[George F. Richards]
Was in conference with the [First] Presidency for some time on Temple matters. Completed the rules and decisions for guidance of Temple Presidents and some changes in the ordinances. This is the fruition of a labor of months as I was able to devote myself to it. This is one of the accomplishments of my administration as Temple President of which I am greatly thankful and pleased. These rules and decisions have been gleaned from a number of books, manuscripts, and loose sheets[,] and obsolete rulings have been eliminated and new rulings have been made & approved by the First Presidency. Copies of these decisions will be made and every Temple President will be supplied with a copy. The ordinances are all being rewritten and a copy will be furnished each temple. This should be the means of getting uniformity in all the temples.
[[George F. Richards diary, May 31, 1922, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
115 years ago today - May 31, 1907
[George Albert Smith]
Departs SLC for Palmyra, New York, to investigate the possibility of purchasing the Hill Cumorah
[Journals of George Albert Smith]
Departs SLC for Palmyra, New York, to investigate the possibility of purchasing the Hill Cumorah
[Journals of George Albert Smith]
165 years ago today - May 31, 1857
[Wilford Woodruff]
I was in Council with the circle. Peices & Letters were red about us & the matter about us. We find that all Hell is boiling over against us. Among the rest Wm. Smith Called upon the Government to furnish him with an army & money. He would Come to Utah & subdue the mormons. Many other features show themselves in the states.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I was in Council with the circle. Peices & Letters were red about us & the matter about us. We find that all Hell is boiling over against us. Among the rest Wm. Smith Called upon the Government to furnish him with an army & money. He would Come to Utah & subdue the mormons. Many other features show themselves in the states.
[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 - May 31, 1847
[William Appleby to Brigham Young]
"At Lowell…I found a coloured brother by name of 'Lewis' a barber, an Elder in the Church, ordained some years ago by William Smith. This Lewis I was informed has also a son who is married to a white girl [Enoch Lovejoy Lewis and Mary Matilda Webster Lewis]. and both members of the Church there. Now dear Br. I wish to know if this is the order of God or tolerated in this Church ie to ordain Negroes to the Priesthood and allow amalgamation [inter-racial marriage]. If it is I desire to Know, as I have Yet got to learn it."
[[William I. Appleby Letter to Brigham Young, at 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]
"At Lowell…I found a coloured brother by name of 'Lewis' a barber, an Elder in the Church, ordained some years ago by William Smith. This Lewis I was informed has also a son who is married to a white girl [Enoch Lovejoy Lewis and Mary Matilda Webster Lewis]. and both members of the Church there. Now dear Br. I wish to know if this is the order of God or tolerated in this Church ie to ordain Negroes to the Priesthood and allow amalgamation [inter-racial marriage]. If it is I desire to Know, as I have Yet got to learn it."
[[William I. Appleby Letter to Brigham Young, at 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]
195 years ago today - May 31, 1827
Lemuel Durfee, landlord to the Smith family, writes in his account book: "Joseph [Sr.] and Hiram Smith Dr [debit] to three barrels of Cider at 9/ per barrel May the Last 1827 [9 shillings per barrel]"
45 years ago today - May 30, 1977
Poland is the first Communist regime to grant legal recognition to the LDS church, a result primarily of the LDS microfilming project there. In addition, for five years Croation basketball hero Kresimir Cosic has persuaded the Communist authorities of Yugoslavia to allow the LDS missionaries to enter on tourist visas.
[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 - May 30, 1967
In a discussion of the evolving correlation program, Pres. Hugh B. Brown told Pres. McKay that he felt the First Presidency was "losing its grip on the activities that are going forward, and that more and more we [the First Presidency] are being regulated and ruled by committees." He added that he "felt that the First Presidency is taking rather a second place to the committees in these matters," and he would like to bring some things back to the control of the First Presidency. But Pres. McKay did not act on the suggestion.
[Correlation Timeline, Compiled by Lisle Brown]
[Correlation Timeline, Compiled by Lisle Brown]
90 years ago today - May 30, 1932
[Heber J. Grant]
I am delighted to tell you that upon my return home our associate and dear Stephen L. came to my office and said: 'Brother Grant, I feel that I have made a mistake, and whatever you decide to do with regard to my talk at conference, whether to publish it or not, will be all right with me.'
I rejoice beyond expression that Stephen has taken this position. I expect to have a talk tomorrow with Brother Ivins (this being a holiday) and we shall come to a final decision as to wether to publish the sermon or not, but I feel sure that we cannot publish it unless we put a statement alongside of it which would make it worse than though it was left out. I feel it would be the better policy, unless I change my mind, to let the matter drop, and if it doesn't appear in the Conference Pamphlet it will soon be forgotten that the speech was made.
[Richards had told the First Presidency and Twelve that he would resign as apostle rather than apologize for his general conference talk which says church is putting too much emphasis on Word of Wisdom.]
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Reed Smoot, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
I am delighted to tell you that upon my return home our associate and dear Stephen L. came to my office and said: 'Brother Grant, I feel that I have made a mistake, and whatever you decide to do with regard to my talk at conference, whether to publish it or not, will be all right with me.'
I rejoice beyond expression that Stephen has taken this position. I expect to have a talk tomorrow with Brother Ivins (this being a holiday) and we shall come to a final decision as to wether to publish the sermon or not, but I feel sure that we cannot publish it unless we put a statement alongside of it which would make it worse than though it was left out. I feel it would be the better policy, unless I change my mind, to let the matter drop, and if it doesn't appear in the Conference Pamphlet it will soon be forgotten that the speech was made.
[Richards had told the First Presidency and Twelve that he would resign as apostle rather than apologize for his general conference talk which says church is putting too much emphasis on Word of Wisdom.]
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Reed Smoot, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
110 years ago today - May 30, 1912
At Brigham Young University, President Joseph F. Smith dedicates the Maeser Memorial Building, the first building on "Temple Hill," later known as "Upper Campus."
115 years ago today - Thursday, May 30, 1907
[John Henry Smith]
The bad grammar and bad spelling in the Book of Mormon was discussed and a theory by Bro. B. H. Roberts was Considered and we concluded to meet tomorrow.
We were together for eight hours.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
The bad grammar and bad spelling in the Book of Mormon was discussed and a theory by Bro. B. H. Roberts was Considered and we concluded to meet tomorrow.
We were together for eight hours.
[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 - May 30, 1877
[Eliza R. Snow]
"You ask, 'Did he [Joseph Smith] authorize or practice spiritual wifery? Were you a spiritual wife?' I certainly shall not acknowledge myself of having been a carnal one. … I am personally and intimately acquainted with several ladies now living in Utah who accepted the pure and sacred doctrine of plural marriage, and were the bona fide wives of Pres. Joseph Smith."
[Eliza R. Snow, Letter to Daniel Munns, May 30, 1877]
"You ask, 'Did he [Joseph Smith] authorize or practice spiritual wifery? Were you a spiritual wife?' I certainly shall not acknowledge myself of having been a carnal one. … I am personally and intimately acquainted with several ladies now living in Utah who accepted the pure and sacred doctrine of plural marriage, and were the bona fide wives of Pres. Joseph Smith."
[Eliza R. Snow, Letter to Daniel Munns, May 30, 1877]
160 years ago today - May 30, 1862
Joseph Morris, prophet and leader of the LDS splinter group, Morrisites, claimed to have received numerous spiritual manifestations… Morris told his followers that the Second Coming was imminent and not to bother with planting crops. They may have trampled some of their crops into the ground as evidence of their faith. Morris had received revelations indicating that Christ would come and deliver his followers just a few days after a spectacular pageant called "The Foreshadowing of the Kingdom of God Day," which was scheduled for 30 May 1862. Therefore Joseph Morris saw the appearance of the army lead by Robert T. Burton, in the middle of June as a certain sign that the time of the Second Coming was imminent. Burton killed Morris in the skirmish. Most of the remaining Morrisites who wished to be saved were escorted by Connor's army to Soda Springs in Idaho Territory. George Williams, who declared himself to be the "Prophet Cainan" and Morris's rightful successor. In January 1879, Williams prophesied that Deer Lodge County, Montana, would be the site of the Second Coming of Christ.
[The Last Days and December 1890 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ, y George D. Speer Sr., privately circulated]
[The Last Days and December 1890 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ, y George D. Speer Sr., privately circulated]
175 years ago today - May 30, 1847
[Hiram Page]
... those holy Angels who came and showed themselves to me as I was walking through the field, to confirm me in the work of the Lord of the last days--three of whom came to me afterwards and sang an hymn in their own pure language ; ...
[Hiram Page to William E. McLellin, 30 May 1847, Ensign of Liberty (Kirtland, Ohio) 1 (January 1848): 63., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Hiram Page To William E. Mclellin]
... those holy Angels who came and showed themselves to me as I was walking through the field, to confirm me in the work of the Lord of the last days--three of whom came to me afterwards and sang an hymn in their own pure language ; ...
[Hiram Page to William E. McLellin, 30 May 1847, Ensign of Liberty (Kirtland, Ohio) 1 (January 1848): 63., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Hiram Page To William E. Mclellin]
175 years ago today - May 30, 1847
[William Clayton]
... all the members of the council of F[ifty] or Kingdom of God in the Camp except Brother Thomas Bullock, went onto the bluffs and selecting a small, circular, level spot, surrounded by bluffs, and out of sight, we clothed ourselves in the priestly garments and offered up prayer to God, for ourselves, this Camp and all pertaining to it, the brethren in the army, our families and all the Saints, President Young being mouth. ... The two latter [Albert Carrington and Porter Rockwell] having no clothing with them stood guard at a little distance from us to prevent interruption. When we started for the bluffs, there was a heavy, black thunder cloud rising from the South west, and to all appearance, it might rain any minute, but the brethren believed it would not rain till we got through and if it did we chose rather to take a wetting than to be disappointed of the privilege. It kept off remarkably till we got through, and got our cloths on, but soon after began to rain and after we got to Camp it rained considerable accompanied by strong wind. I never noticed the brethren so still and sober on a Sunday since we started as today. There is no jesting, nor laughing, nor nonsense. All appear to be sober and feel to remember their covenant, which makes things look far more pleasant than they have done heretofore.
[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]
... all the members of the council of F[ifty] or Kingdom of God in the Camp except Brother Thomas Bullock, went onto the bluffs and selecting a small, circular, level spot, surrounded by bluffs, and out of sight, we clothed ourselves in the priestly garments and offered up prayer to God, for ourselves, this Camp and all pertaining to it, the brethren in the army, our families and all the Saints, President Young being mouth. ... The two latter [Albert Carrington and Porter Rockwell] having no clothing with them stood guard at a little distance from us to prevent interruption. When we started for the bluffs, there was a heavy, black thunder cloud rising from the South west, and to all appearance, it might rain any minute, but the brethren believed it would not rain till we got through and if it did we chose rather to take a wetting than to be disappointed of the privilege. It kept off remarkably till we got through, and got our cloths on, but soon after began to rain and after we got to Camp it rained considerable accompanied by strong wind. I never noticed the brethren so still and sober on a Sunday since we started as today. There is no jesting, nor laughing, nor nonsense. All appear to be sober and feel to remember their covenant, which makes things look far more pleasant than they have done heretofore.
[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]
100 years ago today - May 29, 1922
The First Presidency tells B. H. Roberts he "might select any mission within the United States as a field of Labor" as a mission president or he might even consider accepting the editorial direction of the Church newspaper, the Deseret News. Roberts, without hesitation, chooses to go to New York City as head of the Eastern States Mission covering the northeastern section of the United States This was very shortly after his confrontation with the Twelve over Book of Mormon problems. J. Reuben Clark, an employee of the U.S. Department of State at this time writes a letter objecting to Robert's call. George W. McCune, current Eastern States Mission President also objects.
125 years ago today - May 29, 1897; Saturday
At 3 o'clock this morning Pres[iden]t. Jos[eph]. F. Smith was awakened with the information that Elder Heber J. Grant was in extreme pain and peril. He at once visited him, and found Dr. Jos[eph]. S. Richards with the patient, strongly advising an immediate operation for appendicitis. Bro[ther]. Grant urgently requested the Dr. to administer morphine to him to alleviate the terrible pain. The Dr. declined to do so, unless he would consent to an operation, which Bro[ther]. Grant was unwilling at first to give. Pres[iden]t. Smith went to the Temple and consulted with Pres[ident]. L[orenzo]. Snow, and on their advice Bro[ther]. Grant consented.
Morphine was administered which gave him rest for two hours, when he was conveyed to St. Mary's hospital, where the operation was performed by Dr. Jos[eph]. S. Richards, assisted by several physicians. The appendix was found to be decomposed, and there was a great accumulation of pus in the abdomen. In consequence of this the operation lasted from 10:15 to noon, and the patient was reported to be in a very low and critical condition, with very little prospects of his recovery. About 3 P.M. he regained consciousness, and prepared remarkably well, considering all the circumstances. Word was sent to the Temples to pray for his recovery.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
Morphine was administered which gave him rest for two hours, when he was conveyed to St. Mary's hospital, where the operation was performed by Dr. Jos[eph]. S. Richards, assisted by several physicians. The appendix was found to be decomposed, and there was a great accumulation of pus in the abdomen. In consequence of this the operation lasted from 10:15 to noon, and the patient was reported to be in a very low and critical condition, with very little prospects of his recovery. About 3 P.M. he regained consciousness, and prepared remarkably well, considering all the circumstances. Word was sent to the Temples to pray for his recovery.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
165 years ago today - May 29, 1857
Brigham Young upbraids members of the pioneer party on route to Utah, "I have let the brethren dance, and fiddle, and act the nigger night after night to see what they will do, and what extremes they would go to, if suffered to go as they would but I don't love to see it. . . . Joking, nonsense, profane language, trifling conversation and loud laughter do not belong to us . . . Here are the Elders of Israel who have the priesthood, who have got to preach the gospel, who have to gather the nations of the earth, who have to build up the Kingdom, so that the nations can come to it, they will stoop to dance as niggers. I don't mean this as debasing the negroes, by any means; . . ." Wilford Woodruff adds that he advises "all the Brethren who have got Cards to burn them up Also Checkers & dominoes. For if you keep your Covenants you have made you will have no time to use them & they will be useless lumber on your hands. If you keep them for your children they will ownly prove a curse to them."
180 years ago today - May 29, 1842
Three women testify that Assistant President John C. Bennett and Apostle William Smith taught them that Smith approved of "spiritual wifery" wherein several men have sexual relations with the same woman. The women testifying were Margaret and Matilda Nyman and Catherine Fuller Warren. The report of the Nymans was later printed in the 29 May 1844 Nauvoo Neighbor. The sisters said that Elder Chauncy Higbee had advised them that Smith approved of "spiritual wifery" but gave instructions to keep the matter a secret because "there was no sin when there is no accuser." Catherine Fuller Warren in her 20 May 1842 testimony responded to charges of "unchaste and unvirtuous conduct with John C. Bennett and others" by admitting to having intercourse not only with him but with Chauncy Higbee and the prophet's younger brother, Apostle William Smith. Speaking in her defense, however, she insisted that the men had "taught the doctrine that it was right to have free intercourse with women and that the heads of the Church also taught and practised it which things caused her to be led away thinking it to be right." Three women testify that Smith taught "spiritual wifery".
[Minutes of The High Council of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 24 May 1842; Nauvoo Neighbor 29 May 1844 edition; Joseph Smith Polygamy Timeline, http://www.i4m.com/think/polygamy/JS_Polygamy_Timeline.htm]
[Minutes of The High Council of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 24 May 1842; Nauvoo Neighbor 29 May 1844 edition; Joseph Smith Polygamy Timeline, http://www.i4m.com/think/polygamy/JS_Polygamy_Timeline.htm]
185 years ago today - May 29, 1837
Frederick G. Williams, David Whitmer, Parley P. Pratt, Lyman E. Johnson, and Warren Parrish are accused of pursuing a course that is considered injurious to the church of God. A Church court is called to try them. Referring to the charges against Pratt, Sidney Rigdon says he cannot sit in judgment and leaves the stand. Oliver Cowdery then does likewise. Williams leaves also. Confusion breaks out and the court is closed without a decision. Lyman E. Johnson and Orson Pratt bring charges against Joseph Smith for "lying and misrepresentation—also for extortion—and for speaking disrespectfully against his brethren behind their backs." Late in May 1837 while Joseph is on a mission in Michigan, members of the Twelve and others meet in the temple to drop Joseph as prophet of the Church. They want to replace him with David Whitmer. Brigham Young and a few others defend the Prophet and are called a "lick skillet" for doing so. Jacob Bump, a former boxer, almost gets into a fist fight with Brigham, but the meeting breaks up in confusion.
[Brigham Young University Studies (various issues), Su '71, 327; Ivan J. Barrett, Joseph Smith and the Restoration 342-43; Journal of Discourses (26 volumes) 11:11; Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Brigham Young University Studies (various issues), Su '71, 327; Ivan J. Barrett, Joseph Smith and the Restoration 342-43; Journal of Discourses (26 volumes) 11:11; Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
190 years ago today - May 29, 1832
A recommend is required to go up to Zion. This recommend is barely spiritual, but far more financial in nature. The saints will remember that the bishop in the land of Zion will not receive any, as wise stewards, without they bring a recommend from the bishop in Ohio, or from three elders. The elders, therefore, will be careful not to recommend and send up churches to this place without first receiving information from the bishop in Ohio, or in the land of Zion, that they can be accommodated when they arrive so as to be settled without confusion, which would produce pestilence.
[Exploring Mormonism: Bishop's Interview Timeline, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/bishops-interview-timeline/]
[Exploring Mormonism: Bishop's Interview Timeline, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/bishops-interview-timeline/]
45 years ago today - May 28, 1977
CHURCH NEWS states: "Elder [Paul H.] Dunn, a pitcher, played for five years with the St. Louis Cardinals organization in Pocatello, Idaho; Hollywood, Calif., and with the parent St. Louis team."
80 years ago today - May 28, 1942
In Germany seventeen-year-old Helmuth Huebener is charged with conspiracy to commit high treason and is sentenced to death. His crime consisted of printing anti-Nazi pamphlets. Since he printed many of them on the local branch mimeograph machine he was also excommunicated by his branch president. He was beheaded on Oct 27. The First Presidency later overturned the excommunication.
130 years ago today - May 28, 1892 (Saturday)
In the U.S. House of Representatives it was proposed that the so-called Industrial Christian Home of Utah" (which was founded some years previously as a refuge for Mormon wives who abandoned polygamy) be summarily disposed of by Congress, by granting the entire premises to the Territory as a site for a Territorial school for deaf and dumb. The proposition, however, was not sustained.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
165 years ago today - May 28, 1857
U.S. War Department orders army to suppress what U.S. president James Buchanan regards as Mormon treason and insurrection. One army officer writes on 10 June that Mormon "opposition to government cannot be overcome without the destruction of its cause, which involves the complete destruction of their life as a public body."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
175 years ago today - May 28, 1847
Revelation to Brigham Young, President of the Quorum of the Twelve, between present Scottsbluff and Henry, Nebraska, on 28 May 1847
I, Brigham, am constrained by the Spirit to say to you, my brethren, in this Camp of Pioneers, who have gone; or who have come out of bondage to find a location for a Stake of Zion, Except you repent, and humble yourselves before the Lord, you shall not have power to accomplish your mission; And all your toils and labors will prove a curse instead of a blessing unto you. In vain do you think that your works will be accepted of the Lord, whilst your hearts are far from him.
The voice of the Spirit of the Lord, is unto the elders of Israel, prepare ye for the coming of the Son of Man in the Clouds of heaven; yea in a pillar of fire, to take vengeance on the ungodly; Yea, this is my commandment unto you mine Elders, saith the Lord Almighty, that you speedily repent, lest judgments overtake you, and you be numbered with the foolish virgins.
Let this suffice; take heed to your ways, and keep your former covenants; And I the Lord will deliver you from all your enemies, saith him who is your Advocate with the Father; even so, Amen.
[Brigham Young Papers, LDS archives, as cited in Fred C. Collier, comp., Unpublished Revelations of the Prophets and Presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [Salt Lake City: Collier's Publishing Co., 2nd ed., 1981], 1:109, in Marquardt, H. Michael, http://www.xmission.com/~research/central/revel2.htm]
I, Brigham, am constrained by the Spirit to say to you, my brethren, in this Camp of Pioneers, who have gone; or who have come out of bondage to find a location for a Stake of Zion, Except you repent, and humble yourselves before the Lord, you shall not have power to accomplish your mission; And all your toils and labors will prove a curse instead of a blessing unto you. In vain do you think that your works will be accepted of the Lord, whilst your hearts are far from him.
The voice of the Spirit of the Lord, is unto the elders of Israel, prepare ye for the coming of the Son of Man in the Clouds of heaven; yea in a pillar of fire, to take vengeance on the ungodly; Yea, this is my commandment unto you mine Elders, saith the Lord Almighty, that you speedily repent, lest judgments overtake you, and you be numbered with the foolish virgins.
Let this suffice; take heed to your ways, and keep your former covenants; And I the Lord will deliver you from all your enemies, saith him who is your Advocate with the Father; even so, Amen.
[Brigham Young Papers, LDS archives, as cited in Fred C. Collier, comp., Unpublished Revelations of the Prophets and Presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [Salt Lake City: Collier's Publishing Co., 2nd ed., 1981], 1:109, in Marquardt, H. Michael, http://www.xmission.com/~research/central/revel2.htm]
175 years ago today - May 28, 1847
Brigham Young dictates a written revelation accusing the "brethren" of sins they would not admit to. He has the revelation recorded but stipulates that it not be officially published.
On the pioneer trail William Clayton writes that Heber C. Kimball "came to the next wagon where some of the boys were playing Cards. He told them his views and disaprobation of their spending time, gaming, and dancing, and mock trials &c. and especially the profane language frequently uttered by some." Kimball recorded in his journal that he told them "in language not to be misunderstood . . .to conduct themselves like men of God, or they would be sorry for it." Brigham Young upon "seeing several of the brethren playing dominos" warns them that "that the devil was getting power over the camp. That for several days past nearly the whole camp had drank into A spirit of card, Checker, & domino playing & dancing & the spirit of folley & if they did not spedily repent their works, labours, & Journey would be in vain." Later that evening Young and Kimball meet and decide to call the camp to repentance on the next day
On the pioneer trail William Clayton writes that Heber C. Kimball "came to the next wagon where some of the boys were playing Cards. He told them his views and disaprobation of their spending time, gaming, and dancing, and mock trials &c. and especially the profane language frequently uttered by some." Kimball recorded in his journal that he told them "in language not to be misunderstood . . .to conduct themselves like men of God, or they would be sorry for it." Brigham Young upon "seeing several of the brethren playing dominos" warns them that "that the devil was getting power over the camp. That for several days past nearly the whole camp had drank into A spirit of card, Checker, & domino playing & dancing & the spirit of folley & if they did not spedily repent their works, labours, & Journey would be in vain." Later that evening Young and Kimball meet and decide to call the camp to repentance on the next day
180 years ago today - May 28, 1842
Joseph speaks to the Female Relief Society and tells the sisters how they can have the blessings and gifts of the priesthood, such as healing the sick and casting out of devils.
The Wasp, published by Joseph's brother William, prints the news that "Boggs is undoubtedly killed according to a report but Who did the Noble Deed remains to be found out."
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
The Wasp, published by Joseph's brother William, prints the news that "Boggs is undoubtedly killed according to a report but Who did the Noble Deed remains to be found out."
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
185 years ago today - May 28, 1837
The Presidency of the Church at Far West resolve unanimously not to fellowship any member of the Church who will not observe the Word of Wisdom literally.
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
75 years ago today - May 27, 1947
[J. Reuben Clark]
Kenneth Porter, a student at the BYU, who also teaches one class there, came in and reported that Bro. Sessions had told him that he would have to stop teaching the religion class if he did not liberalize his teachings and get away from teaching the hard-bound "fundamentals."
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
Kenneth Porter, a student at the BYU, who also teaches one class there, came in and reported that Bro. Sessions had told him that he would have to stop teaching the religion class if he did not liberalize his teachings and get away from teaching the hard-bound "fundamentals."
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
105 years ago today - May 27, 1917
[Heber J. Grant]
Told of the excommunication of Lorenzo D. Young because of breaking the Word of Wisdom. Related my experience as a young child in attending family prayers in the Lion House; stated that on more than one occasion I had opened my eyes and looked around, when President Young was praying, to see if the Lord was not standing there, because it seemed as though President Young were talking to him.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
Told of the excommunication of Lorenzo D. Young because of breaking the Word of Wisdom. Related my experience as a young child in attending family prayers in the Lion House; stated that on more than one occasion I had opened my eyes and looked around, when President Young was praying, to see if the Lord was not standing there, because it seemed as though President Young were talking to him.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
120 years ago today - May 27, 1902; Tuesday
Letters were written to Senators
[Thoams] Kearns and [Joseph] Rawlins and Representative George Sutherland, giving them the following information in regard to polygamic families:
In 1890, at the time of the late President Wilford Woodruff's manifesto, there were 2,451 such families.
In October, 1899, it was found that this number had been reduced as follows: By death, 750; by removals beyond the confines of the Republic, 63; by divorce, 95; leaving at that time 1,543.
It is now ascertained that the original number has been reduced by 1,554, or 63 per cent, leaving only 897 still living in the United States, and the great majority of them are advanced age.
The 897 polygamic families were reported by the Stake Presidents to be residing in the following Stakes: Alpine [Utah], 26; Bannock [Idaho], 5; Bear Lake [Idaho]/Utah], 30; Beaver [Utah], 8; Benson [Utah], 28; Bighorn [Wyoming], 4; Bingham [Idaho], 7; Box Elder [Utah], 41; Cache [Utah], 33; Cassia [Idaho/Utah], 2; Davis [Utah], 25; Emery [Utah], 13; Fremont [Idaho], 11; Granite [Utah], 38; Hyrum [Utah], 30; Jordan [Utah], 32; Juab [Utah], 8; Kanab [Utah/Arizona], 16; Malad [Idaho/Utah], 9; Maricopa [Arizona], 5; Millard [Utah], 13; Morgan [Utah], 7; Nebo [Utah], 31; North Sanpete [Utah], 31; Oneida [Idaho], 14; Panguitch [Utah], 13; Parowan [Utah], 10; Pocatello [Idaho], 3; Salt Lake, 121; South Sanpete [Utah], 37; San Juan [Utah/Colorado], 12; San Pete [Utah], 7; Sevier [Utah], 25; Snowflake [Arizona], 7; Star Valley [Wyoming], 17; St. George [Utah], 34; St. John [Arizona/New Mexico], 9; St. Joseph [Arizona], 2; Summit [Utah], 6; Teton [Wyoming/Idaho], 7; Tooele [Utah], 7; Uintah [Utah], 5; Union [Oregon], 2; Utah, 30; Wasatch [Utah], 14; Wayne [Utah], 3; Weber [Utah], 53; and Woodruff [Wyoming/Utah] ...
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
[Thoams] Kearns and [Joseph] Rawlins and Representative George Sutherland, giving them the following information in regard to polygamic families:
In 1890, at the time of the late President Wilford Woodruff's manifesto, there were 2,451 such families.
In October, 1899, it was found that this number had been reduced as follows: By death, 750; by removals beyond the confines of the Republic, 63; by divorce, 95; leaving at that time 1,543.
It is now ascertained that the original number has been reduced by 1,554, or 63 per cent, leaving only 897 still living in the United States, and the great majority of them are advanced age.
The 897 polygamic families were reported by the Stake Presidents to be residing in the following Stakes: Alpine [Utah], 26; Bannock [Idaho], 5; Bear Lake [Idaho]/Utah], 30; Beaver [Utah], 8; Benson [Utah], 28; Bighorn [Wyoming], 4; Bingham [Idaho], 7; Box Elder [Utah], 41; Cache [Utah], 33; Cassia [Idaho/Utah], 2; Davis [Utah], 25; Emery [Utah], 13; Fremont [Idaho], 11; Granite [Utah], 38; Hyrum [Utah], 30; Jordan [Utah], 32; Juab [Utah], 8; Kanab [Utah/Arizona], 16; Malad [Idaho/Utah], 9; Maricopa [Arizona], 5; Millard [Utah], 13; Morgan [Utah], 7; Nebo [Utah], 31; North Sanpete [Utah], 31; Oneida [Idaho], 14; Panguitch [Utah], 13; Parowan [Utah], 10; Pocatello [Idaho], 3; Salt Lake, 121; South Sanpete [Utah], 37; San Juan [Utah/Colorado], 12; San Pete [Utah], 7; Sevier [Utah], 25; Snowflake [Arizona], 7; Star Valley [Wyoming], 17; St. George [Utah], 34; St. John [Arizona/New Mexico], 9; St. Joseph [Arizona], 2; Summit [Utah], 6; Teton [Wyoming/Idaho], 7; Tooele [Utah], 7; Uintah [Utah], 5; Union [Oregon], 2; Utah, 30; Wasatch [Utah], 14; Wayne [Utah], 3; Weber [Utah], 53; and Woodruff [Wyoming/Utah] ...
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
125 years ago today - May 27, 1897; Thursday
[J. Golden Kimball]
My great weakness is an almost ungovernable temper and a strong inclination to swear.
[J. Golden Kimball, Diary]
My great weakness is an almost ungovernable temper and a strong inclination to swear.
[J. Golden Kimball, Diary]
180 years ago today - May 27, 1842
[Wilford Woodruff]
The first Presidency The Twelve & High Council & virtuous part of the Church are making an exhertion abot these days to clense the Church from Adulterors fornicators & evil persons for their are such persons crept into our midst. The high council have held a number of meeting of late & their researches have disclosed much iniquity & a number been Cut off from the church. I met with the High Council to day on the trial of L. O. Littlefield Joel S Miles & Darwin Chase. The two former were cut of for Adultery & the case of D Chase was put of till tomorrow.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
The first Presidency The Twelve & High Council & virtuous part of the Church are making an exhertion abot these days to clense the Church from Adulterors fornicators & evil persons for their are such persons crept into our midst. The high council have held a number of meeting of late & their researches have disclosed much iniquity & a number been Cut off from the church. I met with the High Council to day on the trial of L. O. Littlefield Joel S Miles & Darwin Chase. The two former were cut of for Adultery & the case of D Chase was put of till tomorrow.
[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 - May 27, 1842
Bishop Whitney arose and after some preliminary remarks, proceeded to address the congregation by saying that he rejoic'd and did rejoice at the formation of the [Female Relief] Society that we might improve upon our talents and to prepare for those blessings which God is soon to bestow upon us.
In the beginning God created man male and female and bestow'd upon man certain blessings peculiar to a man of God, of which woman partook, so that without the female all things cannot be restor'd to the earth it takes all to restore the Priesthood.
[1.2.11 May 27, 1842, Minutes of the Proceedings of the Tenth Meeting of the Society, as quoted in Matthew J. Grow, Jill Derr, Carol Madsen, and Kate Holbrook, editors, The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women's History, The Church Historian's Press, 2016, https://churchhistorianspress.org/the-first-fifty-years-of-relief-society/]
In the beginning God created man male and female and bestow'd upon man certain blessings peculiar to a man of God, of which woman partook, so that without the female all things cannot be restor'd to the earth it takes all to restore the Priesthood.
[1.2.11 May 27, 1842, Minutes of the Proceedings of the Tenth Meeting of the Society, as quoted in Matthew J. Grow, Jill Derr, Carol Madsen, and Kate Holbrook, editors, The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women's History, The Church Historian's Press, 2016, https://churchhistorianspress.org/the-first-fifty-years-of-relief-society/]
185 years ago today - May 27, 1837
Patriarchal Blessing of Clarissa Aurelia Perry given by Joseph Smith, Sr. ... At a blessing meeting held in the Lord's House in Kirtland ...
O God the Eternal Father * thy servant feels for this thy handmaiden * he desires to feel as God feels * let me know her situation * Let thy maid servant feel that thy spirit feel that thy spirit is about her and that in thy hands she is safe.
... God will bless thee and give thee an inheritance in Zion, nothing shall hinder thee. ... If thy companion does not repent and give up his opposition to the work of the Lord, the disease which is now upon him shall prevail against him, but if he will repent his life shall be given him and he shall have an inheritance with thee in the city of Zion. ... Thy children shall be gathered in Zion. Thou shalt see the glory of God resting on Zion * thou shalt behold the Lord even Jesus, shalt behold him in peace. ... I seal thee up to Eternal life * even so * Amen
[Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:127, in Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]
O God the Eternal Father * thy servant feels for this thy handmaiden * he desires to feel as God feels * let me know her situation * Let thy maid servant feel that thy spirit feel that thy spirit is about her and that in thy hands she is safe.
... God will bless thee and give thee an inheritance in Zion, nothing shall hinder thee. ... If thy companion does not repent and give up his opposition to the work of the Lord, the disease which is now upon him shall prevail against him, but if he will repent his life shall be given him and he shall have an inheritance with thee in the city of Zion. ... Thy children shall be gathered in Zion. Thou shalt see the glory of God resting on Zion * thou shalt behold the Lord even Jesus, shalt behold him in peace. ... I seal thee up to Eternal life * even so * Amen
[Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:127, in Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]
185 years ago today - May 27, 1837
Patriarchal Blessing of Hannah Elizabeth Adams given by Joseph Smith, Sr. ... At a blessing meeting held in the Lord's House in Kirtland ... Thou hast desired to see Jesus and the winding up the scene of this generation.
Thou shalt have Power over Devils and unclean spirits, and they shall not have Power over thee. Thou shalt have power over sickness and sickness shall not have power over thee. Thou shalt have power to minister to thy children in the abscence [absence] of thy husband. Thou shalt have a residence in Zion. thy posterity shall dwell with thee. Thou shalt have Power over thy father's family, shalt have power over enemies.... Thou shalt stand on the earth and see Jesus Christ. No power shall take this blessing from thee if thou wilt lay hold on it by faith. ... shalt instruct the daughters of the Lamanites * shalt speak in the gift of tongues * shalt understand their languages by the power of the spirit. ... I seal thee up to Eternal life. Amen
[Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:126, in Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]
Thou shalt have Power over Devils and unclean spirits, and they shall not have Power over thee. Thou shalt have power over sickness and sickness shall not have power over thee. Thou shalt have power to minister to thy children in the abscence [absence] of thy husband. Thou shalt have a residence in Zion. thy posterity shall dwell with thee. Thou shalt have Power over thy father's family, shalt have power over enemies.... Thou shalt stand on the earth and see Jesus Christ. No power shall take this blessing from thee if thou wilt lay hold on it by faith. ... shalt instruct the daughters of the Lamanites * shalt speak in the gift of tongues * shalt understand their languages by the power of the spirit. ... I seal thee up to Eternal life. Amen
[Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:126, in Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]
185 years ago today - May 27, 1837
Patriarchal Blessing of James Marvin Adams given by Joseph Smith, Sr. ... I don't feel to flatter thee, but I say unto thee, that thy heart is pure in the sight of God.
... Thou shalt stand in the flesh with the One Hundred and Forty Four Thousand that shalt stand with the Lamb upon Mount Zion. ...
If thou desirest it thou shalt have power to translate thyself. Thou shalt have power over flames and fires * Power over winds and Tempests, Power over the raging waves of the sea. No Jails, no bars no Dungeons shall hold thee. Those that dig pits for thee shall fall into them. ... By the Powers of the Holy Priesthood I seal thee up to Eternal life * even so * Amen
[Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:125, in Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]
... Thou shalt stand in the flesh with the One Hundred and Forty Four Thousand that shalt stand with the Lamb upon Mount Zion. ...
If thou desirest it thou shalt have power to translate thyself. Thou shalt have power over flames and fires * Power over winds and Tempests, Power over the raging waves of the sea. No Jails, no bars no Dungeons shall hold thee. Those that dig pits for thee shall fall into them. ... By the Powers of the Holy Priesthood I seal thee up to Eternal life * even so * Amen
[Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:125, in Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]
185 years ago today - May 27, 1837
Patriarchal Blessing of William Holton Sheldon given by Joseph Smith, Sr. ... At a blessing meeting ... I ask God the Eternal Father, to put into my heart a knowledge of thy blessing, that I may know what to say to thee. I design to speak the will of God that I may not come under condemnation. May the Lord grant thee power to understand the spirits, for many have gone out into the world. ...
The Lord will deal with thee as with a son. ... Thou shalt have three sons, and daughters. I don't say how many. Thy sons shall be mighty men in the earth, doing the work of God. ... I seal thee up to Eternal life Amen
[Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:124, in Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]
The Lord will deal with thee as with a son. ... Thou shalt have three sons, and daughters. I don't say how many. Thy sons shall be mighty men in the earth, doing the work of God. ... I seal thee up to Eternal life Amen
[Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:124, in Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]
50 years ago today - May 26, 1972
The Church announces that the Salt Lake Lyric Theater will be renamed the Promised Valley Playhouse and will be used for Church productions.
50 years ago today - May 26, 1972
A Presidency letter that "all existing student wards be converted into student branches" to avoid ordaining men in their twenties to the office of high priest. "It also sometimes creates social dislocation where these young men are members of high priests quorums where the age level is much higher than in elders or seventies quorums."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
80 years ago today - May 26, 1942
[Heber J. Grant]
[At a family dinner:] I expressed gratitude for having married my wife Emily and my obligation to Orson F. Whitney for having converted her to plural marriage.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
[At a family dinner:] I expressed gratitude for having married my wife Emily and my obligation to Orson F. Whitney for having converted her to plural marriage.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
95 years ago today - May 26, 1927
DESERET NEWS welcomes the temporary stopover of a large contingent of motion picture executives from a Hollywood trade convention. After calling their visitors "keen observers and rare judges of beauty," the News urges the filmmakers to "come again, gentlemen." This is in keeping with the Church's efforts to encourage more positive images of Mormons in movies.
130 years ago today - May 26, 1892 • Thursday
[George Q. Cannon]
In the afternoon we had our usual meeting of the Council. The First Presidency and Brothers Lyman and Cannon were present. President Woodruff [[Approximately 56 words redacted by editors. See entry for same date in Abrahm H. Cannon diary]]
[The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]
In the afternoon we had our usual meeting of the Council. The First Presidency and Brothers Lyman and Cannon were present. President Woodruff [[Approximately 56 words redacted by editors. See entry for same date in Abrahm H. Cannon diary]]
[The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]
130 years ago today - May 26, 1892
At two o'clock I was at my Quorum meeting ... Thereafter some conversation followed as to whether Adam is our God or not. There are some in the Church who do not accept of the statement of Pres. [Brigham] Young that such is the case, but to me it seems reasonable to think that Adam has at least much to do with our present condition, and will control greatly our future destiny. [Note: excluded from "An Apostles Record: The Journals of Abraham H. Cannon"]
[Abraham H. Cannon (Author), Edward Leo Lyman (Editor), Candid Insights of a Mormon Apostle: The Diaries of Abraham H. Cannon, 1889-1895, Signature Books]
[Abraham H. Cannon (Author), Edward Leo Lyman (Editor), Candid Insights of a Mormon Apostle: The Diaries of Abraham H. Cannon, 1889-1895, Signature Books]
135 years ago today - Thursday, May 26, 1887
[John Henry Smith]
St. George
Pleasant. Last evening Bros. W. Woodruff, F. M. Lyman and I set apart S. Williams and James A. Woods for missions to Mexico. They were instructed in regard to their duties. We slept in the Temple.
... Today Bro. W. Woodruff is 5 feet 6 1/2 inches high, breast measure 42 inches, waist 43, weight 172 lbs. F. M. Lyman 6 feet 2 inches high, breast measure 48 inches, waist 44, weight 245 pounds. I was 6 feet 1/2 inch high, breast 44, waist 40, weight 236 pounds.
[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]
St. George
Pleasant. Last evening Bros. W. Woodruff, F. M. Lyman and I set apart S. Williams and James A. Woods for missions to Mexico. They were instructed in regard to their duties. We slept in the Temple.
... Today Bro. W. Woodruff is 5 feet 6 1/2 inches high, breast measure 42 inches, waist 43, weight 172 lbs. F. M. Lyman 6 feet 2 inches high, breast measure 48 inches, waist 44, weight 245 pounds. I was 6 feet 1/2 inch high, breast 44, waist 40, weight 236 pounds.
[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 - May 26, 1887
[Heber J. Grant]
From my experience of the past three years I am convinced that plural marriage is the greatest trial on earth for any woman to endure, and having come to this conclusion I have made up my mind firmly, with the help of my Heavenly Father, to do all in my power to make the trial to my wives as light as it is possible for me to do.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
From my experience of the past three years I am convinced that plural marriage is the greatest trial on earth for any woman to endure, and having come to this conclusion I have made up my mind firmly, with the help of my Heavenly Father, to do all in my power to make the trial to my wives as light as it is possible for me to do.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
150 years ago today - May 26, 1872
Brigham Young preaches: "Do you want wealth? If you do, do not be in a hurry. Do you want the riches pertaining to this world? Yes, we acknowledge we do. Then, be calm, contented, composed; keep your pulses correct, do not let them get up to a hundred and twenty, but keep them as nigh as you can, ranging from seventy to seventy-six, . . ."
175 years ago today - May 26, 1847
On the pioneer trail Orson Pratt determines the height of "Chimney rock" to be 260 feet. In a bit of levity to lighten the spirit of the journey Orrin Porter Rockwell is humorously charged: "Sir, you are hereby commanded to bring, wherever found, the body of Col. before the Right Reverend Bishop Whipple at his quarters, there to answer to the following charge, viz:-'That of emitting a sound (in a meeting on Sunday last) a posteriorari (from the seat of honor) somewhat resembling the rumble of distant thunder, or the heavy discharge of artillery, thereby endangering the . . . nerves of those present, as well as disturbing their minds from the discourse of the speaker.'"
180 years ago today - May 26, 1842
[Joseph Smith remarks to the Relief Society]
... There is another error which opens a door for the adversary to enter. As females possess refin'd feelings and sensitivenes[s], they are also subject to an overmuch zeal which must ever prove dangerous, and cause them to be rigid in a religious capacity— ...
[1.2.10 May 26, 1842, Minutes of the Proceedings of the Ninth Meeting of the Society, as quoted in Matthew J. Grow, Jill Derr, Carol Madsen, and Kate Holbrook, editors, The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women's History, The Church Historian's Press, 2016, https://churchhistorianspress.org/the-first-fifty-years-of-relief-society/]
... There is another error which opens a door for the adversary to enter. As females possess refin'd feelings and sensitivenes[s], they are also subject to an overmuch zeal which must ever prove dangerous, and cause them to be rigid in a religious capacity— ...
[1.2.10 May 26, 1842, Minutes of the Proceedings of the Ninth Meeting of the Society, as quoted in Matthew J. Grow, Jill Derr, Carol Madsen, and Kate Holbrook, editors, The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women's History, The Church Historian's Press, 2016, https://churchhistorianspress.org/the-first-fifty-years-of-relief-society/]
180 years ago today - May 26, 1842
John C Bennett: Joseph Smith Jr. prevented Nauvoo Lodge from expelling John C Bennett 26 May 1842
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 6, Biographical Sketches of General Officers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 6, Biographical Sketches of General Officers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
185 years ago today - (Fri) May 26, 1837
The Painesville Telegraph published an open letter to Sidney Rigdon, written by Grandison Newell. In the letter Newell outlined his charges that Smith had conspired with two other Mormons to have him murdered.
[Broadhurst, Dale R., Mormon Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/morchrn2.htm]
[Broadhurst, Dale R., Mormon Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/morchrn2.htm]
190 years ago today - May 26, 1832
Conference (Independence) investigates of Oliver Cowdery's 1830 "transgression" of proposing to another woman while engaged to Elizabeth Ann Whitmer.
[Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]
[Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]
60 years ago today - May 25,1962
Boyd K. Packer is first to earn regular doctorate while serving as general authority. He receives Ed.D. degree from Brigham Young University.
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-1996, http://amzn.to/extensions-power]
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-1996, http://amzn.to/extensions-power]
120 years ago today - May 25, 1902
[Heber J. Grant]
[Fast meeting in temple] [Joseph F. Smith] Referred to the fidelity and faithfulness of those who had entered plural marriage. Said the sisters who had been true to their covenants would have a glory as fadeless as the glory of God. Said that plural marriage had been a great trial to those who had entered into that relation, but those who had honored it as God Almighty had revealed the principle would be blessed of God. The principle had come from God and so long as God gave him words to speak he should defend it. Said those who would oppose the principle would lose the Spirit of the Lord. Gave the Saints to understand however, that at the present time there was no opportunity for any person to practice this principle, notwithstanding that it was from our Heavenly Father.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
[Fast meeting in temple] [Joseph F. Smith] Referred to the fidelity and faithfulness of those who had entered plural marriage. Said the sisters who had been true to their covenants would have a glory as fadeless as the glory of God. Said that plural marriage had been a great trial to those who had entered into that relation, but those who had honored it as God Almighty had revealed the principle would be blessed of God. The principle had come from God and so long as God gave him words to speak he should defend it. Said those who would oppose the principle would lose the Spirit of the Lord. Gave the Saints to understand however, that at the present time there was no opportunity for any person to practice this principle, notwithstanding that it was from our Heavenly Father.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
125 years ago today - May 25, 1897
[Brigham Young Jr.]
Visited Pres[ident] [Wilford] Woodruff who remains feeble, he did not want to ride out for a short distance even. He wanders in his mind can't collect his senses after he wakes from sleep.
[Brigham Young Jr., Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
Visited Pres[ident] [Wilford] Woodruff who remains feeble, he did not want to ride out for a short distance even. He wanders in his mind can't collect his senses after he wakes from sleep.
[Brigham Young Jr., Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
165 years ago today - May 25, 1857
Wilford Woodruff's daughter Phebe "had a vary Severe attack of inflamation on the Lungs or sumthing like plurisy. She Could not Breath ownly with great Difficulty." After anointing her and rebuking the disease Woodrff "finally got Joseph Smiths silk Hankerchief which He gave me in 1839 . . . I laid it upon her stomach. Broth Dunyon Came in to see her in the evening she became some better & slept some." "A large Mormon colony took possession of the valley of Deer Creek 100 miles west of Fort Laramie and drove away a band of Sioux whom I had settled there in Apr and whom I [Indian agent Thomas S. Twiss] had induced to plant corn." Twiss writes to the U.S. Commissioner of Indian Affairs, " I respectfully and earnestly call the attention of the department to the invasion and enter my protest against its occupation of Indian country in force and the forced ejection of the Indians from the place where I had settled them. I am powerless to control this matter for the Mormons obey no law enacted by Congress."
180 years ago today - May 25th 1842
[High Council Minutes]
Charge against Mrs Catherine Warren by George Miller for unchaste and unvirtuous conduct with John C. Bennett and others
The defendant confessed to the charge and give the names of several others who had been guilty of having unlawful intercourse with her stating that they taught the doctrine that it was right to have free intercourse with women and that the heads of the Church also taught and practised it which things caused her to be led away thinking it to be right but becoming convinced that it was not right and learning that the heads of the church did not believe nor practise such things she was willing to confess her sins and did repent before God for what she had done and desired earnestly that the Council would forgive her and covenanted that she would hence forth do so no more.
After which she was restored to fellowship by the unanimous vote of the Council.
[Minutes of the High Council of the Church of Jesus Christ of Nauvoo Illinois: Nauvoo Hancock County Illinois, http://amzn.to/uXAcJh%20]
Charge against Mrs Catherine Warren by George Miller for unchaste and unvirtuous conduct with John C. Bennett and others
The defendant confessed to the charge and give the names of several others who had been guilty of having unlawful intercourse with her stating that they taught the doctrine that it was right to have free intercourse with women and that the heads of the Church also taught and practised it which things caused her to be led away thinking it to be right but becoming convinced that it was not right and learning that the heads of the church did not believe nor practise such things she was willing to confess her sins and did repent before God for what she had done and desired earnestly that the Council would forgive her and covenanted that she would hence forth do so no more.
After which she was restored to fellowship by the unanimous vote of the Council.
[Minutes of the High Council of the Church of Jesus Christ of Nauvoo Illinois: Nauvoo Hancock County Illinois, http://amzn.to/uXAcJh%20]
180 years ago today - May 25, 1842
Joseph Smith disfellowships John C. Bennett who quickly publishes the first exposé of Mormon polygamy. It is not clear whether Bennett is disfellowsipped for sexual misconduct or for using Smith's name in justifying seduction. Bennet's excommunication on Jun 18 would be for his intention to publish against Joseph Smith who prevents Brigham Young from disciplining his brother William for adultery. George A. Smith later referred to "Wm Smith committing iniquity & we have to sustain him against our feelings" as an apostle.
Joseph addresses the Nauvoo Relief Society, directing his comments to Emma: "One request to the Pres[iden]t and Society, hold your tongues about things of no moment-a little tale will set the world on fire. At this time the truth on the guilty should not be told openly-we must use precaution in bringing sinners to justice but in exposing their heinous sins, we draw the indignation of a gentile world upon us." Later that evening after listening to John C. Bennett's confession of wrongdoing before 100 of his fellow Freemasons, Joseph requests mercy for his friend and former counselor.
Joseph addresses the Nauvoo Relief Society, directing his comments to Emma: "One request to the Pres[iden]t and Society, hold your tongues about things of no moment-a little tale will set the world on fire. At this time the truth on the guilty should not be told openly-we must use precaution in bringing sinners to justice but in exposing their heinous sins, we draw the indignation of a gentile world upon us." Later that evening after listening to John C. Bennett's confession of wrongdoing before 100 of his fellow Freemasons, Joseph requests mercy for his friend and former counselor.
180 years ago today - May 25, 1842 - 4 February 1843
[First Presidency Change]
Joseph Smith, Jr. Hyrum Smith (Assistant President) Sidney Rigdon (never ordained an apostle) William Law (never ordained an apostle) John Smith (never ordained an apostle, Assistant Counselor) John C. Bennett (never ordained an apostle) disfellowshipped
[Wikipedia, First Presidency (LDS Church), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Presidency_(LDS_Church)#Chronology_of_the_First_Presidency]
Joseph Smith, Jr. Hyrum Smith (Assistant President) Sidney Rigdon (never ordained an apostle) William Law (never ordained an apostle) John Smith (never ordained an apostle, Assistant Counselor) John C. Bennett (never ordained an apostle) disfellowshipped
[Wikipedia, First Presidency (LDS Church), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Presidency_(LDS_Church)#Chronology_of_the_First_Presidency]
125 years ago today - May 24, 1897
[Heber J. Grant]
I spent the night at Emily's. I have not been living with Emily for a number of years on account of the laws against cohabitation, but I have felt for some time that it was not the right thing for me to fail to live with her as a wife and I have made up my mind to change my manner of living in this particular no matter if I do get into some trouble. I am sure that the Lord and my brethren will approve of my change, and I know that I will feel better satisfied with myself to say nothing of the better feeling that Emily will have to be treated in all respects as a wife.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
I spent the night at Emily's. I have not been living with Emily for a number of years on account of the laws against cohabitation, but I have felt for some time that it was not the right thing for me to fail to live with her as a wife and I have made up my mind to change my manner of living in this particular no matter if I do get into some trouble. I am sure that the Lord and my brethren will approve of my change, and I know that I will feel better satisfied with myself to say nothing of the better feeling that Emily will have to be treated in all respects as a wife.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
125 years ago today - May 24, 1897; Monday
[Franklin D. Richards]
[In Mancos, Colorado:] This morning the Primaries met and Jane & I and Br[other] [Charles W.] Penrose spoke pointedly but short. The Spirit signified that some present would see the Coming of our Savior in the flesh. I stated it as a Prophecy.
[Franklin D. Richards, Diary]
[In Mancos, Colorado:] This morning the Primaries met and Jane & I and Br[other] [Charles W.] Penrose spoke pointedly but short. The Spirit signified that some present would see the Coming of our Savior in the flesh. I stated it as a Prophecy.
[Franklin D. Richards, Diary]
130 years ago today - May 24, 1892
Wilford Woodruff writes: "A card from Joseph F & John Henry Smith was read & Published in the Standard against the speech of [Apostle] Moses Thatcher saying that Satan was the Author of the Republican Party." Thatcher claims he was misinterpreted.
135 years ago today - May 24, 1887 (Tuesday)
Manti, Sanpete Co., was raided by U.S. deputy marshals, who also ransacked the Temple, in search of polygamists, but no arrests were made.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
155 years ago today - May 24 or 25, 1867
In the morning visited Father Marks, who interested me very much with a recital of things that are past. In speaking of polygamy, he said, "Near two weeks before Joseph was killed he told me that I was the only one of the authorities of the Church not in polygamy; that polygamy was an evil, and that in it he had been deceived. I ask him why he did not speak to Brigham or some of the twelve about it, and he said that they would kill him if he did. He told me, I must deal with those in polygamy, if they would not repent and reform. . ." He also said That "Joseph and Hyrum went to Montrose, intending to take a boat and leave; but they returned." He, Bro Marks, met them on the Nauvoo side, and Joseph told him they were intending to leave, but the Lord told him to return, and give himself up, and that if he went away, he should become a castaway. He then added, "I have come back to deliver myself up to atone for the crimes I have committed, and I shall like go like a lamb to the slaughter."
I ask Bro Marks, if Joseph was in polygamy? He said, Yes he and Dr. Bennett were the first that went into it. Speaking of events before after Joseph's death, he said, I attended one night when a few were to receive endowments, and he spoke as I have never heard any other man speak. Bro Hyrum he ordained to be his successor, remarking, My course is about finished on earth – I have done all the Lord wants me to do. He then called on Bro Hyrum and myself and we ordained him to be a king, and Sister Emma to be a queen. There were many things. I did not under- stand in that meeting.
After Joseph's death, I wrote to Sidney Rigdon, who had been Joseph's first counselor, and he came to Nauvoo. I called a meeting of the Church, and Sidney presented his claims. The church seemed generally to fall in with him ; but he did things too much in secret. He ordained me to be his first counselor; and everything he did in organizing was done in secret meetings in a room at my house. He was so unwise, however, that confidence was lost in him ; and when the twelve returned from their missions, they presented their claims and were accepted."
[Mark Forscutt Journal, May 1867, Mark Hill Forscutt Collection 1855-1900, MSS 811, Box 1, Folder 9, L. Tom Perry Special Collections, (compliments of John Dinger)]
I ask Bro Marks, if Joseph was in polygamy? He said, Yes he and Dr. Bennett were the first that went into it. Speaking of events before after Joseph's death, he said, I attended one night when a few were to receive endowments, and he spoke as I have never heard any other man speak. Bro Hyrum he ordained to be his successor, remarking, My course is about finished on earth – I have done all the Lord wants me to do. He then called on Bro Hyrum and myself and we ordained him to be a king, and Sister Emma to be a queen. There were many things. I did not under- stand in that meeting.
After Joseph's death, I wrote to Sidney Rigdon, who had been Joseph's first counselor, and he came to Nauvoo. I called a meeting of the Church, and Sidney presented his claims. The church seemed generally to fall in with him ; but he did things too much in secret. He ordained me to be his first counselor; and everything he did in organizing was done in secret meetings in a room at my house. He was so unwise, however, that confidence was lost in him ; and when the twelve returned from their missions, they presented their claims and were accepted."
[Mark Forscutt Journal, May 1867, Mark Hill Forscutt Collection 1855-1900, MSS 811, Box 1, Folder 9, L. Tom Perry Special Collections, (compliments of John Dinger)]
175 years ago today - May 24, 1847 (Monday)
The sick detachments of the Battalion which had wintered at Pueblo, took up the line of march for California.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
175 years ago today - May 24, 1847
Brigham Young writes his name on a buffalo skull while on the trek westward. Heber C. Kimball prays with William Clayton. A gust of wind blows Kimball's hat off but he doesn't interrupt his prayer to chase it. Later he had to chase the hat for a mile before recovering it.
180 years ago today - May 24th 1842
[High Council Minutes]
The High Council met according to apointment at the Lodge Room
1st The te[s]timony of Mrs Sarah Miller and Miss Margaret and Matilda Neymans were taken relative to the charge against Chancy Higbee and others showing the manner of iniquity practised by them upon female virtue & the unhallowed means by which they accomplished their desires
[Minutes of the High Council of the Church of Jesus Christ of Nauvoo Illinois: Nauvoo Hancock County Illinois, http://amzn.to/uXAcJh%20]
The High Council met according to apointment at the Lodge Room
1st The te[s]timony of Mrs Sarah Miller and Miss Margaret and Matilda Neymans were taken relative to the charge against Chancy Higbee and others showing the manner of iniquity practised by them upon female virtue & the unhallowed means by which they accomplished their desires
[Minutes of the High Council of the Church of Jesus Christ of Nauvoo Illinois: Nauvoo Hancock County Illinois, http://amzn.to/uXAcJh%20]
180 years ago today - May 24, 1842
Sarah Miller told Nauvoo's high council that Chauncey Higbee (also spelled "Chancy Higby") visited her "soon after a special conference" in April 1842, and "began his seducing insinuations by saying it was no harm to have sexual intercourse with women if they would keep it to themselves." She added that "when he come again, William Smith come with him & told me that the doctrine which Chancy Higby had taught me was true." In May 1842 she told the high council that "nearly a year ago" (i.e., in the summer of 1841, almost a year before Sarah Miller's seduction), Catherine Fuller began having sexual intercourse with Bennett, and "not only with him[,] but with Chauncy Higbee and the prophet's younger brother, Apostle William Smith." Someone tried to eradicate the name of William Smith from the manuscript of testimony that he also visited these two women for sexual intercourse during 1841-42. His first cousin, Apostle George A. Smith, later complained about "Wm Smith Commit[t]ing iniquity & we have to sustain him against our feelings." : Two women identified William Smith as one of Bennett's friends who visited for sexual intercourse ... According to a later reminiscence [by Apostle Lorenzo Snow], Joseph Smith then asked Brigham Young to excommunicate his brother for `adultery and many other sins.' As Young was about to act, however, the prophet changed his mind, accused the quorum's president of maligning the Smith family, and required Young to exonerate William. Then someone (probably Joseph) tried to eradicate William's name from the women's testimony.
[John S. Dinger, ed., The Nauvoo City and High Council Minutes (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 2011), 415n40 ("Sarah Miller's statement, dated May 24, 1842 ... [about] the special conference this spring"), 417 ("Charge [was preferred] against Mrs. Catherine Warren for unchaste and unvirtuous conduct with John C. Bennett and others"), 417n46 (for Mrs. Warren's testimony); also "CONFERENCE MINUTES," Times and Seasons 3 (15 April 1842): 761 ("Special Conference ... April 6, 1842"); Quinn, Origins of Power (1994) 220, in "Evidence For The Sexual Side of Joseph Smith's Polygamy," Comments by D. Michael Quinn on Session #2A "Reconsidering Joseph Smith's Marital Practices," Mormon History Association's Annual Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 29 June 2012 (unabbreviated version, revised during July)]
[John S. Dinger, ed., The Nauvoo City and High Council Minutes (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 2011), 415n40 ("Sarah Miller's statement, dated May 24, 1842 ... [about] the special conference this spring"), 417 ("Charge [was preferred] against Mrs. Catherine Warren for unchaste and unvirtuous conduct with John C. Bennett and others"), 417n46 (for Mrs. Warren's testimony); also "CONFERENCE MINUTES," Times and Seasons 3 (15 April 1842): 761 ("Special Conference ... April 6, 1842"); Quinn, Origins of Power (1994) 220, in "Evidence For The Sexual Side of Joseph Smith's Polygamy," Comments by D. Michael Quinn on Session #2A "Reconsidering Joseph Smith's Marital Practices," Mormon History Association's Annual Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 29 June 2012 (unabbreviated version, revised during July)]
130 years ago today - May 23, 1892 • Monday
[George Q. Cannon]
... we learned that several of the brethren who have plural families are pursuing an unwise course and bringing their families into Colorado, which action excites the fears of the Prest. of the Stake. He thinks there is danger of an attack being made. It was decided that Brother John Henry Smith should go to San Luis as soon as convenient and correct this; show the brethren the great danger in which they are not only placing themselves, but the whole people, by such conduct, because many of us have told leading men in Colorado that our folks were not living in plural marriage in that State, and if cases of this kind were discovered and brought to the attention of the courts, it might be attended with serious consequences.
[The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]
... we learned that several of the brethren who have plural families are pursuing an unwise course and bringing their families into Colorado, which action excites the fears of the Prest. of the Stake. He thinks there is danger of an attack being made. It was decided that Brother John Henry Smith should go to San Luis as soon as convenient and correct this; show the brethren the great danger in which they are not only placing themselves, but the whole people, by such conduct, because many of us have told leading men in Colorado that our folks were not living in plural marriage in that State, and if cases of this kind were discovered and brought to the attention of the courts, it might be attended with serious consequences.
[The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]
185 years ago today - May 23, 1837
Patriarchal Blessing of Henry Harmon given by Joseph Smith, Sr. ... Thou shalt behold the Son of God while thou dost stand in the flesh and if thou dost seek it with all thy heart, thou shalt stand on the earth to behold the Savior come in the clouds of heaven, and be caught up to meet him, and thou shalt see the end of the wicked. Thou shalt have an inheritance among the sanctified in the flesh and a seat in the celestial kingdom in eternity. I confer all these blessings upon thy head and seal thee up unto eternal life in the name of Jesus Christ - Amen
[W. Woodruff, Scribe [Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:123, in Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]
[W. Woodruff, Scribe [Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:123, in Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]
185 years ago today - (Tue) May 23, 1837
Parley Pratt wrote an angry letter to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, accusing them of wrongful dealings with certain Church members, including himself. Pratt said that the LDS leaders took advantage over members like himself, "by undue religious influence," and insinuated that the "scheme of speculation" underlying the operations of the [Kirtland Saftey Society] was "of the devil."
[Letter printed in Richard Livesey, "An Exposure of Mormonism," (1838), p. 9; original in the Lake County Historical Society Library; Broadhurst, Dale R., Mormon Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/morchrn2.htm]
[Letter printed in Richard Livesey, "An Exposure of Mormonism," (1838), p. 9; original in the Lake County Historical Society Library; Broadhurst, Dale R., Mormon Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/morchrn2.htm]
20 years ago today - May 22, 2002
The first missionary training center in Africa opened its doors in Tema, Ghana, the 16th missionary training center throughout the world.
[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]
30 years ago today - May 22, 1992
A First Presidency statement that the King James Version of the Bible is the only English language Bible to be used in LDS church meetings. This codifies a position maintained for decades by former First Presidency counselor J. Reuben Clark.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
45 years ago today - May 22, 1977
Formation of a new Church Activities Committee, with responsibility for coordinating cultural arts and physical activities in local units, was announced.
[Correlation Timeline, Compiled by Lisle Brown]
[Correlation Timeline, Compiled by Lisle Brown]
60 years ago today - May 22, 1962
Ezra Taft Benson wrote that [Senator] McCarthy "rendered a service in emphasizing the insidious threat of the Communist influence in government."
[Benson to H. Roland Tietjen, president of the Hawaiian LDS temple, 22 May 1962, archives, Lee Library. 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.]
[Benson to H. Roland Tietjen, president of the Hawaiian LDS temple, 22 May 1962, archives, Lee Library. 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.]
65 years ago today - Wed May 22, 1957
[David O. McKay]
Eldred G. Smith, Patriarch to the Church, called at the office and gave his side of what seems to him to have been a censure given to him by Elders Spencer Kimball and LeGrand Richards. He then took a great deal of time referring to unpleasant conditions existing in his office. He said that inasmuch as Sister Timmons was employed as a secretary in the office of the Patriarch before he (Brother Smith) was ordained as Patriarch to the Church, she still "assumes" the right to make his appointments. I answered: "Well, haven't you asked her to make your appointments, and to keep a record of them?" He admitted that that was the case. I further said to Brother Smith: "That spirit should not exist in any office in the Church, and you should plan the affairs of your office so that there should be complete harmony and good will." Brother Smith said that he had another matter about which he wished to talk to me, but inasmuch as an hour's time had gone by, and that I had an appointment, I told him that he would have to see me at some future time.
[McKay, David O., Office Journal]
Eldred G. Smith, Patriarch to the Church, called at the office and gave his side of what seems to him to have been a censure given to him by Elders Spencer Kimball and LeGrand Richards. He then took a great deal of time referring to unpleasant conditions existing in his office. He said that inasmuch as Sister Timmons was employed as a secretary in the office of the Patriarch before he (Brother Smith) was ordained as Patriarch to the Church, she still "assumes" the right to make his appointments. I answered: "Well, haven't you asked her to make your appointments, and to keep a record of them?" He admitted that that was the case. I further said to Brother Smith: "That spirit should not exist in any office in the Church, and you should plan the affairs of your office so that there should be complete harmony and good will." Brother Smith said that he had another matter about which he wished to talk to me, but inasmuch as an hour's time had gone by, and that I had an appointment, I told him that he would have to see me at some future time.
[McKay, David O., Office Journal]
120 years ago today - Thursday, May 22, 1902
Relative to the ordination of stake supt.'s of Y.M.M.I.A., Pres. Smith said that the only reason they had been ordained high priests was due to the ruling of Pres. Jno. Taylor, who claimed that the presiding offices of the church belonged to the high priest. Pres. Smith remarked that an elder could as well preside when authorized by proper authority. It was decided by unanimous vote that a man holding the high priesthood, namely, an elder, seventy, or high priest, would be eligible to the office of stake supt. Y.M.M.I.A. without further ordination....
Apostle Smoot asked if it would be proper for a little deaf girl, whose parents are not members of the church, to be baptized for her health in the temple—the request coming from her mother. The answer was yes; there would be no impropriety in it.
[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]
Apostle Smoot asked if it would be proper for a little deaf girl, whose parents are not members of the church, to be baptized for her health in the temple—the request coming from her mother. The answer was yes; there would be no impropriety in it.
[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]
140 years ago today - May 22, 1882
[Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner and James Rollins to John Taylor]
... Mrs Elizabeth Gilbert, (who is in her Eighty-second year) is here for the purpose of obtaining her Second Anointing, together with her husband, Algernon Sidney Gilbert, who Died when Zion's Camp went up to Missouri[.] My Brother Henry Rollins, Stands as Proxy for her husband his uncle. I also wish to know if the sealing of My Mother to Mr. John M. Burk, in Nauvoo can be changed. As she did not wish to be Sealed to him But Brother Young told her to let it be so for the present, and it could be changed afterward, (or words to that effect). Must her sealing remain as it was in Nauvoo? Or [can] she be sealed to Joseph For that is our Desire[.] Henry desires to be adopted into Josephs Kingdom[.]
[Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner and James Rollins to John Taylor, May 22, 1882, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
... Mrs Elizabeth Gilbert, (who is in her Eighty-second year) is here for the purpose of obtaining her Second Anointing, together with her husband, Algernon Sidney Gilbert, who Died when Zion's Camp went up to Missouri[.] My Brother Henry Rollins, Stands as Proxy for her husband his uncle. I also wish to know if the sealing of My Mother to Mr. John M. Burk, in Nauvoo can be changed. As she did not wish to be Sealed to him But Brother Young told her to let it be so for the present, and it could be changed afterward, (or words to that effect). Must her sealing remain as it was in Nauvoo? Or [can] she be sealed to Joseph For that is our Desire[.] Henry desires to be adopted into Josephs Kingdom[.]
[Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner and James Rollins to John Taylor, May 22, 1882, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
140 years ago today - May 22, 1882
[John D. T. McAllister to John Taylor]
As I understand[,] you are well acquainted with Bro[ther] James A. Rollins and his sister Mary E. who is the [plural] wife of Joseph [Smith] the Prophet. It does not require a great deal of writing from me [because] he has had his Second Anointing, and can act for his uncle if approved. They are very much exercised about their Mother. He informs me it was understood when living at President Smith's that he was to be in his family, and would like his mother sealed to him. N[ota] B[ene]. Please [know that I will wait for you] to answer by wire if the Mother is to be sealed to Joseph. Please [let me know whether] to say to Henry Rollins [that he should act as proxy for] Gilbert [in the] second [anointing], and all [has been] approved. If the mother remains where she is, I will understand the usual form.
[John D. T. McAllister to John Taylor, May 22, 1882, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
As I understand[,] you are well acquainted with Bro[ther] James A. Rollins and his sister Mary E. who is the [plural] wife of Joseph [Smith] the Prophet. It does not require a great deal of writing from me [because] he has had his Second Anointing, and can act for his uncle if approved. They are very much exercised about their Mother. He informs me it was understood when living at President Smith's that he was to be in his family, and would like his mother sealed to him. N[ota] B[ene]. Please [know that I will wait for you] to answer by wire if the Mother is to be sealed to Joseph. Please [let me know whether] to say to Henry Rollins [that he should act as proxy for] Gilbert [in the] second [anointing], and all [has been] approved. If the mother remains where she is, I will understand the usual form.
[John D. T. McAllister to John Taylor, May 22, 1882, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
160 years ago today - May 22, 1862
President Young again took up the Deseret Alphabet and Conversed upon that subject.
He spoke of what he had done to introduce that subject to this people. He had sent East, and got a font of the best deserett type made that Could be got and Still the regency and superintendent of Common Schools, the Teachers nor people none of them have faith Enough to introduce the Deserett Alphabet into the schools. I will not give my Consent or furnish any type to publish that Book or any other for Children with the Errors now Exhisting in the English arthography. By doing this we teach our Children fals principles which they have to wallow through all there lives. If I Cannot present to my Children true principles in there language I do not want to present any thing to them. Neither will I use my priesthood to force it upon the people. If the people will not assist me to introduce it for the benefit of the rising generation they may go without it. But we Can buy those gentile school books for Children much Cheaper than we Can make them Here, and I dont wish to have any of that Class of Books made here.
Brother Campbell tryed to argue the point with Presidet Young But he gained nothing by it.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
He spoke of what he had done to introduce that subject to this people. He had sent East, and got a font of the best deserett type made that Could be got and Still the regency and superintendent of Common Schools, the Teachers nor people none of them have faith Enough to introduce the Deserett Alphabet into the schools. I will not give my Consent or furnish any type to publish that Book or any other for Children with the Errors now Exhisting in the English arthography. By doing this we teach our Children fals principles which they have to wallow through all there lives. If I Cannot present to my Children true principles in there language I do not want to present any thing to them. Neither will I use my priesthood to force it upon the people. If the people will not assist me to introduce it for the benefit of the rising generation they may go without it. But we Can buy those gentile school books for Children much Cheaper than we Can make them Here, and I dont wish to have any of that Class of Books made here.
Brother Campbell tryed to argue the point with Presidet Young But he gained nothing by it.
[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 - May 22, 1847
William Clayton writes during the pioneer trek west: "The evening was spent very joyfully by most of the brethren, it being very pleasant and moonlight. A number danced till the bugle sounded for bed time at 9 o'clock. A mock trial was also prosecuted in the case of the camp vs. James Davenport for blockading the highway and turning ladies out of their course. Jackson Redding acted as the presiding judge. Elder Whipple attorney for defendant and Luke Johnson attorney for the people. We have many such trials in the Camp which are amusing enough and tend among other things to pass away the time cheerfully during leisure moments"
180 years ago today - May 22, 1842
Joseph publishes an article in the Wasp, addressed to the editor of the Quincy Whig, refuting the claim that Joseph had prophesied Bogg's death by violent means the previous year.
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
185 years ago today - May 22, 1837
In a trial before the Kirtland High Council concerning unfulfilled contracts the Council decides: "After a long investigation by the Councilors and parties, the Presidency. W. W. Phelps and John Whitmer, [it was decided] that both accuser and accused should be disfellowshiped, if they did not settle their difficulties."
15 years ago today - May 21, 2007
Reverend Al Sharpton broadcasts his radio program from the Bonneville International studio at the Triad Center in Salt Lake City. Sharpton toured Church locations after apologizing for remarks about Mormons he made at a debate.
[Sherry Baker: Mormon Media History Timeline: 1827-2007, http://byustudies.byu.edu/showTitle.aspx?title=7984]
[Sherry Baker: Mormon Media History Timeline: 1827-2007, http://byustudies.byu.edu/showTitle.aspx?title=7984]
55 years ago today - May 21, 1967
The front page of the New York Times business section features LDS convert Florence Doyle, a stockbroker with Dupont & Co. since 1941.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
135 years ago today - May 21, 1887
DESERET NEWS reports funeral of Louie Wells Cannon, daughter of Second Counselor in the First Presidency Daniel H. Wells. She died giving birth to the stillborn son of John Q. Cannon, son of First Counselor in the First Presidency George Q. Cannon and Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric. At the time the child was conceived John was married to Louie's sister Annie. In Sep of 1886 he confessed his sin and was excommunicated in stake conference. His wife Annie divorced him four days later and he married Louie the following day. A year after Louie's death John was rebaptized, remarried to Annie, and sealed to Louie.
170 years ago today - May 21, 1852
Joseph F. Smith is baptized in City Creek in Salt Lake City, the first of four future Presidents of the Church to be baptized in the same location. (He is thirteen years old.)
190 years ago today - 1832 May [21]
Near Greenville, Indiana--a dozen miles from the Ohio river--the stagecoach horses bolt and start to run away. Joseph and Newel jump. Newel but gets a foot caught in a wheel,breaking his leg and foot. Sidney remains in the coach and continues on to Kirtland, where his nine-year-old daughter, Nancy, is seriously ill. Joseph remains with Newel while he recovers.
[Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]
[Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]
30 years ago today - May 20, 1992.
Phi Beta Kappa, the national honor society for arts and sciences, rejects BYU's application for a chapter. Phi Beta Kappa's reasons for refusing the chapter application are that the "dogmatic religious assertion[s]" in its mission statements "preclud[e] other possibilities" and hence oppose Phi Beta Kappa's promotion of "a liberal arts education which . . . foster[s] free inquiry." The reason for the decision is not religion per se: Notre Dame, a Catholic-sponsored university, has a Phi Beta Kappa chapter.
[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]
75 years ago today - May 20, 1947
[J. Reuben Clark]
Called Mark Petersen about G-man Hoover's testimony before the Committee on un-American activities on March 26th and thought it ought to be printed, maybe not all at once, but anyway in installments. It is very illuminating. Bro. Petersen will try to find it over there and if he cannot will borrow Pres. Clark's copy (Leo Young sent for Pres. Clark's copy on Thursday).
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
Called Mark Petersen about G-man Hoover's testimony before the Committee on un-American activities on March 26th and thought it ought to be printed, maybe not all at once, but anyway in installments. It is very illuminating. Bro. Petersen will try to find it over there and if he cannot will borrow Pres. Clark's copy (Leo Young sent for Pres. Clark's copy on Thursday).
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
75 years ago today - May 20, 1947
President George Albert Smith offers a prayer for the U.S. Senate, and the 'Congressional Record' publishes his invocation's full text. Nineteen years later, 20 May 1966, first counselor Hugh B. Brown does likewise. In 1974 Apostle (later LDS president) Gordon B. Hinckley opens the U.S. House with prayer; Pres. Spencer W. Kimball prays in the Senate.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
105 years ago today - May 20, 1917
[James E. Talmage]
Talmage speaks with William C. Mills, an archaeologist researching Ohio's Indian mounds, and in his journal Talmage comments on the similarities between Mills' conclusions and the Book of Mormon.
[Chronology of the Life and Work of James E. Talmage, J. Trevor Antley, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MJsHY83JZL_n6CjWq11y1trT_CVXMMXAx2uYOWAwn0c/edit#heading=h.2zfdaoa]
Talmage speaks with William C. Mills, an archaeologist researching Ohio's Indian mounds, and in his journal Talmage comments on the similarities between Mills' conclusions and the Book of Mormon.
[Chronology of the Life and Work of James E. Talmage, J. Trevor Antley, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MJsHY83JZL_n6CjWq11y1trT_CVXMMXAx2uYOWAwn0c/edit#heading=h.2zfdaoa]
140 years ago today - May 20, 1882
[Lorenzo Snow to John Taylor]
Prest John Taylor Hannah [who had been married to Joseph E. Johnson for more than thirty years], the person in question, has never intimated to me orally or otherwise, that she desires a release and I do not feel exactly at liberty to act in the premises till she herself expresses such a wish. If she will sign the following certificate, in presence of Prest McAlister and he witness the same, she then has my full consent to be sealed to whomsoever she pleases, and in the return of this certificate I am willing to sign a Bill of Divorce. If this meet your approval please forward it to Prest McAllister Respectfully Lorenzo Snow.
This certifies that I wish to be released from Covenant and obligations, entered into between myself and Lorenzo Snow when sealed over the Alter in the Temple at Nauvoo. Hannah M Goddard now Johnson We were not sealed at the Alter in the Temple. it was in L. N. Scovils house: I received my Endowments in the E[ndowment]. H[ouse]. Salt Lake City HMGJ
The above Certificate was this day signed in my presence John D T. McAllister Washington 15th May 1882
[Minutes, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
Prest John Taylor Hannah [who had been married to Joseph E. Johnson for more than thirty years], the person in question, has never intimated to me orally or otherwise, that she desires a release and I do not feel exactly at liberty to act in the premises till she herself expresses such a wish. If she will sign the following certificate, in presence of Prest McAlister and he witness the same, she then has my full consent to be sealed to whomsoever she pleases, and in the return of this certificate I am willing to sign a Bill of Divorce. If this meet your approval please forward it to Prest McAllister Respectfully Lorenzo Snow.
This certifies that I wish to be released from Covenant and obligations, entered into between myself and Lorenzo Snow when sealed over the Alter in the Temple at Nauvoo. Hannah M Goddard now Johnson We were not sealed at the Alter in the Temple. it was in L. N. Scovils house: I received my Endowments in the E[ndowment]. H[ouse]. Salt Lake City HMGJ
The above Certificate was this day signed in my presence John D T. McAllister Washington 15th May 1882
[Minutes, 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 - May 20, 1882
Prest Taylor received a letter from Pres J D T McAllister of St George dated May 16th pertaining to the matter of Apostle Lorenzo Snow and his wife Hannah ...
Prest John Taylor Hannah [who had been married to Joseph E. Johnson for more than thirty years], the person in question, has never intimated to me orally or otherwise, that she desires a release and I do not feel exactly at liberty to act in the premises till she herself expresses such a wish. If she will sign the following certificate, in presence of Prest McAlister and he witness the same, she then has my full consent to be sealed to whomsoever she pleases, and in the return of this certificate I am willing to sign a Bill of Divorce. If this meet your approval please forward it to Prest McAllister Respectfully Lorenzo Snow. This certifies that I wish to be released from Covenant and obligations, entered into between myself and Lorenzo Snow when sealed over the Alter in the Temple at Nauvoo. Hannah M Goddard now Johnson We were not sealed at the Alter in the Temple. it was in L. N. Scovils house: I received my Endowments in the E[ndowment]. H[ouse]. Salt Lake City HMGJ The above Certificate was this day signed in my presence John D T. McAllister Washington 15th May 1882
[Minutes, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
Prest John Taylor Hannah [who had been married to Joseph E. Johnson for more than thirty years], the person in question, has never intimated to me orally or otherwise, that she desires a release and I do not feel exactly at liberty to act in the premises till she herself expresses such a wish. If she will sign the following certificate, in presence of Prest McAlister and he witness the same, she then has my full consent to be sealed to whomsoever she pleases, and in the return of this certificate I am willing to sign a Bill of Divorce. If this meet your approval please forward it to Prest McAllister Respectfully Lorenzo Snow. This certifies that I wish to be released from Covenant and obligations, entered into between myself and Lorenzo Snow when sealed over the Alter in the Temple at Nauvoo. Hannah M Goddard now Johnson We were not sealed at the Alter in the Temple. it was in L. N. Scovils house: I received my Endowments in the E[ndowment]. H[ouse]. Salt Lake City HMGJ The above Certificate was this day signed in my presence John D T. McAllister Washington 15th May 1882
[Minutes, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
145 years ago today - May 20, 1877
Concerning the temple in Jerusalem, Orson Pratt stated, "By and by there will be a Temple built at Jerusalem. Who do you think is going to build it? You may think that it will be the unbelieving Jews who rejected the Savior. I believe that that which is contained on the 77th page of the Book of Mormon, as well as in many other places, in that same book, will be literally fulfilled. The Temple at Jerusalem will undoubtedly be built, by those who believe in the true Messiah. Its construction will be, in some respects different from the Temples now being built. It will contain the throne of the Lord, upon which he will, at times, personally sit, and will reign over the house of Israel for ever. It may also contain twelve other thrones, on which the twelve ancient Apostles will sit, and judge the twelve tribes of Israel."
[Pratt, Orson, Building Temples, Journal of Discourses vol. 19: p. 19–2, as quoted in The Last Days and December 1890 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ, y George D. Speer Sr., privately circulated]
[Pratt, Orson, Building Temples, Journal of Discourses vol. 19: p. 19–2, as quoted in The Last Days and December 1890 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ, y George D. Speer Sr., privately circulated]
145 years ago today - May 20, 1877 (Sunday)
The first converts to "Mormonism" among the Pima Indians were baptized at Camp Utah, on Salt river, Ariz. Among them was the chief Che-eh-chum.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
165 years ago today - May 20, 1857
President James Buchanan, relying upon the negative accusations of several, while ignoring Mormon denials, and without any investigation, was convinced that the Mormons were in rebellion against the United States. He decided to replace Gov. Brigham Young, and without giving him any notice, and without the required Congressional approval (Congress was in recess), proceeded to make his new appointments and issued orders for a large military escort.
[Hale, Van, Mormon Miscellaneous, Utah War Chronology, http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/utahwar/id2.html]
[Hale, Van, Mormon Miscellaneous, Utah War Chronology, http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/utahwar/id2.html]
180 years ago today - May 20th 1842
[High Council Minutes]
Council met at the Store of Joseph Smith Lodge Room
Charge against Chancy L Higbee by George Miller For unchaste and unvirtuous conduct with the widow Miller and others. Plead not guilty.
Three witness testified that he had seduced them and at different times been guilty of unchaste and unvirtuous conduct with them and taught the doctrine that it was right to have free intercourse with women if it was kept secret &c and also taught that Joseph Smith authorized him to practise these things &c.
On motion of President Hyrum Smith
Resolved, That he (Chancy Higbee) be expelled from 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]
Council met at the Store of Joseph Smith Lodge Room
Charge against Chancy L Higbee by George Miller For unchaste and unvirtuous conduct with the widow Miller and others. Plead not guilty.
Three witness testified that he had seduced them and at different times been guilty of unchaste and unvirtuous conduct with them and taught the doctrine that it was right to have free intercourse with women if it was kept secret &c and also taught that Joseph Smith authorized him to practise these things &c.
On motion of President Hyrum Smith
Resolved, That he (Chancy Higbee) be expelled from 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]
180 years ago today - May 20, 1842
Catherine Fuller Warren, responds to charges by the Nauvoo High Council of "unchaste and unvirtuous conduct with [Assistant President] John C. Bennett." She admits to them and also confesses to intercourse with others, including Joseph Smith's younger brother, Apostle William Smith. She explains that the men had "taught the doctrine that it was right to have free intercourse with women and that the heads of the church also taught and practiced it which things caused her to be led away thinking it to be right." Bennett is excommunicated but charges against William Smith are withdrawn by Brigham Young after Joseph Smith complains, "I will not listen to this abuse of my family a minute longer. I will wade in blood up to my knees before I will do it."
185 years ago today - May 20, 1837
Kirtland banknotes have depreciated in value by 50 percent.
[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]
185 years ago today - May 20, 1837
[Patriarchal Blessing of Daniel Carter given by Joseph Smith Sr. ... An Angel of record one standing near the throne of God shall minister to thee. ... The blessing of God shall fall on thy posterity. Thy children shall be blest. They shall stand with thee in the covenant. They shall have a residence in the City of Zion. They shall have with thee an inheritance in Zion. They shall become mighty men in the earth. They shall stand with the Savior on Mount Zion. If thou art faithful in keeping the commandments of God, thou shall stand in the flesh when the Lord Jesus shall come in the clouds of heaven with Power and great glory. ... It is given thee on condition of keeping the commandments and the "Word of Wisdom". I seal them on thy head by the authority of the Holy Priesthood. I seal thee with Eternal life. Amen
[Patriarchal Blessings]
[Patriarchal Blessings]
125 years ago today - May 19, 1897; Wednesday
Pres[iden]t. [Wilford] Woodruff at his office this afternoon, received a call from Bishop H[iram]. B. Clawson, with his grandson Hal, son of Stanley Clawson. The young man had made a study of hypnotism. He brought with him three young men who had been operated upon several times before. He put them into a state of somnambulism, and performed many curious experiments, such as running and [sic] hat pins through their arms. One of them when so ordered put a pin through his own cheeks. No blood came from the punctured skin, and the subjects appeared to suffer no inconvenience as a result. One of the young men was suspended across two chairs, his head resting on one and his feet on the other, with nothing else to support him, and he was made so rigid that two brethren present, who weighed together 330 pounds, sat on his body, which remained as stiff as a board. Hal Clawson stated that a noted hypnotist had failed to hypnotize after two weeks trial, and he thought he would try it himself and succeeded at the first effort. No one could be hypnotized without giving voluntary consent. It required a strong minded person, who could concentrate his thoughts upon one object, to be hypnotized. Red haired people were the easiest to control. He said there were three stages of hypnotism known as subjestion, somnambulism and catalepsy.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
175 years ago today - May 19, 1847. Wednesday.
...When Elder [Heber C.] Kimball went ahead this morning to search out a road ... he turned his head to the left and saw 2 very large wolves at about 5 rods distance gazing at him. One of them he said was nearly as large as a 2 year old steer. When he saw these he looked around on the other side and saw several others about the same distance from him very large ones and all gazing fiercely at him. This startled him considerably and more especially when he reflected that he had no arms. He made a noise to try to scare them away but they still stood and he concluded to move away as soon as he could. They did not follow him and he saw a dead carcass near which satisfied him that he had interrupted their repast. On mentioning this circumstance to President Young they named the creek Wolf Creek . . .
[George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://bit.ly/WilliamClayton]
[George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://bit.ly/WilliamClayton]
175 years ago today - May 19, 1847
[Blacks]
Here [Lowell, Mass.] I found a branch of the Church of about 20 members in tolerable good standing. ... In this Branch there is a Coloured Brother, (An Elder ordained by Elder Wm. Smith while he was a member of the Church, contrary though to the order of the Church or the Law of the Priesthood, as the Descendants of Ham are not entitled to that privilege) by the name of Walker Lewis. He appears to be a meek humble man, and an example for his more whiter brethren to follow.
[Elder William I. Appleby Journal (written in mid-50s based on notes), in 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]
Here [Lowell, Mass.] I found a branch of the Church of about 20 members in tolerable good standing. ... In this Branch there is a Coloured Brother, (An Elder ordained by Elder Wm. Smith while he was a member of the Church, contrary though to the order of the Church or the Law of the Priesthood, as the Descendants of Ham are not entitled to that privilege) by the name of Walker Lewis. He appears to be a meek humble man, and an example for his more whiter brethren to follow.
[Elder William I. Appleby Journal (written in mid-50s based on notes), in 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]
180 years ago today - May 19, 1842
Mrs. Pres^t. [Emma Smith] said this day was an evil day— that there is as much evil in this as in any other place— said she would that this Society were pure before God— that she was afraid that under existing circumstances, the sisters were not careful enough to expose iniquity— the time had been when charity had covered a multitude of sins— but now it is necessary that sin should be expos'd— that heinous sins were among us— that much of this iniquity was practiced by some in authority, pretending to be sanction'd by Prest. Smith.
[1.2.9 May 19, 1842, Minutes of the Proceedings of the Eigth Meeting of the Society, as quoted in Matthew J. Grow, Jill Derr, Carol Madsen, and Kate Holbrook, editors, The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women's History, The Church Historian's Press, 2016, https://churchhistorianspress.org/the-first-fifty-years-of-relief-society/]
[1.2.9 May 19, 1842, Minutes of the Proceedings of the Eigth Meeting of the Society, as quoted in Matthew J. Grow, Jill Derr, Carol Madsen, and Kate Holbrook, editors, The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women's History, The Church Historian's Press, 2016, https://churchhistorianspress.org/the-first-fifty-years-of-relief-society/]
180 years ago today - May 19, 1842
Joseph Smith becomes Nauvoo's mayor. His Nauvoo "Lifeguards" are headed by former Danite Albert P. Rockwood and include Danites Hosea Stout and Orrin Porter Rockwell. At the City Council meeting during the balloting for Mayor, Joseph Smith jots down and then "threw across the room" a revelation to Hiram Kimball which declares that "Verily thus saith the Lord-Hiram Kimball has been insinuating evil, and forming evil opinions against you, with others; and if he continue in them, he and they will be accursed, for I am the Lord thy God, and will stand by thee and bless thee. Amen." Joseph had recently proposed plural marriage to Hiram Kimball's wife Sarah M. Kimball and had been rebuffed by her.
75 years ago today - May 18, 1947
On the trek westward Brigham Young "called the Captains of tens to his wagons and gave them a pretty severe lecture." He upbraids them for wasting meat and for wasting ammunition while hunting.
125 years ago today - May 18, 1897
[Lee Yost]
... The first heard of Joe Smith was his coming to Fayette to Examine and Search for Treasure as he Supposed was hid or Burried in or about the Embankments of the old Fort or Earth Works was and Plainly to be Seen in the woods on the Farm of my Wife's Grand=father--John Markel in Fayette[.] Smith was shown the Place or Fort by my Wifes Father William A Marshall[,] Son in Law to Markel[.] There together with one or two others they Spent Several days and nights[,] Smith with his mineral Rod to find the Hidden location But failed to find the treasure[.] the next heard of Smith was his Story of finding the Golden Bible[.] the History he gave of the finding was that the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and directed him to Search in a certain Spot East of the vil[l]age of Palmyra directing him of a certain Place South Side of the Road in the field at the foot of of a hill or quite a rise of ground he would find the Plates of the Golden Bible[.] I stayed all night at a tavern on the North side of this road and was shown the very Spot Smith Said he[,] the angel[,] directed him where to find the the Plates of the Golden Bible[.] ... My Father Casper Yost at time a number of times went over to the Whitmores [Whitmer] and there Saw and handled the Golden Plates so called[.] the plates looked to him he Said and I have heard him describe them to others as they appeared to him as sheets or plates of Brass with letters or Engraving which he did not understand or know anything about[.] ...
[Lee Yost to Diedrich Willers, Jr., 18 May 1897, Willers Papers, Seneca Falls Historical Society, Seneca Falls, New York., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Lee Yost To Diedrich Willers, Jr.]
... The first heard of Joe Smith was his coming to Fayette to Examine and Search for Treasure as he Supposed was hid or Burried in or about the Embankments of the old Fort or Earth Works was and Plainly to be Seen in the woods on the Farm of my Wife's Grand=father--John Markel in Fayette[.] Smith was shown the Place or Fort by my Wifes Father William A Marshall[,] Son in Law to Markel[.] There together with one or two others they Spent Several days and nights[,] Smith with his mineral Rod to find the Hidden location But failed to find the treasure[.] the next heard of Smith was his Story of finding the Golden Bible[.] the History he gave of the finding was that the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and directed him to Search in a certain Spot East of the vil[l]age of Palmyra directing him of a certain Place South Side of the Road in the field at the foot of of a hill or quite a rise of ground he would find the Plates of the Golden Bible[.] I stayed all night at a tavern on the North side of this road and was shown the very Spot Smith Said he[,] the angel[,] directed him where to find the the Plates of the Golden Bible[.] ... My Father Casper Yost at time a number of times went over to the Whitmores [Whitmer] and there Saw and handled the Golden Plates so called[.] the plates looked to him he Said and I have heard him describe them to others as they appeared to him as sheets or plates of Brass with letters or Engraving which he did not understand or know anything about[.] ...
[Lee Yost to Diedrich Willers, Jr., 18 May 1897, Willers Papers, Seneca Falls Historical Society, Seneca Falls, New York., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Lee Yost To Diedrich Willers, Jr.]
125 years ago today - May 18, 1897
[Brigham Young Jr.]
Met Pres[ident] Woodruff & wife out in a carriage he was out to get the air. He said "yesterday I had a laps. lost myself did not know where I was or know anything or anybody. It lasted about one hour."
[Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Met Pres[ident] Woodruff & wife out in a carriage he was out to get the air. He said "yesterday I had a laps. lost myself did not know where I was or know anything or anybody. It lasted about one hour."
[Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
130 years ago today - May 18, 1892
Lucy Meserve Smith became the secret wife of her first cousin, Apostle George A. Smith, in November 1844. In response to Emma's anti-polygamy statements one day during that time-period, Lucy stated: "I told George A. what sister Emma had said. He related to me the circumstance of his calling on Joseph late one evening, and he was just taking a wash [--] and Joseph told him that one of his wives had just been confined [for childbirth] and Emma was the Midwife. He [George A.] told me this to prove to me that the women were married for time, as [i.e., because] Emma had told me that Joseph never taught any such thing [--she said that] they were only sealed for eternity [--] they were not to live with them and have children"
[Lucy Meserve Smith statement, 18 May 1892, photocopy of her holograph, Folder 9, Box 6, George A. Smith Family Papers, in "Evidence For The Sexual Side of Joseph Smith's Polygamy," Comments by D. Michael Quinn on Session #2A "Reconsidering Joseph Smith's Marital Practices," Mormon History Association's Annual Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 29 June 2012 (unabbreviated version, revised during July)]
[Lucy Meserve Smith statement, 18 May 1892, photocopy of her holograph, Folder 9, Box 6, George A. Smith Family Papers, in "Evidence For The Sexual Side of Joseph Smith's Polygamy," Comments by D. Michael Quinn on Session #2A "Reconsidering Joseph Smith's Marital Practices," Mormon History Association's Annual Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 29 June 2012 (unabbreviated version, revised during July)]
145 years ago today - May 18, 1877
[Wilford Woodruff]
18 Gave 134 Endowments. 43 Elders Ordained. J D T McAllister Sealed 54 Couple, gave 2 seconed Anointing, & 5 Adoptions. /+ Ground for Logan Temple dedicated to day./ [The asterisk is Woodruff's.] I wrote 3 letters to Phebe, Susan Eugenia & Phebe. I felt quite Comfortable to day. I received a letter from Brother Morgan.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
18 Gave 134 Endowments. 43 Elders Ordained. J D T McAllister Sealed 54 Couple, gave 2 seconed Anointing, & 5 Adoptions. /+ Ground for Logan Temple dedicated to day./ [The asterisk is Woodruff's.] I wrote 3 letters to Phebe, Susan Eugenia & Phebe. I felt quite Comfortable to day. I received a letter from Brother Morgan.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
145 years ago today - May 18, 1877
The NEW YORK HERALD publishes an interview with Sarah Pratt, wife of Apostle Orson Pratt. She says she had not believed in Mormonism since Nauvoo, and had been endeavoring after the family first arrived in Salt Lake to "rear my children so that they should never espouse the Mormon faith," while concealing "from my neighbors and from the church authorities the fact that I was thus rearing them." Sarah also said, "Here was my husband, gray headed, taking to his bed young girls in mockery of marriage . . . He told me that he believed it was his duty to take other women besides myself to wife."
145 years ago today - May 18, 1877
[Brigham Young]
Brethren, if you will give me your attention, I will say a few words to you. We have dedicated this spot of ground upon which we expect to erect a Temple [Logan], in which to administer the ordinances of the House of God. Into this house, when it is completed, we expect to enter to enjoy the blessings of the priesthood, and receive our washings, our anointings, our endowments, and our sealings; and the brethren will be sealed to brethren to connect the links and make perfect the chain from ourselves to Father Adam. This is the object of the Temple which we are about to commence building at this place. We require the brethren and the sisters to go to with their might and erect this Temple; and from the architect to the boy that carries the drinking water to the men that work on the building, we wish them to understand that wages are entirely out of the question. We are going to build this House for ourselves, and we shall expect the brethren and sisters, neighborhood after neighborhood, ward after ward, to turn out their proportion of men to come here and labor as they shall be notified by the proper authorities.
[Journal of Discourses. Liverpool, England, 1853-86. 19:33-34, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
Brethren, if you will give me your attention, I will say a few words to you. We have dedicated this spot of ground upon which we expect to erect a Temple [Logan], in which to administer the ordinances of the House of God. Into this house, when it is completed, we expect to enter to enjoy the blessings of the priesthood, and receive our washings, our anointings, our endowments, and our sealings; and the brethren will be sealed to brethren to connect the links and make perfect the chain from ourselves to Father Adam. This is the object of the Temple which we are about to commence building at this place. We require the brethren and the sisters to go to with their might and erect this Temple; and from the architect to the boy that carries the drinking water to the men that work on the building, we wish them to understand that wages are entirely out of the question. We are going to build this House for ourselves, and we shall expect the brethren and sisters, neighborhood after neighborhood, ward after ward, to turn out their proportion of men to come here and labor as they shall be notified by the proper authorities.
[Journal of Discourses. Liverpool, England, 1853-86. 19:33-34, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
165 years ago today - May 18, 1857
Utah ―Mormon War commences (ordered by President Buchanan to establish Federal control of Utah territory and to eliminate plural marriage). Secretary of War John B. Floyd dispatches Johnston's army of 2,500 men to impose federal law on the Mormons.
[Sherry Baker: Mormon Media History Timeline: 1827-2007, http://byustudies.byu.edu/showTitle.aspx?title=7984]
[Sherry Baker: Mormon Media History Timeline: 1827-2007, http://byustudies.byu.edu/showTitle.aspx?title=7984]
175 years ago today - May 18, 1847
[Brigham Young]
It was proposed by President Young, voted & carried '" that if any man should stop his team in the road without due causes thereby detaining the whole camp from proceeding, should be obliged to travel in the rear, of the hindmost wagon the whole day '"
[Horace K. Whitney Journal, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
It was proposed by President Young, voted & carried '" that if any man should stop his team in the road without due causes thereby detaining the whole camp from proceeding, should be obliged to travel in the rear, of the hindmost wagon the whole day '"
[Horace K. Whitney Journal, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
40 years ago today - May 17, 1982
Former Mormon Ed Decker writes to Victor L. Brown, Presiding Bishop: "The Mormon excommunication system brings a stigma with it that generates an aroma of 'stink' about the persons requesting separation. It has caused divorces, economic hardships, social shunning, and many other problems-all in the name of righteous judgment. We are at the point that we must require some system that will allow a decent withdrawal of membership. Item 4, page 72 of the General Handbook of Instructions allows for such an act of free agency. Yet, to the general membership, excommunication has to fall into the categories of Moral Transgression found on the preceding page of the handbook! Not only are we dumped together as having some kind of secret sins too awful to mention to decent people; but categorically have no honor or witnesses (unless approved by the court) on your own behalf within the trial procedures." The Church later allows members to resign without excommunication.
65 years ago today - Fri May 17, 1957
[David O. McKay Office Journal]
8:30 a.m. This morning my counselors--Presidents Richards and Clark--viewed the M.I.A. film "How Near to the Angels" which was shown in the Church Office Projection Room. We decided that the film is very excellent, but it was my judgment that it would be better not to use it for showing in the Missions of the Church as it will only intensify the problem that our young girls are now facing with relation to meeting young men who are worthy of taking them to the Temple. There is a question in our minds whether it is best for them to go through life unmarried rather than marry outside of the Church as we feel there are many good men in the world that they could marry with the possibility that they may bring them into the Church later.
[McKay, David O., Office Journal]
8:30 a.m. This morning my counselors--Presidents Richards and Clark--viewed the M.I.A. film "How Near to the Angels" which was shown in the Church Office Projection Room. We decided that the film is very excellent, but it was my judgment that it would be better not to use it for showing in the Missions of the Church as it will only intensify the problem that our young girls are now facing with relation to meeting young men who are worthy of taking them to the Temple. There is a question in our minds whether it is best for them to go through life unmarried rather than marry outside of the Church as we feel there are many good men in the world that they could marry with the possibility that they may bring them into the Church later.
[McKay, David O., Office Journal]
120 years ago today - May 17, 1902; Saturday
[Anthony Ivins]
... This was ballroom dancing. To square dancers, it seemed that ballroom couples moved in circles around the floor and held each other in an extended hug as they did so. Church leaders were equally opposed to "spinning on the corners" in square danc- ing because it involved physical contact.
[Anderson, Elizabeth Oberdick, editor, Cowboy Apostle: The Diaries of Anthony W. Ivins: 1875-1932, Signature Books, Salt Lake City in association with the Smith-Pettit Foundation (2013) - http://bit.ly/AnthonyIvins]
... This was ballroom dancing. To square dancers, it seemed that ballroom couples moved in circles around the floor and held each other in an extended hug as they did so. Church leaders were equally opposed to "spinning on the corners" in square danc- ing because it involved physical contact.
[Anderson, Elizabeth Oberdick, editor, Cowboy Apostle: The Diaries of Anthony W. Ivins: 1875-1932, Signature Books, Salt Lake City in association with the Smith-Pettit Foundation (2013) - http://bit.ly/AnthonyIvins]
130 years ago today - Tuesday, May 17, 1892
[John Henry Smith]
I returned to the City [from Rock Springs, Wyoming] and talked over with the Presidency ... Bro. M. Thatcher's great speach and the satanic part of it.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
I returned to the City [from Rock Springs, Wyoming] and talked over with the Presidency ... Bro. M. Thatcher's great speach and the satanic part of it.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
140 years ago today - May 17, 1882
At 10-a.m. Met in council John Smith & M[oses]. Thatcher prayed Letters from Geo[rge]. Q. Cannon & Pres[iden]t. [John] Taylor were read. Judge Jeremiah Black of Philadelphia [Pennsylvania] can be retained for $5,000'He thinks we ought to resist the Commissioners & their operations under the Edmunds Bill. It was voted to retain him on behalf of the Church to plan our operations and direct the methods of our warfare on defensive and voted to address 2 or three questions to him through Geo[rge]. Q. Cannon. Deliberated on establishing a central arrangement for selling wagons & machinery to people.
[Franklin D. Richards, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
[Franklin D. Richards, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
145 years ago today - May 17, 1877
President John Young breaks ground for the Logan Temple (later the Logan Utah Temple).
165 years ago today - May 17, 1857
[Wilford Woodruff]
E. D. Woolly spoke in the morning. Said he had been troubled with an evil spirit all night & He felt that the stand was lean & the Congregation was lean &c.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
E. D. Woolly spoke in the morning. Said he had been troubled with an evil spirit all night & He felt that the stand was lean & the Congregation was lean &c.
[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 - May 17, 1847
President Young reproved sharply the hunters for killing more game than was necessary
[Wilford Woodruff Journal; WW 285-286, in 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)]
[Wilford Woodruff Journal; WW 285-286, in 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 - May 17, 1842
John C. Bennett resigns as Mayor of Nauvoo. Joseph Smith writes to Church Recorder James Sloan, "You will be so good as to permit Bennett to withdraw his name from the Church record, if he desires to do so, and this with the best of feelings towards you and General Bennett" Two days later Joseph Smith is elected Mayor by the Nauvoo City Council. His first official act is to ask for the establishment of a "night watch etc." for "counteracting the designs of our enemies, . . . whereupon the council resolved that the mayor be authorized to establish a night watch, and control the same." At that time Joseph asks Bennett if he had anything against him. Bennett responds: "I know what I am about, and the heads of the Church know what they are about, I expect. I have no difficulty with the heads of the Church. I publicly avow that any one who has said that I have stated that General Smith has given me authority to hold illicit intercourse with women is a liar in the face of God"
30 years ago today - May 16, 1992
The Deseret News reports that students at Ricks College, the second largest LDS school, elected twin sisters, Kris and Kim Shelley, as president and vice-president of students. The was the first female president there since World War II, during the shortage of male students.
[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)]]
70 years ago today - May 16, 1952
[Stephen L. Richards]
President Richards mentioned that Rabbi Fink had talked to the students at the B.Y.U. on racial discrimination, and said we don't always get the right stand on this so-called broadmindedness and tolerance, which sometimes is inconsistent with the real doctrines of the Gospel. Said he didn't know that Rabbi Fink did any harm just talking to the general proposition of racial discrimination, but the more we give recognition to these so-called liberals, the more we hazard to a small degree at least the true concepts of our youth with reference to the intolerance of the Lord's word, as it always has been and always will be intolerant of other than the true interpretation.
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah 2015, Appendix 2, The Diaries of Marion G. Romney, 1941-1961, Abridged]
President Richards mentioned that Rabbi Fink had talked to the students at the B.Y.U. on racial discrimination, and said we don't always get the right stand on this so-called broadmindedness and tolerance, which sometimes is inconsistent with the real doctrines of the Gospel. Said he didn't know that Rabbi Fink did any harm just talking to the general proposition of racial discrimination, but the more we give recognition to these so-called liberals, the more we hazard to a small degree at least the true concepts of our youth with reference to the intolerance of the Lord's word, as it always has been and always will be intolerant of other than the true interpretation.
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah 2015, Appendix 2, The Diaries of Marion G. Romney, 1941-1961, Abridged]
120 years ago today - May 16, 1902
Benjamin Cluff is sustained as president of Brigham Young Academy (later BYU) but "censured for some of his doings in trip to the South Land." On an ill-fated expedition to South America to find evidence supporting the Book of Mormon the previous year Cluff had taken a plural wife.
135 years ago today - May 16, 1887
[Joseph Rogers]
I was often in Palmyra, and was well acquainted with Jo Smith, who became the Mormon prophet. When a young man he claimed to receive revelations from the Lord where treasures were buried. He told Peter Rupert and Mr. Cunningham, a blacksmith (simple-minded old men), that there was a chest of gold buried on my brother-in-law, Henry Murphy's, farm, under a beech tree. Henry's younger brother, Jack, said that must be stopped, and he obtained some filth in a sap bucket and got up in the beech tree before they arrived in the evening. They came and Mr. Rupert held the Bible open and a lighted candle as prophet Jo directed, while Peter dug for the chest of gold. Jack called Peter three times and he looked up and said, "Here am I, Lord," and received the filth in his face. Peter told me and others that the Lord chastised him and he had to stop his digging. He said he paid Jo for the information. I told him he ought not to believe Jo, for he was a liar and imposter. He said Jo would put a spell on him and that he would have to stand two weeks. He said Jo had perfect command over men. He believed he was a prophet. ... Many of Jo's victims were from New Jersey and believed in witches and ghosts. He could not fool the New England or York State Yankees. Jo Smith and his adherents dug a cave in a hill in Manchester, N.Y., and used to go there, he said, to consult with the Lord. He had a door at the entrance fastened with a padlock. The sheriff took possession and found much property which had been stolen from farmers about there. Jo had left for Ohio. It was believed that Jo intended to remove the property.
... His father, old Jo, was called a devil. He was very intemperate, profane and vulgar in conversation. Jo, the prophet, said much about his troubles with the devil and that he, the devil, got the better of him much of the time.
. . . But few persons about Palmyra and Manchester became Mormons. Jo, the prophet, pretended to tell fortunes for pay. He could read the character of men readily and could tell who he could dupe.
[Naked Truths About Mormonism (April 1888): 1., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Joseph Rogers Statement]
I was often in Palmyra, and was well acquainted with Jo Smith, who became the Mormon prophet. When a young man he claimed to receive revelations from the Lord where treasures were buried. He told Peter Rupert and Mr. Cunningham, a blacksmith (simple-minded old men), that there was a chest of gold buried on my brother-in-law, Henry Murphy's, farm, under a beech tree. Henry's younger brother, Jack, said that must be stopped, and he obtained some filth in a sap bucket and got up in the beech tree before they arrived in the evening. They came and Mr. Rupert held the Bible open and a lighted candle as prophet Jo directed, while Peter dug for the chest of gold. Jack called Peter three times and he looked up and said, "Here am I, Lord," and received the filth in his face. Peter told me and others that the Lord chastised him and he had to stop his digging. He said he paid Jo for the information. I told him he ought not to believe Jo, for he was a liar and imposter. He said Jo would put a spell on him and that he would have to stand two weeks. He said Jo had perfect command over men. He believed he was a prophet. ... Many of Jo's victims were from New Jersey and believed in witches and ghosts. He could not fool the New England or York State Yankees. Jo Smith and his adherents dug a cave in a hill in Manchester, N.Y., and used to go there, he said, to consult with the Lord. He had a door at the entrance fastened with a padlock. The sheriff took possession and found much property which had been stolen from farmers about there. Jo had left for Ohio. It was believed that Jo intended to remove the property.
... His father, old Jo, was called a devil. He was very intemperate, profane and vulgar in conversation. Jo, the prophet, said much about his troubles with the devil and that he, the devil, got the better of him much of the time.
. . . But few persons about Palmyra and Manchester became Mormons. Jo, the prophet, pretended to tell fortunes for pay. He could read the character of men readily and could tell who he could dupe.
[Naked Truths About Mormonism (April 1888): 1., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Joseph Rogers Statement]
140 years ago today - May 16, 1882
[Wilford Woodruff]
John Parry Died to day Master Mason of Logan Temple.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
John Parry Died to day Master Mason of Logan Temple.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
145 years ago today - May 16, 1877
[Wilford Woodruff]
16 There was 119 Endowments & 37 Elders ordained. D H Cannon sealed 16 Couple J D. T. McAllister 30 Couple and gave two second Anointing and Adopted 8. I thought I was poisond to death to day with a tea made of Indian root which was recommended good for my lungs. After swallowing 3 tea spoonfulls I turned deadly sick for two hours. I felt as though I would die. I drank sweet oil, No 6, and Cayenne pepper tea which finally eased my distress. There was quite a Change Came over my whole system in the Evening. I rested well through the night. Br George Jarvis watched with me for several nights.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
16 There was 119 Endowments & 37 Elders ordained. D H Cannon sealed 16 Couple J D. T. McAllister 30 Couple and gave two second Anointing and Adopted 8. I thought I was poisond to death to day with a tea made of Indian root which was recommended good for my lungs. After swallowing 3 tea spoonfulls I turned deadly sick for two hours. I felt as though I would die. I drank sweet oil, No 6, and Cayenne pepper tea which finally eased my distress. There was quite a Change Came over my whole system in the Evening. I rested well through the night. Br George Jarvis watched with me for several nights.
[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 - May 16, 1852. Sunday.
[William Clayton]
At 2 o clock D. B. Huntington talked to the Indians who live in this neighborhood. He told them to quite stealing from the Mormons and go to work as Mormons do. He told them to cease killing Indians told them the doctrine of baptism hinted at the resurrection, and told them that God made the land for Mormons as well as them. He advised them to cease trading children to the Spaniards, but if the[y] will trade children let the Mormons have them that they may be taught to read and write and be clothed like Mormons are. If they will go to work as Mormons do, in a while they will have cattle and houses and wagons as the Mormons have.
Canosha their chief replied, that he heard what has been said and it is good and they will do it. They will not Rile any more, nor steal from the Mormons but will go to work. He says, when they see the Mormons eat cattle and they are hungry it is hard work to keep from Killing them, but they will Kill no more. They appeared pleased with the conversation.
[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]
At 2 o clock D. B. Huntington talked to the Indians who live in this neighborhood. He told them to quite stealing from the Mormons and go to work as Mormons do. He told them to cease killing Indians told them the doctrine of baptism hinted at the resurrection, and told them that God made the land for Mormons as well as them. He advised them to cease trading children to the Spaniards, but if the[y] will trade children let the Mormons have them that they may be taught to read and write and be clothed like Mormons are. If they will go to work as Mormons do, in a while they will have cattle and houses and wagons as the Mormons have.
Canosha their chief replied, that he heard what has been said and it is good and they will do it. They will not Rile any more, nor steal from the Mormons but will go to work. He says, when they see the Mormons eat cattle and they are hungry it is hard work to keep from Killing them, but they will Kill no more. They appeared pleased with the conversation.
[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 - May 16, 1847
William Clayton writes, "About noon today Brother Appleton Harmon completed the machinery on the wagon called a 'roadometer' by adding a wheel to revolve once in ten miles, showing each mile and also each quarter mile we travel, and then casing the whole over so as to secure it from the weather. We are now prepared to tell accurately the distance we travel from day to day, which will supercede the idea of guessing, and be a satisfaction not only to this Camp, but to all who hereafter travel this way." Earlier Clayton was upset that Harmon had been "trying to have it understood that he invented the machinery" rather than simply having constructed it following Clayton's and Orson Pratt's instructions.
180 years ago today - May 16, 1842
Former assistant president John C. Bennett resigns as mayor, is disfellowshipped on 25 May, and expelled as a Mason by 16 June. An order of excommunication is drawn up on 11 May but not published until 23 June.
[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]
180 years ago today - May 16, 1842
Joseph publishes facsimile No. 3 from the Book of Abraham on the front page of the Times and Seasons.
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
105 years ago today - May 15, 1917
Closing date to enter the Presiding Bishopric's contest: "With a view of stimulating the production of foodstuffs which may be badly needed in these war times,.the Trustee-in-Trust offers to any ward quorum of the priesthood, or any ward Relief Society, Young Men's or Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association, Sunday School, Primary Association or Religion Class, for the best yield from one acre of potatoes, $1,000; for the second best, $500; third best, $250; and for the best yield from five acres of spring wheat, $1,000; for second best, $500; third best, $250."
140 years ago today - May 15, 1882
[Wilford Woodruff]
15 I received a letter from A. F. McDonald. Sister Hamblin Called and asked some advice.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
15 I received a letter from A. F. McDonald. Sister Hamblin Called and asked some advice.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
145 years ago today - May 15, 1877
[Wilford Woodruff]
15th There was 701 Baptized to day for the dead. J D T McAllister sealed 1 Couple. I was vary weak through the day. Rested well at night.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
15th There was 701 Baptized to day for the dead. J D T McAllister sealed 1 Couple. I was vary weak through the day. Rested well at night.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
150 years ago today - May 15, 1872
[Wilford Woodruff]
15 I spent the day Making fence.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
15 I spent the day Making fence.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
155 years ago today - May 15, 1867
[Wilford Woodruff]
Returns to Salt Lake City
[Kenney, Scott (editor), Wilford Woodruff's Journals 1833-1898, Chronology Signature Books, Midvale, Utah, http://bit.ly/wwjournal]
Returns to Salt Lake City
[Kenney, Scott (editor), Wilford Woodruff's Journals 1833-1898, Chronology Signature Books, Midvale, Utah, http://bit.ly/wwjournal]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)