195 years ago today - Sep 22, 1826
Joseph Jr. makes his fourth visit to the Hill Cumorah. Moroni tells him that if he meets the Lord's requirement he can have the plates next year. From his seer stone, Joseph learns that he should bring Emma Hale with him.
[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]
25 years ago today - Sep 21, 1996
The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is enacted under Bill Clinton
[History of The Proclamation on the Family, https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRDUS68wfgWtZqdNv67AqfYGGfHrJiZi-B6dlDhDClQOatExFZDFt73srGQoul3U4_iXiTuYIqW57gs/pubhtml]
[History of The Proclamation on the Family, https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRDUS68wfgWtZqdNv67AqfYGGfHrJiZi-B6dlDhDClQOatExFZDFt73srGQoul3U4_iXiTuYIqW57gs/pubhtml]
65 years ago today - Sep 21, 1956
Second counselor J. Reuben Clark reluctantly agrees not to oppose the First Presidency's decision to set aside two-thirds of tithing income to invest in government bonds, even though in previous months the church had already lost $1 million on its investments in government securities.
[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)]]
110 years ago today - Sep 21, 1911
[James E. Talmage]
Forty-nine years old today. Had interview with the First Presidency, and was appointed by them to special work viz. the preparation of the manuscript for a booklet on temples and temple work. A few days ago, specifically on the 11th inst. the Salt Lake Tribune announced under sensational headlines that pictures of the interior of the temple in this city had been secured by men who had surreptitiously gained entrance to the building and that the parties having the pictures so obtained were then in New York negotiating for the sale of same to theatres or 'moving-picture' houses for public exhibition. It was further stated that a first offer had been made to the Church officials, and that $100,000 would be considered a fair basis of sale. The 'Deseret News' on the evening of the 16th confirmed the main facts of the report and published the seven pictures reserved by the President of the Church from the/conspirators and would-be blackmailers. The pictures are bromide enlargements of poor negatives, evidently made in haste, showing some of the temple rooms during the summer cleaning period. The authorities have since announced that pictures of the temple interior will be made, and that copies of same may be obtained by reputable publishers and other reliable parties, and further that it is the intention of the Presidency to publish a book on the subject of temples and temple work embodying such pictures.
[James E. Talmage, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
Forty-nine years old today. Had interview with the First Presidency, and was appointed by them to special work viz. the preparation of the manuscript for a booklet on temples and temple work. A few days ago, specifically on the 11th inst. the Salt Lake Tribune announced under sensational headlines that pictures of the interior of the temple in this city had been secured by men who had surreptitiously gained entrance to the building and that the parties having the pictures so obtained were then in New York negotiating for the sale of same to theatres or 'moving-picture' houses for public exhibition. It was further stated that a first offer had been made to the Church officials, and that $100,000 would be considered a fair basis of sale. The 'Deseret News' on the evening of the 16th confirmed the main facts of the report and published the seven pictures reserved by the President of the Church from the/conspirators and would-be blackmailers. The pictures are bromide enlargements of poor negatives, evidently made in haste, showing some of the temple rooms during the summer cleaning period. The authorities have since announced that pictures of the temple interior will be made, and that copies of same may be obtained by reputable publishers and other reliable parties, and further that it is the intention of the Presidency to publish a book on the subject of temples and temple work embodying such pictures.
[James E. Talmage, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
125 years ago today - Sep 21, 1896
[Franklin D. Richards]
B[isho]p. W[illiam]. B. Preston called with [Apostle] M[oses]. Thatcher Jr. & informed us that Apostle M. Thatcher has now spent 27 out of 60 days in treatment by an expert in the Keely cure necessary to overcome the Morphine habit & asked that brother M[oses]. T[hatcher]. may be permitted to continue undisturbed in his treatment until the 60 days expire; which was most cordially granted. Pres[iden]t. L[orenzo] Snow, concurred.
[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]
B[isho]p. W[illiam]. B. Preston called with [Apostle] M[oses]. Thatcher Jr. & informed us that Apostle M. Thatcher has now spent 27 out of 60 days in treatment by an expert in the Keely cure necessary to overcome the Morphine habit & asked that brother M[oses]. T[hatcher]. may be permitted to continue undisturbed in his treatment until the 60 days expire; which was most cordially granted. Pres[iden]t. L[orenzo] Snow, concurred.
[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 - Monday, Sep 21, 1891
[Wilford Woodruff to John Henry Smith]
Elder John Henry Smith
One of the Twelve Apostles
Dear Brother,
The condition of many of the saints in Arizona in Connection with their marriages has been brought to the attention of the First Presidency. We understand that there are many couples in that Territory who are prevented by poverty and other circumstances from going to the Temple to have their sealing and that many of the children are being born out of the Covenant [to parents who have not been sealed for time and eternity] because of this.
... we have decided to authorize you, as one of the Apostles, to dedicate rooms which are now used for prayer according to the holy order [of the temple ceremonies], and in those rooms solemnize marriages such as are properly recommended, and which are of the class referred to, that is, marriages of those who are unable through poverty or some other various impediment, to go to the Temple of the Lord to be sealed for time and for eternity.... I remain your brother
Wilford Woodruff
Form of Marriage
Brother, you take Sister —- by the right hand and receive her unto yourself to be your lawfull wedded wife, for time and for all eternity. With the Covenant and promise that you will observe and keep all the laws, rites and ordinances appertaining to this holy order of matrimony in the new and everlasting Covenant [of eternal marriage]. This you do in the presence of God, angels and these witnesses, of your own free will and choice. Do you? Yes! [Repeated for woman.]
By virtue of the holy Priesthood and Authority invested in me, I pronounce you legally and lawfully husband and wife, for time and all eternity.
I seal upon you the blessings of the holy resurrection with power to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection clothed with glory, immortality and eternal lives. And I seal upon you the blessings of Kingdoms, thrones, principalities, powers dominions and exaltations with the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And I say unto you, be fruitfull and multiply and replenish the earth that you may have joy and rejoicing in your posterity in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ.
All these blessings, together with all appertaining to the new and everlasting covenant, I seal upon your heads, through your faithfullness by virtue of the holy priesthood and in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, Amen.
Kiss each other...
[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]
Elder John Henry Smith
One of the Twelve Apostles
Dear Brother,
The condition of many of the saints in Arizona in Connection with their marriages has been brought to the attention of the First Presidency. We understand that there are many couples in that Territory who are prevented by poverty and other circumstances from going to the Temple to have their sealing and that many of the children are being born out of the Covenant [to parents who have not been sealed for time and eternity] because of this.
... we have decided to authorize you, as one of the Apostles, to dedicate rooms which are now used for prayer according to the holy order [of the temple ceremonies], and in those rooms solemnize marriages such as are properly recommended, and which are of the class referred to, that is, marriages of those who are unable through poverty or some other various impediment, to go to the Temple of the Lord to be sealed for time and for eternity.... I remain your brother
Wilford Woodruff
Form of Marriage
Brother, you take Sister —- by the right hand and receive her unto yourself to be your lawfull wedded wife, for time and for all eternity. With the Covenant and promise that you will observe and keep all the laws, rites and ordinances appertaining to this holy order of matrimony in the new and everlasting Covenant [of eternal marriage]. This you do in the presence of God, angels and these witnesses, of your own free will and choice. Do you? Yes! [Repeated for woman.]
By virtue of the holy Priesthood and Authority invested in me, I pronounce you legally and lawfully husband and wife, for time and all eternity.
I seal upon you the blessings of the holy resurrection with power to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection clothed with glory, immortality and eternal lives. And I seal upon you the blessings of Kingdoms, thrones, principalities, powers dominions and exaltations with the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And I say unto you, be fruitfull and multiply and replenish the earth that you may have joy and rejoicing in your posterity in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ.
All these blessings, together with all appertaining to the new and everlasting covenant, I seal upon your heads, through your faithfullness by virtue of the holy priesthood and in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, Amen.
Kiss each other...
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
160 years ago today - Sep 21, 1861
Brigham Young's "destroying angel" William A. "Wild Bill" Hickman falls down and accidentally shoots himself in the liver when his gun discharges. He lives for twenty-two more years and omits this incident from his memoirs that are written before his execution.
165 years ago today - Sep 21, 1856
[Jedediah M. Grant]
"Some have received the Priesthood and a knowledge of the things of God, and still they dishonor the cause of truth, commit adultery, and every other abomination beneath the heavens, and then meet you here or in the street, and deny it.
These are the abominable characters that we have in our midst, and they will seek unto wizards that peep, and to star-gazers and soothsayers, because they have no faith in the holy Priesthood, and then when they meet us, they want to be called Saints.
The same characters will get drunk and wallow in the mire and filth, and yet they call themselves Saints, and seem to glory in their conduct, and they pride themselves in their greatness and in their abominations.
They are the old hardened sinners, and are almost—if not altogether—past improvement, and are full of hell, and my prayer is that God's indignation may rest upon them from the crown of their heads to the soles of their feet.
I say, that there are men and women that I would advise to go to the President immediately, and ask him to appoint a committee to attend to their case; and then let a place be selected, and let that committee shed their blood.
We have those amongst us that are full of all manner of abominations, those who need to have their blood shed, for water will not do, their sins are of too deep a dye.
You may think that I am not teaching you Bible doctrine, but what says the apostle Paul? I would ask how many covenant breakers there are in this city and in this kingdom. I believe that there are a great many; and if they are covenant breakers we need a place designated, where we can shed their blood. "
[Jedediah M. Grant, Deseret News, vol. 6, p. 235, reprinted in the Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, pp. 49-51, quoted at Mormon Bookshelf: http://mormonbookshelf.com/wiki/Blood_Atonement]
"Some have received the Priesthood and a knowledge of the things of God, and still they dishonor the cause of truth, commit adultery, and every other abomination beneath the heavens, and then meet you here or in the street, and deny it.
These are the abominable characters that we have in our midst, and they will seek unto wizards that peep, and to star-gazers and soothsayers, because they have no faith in the holy Priesthood, and then when they meet us, they want to be called Saints.
The same characters will get drunk and wallow in the mire and filth, and yet they call themselves Saints, and seem to glory in their conduct, and they pride themselves in their greatness and in their abominations.
They are the old hardened sinners, and are almost—if not altogether—past improvement, and are full of hell, and my prayer is that God's indignation may rest upon them from the crown of their heads to the soles of their feet.
I say, that there are men and women that I would advise to go to the President immediately, and ask him to appoint a committee to attend to their case; and then let a place be selected, and let that committee shed their blood.
We have those amongst us that are full of all manner of abominations, those who need to have their blood shed, for water will not do, their sins are of too deep a dye.
You may think that I am not teaching you Bible doctrine, but what says the apostle Paul? I would ask how many covenant breakers there are in this city and in this kingdom. I believe that there are a great many; and if they are covenant breakers we need a place designated, where we can shed their blood. "
[Jedediah M. Grant, Deseret News, vol. 6, p. 235, reprinted in the Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, pp. 49-51, quoted at Mormon Bookshelf: http://mormonbookshelf.com/wiki/Blood_Atonement]
165 years ago today - Sep 21, 1856
This is the reason why the doctrine of plurality of wives was revealed, that the noble spirits who are waiting for tabernacles might be brought forth
[Journal of Discourses, 4:56, quoted at WikiQuotes: Brigham Young, http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Brigham_Young]
[Journal of Discourses, 4:56, quoted at WikiQuotes: Brigham Young, http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Brigham_Young]
165 years ago today - Sep 21, 1856
[Brigham Young]
"There are sins that men commit for which they cannot receive forgiveness in this world, or in that which is to come, and if they had their eyes open to see their true condition, they would be perfectly willing to have their blood spilt upon the ground, that the smoke thereof might ascend to heaven as an offering for their sins; and the smoking incense would atone for their sins, whereas, if such is not the case, they will stick to them and remain upon them in the spirit world.
I know, when you hear my brethren telling about cutting people off from the earth, that you consider it is strong doctrine, but it is to save them, not to destroy them. . . .
And furthermore, I know that there are transgressors, who, if they knew themselves, and the only condition upon which they can obtain forgiveness, would beg of their brethren to shed their blood, that the smoke thereof might ascend to God as an offering to appease the wrath that is kindled against them, and that the law might have its course. I will say further; I have had men come to me and offer their lives to atone for their sins.
It is true that the blood of the Son of God was shed for sins through the fall and those committed by men, yet men can commit sins which it can never remit. As it was in ancient days, so it is in our day; and though the principles are taught publicly from this stand, still the people do not understand them; yet the law is precisely the same. There are sins that can be atoned for by an offering upon an altar, as in ancient days; and there are sins that the blood of a lamb, of a calf, or of turtle doves, cannot remit, but they must be atoned for by the blood of the man. That is the reason why men talk to you as they do from this stand; they understand the doctrine and throw out a few words about it. You have been taught that doctrine, but you do not understand it.
[Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, pp. 53-54; also published in the Deseret News, 1856, p. 235 Utah Digital Newspapers page 3, column 3, quoted at Mormon Bookshelf: http://mormonbookshelf.com/wiki/Blood_Atonement]
"There are sins that men commit for which they cannot receive forgiveness in this world, or in that which is to come, and if they had their eyes open to see their true condition, they would be perfectly willing to have their blood spilt upon the ground, that the smoke thereof might ascend to heaven as an offering for their sins; and the smoking incense would atone for their sins, whereas, if such is not the case, they will stick to them and remain upon them in the spirit world.
I know, when you hear my brethren telling about cutting people off from the earth, that you consider it is strong doctrine, but it is to save them, not to destroy them. . . .
And furthermore, I know that there are transgressors, who, if they knew themselves, and the only condition upon which they can obtain forgiveness, would beg of their brethren to shed their blood, that the smoke thereof might ascend to God as an offering to appease the wrath that is kindled against them, and that the law might have its course. I will say further; I have had men come to me and offer their lives to atone for their sins.
It is true that the blood of the Son of God was shed for sins through the fall and those committed by men, yet men can commit sins which it can never remit. As it was in ancient days, so it is in our day; and though the principles are taught publicly from this stand, still the people do not understand them; yet the law is precisely the same. There are sins that can be atoned for by an offering upon an altar, as in ancient days; and there are sins that the blood of a lamb, of a calf, or of turtle doves, cannot remit, but they must be atoned for by the blood of the man. That is the reason why men talk to you as they do from this stand; they understand the doctrine and throw out a few words about it. You have been taught that doctrine, but you do not understand it.
[Journal of Discourses, vol. 4, pp. 53-54; also published in the Deseret News, 1856, p. 235 Utah Digital Newspapers page 3, column 3, quoted at Mormon Bookshelf: http://mormonbookshelf.com/wiki/Blood_Atonement]
170 years ago today - Sep 21, 1851
[Hosea Stout]
I learned to day that Howard Egan, who has returned forom the gold mines lately, and upon learning that his wife had been seduced or in other word had had a child willingly by James M. Monroe during his absence. Said Monroe had also gone to the States for goods for Reese and was now on his return here, whereupon Egan went and met him near Cach Cave and after talking the matter over sometime Egan drew a pistol and shot him dead which makes the second man who has been deliberately shot dead for the same offence in less than one year in the Territory.
What will be the end of this last affair I do not now know.
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
I learned to day that Howard Egan, who has returned forom the gold mines lately, and upon learning that his wife had been seduced or in other word had had a child willingly by James M. Monroe during his absence. Said Monroe had also gone to the States for goods for Reese and was now on his return here, whereupon Egan went and met him near Cach Cave and after talking the matter over sometime Egan drew a pistol and shot him dead which makes the second man who has been deliberately shot dead for the same offence in less than one year in the Territory.
What will be the end of this last affair I do not now know.
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
180 years ago today - Sept the 21st 1841
[High Council Minutes]
President Austin Cowles stated that as the High Council was unpleasantly situated in relation to its being inthraled with debts &c. which had devolved upon it in a time when it was under the necessity of transacting temporal buisness, for the Church...
[Minutes of the High Council of the Church of Jesus Christ of Nauvoo Illinois: Nauvoo Hancock County Illinois, http://amzn.to/uXAcJh%20]
President Austin Cowles stated that as the High Council was unpleasantly situated in relation to its being inthraled with debts &c. which had devolved upon it in a time when it was under the necessity of transacting temporal buisness, for the Church...
[Minutes of the High Council of the Church of Jesus Christ of Nauvoo Illinois: Nauvoo Hancock County Illinois, http://amzn.to/uXAcJh%20]
20 years ago today - Sep 20, 2001
President Hinckley was among 26 religious leaders who met at the White House in Washington, D.C., with U.S. President George W. Bush regarding the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington D.C., on Sept. 11, 2001.
[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 20, 1936
President Heber J. Grant dedicates the Winter Quarters Cemetery Monument in Florence, Nebraska, with the Tragedy of Winter Quarters statue by Avard T. Fairbanks as the central sculpture. The monument honors the Saints who perished there during the winter of 1846–47.
100 years ago today - Sep 20, 1921
Apostle Reed Smoot receives a letter from the president of Fox Films, agreeing to stop exhibiting the movie 'Riders of the Purple Sage,' after the First Presidency condemned the film on 24 Aug. The studio estimates its loss at $300,000 for withdrawing this and 'The Rainbow Trail,' which LDS leaders also regard as anti-Mormon. The studio re-edits 'Riders,' which Apostle Smoot reviews and approves on 15 Feb. 1925.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
125 years ago today - Sunday, Sep 20, 1896
[John Henry Smith]
Nephi
With others I went and administered to a Bro. Wright who is possessed of an evil spirit. We failed to cast him out.
[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]
Nephi
With others I went and administered to a Bro. Wright who is possessed of an evil spirit. We failed to cast him out.
[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]
125 years ago today - Sep 20, 1896
Seventy's president J. Golden Kimball preaches: "There are 500 girls who are public prostitutes in Salt Lake City. Some of these are daughters of Latter-day Saints."
[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 - Tuesday, Sep 20, 1881
[John Henry Smith]
Today Bro. Lyman and myself made inquiry of several of the Twelve as to the position in which G. Q,. Cannon and J. F. Smith would be placed in the event of the death of President Taylor. Bros L. Snow and F. D. Richards were of the opinion they would be in the position of J. W. Young and D. H. Wells, councillors to the Twelve [but not members of the quorum]. The latter however modified his opinion. Bro. Woodruff, G. Q. Cannon, J. F. Smith, F. Lyman and myself were of the opinion that they would take their places in the Quorum of the Twelve, they standing in a different position from Bro. Young & Wells who were never members of that quorum.
I gave it as my opinion that all men who may be councillors to the President in the event of his death fall back to their Quorum from which they were chosen.
[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]
Today Bro. Lyman and myself made inquiry of several of the Twelve as to the position in which G. Q,. Cannon and J. F. Smith would be placed in the event of the death of President Taylor. Bros L. Snow and F. D. Richards were of the opinion they would be in the position of J. W. Young and D. H. Wells, councillors to the Twelve [but not members of the quorum]. The latter however modified his opinion. Bro. Woodruff, G. Q. Cannon, J. F. Smith, F. Lyman and myself were of the opinion that they would take their places in the Quorum of the Twelve, they standing in a different position from Bro. Young & Wells who were never members of that quorum.
I gave it as my opinion that all men who may be councillors to the President in the event of his death fall back to their Quorum from which they were chosen.
[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]
145 years ago today - Sep 20, 1876
In John D. Lee's second trial - he is convicted of murder for his part in the Mountain Meadows Massacre. The jury deliberates for 3 hours and 45 minutes. Unlike at his first trial where no faithful LDS testified for the prosecution, many now testified against Lee including Daniel H. Wells (second counselor to Brigham Young), and massacre participants Nephi Johnson (Lieutenant in Nauvoo Legion who lead killing of women and children), Jacob Hamblin (president of Southern Indian Mission). Johnson and Hamblin perjure themselves and put all blame on Lee. Judge Jacob S. Boremon allowed the all-Mormon jury to be informed that Wells's presence indicated that the LDS church supported the prosecution. Juror Andrew Correy quoted the Book of Mormon to justify his guilty vote: "Some one had to be sacrificed, so at last I gave in-.Better for one man to die than for a whole nation to dwindle in unbelief." But he says of his guilty vote that finally made it unanimous, "I felt miserable, just as though the devil had some power over me."
175 years ago today - Sep 20, 1846
[Brigham Young]
When I see the suffering that this people are enduring from the conduct of professed Christians I feel more like fighting & swearing than preaching. ... if any man wants to go & join the mob I hope He will get marked so as to stay marked untill the resurrection.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
When I see the suffering that this people are enduring from the conduct of professed Christians I feel more like fighting & swearing than preaching. ... if any man wants to go & join the mob I hope He will get marked so as to stay marked untill the resurrection.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
85 years ago today - Sep 19, 1936
[Joseph F. Smith]
"I know that God is a being with body, parts, and passions and that his Son is in his own likeness, and that man is created in the image of God. The Son, Jesus Christ, grew and developed into manhood the same as you or I, as likewise did God, his father grow and develop to the Supreme Being that he now is. Man was born of woman; Christ the Savior, was born of woman; and God, the Father, was born of woman. Adam, our earthly parent, was also born of woman into this world, the same as Jesus and you and I."
[Deseret Evening News, December 27, 1919, Section 3, p. 7, Remarks by Pres. Joseph F. Smith, quoted in Quotations Dealing with the Relationship of Our First Earthly Parents to Our Heavenly Parents (1830-1978)]
"I know that God is a being with body, parts, and passions and that his Son is in his own likeness, and that man is created in the image of God. The Son, Jesus Christ, grew and developed into manhood the same as you or I, as likewise did God, his father grow and develop to the Supreme Being that he now is. Man was born of woman; Christ the Savior, was born of woman; and God, the Father, was born of woman. Adam, our earthly parent, was also born of woman into this world, the same as Jesus and you and I."
[Deseret Evening News, December 27, 1919, Section 3, p. 7, Remarks by Pres. Joseph F. Smith, quoted in Quotations Dealing with the Relationship of Our First Earthly Parents to Our Heavenly Parents (1830-1978)]
125 years ago today - Sep 19, 1896
[Marriner W. Merrill]
Terrific wind last night blew ... all the tin from the Temple roof, damage not less than $600.00 to the Temple. I went to Lewiston, back to Richmond, and on to Logan. Found 67 large trees blown down on Temple Block and the tin off the roof.
[Notes from the Miscellaneous Record Book, 1886-1906: Selected diary notes from the journal books of Marriner Wood Merrill, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Terrific wind last night blew ... all the tin from the Temple roof, damage not less than $600.00 to the Temple. I went to Lewiston, back to Richmond, and on to Logan. Found 67 large trees blown down on Temple Block and the tin off the roof.
[Notes from the Miscellaneous Record Book, 1886-1906: Selected diary notes from the journal books of Marriner Wood Merrill, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
135 years ago today - Sep 19, 1886
[Patriarchal Blessing of Margaret Rigby RosKelley by John L. Smith]
... thou shalt ... see Zion redeemed and peace established in all her borders, thy Joy shall be full, thousands shall be fed at thy table and many will hail thee mother, and bear thy name in honorable rememberence [remembrance] to the latest generation, thy sons and thy daughters mighty and numerous, thy words, words of wisdom to all thou dost associate with in the absence of thy companion thy Guardian Angel will shisper [whisper] to thee of his prosperity and tell thee which way to turn. ... Thou shalt behold thy Saviour decend [desend] in the clouds of heaven in great glory and rejoice with him in company with thy kindred ...
[Patriarchal Blessings]
... thou shalt ... see Zion redeemed and peace established in all her borders, thy Joy shall be full, thousands shall be fed at thy table and many will hail thee mother, and bear thy name in honorable rememberence [remembrance] to the latest generation, thy sons and thy daughters mighty and numerous, thy words, words of wisdom to all thou dost associate with in the absence of thy companion thy Guardian Angel will shisper [whisper] to thee of his prosperity and tell thee which way to turn. ... Thou shalt behold thy Saviour decend [desend] in the clouds of heaven in great glory and rejoice with him in company with thy kindred ...
[Patriarchal Blessings]
175 years ago today - Sep 19, 1846
[Wilford Woodruff]
I conversed with Br Young & others abut A report that had reached our ears that the Marshall of the State of Missouri was on his way with a Posse to take the Twelve with some kind of a warrant. O Missouri when will thou scease seeking for the Blood of the Twelve Apostles And the Saints of God.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I conversed with Br Young & others abut A report that had reached our ears that the Marshall of the State of Missouri was on his way with a Posse to take the Twelve with some kind of a warrant. O Missouri when will thou scease seeking for the Blood of the Twelve Apostles And the Saints of God.
[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 19, 1846
[Hosea Stout]
President Young sent me for Br G. W. Langley and after Council he informed us that it was reported that 12 dragoon United States horses had been seen taken on an island on the other side of the river and there kept by 3 men. The horses were fully equiped and it was supposed to be for the purpose of kidnapping some of the Twelve[.] The report seemed to be correct and created considerable excitement and agreed well with the report which Sarpee made to J. M. Grant that the United States Marshall was coming here with writs for the Twelve &cnow from this report we had reason to believe that they designed to catch some out and thus run them off on those horses.
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
President Young sent me for Br G. W. Langley and after Council he informed us that it was reported that 12 dragoon United States horses had been seen taken on an island on the other side of the river and there kept by 3 men. The horses were fully equiped and it was supposed to be for the purpose of kidnapping some of the Twelve[.] The report seemed to be correct and created considerable excitement and agreed well with the report which Sarpee made to J. M. Grant that the United States Marshall was coming here with writs for the Twelve &cnow from this report we had reason to believe that they designed to catch some out and thus run them off on those horses.
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
210 years ago today - 1811. September 19
(Orson Pratt) : Born in Hartford, New York. Orson attended a few classes in bookkeeping, mathematics, geography, grammar, and surveying, but was basically self-educated.
[Van Wagoner, Richard and Walker, Steven C., A Book of Mormons, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Van Wagoner, Richard and Walker, Steven C., A Book of Mormons, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
45 years ago today - Sep 18, 1976
Former BYU president Wilkinson gave the invocation before Benson spoke at this dedicatory service of the Freemen Institute on 18 September 1976. ... Skousen, Wilkinson, and Benson had been allied as advocates of the Birch Society for more than a decade. Now, for the first time, all three participated at an ultra-conservative political meeting also attended by the secretary to the LDS church president. The evident news black-out of this meeting in all the regular newspapers of Provo, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, Utah, apparently resulted from the fact that newspaper reporters were excluded from this dedicatory service of the Freemen Institute. Even the Mormon-Birch Utah Independent reported only Benson's attendance at the dedicatory service.
D. Arthur Haycock, President Kimball's secretary, specifically linked the Birch Society with this ceremony at the Freemen Institute in September 1976. After Wilkinson gave the prayer at the Freemen dedication, Haycock confided to him on this day that "nearly all of them believed in the concepts of the John Birch Society." That may have been an overstatement, but more importantly it showed that the Birch Society and Benson in particular had a partisan friend in the First Presidency's office. Haycock had been private secretary to Benson as Secretary of Agriculture and was a confidant and significant influence on President Kimball.
[Wilkinson diary, 18 Sept. 1976. 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.]
D. Arthur Haycock, President Kimball's secretary, specifically linked the Birch Society with this ceremony at the Freemen Institute in September 1976. After Wilkinson gave the prayer at the Freemen dedication, Haycock confided to him on this day that "nearly all of them believed in the concepts of the John Birch Society." That may have been an overstatement, but more importantly it showed that the Birch Society and Benson in particular had a partisan friend in the First Presidency's office. Haycock had been private secretary to Benson as Secretary of Agriculture and was a confidant and significant influence on President Kimball.
[Wilkinson diary, 18 Sept. 1976. 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 18, 1901
[David H. Cannon]
Pres[iden]t Brigham Young left St. George on 16 April 1877 for Salt Lake City and on the 17[th] [of ] April Pres[iden]t Young blessed me and set me apart to do sealings adoptions, 2nd Anointings[,] and all work in this holy Temple. This was done in Bellevieu [Bellevue, Nebraska] at the house of Brother Jacob Gates. I rejoice in this work and hope the time is not far distant when the temple will be filled with saints laboring for their dead. Be attentive and calm; see and hear what is done and said. Keep a record of what you do.
[David H. Cannon, Temple Minute Book, St. George, Sept. 18, 1901, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
Pres[iden]t Brigham Young left St. George on 16 April 1877 for Salt Lake City and on the 17[th] [of ] April Pres[iden]t Young blessed me and set me apart to do sealings adoptions, 2nd Anointings[,] and all work in this holy Temple. This was done in Bellevieu [Bellevue, Nebraska] at the house of Brother Jacob Gates. I rejoice in this work and hope the time is not far distant when the temple will be filled with saints laboring for their dead. Be attentive and calm; see and hear what is done and said. Keep a record of what you do.
[David H. Cannon, Temple Minute Book, St. George, Sept. 18, 1901, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
125 years ago today - Sep 18, 1896
Dr. James E. Talmage waited on the First Presidency today, and spoke of the series of theological lectures which he had delivered some time ago in the Assembly Hall, and stated that they were discontinued for fear that his position as President of the State University might be considered by non-mormons incompatible with active duties as an Elder in the Church. Many persons had recently expressed a desire that he should reopen his theological class, and he was perfectly willing to do so irrespective of what might be said on the subject by outside parties. The matter was discussed, and the subject postponed for the present until Conference with the Stake Presidency could be had. Pres[iden]t. Geo[rge]. Q. Cannon expressed the fear that advantage might be taken of Brother Talmage's position if he recommended this work, and efforts would be made looking at his removal from the University. The matter was laid over for the present.
[Journal History, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
[Journal History, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
140 years ago today - Sep 18, 1881 (Sunday)
Apostle Orson Pratt delivered his last public discourse, in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
175 years ago today - Sep 18, 1846
Enoch Lovejoy Lewis (black man Walker Lewis's first born) and Mary Matilda Webster, a white woman, were married in Cambridge, both of them LDS.
[LDS (or related) Documents on Walker Lewis, the Lowell, Mass. Branch of the Mormon Church and its missionaries and members, and the Priesthood Ban against Blacks, Compiled by Connell O'Donovan, http://people.ucsc.edu/~odonovan/Mormon_Chronology.html]
[LDS (or related) Documents on Walker Lewis, the Lowell, Mass. Branch of the Mormon Church and its missionaries and members, and the Priesthood Ban against Blacks, Compiled by Connell O'Donovan, http://people.ucsc.edu/~odonovan/Mormon_Chronology.html]
175 years ago today - Sep 18, 1846
When the mob occupied the [Nauvoo] Temple, some of them ran to the tower, where they beat a drum, rang the bell, and shouted for joy. One preacher yelled, "Peace! Peace! Peace! To the inhabitants of the earth, now the Mormons are driven!"
[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]
55 years ago today - circa Sep 17, 1966
Stephen Hays Russell ... reported the BYU spy-ring's findings to Ezra Taft Benson.
[Quinn interview on 16 December 1992 with a person (name withheld by request) who was a highly placed official at LDS church headquarters in 1966. While I was asking about other matters involving Ezra Taft Benson, this source brought up the BYU espionage and volunteered Stephen Russell's name as the person who forwarded the "spy ring's findings" to Benson. This forwarding of the spy ring information to Benson was also implied in Hankin interview, 17 Sept. 1966, pp. 6-7, and Sisson statement, 17 Sept. 1966, folder 10, Hillam Papers, and box 34, Buerger Papers. 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.]
[Quinn interview on 16 December 1992 with a person (name withheld by request) who was a highly placed official at LDS church headquarters in 1966. While I was asking about other matters involving Ezra Taft Benson, this source brought up the BYU espionage and volunteered Stephen Russell's name as the person who forwarded the "spy ring's findings" to Benson. This forwarding of the spy ring information to Benson was also implied in Hankin interview, 17 Sept. 1966, pp. 6-7, and Sisson statement, 17 Sept. 1966, folder 10, Hillam Papers, and box 34, Buerger Papers. 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.]
125 years ago today - Sep 17, 1896
[Anthon H. Lund]
"... went to the Temple. Senator Cannon and Governor Wells went with us. The question about what course [?] the Apostles should take was up and it was decided that we should keep out of politics IW ass urpis[?] sedt ah ear Broc aimous ayt hath ea asa gainsth iss oust al tungt [tingt ?] hec on vent iona ts S [or T?] Louisa ndt hens ayt hath ec o[?]nsid credt hathec ouldn oth avet aken ac onsis tentc oursina noth erw ay. Hed ecla wedh imgelfa Republic an andh esaidt hath ew anteda llw taht I ogot hes amew ay Ac om, mitt een as ap point edt ovisitm es est hat chera nd giveh in thewlt ima turn a foung now uos um. /Det v ar f ore [one?]. slaaeta tvia postlernes buldes kkeg aacn datt nle amP alitik [sic?]. John Henry vars kkeg 'odtt lilfredsm ad dike da hauh erg jortf oram staltsimger till at hjolps hansp Arti. Jos[eph] F. er en Guld [Gold?] man og Geo[rge] Q. C. er for Salv." [or Serlv] [nb. division shows where]
[nb. It is only the latter part of this entry that is written in Danish as shown. The first part makes no seeming sense until it becomes apparent that it is written in English with the syllables broken up non-phonetically and certainly non- grammatically. On card #2 I have interpreted the entry following this apparent device, while a Scandinavian expert in archives has helped me interpret the last portion which, as with the English words, continues to be broken up]
[The interpretation of the entry as transliterated above]
"I was surprised to hear bro[ther] cannon say that he was against his sons bolting the convention at St. Louis and then say that he considered that he could not have taken a consistent course in another way. He declared himself a Republican and he said that he wanted all Utah to go the same way. A committee was appointed to visit Moses Thatcher and give him the ultimatum of our quorum."[At this point the Danish begins; again, the words are separated and the whole very difficult to read. The following is an approximate translation] "It was suggested that we the Apostles should not take part in the talk about politics. John Henry was not well pleased with this because he is inclined [or feels disposed] to help his party, Joseph F, is a gold [en?] [if I am reading it right, the word is "Guld,"or gold] and George Q. C. is for self."
[That same day, Apostle John Henry Smith turned down an invitation to be nominated for congress]
[Diary of Apostle Anthon H. Lund, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
"... went to the Temple. Senator Cannon and Governor Wells went with us. The question about what course [?] the Apostles should take was up and it was decided that we should keep out of politics IW ass urpis[?] sedt ah ear Broc aimous ayt hath ea asa gainsth iss oust al tungt [tingt ?] hec on vent iona ts S [or T?] Louisa ndt hens ayt hath ec o[?]nsid credt hathec ouldn oth avet aken ac onsis tentc oursina noth erw ay. Hed ecla wedh imgelfa Republic an andh esaidt hath ew anteda llw taht I ogot hes amew ay Ac om, mitt een as ap point edt ovisitm es est hat chera nd giveh in thewlt ima turn a foung now uos um. /Det v ar f ore [one?]. slaaeta tvia postlernes buldes kkeg aacn datt nle amP alitik [sic?]. John Henry vars kkeg 'odtt lilfredsm ad dike da hauh erg jortf oram staltsimger till at hjolps hansp Arti. Jos[eph] F. er en Guld [Gold?] man og Geo[rge] Q. C. er for Salv." [or Serlv] [nb. division shows where]
[nb. It is only the latter part of this entry that is written in Danish as shown. The first part makes no seeming sense until it becomes apparent that it is written in English with the syllables broken up non-phonetically and certainly non- grammatically. On card #2 I have interpreted the entry following this apparent device, while a Scandinavian expert in archives has helped me interpret the last portion which, as with the English words, continues to be broken up]
[The interpretation of the entry as transliterated above]
"I was surprised to hear bro[ther] cannon say that he was against his sons bolting the convention at St. Louis and then say that he considered that he could not have taken a consistent course in another way. He declared himself a Republican and he said that he wanted all Utah to go the same way. A committee was appointed to visit Moses Thatcher and give him the ultimatum of our quorum."[At this point the Danish begins; again, the words are separated and the whole very difficult to read. The following is an approximate translation] "It was suggested that we the Apostles should not take part in the talk about politics. John Henry was not well pleased with this because he is inclined [or feels disposed] to help his party, Joseph F, is a gold [en?] [if I am reading it right, the word is "Guld,"or gold] and George Q. C. is for self."
[That same day, Apostle John Henry Smith turned down an invitation to be nominated for congress]
[Diary of Apostle Anthon H. Lund, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
145 years ago today - Sep 17, 1876
[Wilford Woodruff]
17 Sunday I met with my [Prayer] Circle at Noon & attended [meeting] in the Tabernacle. G Q Cannon spoke 65 Minuts followed By President Brigham Young who spoke in power 40 Minuts. Said there was but two roads one to Exhaltation & glory and the other to Condemnation & final destruction untill the wicked would finally be desolved back into their Native Element & they be known no more forever. The Twelve met for Prayer.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
17 Sunday I met with my [Prayer] Circle at Noon & attended [meeting] in the Tabernacle. G Q Cannon spoke 65 Minuts followed By President Brigham Young who spoke in power 40 Minuts. Said there was but two roads one to Exhaltation & glory and the other to Condemnation & final destruction untill the wicked would finally be desolved back into their Native Element & they be known no more forever. The Twelve met for Prayer.
[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 17, 1846
The anti-Mormon mobs occupied Nauvoo and began the forcible removal of the remaining Mormons from the city. The Trustees gave the keys to the Temple to Henry I. Young, chairman of the Quincy Committee; he promptly opened the building to the mob, who began desecrating the Temple. The Trustees' actions were clearly done under duress.
[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 - Sep 17, 1846
Mobs drive remaining Mormons from Illinois, despite a treaty after a week of artillery bombardment in the so-called Battle of Nauvoo.
50 years ago today - Sep 16, 1971
President [Joseph Fielding] Smith faints during a First Presidency meeting, and goes to a temple council meeting "over the protests of the Brethren." During a Thursday meeting on 21 Oct. he becomes ill and has "to be helped from the council room."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
95 years ago today - Sep 16, 1926
[Heber J. Grant]
At 9:00 A.M. Brother C. N. Jenson, State Superintendent of Schools, called and referred to the efforts that are being made by Dr. Beattie and others to place Gentile nurses in our schools all over the state and thought something should be done to head this off, as eighty to ninety percent of the rural population is Mormons and it is all wrong that the public health department should be trying to get non-Mormon nurses into our school system. The question of whether the officials of the Church should take any interest in the matter was worthy of consideration, but we came to no decision as to what would be wise in the premises.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
At 9:00 A.M. Brother C. N. Jenson, State Superintendent of Schools, called and referred to the efforts that are being made by Dr. Beattie and others to place Gentile nurses in our schools all over the state and thought something should be done to head this off, as eighty to ninety percent of the rural population is Mormons and it is all wrong that the public health department should be trying to get non-Mormon nurses into our school system. The question of whether the officials of the Church should take any interest in the matter was worthy of consideration, but we came to no decision as to what would be wise in the premises.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
110 years ago today - Sep 16, 1911
A public report concerning a man who attempt to extort $100,000 from the church president to prevent the publication of covertly obtained interior photographs of the Salt Lake temple. Two days later the First Presidency commissions James E. Talmage to write 'The House of the Lord.' Published a year later its photographs omit the tobacco spittoons from the Council Room of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, but include the Holy of Holies (photograph deleted from later editions). The ordinance of second anointing is performed for couples in the Holy of Holies.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
120 years ago today - Sep 16, 1901
President Angus M. Cannon called at the office to see President Snow in relation to holding memorial services for President William McKinley who was assassinated. The services to be held in the Tabernacle on Thursday, agreeable with Governor [Heber M.] Wells' proclamation. It was decided to hold such services, also to ask the various stake presidents to do likewise. An announcement to this effect was placed in the Deseret News.
[Journal History, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
[Journal History, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
175 years ago today - Sep 16, 1846 (Wednesday)
The enemy was driven back from Nauvoo the fourth time. Through the negotiations of one hundred citizens of Quincy, a treaty was completed, by which the Saints should be allowed to move away in peace.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
190 years ago today - Sep 16, 1831
The Mormonites.--A Preacher of this sect visited us last Saturday. ... --A young man about 23 years of age, somewhere in Ontario county, N.Y. was visited by an angel! (here the preacher looked around him apparently to see if the credulity of the people in this enlightened age, could be thus imposed on) who informed him three times in one night by visiting a certain place in that town he would have revealed to him something of importance. The young man was disturbed, but did not obey the summons until the following day, when the angel again visited him. At the place appointed he found in the earth a box which contained a set of thin plates resembling gold, with Arabic characters inscribed on them. The plates were minutely described as being connected with rings in the shape of the letter D, which facilitated the opening and shutting of the book. The preacher said he found in the same place two stones with which he was enabled by placing them over his eyes and putting his head in a dark corner to decypher the hieroglyphics on the plates!--This we were told was performed to admiration, and now, as the result, we have a book which the speaker informed us was the Mormon Bible--a book second to no other--without the holy Bible, he seemed to think, would be of little use. . . .
[Illinois Patriot (Jacksonville), 16 September 1831, as reprinted in New Hampshire Miscellany, 11 October 1831. Also reprinted in New Hampshire Gazette, 25 October 1831 (Quinn 1987, 146), and Independent Volunteer (Montrose, Pennsylvania), 11 November 1831., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Illinois Patriot]
[Illinois Patriot (Jacksonville), 16 September 1831, as reprinted in New Hampshire Miscellany, 11 October 1831. Also reprinted in New Hampshire Gazette, 25 October 1831 (Quinn 1987, 146), and Independent Volunteer (Montrose, Pennsylvania), 11 November 1831., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Illinois Patriot]
20 years ago today - Sep 15, 2001
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs in a nationally broadcast church service on the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for September 11 victims.
[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Newsroom, http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=036eb2987ff92110VgnVCM100000176f620aRCRDvgnextchannel=9ae411154963d010VgnVCM1000004e94610aRCRD]
[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Newsroom, http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=036eb2987ff92110VgnVCM100000176f620aRCRDvgnextchannel=9ae411154963d010VgnVCM1000004e94610aRCRD]
55 years ago today - Sep 15, 1966
BYU Political Science professor Ray Hillam is charged, by BYU president Ernest L. Wilkinson, with being pro-communist and disloyal to BYU at a formal hearing. These charges come from information gathered by the student spies and by others. Prior to a second hearing, Hillam and his colleague, Louis Midgley, contact one of the student spies, Ronald Hankin, who is willing to expose the "administration-organized spy ring." Hankin's public exposure leads to a major scandal at the University.
100 years ago today - Sep 15, 1921
[George F. Richards]
Attended regular weekly council meeting in temple. At this meeting J Leo Fairbanks, the artist showed to the Presidency, the Twelve & Patriarch present, sketches of new designs of painting for the newly plastered walls of the World room of the Salt Lake Temple but the brethren decided to vote to have the former painting of walls reproduced as nearly as possible from photographs and sketches taken before the plaster was removed.
[George F. Richards Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
Attended regular weekly council meeting in temple. At this meeting J Leo Fairbanks, the artist showed to the Presidency, the Twelve & Patriarch present, sketches of new designs of painting for the newly plastered walls of the World room of the Salt Lake Temple but the brethren decided to vote to have the former painting of walls reproduced as nearly as possible from photographs and sketches taken before the plaster was removed.
[George F. Richards Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
190 years ago today - Sep 15, 1831
[Hyrum Smith]
Administers to William McLellin, who is instantly healed.
[Jeffrey S. O'Driscoll, Hyrum Smith: A Life of Integrity, A Brief Chronology of the Life of Hyrum Smith: 1800-1844]
Administers to William McLellin, who is instantly healed.
[Jeffrey S. O'Driscoll, Hyrum Smith: A Life of Integrity, A Brief Chronology of the Life of Hyrum Smith: 1800-1844]
30 years ago today - Sep 14, 1991.
The Salt Lake Tribune reports that David Knowlton, a social anthropologist at BYU, was called in by his stake president "less than a week" after his presentation in Sunstone in Salt Lake City about why leftist terrorists in Latin America target the church. He protests the "intimidation" in writing to his academic officers with copies to President Ezra Taft Benson. Rex Lee, president of BYU, comments, "This is just not a BYU matter."
Ca. 22 September 1991. The long-awaited Encyclopedia of Mormonism appears. Such periodicals as Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Sunstone, and Exponent II, though separately indexed, are discussed only in an article entitled "Societies and Organizations" (3:1387-90).
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1]
Ca. 22 September 1991. The long-awaited Encyclopedia of Mormonism appears. Such periodicals as Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Sunstone, and Exponent II, though separately indexed, are discussed only in an article entitled "Societies and Organizations" (3:1387-90).
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1]
50 years ago today - Sep 14, 1971
The Apollo 15 astronauts present to President Joseph Fielding Smith a Utah state flag that has traveled with them to the moon. [Smith had earlier declared that man could not leave the sphere of the earth and travel to the moon.]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
95 years ago today - Sep 14, 1926
[Heber J. Grant]
George F. Richards, Nicholas G. Smith and Wyley Sessions called, and President Nibley and I discussed with them at length the Sampson and Daniels case. These people have colored blood in their veins and yet are very anxious and insist upon being permitted to do temple work. We assured the brethren that we could not change the rule that had always been maintained from the days of the Prophet Joseph until the present time, that temple ordinances could not be performed for people who had any Negro blood in their veins.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
George F. Richards, Nicholas G. Smith and Wyley Sessions called, and President Nibley and I discussed with them at length the Sampson and Daniels case. These people have colored blood in their veins and yet are very anxious and insist upon being permitted to do temple work. We assured the brethren that we could not change the rule that had always been maintained from the days of the Prophet Joseph until the present time, that temple ordinances could not be performed for people who had any Negro blood in their veins.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
130 years ago today - Sep 14, 1891
Talmage meets with the First Presidency and is appointed to write a work on theology, which apparently culminated years later as The Articles of Faith . In his journal Talmage writes the following:
It is the intention of the brethren to cause to be published a class work in Theology for use in the Church schools and religion classes generally. The need for such a work has long been felt among the teachers of the Latter-day Saints [...]
Several preliminaries have to be arranged before the work is begun; but the First Presidency have expressed to me their intention of appointing me to do the labor. I find myself very busy already, but I have never yet found it necessary to decline any labor appointed to me by the Holy Priesthood; and in the performance of duties so entailed, as my day, so has my strength ever been.
[Chronology of the Life and Work of James E. Talmage, J. Trevor Antley, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MJsHY83JZL_n6CjWq11y1trT_CVXMMXAx2uYOWAwn0c/edit#heading=h.2zfdaoa]
It is the intention of the brethren to cause to be published a class work in Theology for use in the Church schools and religion classes generally. The need for such a work has long been felt among the teachers of the Latter-day Saints [...]
Several preliminaries have to be arranged before the work is begun; but the First Presidency have expressed to me their intention of appointing me to do the labor. I find myself very busy already, but I have never yet found it necessary to decline any labor appointed to me by the Holy Priesthood; and in the performance of duties so entailed, as my day, so has my strength ever been.
[Chronology of the Life and Work of James E. Talmage, J. Trevor Antley, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MJsHY83JZL_n6CjWq11y1trT_CVXMMXAx2uYOWAwn0c/edit#heading=h.2zfdaoa]
135 years ago today - Sep 14, 1886
By the appointment of the First Presidency, Charles O. Card begins a mission to the Northwest Territories (now Albert Province), Canada, to find refuge for poliygamous Mormons to escape arrest. This is the origin of the Mormon settlements centering in Cardston, Alberta, Canada, where settlers arrive on 1 June 1887.
[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)]]
145 years ago today - Sep 14, 1876
The second trial of John Lee opens in Beaver, Utah [regarding Mountain Meadows Massacre]. Numerous Mormons testify against Lee, but the testimony does not implicate other Mormons. Lee asks that no witnesses testify in his behalf.
[Linder, Douglas, The Mountain Meadows Massacre Trials, http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTRIALS/mountainmeadows/leechrono.html]
[Linder, Douglas, The Mountain Meadows Massacre Trials, http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTRIALS/mountainmeadows/leechrono.html]
185 years ago today - Sep 14, 1836
Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Hyrum Smith, and Oliver Cowdery begin to purchase large amounts of property in Geauga County, Ohio, to sell to immigrants settling in the area.
[Mark Lyman Staker, Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith's Ohio Revelations: A Selective Chronology of Significant Events in Ohio's LDS History]
[Mark Lyman Staker, Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith's Ohio Revelations: A Selective Chronology of Significant Events in Ohio's LDS History]
190 years ago today - Sep 14, 1831
[The Freedom Censor, Fredonia NY]
"He has all necessary implements for finding and securing the fleeting treasure; the mineral rod, hazel sticks, crow-bars and bibles." ... "He has no doubt of it, provided he can vanquish the spirits that continually guard it, and break the charm that constantly surrounds it."
["Money Digging," The Freedom Censor, (Fredonia, NY), 14 September 1831, as quoted in A Topical Guide of Treasure-Seeking Rituals From the American Northeast during the 18th and 19th Centuries, Compiled by Joseph T. Antley (2010)]
"He has all necessary implements for finding and securing the fleeting treasure; the mineral rod, hazel sticks, crow-bars and bibles." ... "He has no doubt of it, provided he can vanquish the spirits that continually guard it, and break the charm that constantly surrounds it."
["Money Digging," The Freedom Censor, (Fredonia, NY), 14 September 1831, as quoted in A Topical Guide of Treasure-Seeking Rituals From the American Northeast during the 18th and 19th Centuries, Compiled by Joseph T. Antley (2010)]
75 years ago today - Sep 13, 1946
[J. Reuben Clark]
Mark Petersen called about the Dream Mine. Their reporter had been at the meeting last night, which was an indignation meeting and Koyle [who had a series of dreams and revelations regarding buried Nephite gold] gave what appointed to a speech in criticism of the General Authorities. Some of the people mentioned the editorials and said they did not want to have trouble between themselves and the Church and Koyle gave them to understand if there was any choice to be made they were to choose him. Bro. Petersen wondered if they should not act, and Pres. Clark cautioned him not to be in too much of a hurry. ... They again announced that Bro. Talmage had come back from the dead and appeared to Koyle and apologized to him for what he had done, and also a Pres. Page of the Stake, who had bought stock and then repudiated it. ...
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
Mark Petersen called about the Dream Mine. Their reporter had been at the meeting last night, which was an indignation meeting and Koyle [who had a series of dreams and revelations regarding buried Nephite gold] gave what appointed to a speech in criticism of the General Authorities. Some of the people mentioned the editorials and said they did not want to have trouble between themselves and the Church and Koyle gave them to understand if there was any choice to be made they were to choose him. Bro. Petersen wondered if they should not act, and Pres. Clark cautioned him not to be in too much of a hurry. ... They again announced that Bro. Talmage had come back from the dead and appeared to Koyle and apologized to him for what he had done, and also a Pres. Page of the Stake, who had bought stock and then repudiated it. ...
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
110 years ago today - Wednesday, Sep 13, 1911
[John Henry Smith]
Mr. Stewart of the law Firm of Stewart & Co. called with a letter from the same fellow who had written us in regard to [unauthorized] Pictures of the Interior of the Temple.
We also received six copies of various rooms in that building. The men who took the Pictures were Gottleib Unthick and Bozzard, Germans by birth. It is said they Claim to have been working at this for five years taking Flash light Pictures and copying records.
[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]
Mr. Stewart of the law Firm of Stewart & Co. called with a letter from the same fellow who had written us in regard to [unauthorized] Pictures of the Interior of the Temple.
We also received six copies of various rooms in that building. The men who took the Pictures were Gottleib Unthick and Bozzard, Germans by birth. It is said they Claim to have been working at this for five years taking Flash light Pictures and copying records.
[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 13, 1901; Friday
A delegation of business men ... accompanied by Bishop William B. Preston, called and recommended to President [Lorenzo] Snow that they be authorized to [execute certain business activities.] After some talk President Snow consented that this be done. These brethren are interested in drawing as much business as possible to the north end of Main Street as against the efforts made by the Gentiles to pull to the South.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
135 years ago today - Sep 13, 1886
[Wilford Woodruff]
I was taken with a vary strange turn. I turned almost Blind & speechless & lost my Memory. It Came on & went off gradually. It lasted about 30 Minutes. I dont know whether it was paralises or not. I soon recovered.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I was taken with a vary strange turn. I turned almost Blind & speechless & lost my Memory. It Came on & went off gradually. It lasted about 30 Minutes. I dont know whether it was paralises or not. I soon recovered.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
165 years ago today - Sep 13, 1856
Under the direction of President Brigham Young, President Jedediah M. Grant of the First Presidency institutes the "Mormon Reformation" at a conference in Kaysville. The purpose of the reformation was to remind the Saints of their blessings and to call them to repentance for being lax in keeping the commandments.
165 years ago today - Sep 13, 1856
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff]
Br Kimball said he wanted to know a certain thing so he inquired by the <President Young and> HCK. <Both had that gift.> [Angeled brackets are in shorthand, used to disguise sensitive information. The gift may be divining rods.]
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Br Kimball said he wanted to know a certain thing so he inquired by the <President Young and> HCK. <Both had that gift.> [Angeled brackets are in shorthand, used to disguise sensitive information. The gift may be divining rods.]
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
170 years ago today - Saturday, Sep 13, 1851
David Fullmer of the Com[mittee] [Council of Fifty] to visit Gen[era]l [Uriah] Brown said he saw B[rown]. Told him our wish that he should remain-his family should be brought on-his services [to create a "liquid fire" weapon] were wanted here-and we would do by him as we do by each other...
[Selected Minutes of the Council of Fifty, Quinn Papers, Beinecke Library, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
[Selected Minutes of the Council of Fifty, Quinn Papers, Beinecke Library, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
175 years ago today - Sep 13, 1846
[Brigham Young:] But the time has come when we must have law and order in our midst. There has been some feelings of late in the camp because some unruly boys [enagaging in "night ramblings" with two of Wilford Woodruff's new teenage wives] have been floged by the Marshall for there wickedness. But if this Camp is not willing to let law & order reign here & put a stop to such wickedness I wish you to let me know it & I will go away from you. For those that wish to sustain crime & corruption let them return & strike hands with the mob & carry out there principles & be dammed. But if you want to do right say so. This people have been driven here for there desires to do righteousness. And this wickedness shall be put a stop to that has been manifest in the camp by certain young people of late. Yes it will be stoped if God come out & smites it by Judgment.
The Marshall did not whip them hard enough. If He had they would not have spit out there revenge but it would have been whiped out of them. If I am drove to the necessity of whipping a person in such A case they will not spit out revenge afterwards for I will whip it out of them.
Shall we any longer sustain in our midst men that will carry out the principles [spiritual wifery] of John C Bennet and other corrupt scoundrils? No I will sware by the Eternal God of Heaven such Conduct shall be stoped & shall not be permitted in this camp. For if they continue it I will tell the Marshall what the law is & they shall be taken Care of in a manner that they will not whine. And I will whip any man that will sustain it. For those that will sustain it shall be whiped. And I prophecy in the name of God such a man whether old or young shall be bowed down with sorrow & morning even more than this people have.
Then stop before you further go & not sport upon the brink of sorrow & morning. This people have the Law of Liberty & the gospel & the more the light & liberty & greater the privileges the stricter the Law. We are going into the wilderness & shall we suffer such things? No. I swear by the Eternal God such things shall not be while Brigham lives.
Br Kimball gave a good shot when He said no man [would] run into his waggon & swore he would shot the Marshall if he come after him except he was guilty of crime. No man is afraid except he is guilty. No man need be afraid that does right. I defy the world to say I have taken any roans right. But after we have been driven into the wilderness we are still followed by men who sware they will steal what they have in our midst. I sware they shall not have it in our midst.
Some young Elders that never preached a sermon in their lives are afraid that I shall have more blessings than they, or more wives or sumthing or other. But let them go & preach the world over as I have done in poverty and distress with Blood in my Shoes & spent years & years at it & left my wife & Children who have also suffered much. Let them do as we have done & they will not be jealous of me about blessings. If the Lord should give me a thousand women is it any mans business? No. Let such go and spend as much time as I have And there will be many clinging on to there skirts to be saved.
The majority of the men of the gentile world will be damned and the women wish to be saved by going with good men. And a woman that has the spirit of God will go with a good man who has been faithful & spent much of his time in saveing mankind and has the priesthood. Such men if they continue faithful will be saved in eternal Glory & those that are with him. I am determined that my affections shall be with God. I will not allow them to be placed on things that perish. When plagues & diseases get hold of our bodies we become loathsome & beauty fades away but our affections should be placed upon things that are Noble exhalted lasting & glorious. I love an exhalted mind for it is eternal & cannot fade. I want all my affections to be subject to God and glory & eternal life. May God bless you. Amen.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
The Marshall did not whip them hard enough. If He had they would not have spit out there revenge but it would have been whiped out of them. If I am drove to the necessity of whipping a person in such A case they will not spit out revenge afterwards for I will whip it out of them.
Shall we any longer sustain in our midst men that will carry out the principles [spiritual wifery] of John C Bennet and other corrupt scoundrils? No I will sware by the Eternal God of Heaven such Conduct shall be stoped & shall not be permitted in this camp. For if they continue it I will tell the Marshall what the law is & they shall be taken Care of in a manner that they will not whine. And I will whip any man that will sustain it. For those that will sustain it shall be whiped. And I prophecy in the name of God such a man whether old or young shall be bowed down with sorrow & morning even more than this people have.
Then stop before you further go & not sport upon the brink of sorrow & morning. This people have the Law of Liberty & the gospel & the more the light & liberty & greater the privileges the stricter the Law. We are going into the wilderness & shall we suffer such things? No. I swear by the Eternal God such things shall not be while Brigham lives.
Br Kimball gave a good shot when He said no man [would] run into his waggon & swore he would shot the Marshall if he come after him except he was guilty of crime. No man is afraid except he is guilty. No man need be afraid that does right. I defy the world to say I have taken any roans right. But after we have been driven into the wilderness we are still followed by men who sware they will steal what they have in our midst. I sware they shall not have it in our midst.
Some young Elders that never preached a sermon in their lives are afraid that I shall have more blessings than they, or more wives or sumthing or other. But let them go & preach the world over as I have done in poverty and distress with Blood in my Shoes & spent years & years at it & left my wife & Children who have also suffered much. Let them do as we have done & they will not be jealous of me about blessings. If the Lord should give me a thousand women is it any mans business? No. Let such go and spend as much time as I have And there will be many clinging on to there skirts to be saved.
The majority of the men of the gentile world will be damned and the women wish to be saved by going with good men. And a woman that has the spirit of God will go with a good man who has been faithful & spent much of his time in saveing mankind and has the priesthood. Such men if they continue faithful will be saved in eternal Glory & those that are with him. I am determined that my affections shall be with God. I will not allow them to be placed on things that perish. When plagues & diseases get hold of our bodies we become loathsome & beauty fades away but our affections should be placed upon things that are Noble exhalted lasting & glorious. I love an exhalted mind for it is eternal & cannot fade. I want all my affections to be subject to God and glory & eternal life. May God bless you. Amen.
[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 13, 1846
Orson Pratt preaches: "the sectarian world say that about six thousand years ago God made all things out of nothing. When it can be demonstrated that light is thirty thousand years in coming from the fixed stars to earth, consequently that light was in existence at least twenty-four thousand years before this earth."
55 years ago today - Sep 12, 1966
Covert surveillance by BYU-Birch student in the form of either correspondence, classroom questioning, or private meetings to extract "pro-Communist" views from their professors.
[Morrell, Bernhard, Hillam, Wimmer, Midgley, and Wirthlin, "Events Related To the Covert Surveillance of Faculty Members," 5; Richard D. Poll to Ray C. Hillam, 12 Sept. 1966, folder 10, Hillam Papers, also box 34, Buerger Papers. 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.]
[Morrell, Bernhard, Hillam, Wimmer, Midgley, and Wirthlin, "Events Related To the Covert Surveillance of Faculty Members," 5; Richard D. Poll to Ray C. Hillam, 12 Sept. 1966, folder 10, Hillam Papers, also box 34, Buerger Papers. 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.]
110 years ago today - Tuesday, Sep 12, 1911
[John Henry Smith]
We received a letter saying Photos had been taken of the Interior of the Temple.
[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]
We received a letter saying Photos had been taken of the Interior of the Temple.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
175 years ago today - Sep 12, 1846. Saturday.
[William Clayton]
President Young brought me $8 in money, one half dollar bogus ...
[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]
President Young brought me $8 in money, one half dollar bogus ...
[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]
175 years ago today - Sep 12, 1846
I met in council in the evening with the 12 & H Council & we had a good time. B Young Addressed us for a time in the power of God. He spoke of the Camp being infested with some unruly young men & they had been whipped for wicked conduct ["night ramblings" with Wilford Woodruff's new teenage brides] & they had made threats and others had sustained them in it. He said evil must be put down in the camp. Our council held untill 11 oclock.
[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]
175 years ago today - Sep 12, 1846
"Some boys have been whipped in camp, and it is right. I did not know of it till after it was done. [Brigham Young and Wilford Woodruff had ordered the punishment on Sept 8]. If we allow young men to come in here and set up their own plans, three years will not roll round before we will have cutting of throats here."
[Elden J. Watson, ed. Brigham Young Addresses, 1801-1877: A Chronological Compilation of Known Addresses of the Prophet Brigham Young, 6 vols. (Salt Lake City: Privately published, 1971)]
[Elden J. Watson, ed. Brigham Young Addresses, 1801-1877: A Chronological Compilation of Known Addresses of the Prophet Brigham Young, 6 vols. (Salt Lake City: Privately published, 1971)]
180 years ago today - Sep 12, 1841
[Wilford Woodruff]
In the evening we sung a few Hymns & as soon as we closed Mr Roberts broke out in a tremendious noise which he called tongues. I reproved him before the whole company for his folly & impoliteness. His conversation had been such that the passengers would form an idea that he was in part a representative of the Latter Day Saints. I wished to change that Idea in the minds of the company for it was fals. He was not a member of the Church.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
In the evening we sung a few Hymns & as soon as we closed Mr Roberts broke out in a tremendious noise which he called tongues. I reproved him before the whole company for his folly & impoliteness. His conversation had been such that the passengers would form an idea that he was in part a representative of the Latter Day Saints. I wished to change that Idea in the minds of the company for it was fals. He was not a member of the Church.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
190 years ago today - Sep 12, 1831
Joseph Jr. and family move into the John Johnson home in Hiram, Ohio (about thirty miles southeast of Kirtland), where he and Sidney Rigdon work on translating the Bible.
[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]
195 years ago today - Sep 12, 1826
William Morgan is abducted by Masons in Batavia, New York and is never seen again. Morgan had written a book exposing the rituals of Freemasonry, ILLUSTRATIONS OF MASONRY which is published two months later. Morgan's abduction and murder spark the Anti-Masonic movement and party. Reviewers of the first edition of the Book of Mormon notice parallels between the Masons and the Book's Gadianton robbers. Exact phrases and "grips" in Morgan's book later become part of the LDS endowment ceremony and Morgan's widow, Lucinda, later becomes a plural wife of Joseph Smith.
20 years ago today - Sep 11, 2001
[Mormon Tabernacle Choir]
A regularly scheduled choir concert becomes a September 11 memorial service.
[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Newsroom, http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=036eb2987ff92110VgnVCM100000176f620aRCRDvgnextchannel=9ae411154963d010VgnVCM1000004e94610aRCRD]
A regularly scheduled choir concert becomes a September 11 memorial service.
[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Newsroom, http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=036eb2987ff92110VgnVCM100000176f620aRCRDvgnextchannel=9ae411154963d010VgnVCM1000004e94610aRCRD]
150 years ago today - Sep 11, 1871
Counselor Daniel H. Wells tells the Grantsville School of the Prophets that "a great many of our young men [are] abusing themselves by the habit of self-pollution: or self-abuse, or as the Bible terms it Onanism," which he regards as "one great cause why so many of our young men were not married, and it was a great sin, and would lead to insanity and a premature grave." Polygamy is the likelier cause for the prevalence of bachelorhood in nineteenth-century Utah. First, every national census lists more males than females in the Mormon population. Second, 20-40 percent of Mormon men marry polygamously which demographically requires bachelorhood in Utah's majority population of males.
[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)]]
165 years ago today - Sep 11, 1856 (Thursday)
Apostle Parley P. Pratt, accompanied by other Elders, left G.S.L. City on a mission to the States, from which he never returned.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
175 years ago today - Sep 11, 1846
President Brigham Young and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles formally select the site for Winter Quarters (later Florence, Nebraska), the main winter encampment of the Saints. This is the first city in Nebraska.
185 years ago today - Sep 11, 1836
Predicted date of the redemption of Zion. Five years earlier (see previous entry) a revelation specified that for five years the Lord would "not overthrow the wicked." The first attempt to reclaim Jackson County (Zion) occurred when Zions Camp marched to retake Zion in the spring/early summer of 1834. That August he began plans again to take back Zion through a military effort, affirming the date set in D&C 64, "Use every effort to prevail on the churches to gather to those regions and situate themselves to be in readiness to move into Jackson Co. in two years from the Eleventh of September next which is the appointed time for the redemption of Zion. ... Let not this be noised abroad let every heart beat in silence and every mouth be shut."
[Joseph Smith to Lyman Wight, Edward Partridge, John Corrill, Isaac Morley, and others, August 16, 1834, Joseph Smith Letter Book 1, 85, Church History Library; also in History of the Church, 2:145]
[Joseph Smith to Lyman Wight, Edward Partridge, John Corrill, Isaac Morley, and others, August 16, 1834, Joseph Smith Letter Book 1, 85, Church History Library; also in History of the Church, 2:145]