[Wilford Woodruff]
Other Committies met but their were so many of the Brethren gone to the Mountains to meet the Enemy that but little is doing in the fair.
At 6 oclok this morning the drums beat & an army of soldiers parraded in our streets of some 400 who were in readiness to march at a moments warning to the seat of war when ordered. We have about 800 men in the Mountains. It is a solmum time. The Armies of the Gentiles are making war upon us because of our religion & we have to defend ourselves against a Nation of 25,000,000 of people & the war has just Commenced. We have to trust in God for the result. We shall do what we Can & leave the work in his hands. Their is a still solemnity resting over our City. All are anxiously awaiting the arival of the express. I told President Young that I was on hand any moment to go into the mountains that He would say the word.
I walked up in the evening to the presidents office & learned that the Calafornia Mail had arived. I heard some letters read one stating that the Government had made arangements to send up light drafts?] boats up the Colorado river with men & arms against us from that point. I read several paper during the evening.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
165 years ago today - Wednesday, Sep 30, 1857
Indian agent George Armstrong reports [Mountain Meadows] massacre to Brigham Young in a letter from Provo.
"Wm. Matthews had reached home, and brought the melancholy intelligence of a large party of emigrants from Missouri, to Cal-being killed by indians. Said they excited their rage, by poisoning a dead ox, which the indians ate, and several of them died immediatly [sic]. That they then pursued the party & killed all, save a few children, and they were taken to Filmore city, and left with the saints."
[Mountain Meadows Massacre timeline, Will Bagley]
"Wm. Matthews had reached home, and brought the melancholy intelligence of a large party of emigrants from Missouri, to Cal-being killed by indians. Said they excited their rage, by poisoning a dead ox, which the indians ate, and several of them died immediatly [sic]. That they then pursued the party & killed all, save a few children, and they were taken to Filmore city, and left with the saints."
[Mountain Meadows Massacre timeline, Will Bagley]
165 years ago today - Sep 30, 1857
[Hosea Stout]
Located a Station Called "Echo Station"Here it is calculated to make a stand and meet the enemy if they come which however no one believes they will.
Here is the most formadable part of the Kany, being surmounted on the West by high perpendicular ledges of rock immediately over looking the road. While the East side is very high and difficult of ascent.
So after locating the encampment we took an exploration of the West side of the mountain or rather Kanyon, and decided to errect batteries on the summit of the rocky crags. ...
This morning an express passed going to Gen Wells bearing the news that Dr Hurt the Indian Agent had fled to the mountains with 300 Indians. He had been suspended by the Superintendant of Indian-affairs Gov Young and was fearful that he would be arrested for his mis deeds on the Indian farm in Utah Co.
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
Located a Station Called "Echo Station"Here it is calculated to make a stand and meet the enemy if they come which however no one believes they will.
Here is the most formadable part of the Kany, being surmounted on the West by high perpendicular ledges of rock immediately over looking the road. While the East side is very high and difficult of ascent.
So after locating the encampment we took an exploration of the West side of the mountain or rather Kanyon, and decided to errect batteries on the summit of the rocky crags. ...
This morning an express passed going to Gen Wells bearing the news that Dr Hurt the Indian Agent had fled to the mountains with 300 Indians. He had been suspended by the Superintendant of Indian-affairs Gov Young and was fearful that he would be arrested for his mis deeds on the Indian farm in Utah Co.
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
5 years ago today - Sep 30, 2017
[Dallin H. Oaks]
"The inspiration identifying the need for a proclamation on the family came to the leadership of the Church over 23 years ago. It was a surprise to some who thought the doctrinal truths about marriage and the family were well understood without restatement. Nevertheless, we felt the confirmation and we went to work. Subjects were identified and discussed by members of the Quorum of the Twelve for nearly a year. Language was proposed, reviewed, and revised. Prayerfully we continually pleaded with the Lord for His inspiration on what we should say and how we should say it. We all learned "line upon line, precept upon precept," as the Lord has promised (D&C 98:12). [Image of Gordon B. Hinckley] During this revelatory process, a proposed text was presented to the First Presidency, who oversee and promulgate Church teachings and doctrine. After the Presidency made further changes, the proclamation on the family was announced by the President of the Church, Gordon B. Hinckley."
[Dallin H. Oaks, "The Plan and the Proclamation," Conference Report (October 2017); Mormonr (mormonr.org/sources)]
"The inspiration identifying the need for a proclamation on the family came to the leadership of the Church over 23 years ago. It was a surprise to some who thought the doctrinal truths about marriage and the family were well understood without restatement. Nevertheless, we felt the confirmation and we went to work. Subjects were identified and discussed by members of the Quorum of the Twelve for nearly a year. Language was proposed, reviewed, and revised. Prayerfully we continually pleaded with the Lord for His inspiration on what we should say and how we should say it. We all learned "line upon line, precept upon precept," as the Lord has promised (D&C 98:12). [Image of Gordon B. Hinckley] During this revelatory process, a proposed text was presented to the First Presidency, who oversee and promulgate Church teachings and doctrine. After the Presidency made further changes, the proclamation on the family was announced by the President of the Church, Gordon B. Hinckley."
[Dallin H. Oaks, "The Plan and the Proclamation," Conference Report (October 2017); Mormonr (mormonr.org/sources)]
50 years ago today - Sep 30, 1972
During the first visit of the current LDS president to Jerusalem, Harold B. Lee conducts sacrament meeting in the Garden Tomb, and by "inspiration of the moment" organizes a branch with David B. Galbraith as president. He "shocked" the new branch presidency by denying their request to have the branch's worship services on the Jewish Sabbath. Months later, Lee relents and authorizes the LDS branch in Jerusalem to worship on Saturday.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
55 years ago today - Sep 30, 1967
'[Harold B. Lee] conducted a meeting of the Priesthood Committee where the principal item of business was to consider the final draft of a proposed overhauling of the ward teaching program of the past, under the new title of "Priesthood Correlation Program," with those participating as "Priesthood Watchmen." Twelve or fourteen stakes will be selected for the experiment before launching as a church-wide operation.'
"Priesthood Watchmen" had an ominous tone, as Lee later told a general conference while somewhat disingenuously distancing himself from his own terminology: When this was discussed with President David O. McKay, some suggested we could call them watchmen--Priesthood watchmen'-- but the President wisely counseled that we had better not let the membership of the church think of the priesthood ad detectives, that it would be better to call them the priesthood home teachers.
[Prince, David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism, by Greg Prince p. 148-149, Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, September 30, 1967, 100, Romney "History of the Correlation L.D.S. Church Auxiliaries."]
"Priesthood Watchmen" had an ominous tone, as Lee later told a general conference while somewhat disingenuously distancing himself from his own terminology: When this was discussed with President David O. McKay, some suggested we could call them watchmen--Priesthood watchmen'-- but the President wisely counseled that we had better not let the membership of the church think of the priesthood ad detectives, that it would be better to call them the priesthood home teachers.
[Prince, David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism, by Greg Prince p. 148-149, Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, September 30, 1967, 100, Romney "History of the Correlation L.D.S. Church Auxiliaries."]
70 years ago today - Sep 30, 1952
[David O. McKay Office Journal]
At 8:30 a.m.--I met by appointment, at his request, Harold W. Bentley, Director of the Extension Division, University of Utah who called to discuss with me the Extension Division's program problems, particularly with respect to the appearance of William Warfield--the negro singer--in the S. L. Tabernacle sometime in March. Later, I took this matter up with my counselors, and it was decided that inasmuch as we had permitted Marian Anderson, a negro singer, appear in a concert in the Tabernacle, there should be no objection to Mr. Warfield's appearance, unless he be guilty of subversive activity. The brethren understood that Bishop Isaacson was to talk to the people at the University in charge of these programs, telling them that they should not contract for colored artists to appear in the Tabernacle. In discussing the problem the Brethren had some question in their minds as to whether there was any real objection to permitting such performances.
[McKay, David O., Office Journal]
At 8:30 a.m.--I met by appointment, at his request, Harold W. Bentley, Director of the Extension Division, University of Utah who called to discuss with me the Extension Division's program problems, particularly with respect to the appearance of William Warfield--the negro singer--in the S. L. Tabernacle sometime in March. Later, I took this matter up with my counselors, and it was decided that inasmuch as we had permitted Marian Anderson, a negro singer, appear in a concert in the Tabernacle, there should be no objection to Mr. Warfield's appearance, unless he be guilty of subversive activity. The brethren understood that Bishop Isaacson was to talk to the people at the University in charge of these programs, telling them that they should not contract for colored artists to appear in the Tabernacle. In discussing the problem the Brethren had some question in their minds as to whether there was any real objection to permitting such performances.
[McKay, David O., Office Journal]
120 years ago today - Tuesday, Sep 30, 1902
[Rudger Clawson]
Apostle Geo. Teasdale. ... Knew the principles of the gospel—[and] of plural marriage-to be true, and that the purposes of God could not be fully accomplished without the practice of this latter law.
...Brother Merrill remarked that he has 8 wives, 46 children, and 150 grandchildren. Said that he taught his family the doctrine of plural marriage upon the occasion mentioned. ... Said that he believed the Lord would give righteous men power to save their children, though some may be wayward. I had a strong impression upon a certain occasion—it was in the nature of a manifestation—that Pres. Snow would have power to save all his children.
[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 Geo. Teasdale. ... Knew the principles of the gospel—[and] of plural marriage-to be true, and that the purposes of God could not be fully accomplished without the practice of this latter law.
...Brother Merrill remarked that he has 8 wives, 46 children, and 150 grandchildren. Said that he taught his family the doctrine of plural marriage upon the occasion mentioned. ... Said that he believed the Lord would give righteous men power to save their children, though some may be wayward. I had a strong impression upon a certain occasion—it was in the nature of a manifestation—that Pres. Snow would have power to save all his children.
[Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
125 years ago today - Sep 30, 1897
[Brigham Young Jr.]
Council met in Temple. Several questions were disposed of Choosing two men to fill va[can]cies in Twelve and one va[canc]y in 7 pres[idents] of Seven[ty]. Each man wrote names on slip of paper and given to Bro[ther] F[ranklin]. D. Richards. Pres[idents]. [Wilford] Woodruff [George Q.] Cannon [Joseph F.] Smith & [Lorenzo] Snow retired to pres[ident's]. room. recess ... until 2 p.m. Met again. Names submitted of pres[ident's]. choice which were _______ I was much disappointed but prayed God would reconcile me which he did altho' I felt almost rebellious for a few minutes, but Thank God He gave me grace.
[Wilford Woodruff announced that Elders Matthias F. Cowley and Abraham Owen Woodruff had been chosen to fill the vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Jos[eph]. W. McMurrin to the Seventy].
[Brigham Young Jr. Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
Council met in Temple. Several questions were disposed of Choosing two men to fill va[can]cies in Twelve and one va[canc]y in 7 pres[idents] of Seven[ty]. Each man wrote names on slip of paper and given to Bro[ther] F[ranklin]. D. Richards. Pres[idents]. [Wilford] Woodruff [George Q.] Cannon [Joseph F.] Smith & [Lorenzo] Snow retired to pres[ident's]. room. recess ... until 2 p.m. Met again. Names submitted of pres[ident's]. choice which were _______ I was much disappointed but prayed God would reconcile me which he did altho' I felt almost rebellious for a few minutes, but Thank God He gave me grace.
[Wilford Woodruff announced that Elders Matthias F. Cowley and Abraham Owen Woodruff had been chosen to fill the vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Jos[eph]. W. McMurrin to the Seventy].
[Brigham Young Jr. Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
170 years ago today - Sep 30, 1852
Brother Orson Pratt preached on the subject of the resurrection of the dead, that they are to come out of their graves, but said that he did not know how the power of God would operate to raise them up from their graves. Also he did not believe that Father Adam had flesh and bones, when he came to the garden of Eden, but he and his wife Eve were spirits, and that God formed their bodies out of the dust of the ground, and the (sic) became a living souls. He also said that he believed that Jesus Christ and Adam are brothers in the Spirit, and that Adam is not the God that he is praying unto.
[Thomas Evans Jeremy Sr. Journal; Church Historical Department; 30 September 1852, in Quotations Dealing with the Relationship of Our First Earthly Parents to Our Heavenly Parents (1830-1978)]
[Thomas Evans Jeremy Sr. Journal; Church Historical Department; 30 September 1852, in Quotations Dealing with the Relationship of Our First Earthly Parents to Our Heavenly Parents (1830-1978)]
185 years ago today - Sep 30, 1837
[Wilford Woodruff]
I retired aside from the abodes of men in company with Elder Hale and we clensed our feet in the pure water of the Sea as a testimony against Gideon J. Newton for rejecting our testimony of the Lord & of the Book of Mormon. We also bore testimony unto God against Mr Douglass the Methodist Priest for rejecting the Book of Mormon & our testimony & declaring that he feared none of the Judgments of God for rejecting these thing. The Lord rebuke him.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I retired aside from the abodes of men in company with Elder Hale and we clensed our feet in the pure water of the Sea as a testimony against Gideon J. Newton for rejecting our testimony of the Lord & of the Book of Mormon. We also bore testimony unto God against Mr Douglass the Methodist Priest for rejecting the Book of Mormon & our testimony & declaring that he feared none of the Judgments of God for rejecting these thing. The Lord rebuke him.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
205 years ago today - Sep 30, 1817
[Fanny Algers birth]
"Fanny W. Custer, wife of the late Solomon Custer, was born in northern Ohio, near Cleveland, on September 30, 1817, and passed from this life at her son's home in Indianapolis, on the evening of November 29th, at the age of 72 years, 1 month, and 29 days.
Aunt Fanny, as all her long time friends and acquaintances of Dublin called her, was one of the earliest settlers of this locality, ... The deceased was united in holy wedlock to Solomon Franklin Custer, in this place, at the old tavern stand, that used to occupy the site of the late Benjamin Cruil's residence in the east part of town, on Nov. 16th, 1838. As the result of this union, she had born to her nine children, two of whom survive her. With the exception of a very short period at two different times, aunt Fannie had made "Dublin her home, since first coming to the settlement; then just forming, away back in the 20's. ...
She joined the Universalist church on the evening of the 10th of Octrober, 1874, and until her last, held to that belief. ...
[Fanny Algers W. Custer obituary found in the Adolphus Barnes Family Bible (also known as the Stephen Barnes Family Bible), http://www.algerclan.org/getperson.php?personID=I135&tree=alger]
"Fanny W. Custer, wife of the late Solomon Custer, was born in northern Ohio, near Cleveland, on September 30, 1817, and passed from this life at her son's home in Indianapolis, on the evening of November 29th, at the age of 72 years, 1 month, and 29 days.
Aunt Fanny, as all her long time friends and acquaintances of Dublin called her, was one of the earliest settlers of this locality, ... The deceased was united in holy wedlock to Solomon Franklin Custer, in this place, at the old tavern stand, that used to occupy the site of the late Benjamin Cruil's residence in the east part of town, on Nov. 16th, 1838. As the result of this union, she had born to her nine children, two of whom survive her. With the exception of a very short period at two different times, aunt Fannie had made "Dublin her home, since first coming to the settlement; then just forming, away back in the 20's. ...
She joined the Universalist church on the evening of the 10th of Octrober, 1874, and until her last, held to that belief. ...
[Fanny Algers W. Custer obituary found in the Adolphus Barnes Family Bible (also known as the Stephen Barnes Family Bible), http://www.algerclan.org/getperson.php?personID=I135&tree=alger]
55 years ago today - Sep 29, 1967
[Ezra Taft Benson]
The arm of flesh may not approve nor understand why God has not bestowed the priesthood on women or the seed of Cain, but God's ways are not man's ways. God does not have to justify all his ways for the puny mind of man. If a man gets in tune with the Lord, he will know that God's course of action is right, even though he may not know all the reasons why. The Prophet Joseph Smith understood this principle when he said, "... the curse is not yet taken off from the sons of Canaan, neither will be until it is affected by as great a power as caused it to come; and the people who interfere the least with the purposes of God in this matter, will come under the least condemnation before Him; and those who are determined to pursue a course, which shows an opposition, and a feverish restlessness against the decrees of the Lord, will learn, when perhaps it is too late for their own good, that God can do His own work, without the aid of those who are not dictated by His counsel."
[Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report (September 1967): 34; https://archive.org/details/conferencereport1967sa/page/n37/mode/2up?q=Cain; Mormonr (mormonr.org/sources)]
The arm of flesh may not approve nor understand why God has not bestowed the priesthood on women or the seed of Cain, but God's ways are not man's ways. God does not have to justify all his ways for the puny mind of man. If a man gets in tune with the Lord, he will know that God's course of action is right, even though he may not know all the reasons why. The Prophet Joseph Smith understood this principle when he said, "... the curse is not yet taken off from the sons of Canaan, neither will be until it is affected by as great a power as caused it to come; and the people who interfere the least with the purposes of God in this matter, will come under the least condemnation before Him; and those who are determined to pursue a course, which shows an opposition, and a feverish restlessness against the decrees of the Lord, will learn, when perhaps it is too late for their own good, that God can do His own work, without the aid of those who are not dictated by His counsel."
[Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report (September 1967): 34; https://archive.org/details/conferencereport1967sa/page/n37/mode/2up?q=Cain; Mormonr (mormonr.org/sources)]
55 years ago today - Sep 29, 1967
At a meeting in the Salt Lake Tabernacle in September 1967 [Ezra Taft Benson] said that "the so-called civil rights movement as it exists today is a Communist program for revolution in America." He repeated that assessment in his general conference talk the next month.
[Benson address, 29 Sept. 1967, in his Civil Rights: Tool of Communist Deception 3; "Mormon Leaders Heard By 25,000," New York Times, 2 Oct. 1967, 52; Improvement Era 70 (Dec. 1967): 35, softened Benson's restatement of his position about the civil rights movement. However that censored 1967 statement was almost identical to the Deseret News, 14 Dec. 1963, B-5, report of Benson's assessment of civil rights. 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 address, 29 Sept. 1967, in his Civil Rights: Tool of Communist Deception 3; "Mormon Leaders Heard By 25,000," New York Times, 2 Oct. 1967, 52; Improvement Era 70 (Dec. 1967): 35, softened Benson's restatement of his position about the civil rights movement. However that censored 1967 statement was almost identical to the Deseret News, 14 Dec. 1963, B-5, report of Benson's assessment of civil rights. 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.]
55 years ago today - Sep 29, 1967
The establishment of the new position of Regional Representative to the Twelve. At their first training seminar, Apostle Harold B. Lee (rather than a member of the First Presidency) gives a confidential "State of the Church" address, which he continues to do annually.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
95 years ago today - Sep 29, 1927
[Heber J. Grant]
[Upon receiving David O. McKay's recommendation that John H. Taylor be appointed president of the Salt Lake Missionary Home] I honestly feel that Brother Taylor is one of the very best men that could possible be chosen for the position, but I have been opposed to his being place in charge, simply because he is my son-in-law. But I told the brethren I was perfectly willing to withdraw my objections, and it was finally decided to have him return home and take charge of the Mission Home.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
[Upon receiving David O. McKay's recommendation that John H. Taylor be appointed president of the Salt Lake Missionary Home] I honestly feel that Brother Taylor is one of the very best men that could possible be chosen for the position, but I have been opposed to his being place in charge, simply because he is my son-in-law. But I told the brethren I was perfectly willing to withdraw my objections, and it was finally decided to have him return home and take charge of the Mission Home.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
135 years ago today - Thursday, Sep 29, 1887
[John Henry Smith]
Some discussion was had on the propriety of making a conditional promise to the Court not to live with any of our wives. The feelings of the brethren were against making any promise.
[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]
Some discussion was had on the propriety of making a conditional promise to the Court not to live with any of our wives. The feelings of the brethren were against making any promise.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
135 years ago today - Sep 29, 1887 • Thursday
[George Q. Cannon]
Considerable discussion was had to-day upon the question of our brethren who are accused and convicted of unlawful cohabitation making some promise that would furnish our friends in Congress who might favor the admission of the Territory as a State in the Union with grounds for defending us in regard to this matter. There was only one saving clause connected with it, in my opinion, and that is the proposition to refrain from associating with any wife, legal wife included. Of course, a promise of this kind could not be made by young men, who had young wives; but in the case of aged men such a thing might barely be possible. Still I could not myself favor it unless President Woodruff were to say that it was the will of the Lord. In connection with this subject, I spoke quite strongly about the practice of selecting what are called the legal wives to live with and relegating the others into a condition akin to concubinage. I feared the effect of this practice, if carried on among us to any extent; for I thought it would have a very bad effect upon the rising generation – I mean the children of such mothers, who, seeing their mothers treated in this way, would grow up disliking the system which would produce such results, especially when they saw the first wife and her children favored and esteemed as legitimate. I thought that it was a bad condition of affairs, and that everything should be done to endeavor to correct it. ...
[The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]
Considerable discussion was had to-day upon the question of our brethren who are accused and convicted of unlawful cohabitation making some promise that would furnish our friends in Congress who might favor the admission of the Territory as a State in the Union with grounds for defending us in regard to this matter. There was only one saving clause connected with it, in my opinion, and that is the proposition to refrain from associating with any wife, legal wife included. Of course, a promise of this kind could not be made by young men, who had young wives; but in the case of aged men such a thing might barely be possible. Still I could not myself favor it unless President Woodruff were to say that it was the will of the Lord. In connection with this subject, I spoke quite strongly about the practice of selecting what are called the legal wives to live with and relegating the others into a condition akin to concubinage. I feared the effect of this practice, if carried on among us to any extent; for I thought it would have a very bad effect upon the rising generation – I mean the children of such mothers, who, seeing their mothers treated in this way, would grow up disliking the system which would produce such results, especially when they saw the first wife and her children favored and esteemed as legitimate. I thought that it was a bad condition of affairs, and that everything should be done to endeavor to correct it. ...
[The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]
145 years ago today - Sep 29, 1877 (Saturday)
O. Porter Rockwell was arrested and imprisoned in Salt Lake City, being charged with murder, said to have been committed about twenty years before. Oct. 5th, he was admitted to bail in the sum of $15,000.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
165 years ago today - Sep 29, 1857
[Wilford Woodruff]
29th We have another Express in this morning saying that the Armey are rapidly marching towards us. Will soon be at Bridger & they wish men immediately sent out.
Elder John D. Lee also arived from Harmony with an express and an awful tale of Blood. A Company of Calafornia Emigrants of about 150 men women & Children many of them belonged to the mob in Missouri & Illinois they had many Cattle & Horses with them. As they travelled along south they went damning Brigham Young Heber C. Kimball & the Heads of the Church saying that Joseph Smith ought to have been shot a long time before he was. They wanted to do all the evil they Could so they poisoned Beef & gave it to the Indians & several of them died. They poisioned the springs of water. Several of the saints died. The Indians became inraged at their Conduct & they surrounded them on a prairie & the Emigrants formed a Bulwark of ther waggons & dug an Entrenchment up to the Hubs of there waggons but the Indians fought them 5 days untill they killed all their men about 60 in Number. They then rushed into their Carrall & Cut the throats of their women & Children except some 8 or 10 Children which they brought & sold to the whites. They striped the men & women Naked & left them stinking in the boiling sun.
When Brother Lee found it out he took some men & went & buried their bodies. It was a horrid awful Job. The whole air was filled with an awful stench. Many of the men & women was ro[otten?] with the pox Note before they were hurt by the Indians. The Indians obtained all ther Cattle Horses & property guns &c.
Their was another large Company of Emigrants who had 1,000 head of Cattle who was also damning both Indians & Mormons. They were afraid of shareing the same fate. Brother Lee had to send interpeters with them to the Indians to try to save their lives while at the same time they are trying to kill us.
We spent most of the day in trying to get the Brethren ready to go to the mountains.
Brother Brigham when speaking of the cutting of the throats of women & children as the Indians done South Said that it was heart rending that Emigration must stop as he had before said. Brother Lee said that He did not think their was a drop of innocent Blood in their Camp for he had too of their Children in his house & he Could not get but one to kneel down in prayer time & the other would laugh at her for doing it & they would sware like pirats. The scene of Blood has Commenced & Joseph said we should see so much of it that it would make our hearts sick.
[Note: Here, Lee spins a tale to cover up Mormon involvement in the Mountain Meadows Massacre, placing the blame on the Indians and the Immigrants themselves.]
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
29th We have another Express in this morning saying that the Armey are rapidly marching towards us. Will soon be at Bridger & they wish men immediately sent out.
Elder John D. Lee also arived from Harmony with an express and an awful tale of Blood. A Company of Calafornia Emigrants of about 150 men women & Children many of them belonged to the mob in Missouri & Illinois they had many Cattle & Horses with them. As they travelled along south they went damning Brigham Young Heber C. Kimball & the Heads of the Church saying that Joseph Smith ought to have been shot a long time before he was. They wanted to do all the evil they Could so they poisoned Beef & gave it to the Indians & several of them died. They poisioned the springs of water. Several of the saints died. The Indians became inraged at their Conduct & they surrounded them on a prairie & the Emigrants formed a Bulwark of ther waggons & dug an Entrenchment up to the Hubs of there waggons but the Indians fought them 5 days untill they killed all their men about 60 in Number. They then rushed into their Carrall & Cut the throats of their women & Children except some 8 or 10 Children which they brought & sold to the whites. They striped the men & women Naked & left them stinking in the boiling sun.
When Brother Lee found it out he took some men & went & buried their bodies. It was a horrid awful Job. The whole air was filled with an awful stench. Many of the men & women was ro[otten?] with the pox Note before they were hurt by the Indians. The Indians obtained all ther Cattle Horses & property guns &c.
Their was another large Company of Emigrants who had 1,000 head of Cattle who was also damning both Indians & Mormons. They were afraid of shareing the same fate. Brother Lee had to send interpeters with them to the Indians to try to save their lives while at the same time they are trying to kill us.
We spent most of the day in trying to get the Brethren ready to go to the mountains.
Brother Brigham when speaking of the cutting of the throats of women & children as the Indians done South Said that it was heart rending that Emigration must stop as he had before said. Brother Lee said that He did not think their was a drop of innocent Blood in their Camp for he had too of their Children in his house & he Could not get but one to kneel down in prayer time & the other would laugh at her for doing it & they would sware like pirats. The scene of Blood has Commenced & Joseph said we should see so much of it that it would make our hearts sick.
[Note: Here, Lee spins a tale to cover up Mormon involvement in the Mountain Meadows Massacre, placing the blame on the Indians and the Immigrants themselves.]
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
165 years ago today - Sep 29, 1857
[Utah War]
Daniel H. Wells, general of the Territorial militia, the Nauvoo Legion (about 3000 troops), left SLC for Echo Canyon, 65 miles east, where he established headquarters. The militia he commanded employed various measures to block the progress of the army through the canyon.
Gov. Young wrote a Proclamation to the commander of the Utah Expedition explaining that he was the legitimate Governor and forbade the Army's presence in the Territory.
[Hale, Van, Mormon Miscellaneous, Utah War Chronology, http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/utahwar/id2.html]
Daniel H. Wells, general of the Territorial militia, the Nauvoo Legion (about 3000 troops), left SLC for Echo Canyon, 65 miles east, where he established headquarters. The militia he commanded employed various measures to block the progress of the army through the canyon.
Gov. Young wrote a Proclamation to the commander of the Utah Expedition explaining that he was the legitimate Governor and forbade the Army's presence in the Territory.
[Hale, Van, Mormon Miscellaneous, Utah War Chronology, http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/utahwar/id2.html]
175 years ago today - Sep 29, 1847
John Taylor marries Mary Ann Oakley, age 21
[Exploring Mormonism: Polygamy Timeline, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/polygamy-timeline/]
[Exploring Mormonism: Polygamy Timeline, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/polygamy-timeline/]
20 years ago today - Sep 28, 2002
Apostle Russell Ballard dedicates a marker to Elijah Abel.
[Crapo, Richley, Chronology Pertaining to Blacks and the LDS Priesthood]
[Crapo, Richley, Chronology Pertaining to Blacks and the LDS Priesthood]
45 years ago today - Sep 28, 1977
LDS Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and LDS Congressman Gunn McKay (D-UT) introduce a proposed constitutional amendment which mirrors the official LDS position banning abortion except in case of rape or when the mother's health is threatened. The proposed amendment was drafted by two BYU Law School professors. The amendment did not pass congress.
125 years ago today - Sep 28, 1897
[Brigham Young Jr.]
[Called on H. J. Grant who had been sick] He is cheerful but when I touched upon one of Bro[ther] Geo[rge] Q. C. sons being called to fill vacancy in our quorum he manifested strong opposition. this Conference. I can't see the wisdom of it yet I pray earnestly that I may be one with Pres[iden]t C. but I have much to contend with.
[Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Called on H. J. Grant who had been sick] He is cheerful but when I touched upon one of Bro[ther] Geo[rge] Q. C. sons being called to fill vacancy in our quorum he manifested strong opposition. this Conference. I can't see the wisdom of it yet I pray earnestly that I may be one with Pres[iden]t C. but I have much to contend with.
[Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
130 years ago today - Wednesday, Sept. 28th, 1892
[Abraham H. Cannon]
I then went to Pro. Merrill's room where he gave me the marriage service to study so that I could perform the same, it being to officiate in the case of Amelia and her husband that I came to Logan. After having dinner I went to the sealing room and sealed for time and eternity, fourteen couples in addition to Wm. H. Chamberlain, Jr., and my sister Amelia. In their case I laid my hands upon their heads, as Father had suggested I should do, but in the case of the others I merely repeated the ceremony. It is as follows: The hands are clasped ... The parties then kiss each other, which ends the ceremony. When all the sealing was done Bro[ther] Merrill said I had done the best of any person who had sealed in the Temple for the first time. It was about 2:30 o'clock when I left the Temple.
[Abraham H. Cannon diary, Sept. 28, 1892 , Perry Special Collections]
I then went to Pro. Merrill's room where he gave me the marriage service to study so that I could perform the same, it being to officiate in the case of Amelia and her husband that I came to Logan. After having dinner I went to the sealing room and sealed for time and eternity, fourteen couples in addition to Wm. H. Chamberlain, Jr., and my sister Amelia. In their case I laid my hands upon their heads, as Father had suggested I should do, but in the case of the others I merely repeated the ceremony. It is as follows: The hands are clasped ... The parties then kiss each other, which ends the ceremony. When all the sealing was done Bro[ther] Merrill said I had done the best of any person who had sealed in the Temple for the first time. It was about 2:30 o'clock when I left the Temple.
[Abraham H. Cannon diary, Sept. 28, 1892 , Perry Special Collections]
145 years ago today - Sep 28, 1877
The cornerstones for the Assembly Hall on Temple Square are laid.
165 years ago today - Sep 28, 1857
[Wilford Woodruff]
We received an express this morning from the Army in the Mountains saying that our enemies were marching strongly towards us. They tryed to stampede the Animals of the Army but found them all chained by the feet so they Could not run. A small Company also tried to stampede some oxen & they failed in [it].
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
We received an express this morning from the Army in the Mountains saying that our enemies were marching strongly towards us. They tryed to stampede the Animals of the Army but found them all chained by the feet so they Could not run. A small Company also tried to stampede some oxen & they failed in [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 - Sep 28, 1847. Tuesday.
[William Clayton]
...We have seen more buffalo today than I ever saw in one day, supposed to be not less than 200,000 . . .
[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]
...We have seen more buffalo today than I ever saw in one day, supposed to be not less than 200,000 . . .
[George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://bit.ly/WilliamClayton]
180 years ago today - Sep 28, 1842 - Wednesday
[Letter from Joseph and Hyrum Smith to the Relief Society Society]
To the Hon., the President of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo, Greeting:
Can the "Female Relief Society of Nauvoo" be trusted with some important matters that ought actually to belong to them to see to, which men have been under the necess ity of seeing to, to their chagrin & mortification, in order to prevent iniquitous characters from carrying their iniquity into effect; such, as for instance, a man who may be aspiring after power and authority, and yet without principle,- regardless of God, man, or the devil, or the interest or welfare of man, or the virtue or innocence of woman?
Shall the credulity, good faith, and stedfast feelings of our sisters, for the cause of God or truth, be impos'd upon by believing such men, because they say they have authority from Joseph, or the First Presidency, or any other Presidency of the Church; and thus, with a lie in their mouth, deceive and debauch the innocent, under the assumption that they are authoriz'd from these sources? May God Forbid!
A knowledge of some such things having come to our ears, we improve this
favorable opportunity, wherein so goodly a number of you may be inform'd that no such authority ever has, ever can, or ever will be given to any man, and if any man has been guilty of any such thing, let him be treated with utter contempt, and let the curse of God fall on his head, and let him be turned out of Society as unworthy of a place among men, & denounced as the blackest & the most unprincipled wretch; and finally let him be damned!
... you are authoriz'd on the very first intimation of the kind, to denounce them as such, & shun them as the flying fiery serpent, whether they are prophets, Seers, or revelators;
Patriarchs, twelve Apostles, Elders, Priests, Mayors, Generals, City Councillors, Aldermen, Marshalls, Police, Lord Mayors or the Devil, are alike culpable & shall be damned for such evil practices; and if you yourselves adhere to anything
of the kind, you also shall be damned.
...- Signed by
Hyrum Smith Joseph Smith, President of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Heber C. Kimball
Willard Richards
Vinson Knight Brigham Young, Prest. of the Quorum of the Twelve
P.S. If the Lord be God, serve him; but if baal, then serve him. ...
This is to certify that I never have at any time or place, seen or heard any thing improper or unvirtuous in the conduct or conversation of either President Smith
or Mrs. Agnes [Coolbrith] Smith.
I also certify that I never have reported any thing derogatory to the characters of either of them.
Signed Clarissa Marvel
X
her mark.
[Note: Joseph Smith has by this time married over a dozen women, including Agnes Coolbrith Smith. Hyrum, who also signed the letter, was not aware of Joseph Smith's polygamous practices at this point.]
[Nauvoo Relief Society Minute Book, http://josephsmithpapers.org/paperDetails/nauvoo-relief-society-minute-book]
To the Hon., the President of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo, Greeting:
Can the "Female Relief Society of Nauvoo" be trusted with some important matters that ought actually to belong to them to see to, which men have been under the necess ity of seeing to, to their chagrin & mortification, in order to prevent iniquitous characters from carrying their iniquity into effect; such, as for instance, a man who may be aspiring after power and authority, and yet without principle,- regardless of God, man, or the devil, or the interest or welfare of man, or the virtue or innocence of woman?
Shall the credulity, good faith, and stedfast feelings of our sisters, for the cause of God or truth, be impos'd upon by believing such men, because they say they have authority from Joseph, or the First Presidency, or any other Presidency of the Church; and thus, with a lie in their mouth, deceive and debauch the innocent, under the assumption that they are authoriz'd from these sources? May God Forbid!
A knowledge of some such things having come to our ears, we improve this
favorable opportunity, wherein so goodly a number of you may be inform'd that no such authority ever has, ever can, or ever will be given to any man, and if any man has been guilty of any such thing, let him be treated with utter contempt, and let the curse of God fall on his head, and let him be turned out of Society as unworthy of a place among men, & denounced as the blackest & the most unprincipled wretch; and finally let him be damned!
... you are authoriz'd on the very first intimation of the kind, to denounce them as such, & shun them as the flying fiery serpent, whether they are prophets, Seers, or revelators;
Patriarchs, twelve Apostles, Elders, Priests, Mayors, Generals, City Councillors, Aldermen, Marshalls, Police, Lord Mayors or the Devil, are alike culpable & shall be damned for such evil practices; and if you yourselves adhere to anything
of the kind, you also shall be damned.
...- Signed by
Hyrum Smith Joseph Smith, President of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Heber C. Kimball
Willard Richards
Vinson Knight Brigham Young, Prest. of the Quorum of the Twelve
P.S. If the Lord be God, serve him; but if baal, then serve him. ...
This is to certify that I never have at any time or place, seen or heard any thing improper or unvirtuous in the conduct or conversation of either President Smith
or Mrs. Agnes [Coolbrith] Smith.
I also certify that I never have reported any thing derogatory to the characters of either of them.
Signed Clarissa Marvel
X
her mark.
[Note: Joseph Smith has by this time married over a dozen women, including Agnes Coolbrith Smith. Hyrum, who also signed the letter, was not aware of Joseph Smith's polygamous practices at this point.]
[Nauvoo Relief Society Minute Book, http://josephsmithpapers.org/paperDetails/nauvoo-relief-society-minute-book]
110 years ago today - Sep 27, 1912
[First Presidency]
... the fact that such a person [having committed fornication or adultery] comes voluntarily to his or her bishop, this confession would go to show that he or she had truly repented. ... if his or her sins are unknown no publicity whatever should be made of them, and it would be in the province of the Bishop to accord to such a person the privilege of being re-baptized for the renewal of his or her covenants, without making a record of the same, and to then say to him or to her, go thy way and sin no more, leaving the party in the hands of the Lord. If the bishop has sufficient reason to believe that a member of his ward is living in a state of transgression, it would be his duty to call the attention of the visiting teachers to such a case with a view to procuring the necessary evidence, and if found to be advisable, to then procure, against him in the regular way under a complaint made by the teachers. But under no circumstance should the bishop give unnecessary publicity to transgression repented of, or unrepented of, neither should he aim to cover up sin of any kind unrepented of.
[First Presidency, Letter to James W. Lesueur, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
... the fact that such a person [having committed fornication or adultery] comes voluntarily to his or her bishop, this confession would go to show that he or she had truly repented. ... if his or her sins are unknown no publicity whatever should be made of them, and it would be in the province of the Bishop to accord to such a person the privilege of being re-baptized for the renewal of his or her covenants, without making a record of the same, and to then say to him or to her, go thy way and sin no more, leaving the party in the hands of the Lord. If the bishop has sufficient reason to believe that a member of his ward is living in a state of transgression, it would be his duty to call the attention of the visiting teachers to such a case with a view to procuring the necessary evidence, and if found to be advisable, to then procure, against him in the regular way under a complaint made by the teachers. But under no circumstance should the bishop give unnecessary publicity to transgression repented of, or unrepented of, neither should he aim to cover up sin of any kind unrepented of.
[First Presidency, Letter to James W. Lesueur, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
125 years ago today - Sep 27, 1897
... [Wilford Woodruff] asked his son Owen [Abraham Owen Woodruff]'How old was Joseph Smith when he died. Ans[wer] 39. How old was B[righam] Young when he died Ans[wer]. 76. How old was Jno. [John] Taylor Ans[wer] 78. Then Pres[iden]t W[ilford]. W[oodruff]. said & Wilford Woodruff [18]96 & said no more when Owen said why Pa its [18]97, when the Pres[iden]t repeated it again Wilford Woodruff 96 this was Sunday morning May 2 & he is 90 since 1st of March having been born in 1807.
[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]
140 years ago today - Sep 27, 1882
[Wilford Woodruff]
I met in Council with the Presidency when the subject was discussed of filling the Quorum of the Twelve & seventies And it was decided that it was proper for the Presidet of the Church to Nominate the persons to fill the Quorum as was the Custom from the Begining except in the first & second organization which was by revelation.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I met in Council with the Presidency when the subject was discussed of filling the Quorum of the Twelve & seventies And it was decided that it was proper for the Presidet of the Church to Nominate the persons to fill the Quorum as was the Custom from the Begining except in the first & second organization which was by revelation.
[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 - 1847 September 27
John Taylor marries Mary Ann Oakley (21) as his 5th plural wife
[Mormon Polygamy Timeline of Events, https://hemlockknots.com/monogamy-polygamy-timeline/?fbclid=IwAR3ozoB8xZ8CffCz_HsV4eKupT3z_e0r0NeNmYwMorzgDXj7Wx3HKgyN_lc]
[Mormon Polygamy Timeline of Events, https://hemlockknots.com/monogamy-polygamy-timeline/?fbclid=IwAR3ozoB8xZ8CffCz_HsV4eKupT3z_e0r0NeNmYwMorzgDXj7Wx3HKgyN_lc]
30 years ago today - Sep 26, 1992.
Aileen Clyde, second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, while conducting the general women's meeting welcomes them: "I am so pleased to join with you in this great congregation of Relief Society women and Young Women and leaders of our Primary children. It is good to have President Hinckley, President Monson, President Hunter, and other priesthood leaders with us tonight to symbolize the priesthood partnership we so value in the Church and in our homes." The version published in the Ensign reads: "It is good to have President Hinckley, President Monson, President Hunter, and other priesthood leaders with us tonight." One individual who had seen galleys of this address confirms that the "partnership" phrase was still there at that point.
[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]
30 years ago today - Sep 26, 1992
The First Presidency authorized the use of humanitarian relief funds to be sent to Somalia and other African nations in the grip of the drought of the century. In an initial response, one million pounds of food was shipped.
[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]
145 years ago today - Sep 26, 1877
Grand jury describes Salt Lake County probate court as a "divorce mill" which granted 300 divorces in the previous twelve-month period, primarily on "ground of incompatibility of temperament, different aims and objects in life." Eighty percent of diverced couples come to Utah for divorces from such places as San Francisco, New York City, Chicago, Terre Haute, and St. Louis. Report finds that 13 percent of divorces are granted the same day of the complaint, and total 42 percent within a week of the application, and a total of 85 percent are granted within a month of the application. The report continues, "[A]nd your committee have good reason to believe that other county probate courts of the territory are likewise engaged in this class of divorce business, to an equal if not greater extent." Two months later U.S. senator Dawes introduces a bill to remove divorce from the jurisdiction of Mormon probate courts and limit divorce cases to federally appointed non-Mormon judges.
[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 )]]
185 years ago today - Sep 26, 1837
[Wilford Woodruff]
The spirit of God rested upon me. I spent the night at Mr John Smith's & I dreamed of Seeing the great Draggon or beast with all of his heads and horns to the number of six hundred three score and six. He was about 20 rods in length with many riding upon his back without fear or alarm. 9 miles.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
The spirit of God rested upon me. I spent the night at Mr John Smith's & I dreamed of Seeing the great Draggon or beast with all of his heads and horns to the number of six hundred three score and six. He was about 20 rods in length with many riding upon his back without fear or alarm. 9 miles.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
15 years ago today - Sep 25, 2007
After a trial in St. George, Utah, Warren Jeffs is found guilty of being an accomplice to rape for performing a wedding between a man, 19, and a 14-year-old girl. Under Utah law, a 14-year-old can consent to sex in some circumstances. But, sex is not considered consensual if a person under 18 is enticed by someone at least three years older.
[Gartner, Hana, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Timeline: History of Polygamy]
[Gartner, Hana, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Timeline: History of Polygamy]
90 years ago today - Sep 25, 1932
The New York Times reports that David Abbott ("Ab") Jenkins has set the land-speed record during a twenty-four hour period, on of the many world records in his "Mormon Meteor" cars. He single-handedly turns Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats into a national speedway.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
115 years ago today - Sep 25, 1907; Wednesday
The 10 o'clock meeting of the First Presidency and Apostles was held this morning at the temple.
Present: Pres[iden]ts. [Joseph F.] Smith, [John R.] Winder, [Anthon H.] Lund and [Francis M.] Lyman, Elders John Henry Smith, Heber J. Grant, Rudger Clawson, Hyrum M. Smith, George Albert Smith, George F. Richards, Orson F. Whitney, David O. McKay and the Patriarch. ...
Brother McKay informed the council that leading educators of the country were beginning to express themselves in favor of introducing the reading of the Bible into our public schools; and that this matter had received the attention of the Sunday School Union Board, who were ready to advocate it; but before taking any steps in this direction, the Board wished to know the mind of the Council of First Presidency and Apostles regarding this matter.
It was the sense of the Council, on motion of Brother Clawson, seconded by Brother Whitney, that the Sunday School Union carry out its wishes and intentions by making a suitable petition to the Legislature. ...
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
Present: Pres[iden]ts. [Joseph F.] Smith, [John R.] Winder, [Anthon H.] Lund and [Francis M.] Lyman, Elders John Henry Smith, Heber J. Grant, Rudger Clawson, Hyrum M. Smith, George Albert Smith, George F. Richards, Orson F. Whitney, David O. McKay and the Patriarch. ...
Brother McKay informed the council that leading educators of the country were beginning to express themselves in favor of introducing the reading of the Bible into our public schools; and that this matter had received the attention of the Sunday School Union Board, who were ready to advocate it; but before taking any steps in this direction, the Board wished to know the mind of the Council of First Presidency and Apostles regarding this matter.
It was the sense of the Council, on motion of Brother Clawson, seconded by Brother Whitney, that the Sunday School Union carry out its wishes and intentions by making a suitable petition to the Legislature. ...
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
120 years ago today - Sep 25, 1902; Thursday
The speaker drew attention to the condition of Tuba [Arizona] Ward. It seems that the limits of the Indian reservation have been so increased as to almost surround this little settlement, and the Indians appear to be very saucy towards the settlers. He understood that the government had appropriated enough money to buy out the holdings of the people of the entire ward, but that Bishop Brinkerhoff had the idea that he had been called there and could not leave or sell without that permission to do so. Bro[ther]. Cowley learned that unless the offer of the government were accepted it was very likely to be withdrawn, which would leave the people in a very embarrassing position and he recommended that the people be advised to sell out to the government and move elsewhere. They were laboring, he said, under one great disadvantage, that is, on account of their isolated condition they were living apparently within themselves, not able even to attend conference meetings in consequence of the great distance to travel. ...
Bro[ther]. [Rudger] Clawson said he attended the dedicatory services of the tithing office building last Thursday night at American Fork [Utah], Bro[ther]. [Abraham Owen] Woodruff and Bishop [Orrin P.] Miller being present also. The building had been erected out of tithing means at a cost of $3,800. It is the intention to use part of it for Stake purposes, such as High Council meetings and prayer circle. Bro[ther]. Clawson offered the dedicatory prayer.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
Bro[ther]. [Rudger] Clawson said he attended the dedicatory services of the tithing office building last Thursday night at American Fork [Utah], Bro[ther]. [Abraham Owen] Woodruff and Bishop [Orrin P.] Miller being present also. The building had been erected out of tithing means at a cost of $3,800. It is the intention to use part of it for Stake purposes, such as High Council meetings and prayer circle. Bro[ther]. Clawson offered the dedicatory prayer.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
140 years ago today - Sep 25, 1882 • Monday
[George Q. Cannon]
T. O. Angell Jr., Archetect of the Logan Temple, submitted his drawings of the Melchesedec Stands of the Logan Temple. Prest. Taylor desired Bro. Jos. F. Smith, Bro. Woodruff and myself to examine the matter. While we were together the color which the woodwork of the Temple was to be painted was decided upon. I proceeded in company with the brethren to the Assembly Hall and the large Tabernacle to make measurements of the stands. The main object that I thought ought to be kept in view in constructing stands is to have them so arranged that those seated in the stands will not be entirely hid by the front stand from the Congregation. I think this is a grave defect, especially would it be in the Temple where the impressiveness of a small Assembly would be lessened if the men occupying the stand were hidden from the view of the Congregation.
[The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]
T. O. Angell Jr., Archetect of the Logan Temple, submitted his drawings of the Melchesedec Stands of the Logan Temple. Prest. Taylor desired Bro. Jos. F. Smith, Bro. Woodruff and myself to examine the matter. While we were together the color which the woodwork of the Temple was to be painted was decided upon. I proceeded in company with the brethren to the Assembly Hall and the large Tabernacle to make measurements of the stands. The main object that I thought ought to be kept in view in constructing stands is to have them so arranged that those seated in the stands will not be entirely hid by the front stand from the Congregation. I think this is a grave defect, especially would it be in the Temple where the impressiveness of a small Assembly would be lessened if the men occupying the stand were hidden from the view of the Congregation.
[The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]
145 years ago today - Sep 25, 1877
[John Taylor]
Your favor of the 22nd, inst.[,] asking the form of ceremony you ought to use in rebaptizing persons who wish the ordinance, and also the form of ceremony in confirming the same, has been received. Your letter was read to the Council, and it has been decided that the proper form to be used in rebaptizing persons who have not been cut off the Church or dealt with for their fellowship is as follows: the person who has authority from the Lord to baptize shall go down into the water with the person to be baptized, and shall say, calling him or her by name, "Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you for the remission of your sins, and for the renewal of your covenants, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." In confirming[,] it is proper to reconfirm the members of the Church and to seal upon them all the former baptisms, confirmations, ordinations, patriarchal blessings, and if they have had their endowments, their washings, anointings and their sealing ordinances.
[John Taylor to Moses Thatcher, Sept. 25, 1877, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
Your favor of the 22nd, inst.[,] asking the form of ceremony you ought to use in rebaptizing persons who wish the ordinance, and also the form of ceremony in confirming the same, has been received. Your letter was read to the Council, and it has been decided that the proper form to be used in rebaptizing persons who have not been cut off the Church or dealt with for their fellowship is as follows: the person who has authority from the Lord to baptize shall go down into the water with the person to be baptized, and shall say, calling him or her by name, "Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you for the remission of your sins, and for the renewal of your covenants, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." In confirming[,] it is proper to reconfirm the members of the Church and to seal upon them all the former baptisms, confirmations, ordinations, patriarchal blessings, and if they have had their endowments, their washings, anointings and their sealing ordinances.
[John Taylor to Moses Thatcher, Sept. 25, 1877, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
155 years ago today - Sep 25, 1867
Zion's Camp-- ZION'S CAMP.
The Annual Re-union of the surviving Members of Zion's Camp will be held at the Social Hall, the day after the close of Conference, 4 P.M, under the direction of Bishop Hunter.
All Members of said Camp are respectfully invited to attend. By direction of the First Presidency, BRIGHAM YOUNG, HEBER C. KIMBALL, DANIEL H. WELLS. G. S. L. City, Sept. 19, '67.
[1867-September 25-DN 16:308 (September 25, 1867), in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
The Annual Re-union of the surviving Members of Zion's Camp will be held at the Social Hall, the day after the close of Conference, 4 P.M, under the direction of Bishop Hunter.
All Members of said Camp are respectfully invited to attend. By direction of the First Presidency, BRIGHAM YOUNG, HEBER C. KIMBALL, DANIEL H. WELLS. G. S. L. City, Sept. 19, '67.
[1867-September 25-DN 16:308 (September 25, 1867), in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
90 years ago today - Sep 24, 1932
[Letter from First Presidency]
Baptismal water not to be dedicated-- September 24, 1932.
[Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
Baptismal water not to be dedicated-- September 24, 1932.
[Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
125 years ago today - Sep 24, 1897
It having come to the knowledge of the First Presidency that children and adults who had not received their endowments had been permitted to witness the marriage ceremony of their friends in one of the temples, the propriety of this was considered by the council of First Presidency and apostles; and I was instructed to request the president of temples to strictly forbid any person who had not received his or her endowments from witnessing the sealing ordinance.
[George F. Gibbs to Marriner Wood Merrill and David H. Cannon, Sept, 24, 1897, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
[George F. Gibbs to Marriner Wood Merrill and David H. Cannon, Sept, 24, 1897, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
180 years ago today - Sep 24, 1842
The QUINCY WHIG editorializes: "If [Joseph Smith] will listen to word from us, we would advise him to locate his new Jerusalem, away to the far West, in the Oregon country and there-govern the Saints in his own way-he would procure peace and quietness [without] molestation in the enjoyment of their peculiar notions in that distant country;-to the Government, the location of [the Mormons] would be an advantage, because it greatly needs settlers in that region; and doubtless, Government would do something right handsome for Joseph, in the grant of a gift of lands, etc., if he would guarantee the emigration of any number of settlers-"
195 years ago today - 24-Sep 30, 1827
Joseph Jr. hides the plates across the road in the cooper's shop. During the night the box is found and destroyed by enemies. Smith explains that he had removed plates from the box and placed them in the loft. Lucy Smith says that this event occurred "a few days after" Joseph brought the plates home, and Martin Harris says it was before 1 October.
[Vogel, Dan, Early Mormon Documents, Appendix B: Chronology, 1771-1831, http://amzn.to/T5nY8w]
[Vogel, Dan, Early Mormon Documents, Appendix B: Chronology, 1771-1831, http://amzn.to/T5nY8w]
195 years ago today - 24-Sep 27, 1827
Joseph Sr. spies on a neighbor, Samuel Lawrence, and others and discovers that they have hired a conjuror to find the plates. Emma is sent to retrieve Joseph Jr. from Macedon. Joseph Jr. goes into the woods to get the plates from their hiding place and on return is attacked and dislocates his thumb . Josiah Stowell said he was the "first person" who took the plates out of Smith's hands "the morning [he] brought them in" . William and Katharine Smith lifted and felt them through an old frock coat . Willard Chase said Smith worked in Macedon about ten days before Emma went after him , but Lucy Smith says it was only "a little while" or the "next day" before he returned. Knight said that he and Stowell stayed in Manchester for "several days" . Considering that they arrived on 20 September and were preparing to leave on the morning of the 22nd, it seems unlikely that Stowell and Knight would still be at the Smith home ten days later. The low-end date is determined by adding a minimum of one day in Macedon. The high-end date is determined by subtracting three days from end of month when Smith hides the plates in his father's cooper shop "a few days after" bringing them home.
[Vogel, Dan, Early Mormon Documents, Appendix B: Chronology, 1771-1831, http://amzn.to/T5nY8w]
[Vogel, Dan, Early Mormon Documents, Appendix B: Chronology, 1771-1831, http://amzn.to/T5nY8w]
195 years ago today - 24-Sep 27, 1827
Alvah Beaman, who was visiting the Smiths from Lavonia (NY), helps hide the plates under the hearth.
[Vogel, Dan, Early Mormon Documents, Appendix B: Chronology, 1771-1831, http://amzn.to/T5nY8w]
[Vogel, Dan, Early Mormon Documents, Appendix B: Chronology, 1771-1831, http://amzn.to/T5nY8w]
190 years ago today - Sep 23, 1832
"The Lord chided Church members for not valuing the Book of Mormon sufficiently." Statistics for Joseph Smith show "... in the 173 discourses given in Nauvoo, Illinois for which contemporary records exist, Smith himself paraphrased the Book of Mormon only twenty-three times but quoted or paraphrased the Bible more than six hundred times. ... Although he described the Book of Mormon as more correct than any other book and as 'the keystone of our religion,' there is little evidence that he ever took time to study its contents as he did the Bible's."
[Rick Grunder, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source; Phillip Barlow, 'Mormons and the Bible,' citing D&C 84:54-57]
[Rick Grunder, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source; Phillip Barlow, 'Mormons and the Bible,' citing D&C 84:54-57]
190 years ago today - 1832 September 23
Joseph Smith receives a revelation rebuking the Elders and placing the whole church under condemnation for breaking commandments already received from God "because you have treated lightly the things you have received¿ Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation. And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all. And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written." The occaision was that many ¿elders had begun to return from their missions in the eastern states and to make reports of their labors." Some of the missionaries were found to have had extramarital sex on their missions. (LDS D&C 84:54-57)
[Mormon Polygamy Timeline of Events, https://hemlockknots.com/monogamy-polygamy-timeline/?fbclid=IwAR3ozoB8xZ8CffCz_HsV4eKupT3z_e0r0NeNmYwMorzgDXj7Wx3HKgyN_lc]
[Mormon Polygamy Timeline of Events, https://hemlockknots.com/monogamy-polygamy-timeline/?fbclid=IwAR3ozoB8xZ8CffCz_HsV4eKupT3z_e0r0NeNmYwMorzgDXj7Wx3HKgyN_lc]
190 years ago today - Sep 23, 1832
Joseph Smith received ... scripture in poetic form called the new song of Zion.
[BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]
[BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]
195 years ago today - After Sep 23, 1827
10-12 money-diggers are clubbed with Willard Chase (a Methodist Class leader) who send for their own conjuror (Samuel Lawrence) to determine where the plates are hidden. Joseph Smith, Sr. investigates and finds the group at Lawrence's house.
[Mormon Chronology, N. R. Tidd, http://www.exmormon.org/mhistory.html]
[Mormon Chronology, N. R. Tidd, http://www.exmormon.org/mhistory.html]
195 years ago today - 23/Sep 30, 1827
Lorenzo Saunders and others go to the Manchester hill [Cumorah] in an attempt to locate the hole from which Smith might have taken the plates but cannot find one.
[Vogel, Dan, Early Mormon Documents, Appendix B: Chronology, 1771-1831, http://amzn.to/T5nY8w]
[Vogel, Dan, Early Mormon Documents, Appendix B: Chronology, 1771-1831, http://amzn.to/T5nY8w]
55 years ago today - Sep 22, 1967
David O. McKay: after being asked by Benson for McKay's permission to address the subject of civil rights and communism, McKay recorded: "He briefly talked about the plight of the Negroes in this Civil Rights Issue, and how the Communists are using the Negroes to further their own schemes to foment trouble in the United States. He said that he would talk on this subject from the viewpoint of bringing peace in our country instead of uprisings of the Negroes in riots, etc. I told Brother Benson that under these circumstances, he may go ahead with his subject."
[David O. McKay diary as referenced in Gregory A. Prince and Wm. Robert Write, David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press (2005)]
[David O. McKay diary as referenced in Gregory A. Prince and Wm. Robert Write, David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press (2005)]
60 years ago today - Sep 22, 1962
The Church News describes Major Russell L. Rogers as the "first Mormon astronaut" who is scheduled to orbit the earth as "one of six Dyna-Soar (X-20) astronauts." At this time Clifford I. Cummings is also a LDS director of the Lunar Program at CalTech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Rogers dies in the 1967 crash.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
75 years ago today - Sep 22, 1947
J. Reuben Clark: "I told him [George Albert Smith] that according to a report from Bro. Babbel, the Quakers had made perhaps 100 times more [relief] shipments to Europe than we had, with half the church membership; ...thought we might wish to be a bit careful about our statements as to the great work we were doing for the Saints in Europe."
[Clark Diary, September 22, 1947 as cited in Gary James Bergera, "Ezra Taft Benson's 1946 Mission to Europe" Journal of Mormon History 34:2 (Spring 2008)]
[Clark Diary, September 22, 1947 as cited in Gary James Bergera, "Ezra Taft Benson's 1946 Mission to Europe" Journal of Mormon History 34:2 (Spring 2008)]
100 years ago today - Sep 22, 1922
Apostle Melvin J. Ballard preaches in the Ogden Temple: "Now, my brothers and sisters, I would like you to understand that long before we were born into this earth we were tested and tried in our pre-existence and the fact that of the thousands of children born today, a certain proportion of them went to the Hottentots of the south seas, thousands went to the Chinese mothers, thousand to Negro mothers, thousands to beautiful white Latter-day Saint mothers. Why this difference? You cannot tell me that the entire group was just designated, marked, to go where they did. That they were men and women of equal worthiness. There are no infant spirits born. They had a being ages before they come into this life. They appear in infant bodies, but they were tested, proven souls. Therefore, I say to you that long before we came into this life all groups and races of men existed as they exist today. Like attracts to like. Why is it in this Church we do not grant the priesthood to the Negroes? It is alleged that the Prophet Joseph said-and I have no reason to dispute it-that it is because of some act committed by them before they came into this life. It is alleged that they were neutral, standing neither for Christ nor the devil. But, I am convinced it is because of some things they did before they came into this life that they have been denied the privilege. The races of today are very largely reaping the consequences of a previous life."...
"The nature of the offspring is determined by the nature of the substance that flows in the veins of the being. When blood flows in the veins of the being, the offspring will be what blood produces, which is tangible flesh and bone, but when that which flows in the veins is spirit matter, a substance which is more refined and pure and glorious than blood, the offspring of such beings will be spirit children. By that I mean they will be in the image of the parents. "
[The Three Degrees of Glory; Melvin J. Ballard; (Deseret Book Co.: Salt Lake City, Utah); pp. 10-11; Discourse given in the Ogden Tabernacle; September 22, 1922 ]
"The nature of the offspring is determined by the nature of the substance that flows in the veins of the being. When blood flows in the veins of the being, the offspring will be what blood produces, which is tangible flesh and bone, but when that which flows in the veins is spirit matter, a substance which is more refined and pure and glorious than blood, the offspring of such beings will be spirit children. By that I mean they will be in the image of the parents. "
[The Three Degrees of Glory; Melvin J. Ballard; (Deseret Book Co.: Salt Lake City, Utah); pp. 10-11; Discourse given in the Ogden Tabernacle; September 22, 1922 ]
125 years ago today - Wednesday, Sep 22, 1897
[John Henry Smith]
Mrs. Merrit [?] was sealed to Joseph the Prophet, I representing the Prophet and Martha Sister Merrit.
[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]
Mrs. Merrit [?] was sealed to Joseph the Prophet, I representing the Prophet and Martha Sister Merrit.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
125 years ago today - Sep 22, 1897 (Wednesday)
Elder Janne M. Sjodahl had an audience with King Oscar of Sweden, at Stockholm; and his majesty was presented with a copy of the Book of Mormon in an onyx box, as a present from Scandinavians in Utah.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
140 years ago today - Sep 22, 1882 • Friday
[George Q. Cannon]
The first Presidency set apart Sister Zina D Young and Emeline B. Wells to go down to the Women's Convention at Omaha. Prest. Taylor was mouth in blessing Sister Young, and I was mouth in blessing Sister Wells. $200 was appropriated for their expenses.
[The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]
The first Presidency set apart Sister Zina D Young and Emeline B. Wells to go down to the Women's Convention at Omaha. Prest. Taylor was mouth in blessing Sister Young, and I was mouth in blessing Sister Wells. $200 was appropriated for their expenses.
[The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]
190 years ago today - September 22 and 23, 1832
[Revelation]
Kirtland, Ohio. Doctrine and Covenants 84. Building Zion and its temple, lineage of the Holy Priesthood , priesthood of Aaron , greater priesthood and seeing God , lesser priesthood and John the Baptist , appendages (offices) to the priesthoods , sons of Moses and Aaron , linkage of Father, Son, priesthood, covenant , linkage of truth, light, and Spirit of Christ , linkage of apostles, high priests, friends , signs follow believers , non-believers damned , Saints must repent , Lord's friends travel without purse or scrip , cleanse feet against those who reject testimony , donations to missionaries and poor , lesser priesthood support missionary work , high priests, elders, priests, bishop travel , missionaries reprove world and Lord will shake heaven and earth.
[Kenney, Scott; Saints Without Halos, 'Doctrine and Covenants,' http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/s/_dc.phtml]
Kirtland, Ohio. Doctrine and Covenants 84. Building Zion and its temple, lineage of the Holy Priesthood , priesthood of Aaron , greater priesthood and seeing God , lesser priesthood and John the Baptist , appendages (offices) to the priesthoods , sons of Moses and Aaron , linkage of Father, Son, priesthood, covenant , linkage of truth, light, and Spirit of Christ , linkage of apostles, high priests, friends , signs follow believers , non-believers damned , Saints must repent , Lord's friends travel without purse or scrip , cleanse feet against those who reject testimony , donations to missionaries and poor , lesser priesthood support missionary work , high priests, elders, priests, bishop travel , missionaries reprove world and Lord will shake heaven and earth.
[Kenney, Scott; Saints Without Halos, 'Doctrine and Covenants,' http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/s/_dc.phtml]
195 years ago today - Sep 22, 1827
Heber C. Kimball is awakened by a neighbor, John P. Greene, to see a manifestation in the sky: "It was one of the most beautiful starlight nights, so clear that we could see to pick up a pin. We looked to the eastern horizon, and beheld a white smoke arise toward the heavens; as it ascended it formed itself into a belt, and made a noise like the sound of a mighty wind, and continued southwest, forming a regular bow dipping in the western horizon. After the bow had formed, it began to widen out and grow clear and transparent, of a bluish cast; it grew wide enough to contain twelve men abreast. In this bow an army moved, commencing from the east and marching to the west; they continued marching until they reached the western horizon. They moved in platoons, and walked so close that the rear ranks trod in the steps of their file leaders, until the whole bow was literally crowded with soldiers. We could distinctly see the muskets, bayonets and knapsacks of the men, who wore caps and feathers like those used by the American soldiers in the last war with Britain; and also saw their officers with their swords and equipage, and the clashing and jingling of their implements of war, and could discover the forms and features of the men. The most profound order existed throughout the entire army; when the foremost man stepped, every man stepped at the same time; I could hear the steps. When the front rank reached the western horizon a battle ensued, as we could distinctly hear the report of arms and the rush. No man could judge of my feelings when I beheld that army of men, as plainly as ever I saw armies of men in the flesh; it seemed as though every hair of my head was alive. This scenery we gazed upon for hours, until it began to disappear."
195 years ago today - Sep 22, 1827
Very early in the morning just after midnight) Joseph and Emma take Knight's wagon and drive it toward the Hill Cumorah. Joseph Smith later tells Henry Harris that he used the seer stone upon instructions from an angel to find the plates. Joseph Smith says, while Emma prayed (staying with the wagon), he retrieved the gold plates. Joseph is given the plates, Urim and Thummim, and the breastplate. Meanwhile, Joseph Smith Sr. and Josiah Stowell were digging for money (per Martin Harris). Joseph hides the plates in a fallen hollow birch log and returns home in the morning.
After breakfast he tells visiting Joseph Knight "It is ten times Better then I expected. Then he went on to tell the length and width and thickness of the plates and, said he, they appear to be gold. But he seamed to think more of the glasses or the urim and thummim than he Did of the plates for says he, I can see anything. They are Marvelous."
Lucy sends Joseph Jr. to a cabinet maker, probably Willard Chase, to make a chest in which to put the plates. Chase says this occurred in the "fore part" of September ...
A few days later Joseph brings the plates home and devises several hiding places inside the house. When unfriendly visitors surround the house, the Smiths charge out of the house at night shouting military orders, as if the militia was present, to scare off the intruders.
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology; Palmyra Magic Timeline, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/palmyra-magic-timeline/; Mormon Chronology, N. R. Tidd, http://www.exmormon.org/mhistory.html; Vogel, Dan, Early Mormon Documents, Appendix B: Chronology, 1771-1831, http://amzn.to/T5nY8w]
After breakfast he tells visiting Joseph Knight "It is ten times Better then I expected. Then he went on to tell the length and width and thickness of the plates and, said he, they appear to be gold. But he seamed to think more of the glasses or the urim and thummim than he Did of the plates for says he, I can see anything. They are Marvelous."
Lucy sends Joseph Jr. to a cabinet maker, probably Willard Chase, to make a chest in which to put the plates. Chase says this occurred in the "fore part" of September ...
A few days later Joseph brings the plates home and devises several hiding places inside the house. When unfriendly visitors surround the house, the Smiths charge out of the house at night shouting military orders, as if the militia was present, to scare off the intruders.
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology; Palmyra Magic Timeline, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/palmyra-magic-timeline/; Mormon Chronology, N. R. Tidd, http://www.exmormon.org/mhistory.html; Vogel, Dan, Early Mormon Documents, Appendix B: Chronology, 1771-1831, http://amzn.to/T5nY8w]
20 years ago today - Sep 21, 2002
The L.A. Times report on survey that indicated that the Church was the fastest growing denomination from 1990-2000.
"The fastest-growing major denomination in the study was the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Assemblies of God, a Pentecostal denomination, followed closely behind. The Mormon church grew about 19% to 4.2 million members, while the Assemblies of God grew nearly as quickly to 2.6 million."
[Mormonr (mormonr.org/sources)]
"The fastest-growing major denomination in the study was the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Assemblies of God, a Pentecostal denomination, followed closely behind. The Mormon church grew about 19% to 4.2 million members, while the Assemblies of God grew nearly as quickly to 2.6 million."
[Mormonr (mormonr.org/sources)]
45 years ago today - Sep 21, 1977
Joyce McKinney, 27, of Minneapolis, North Carolina, and Keith Joseph May, 25, of Los Angeles, California are formally charged in London, England, with "kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, and possessing an imitation firearm with intent to commit an offense." They abducted LDS missionary Kirk Anderson, shackled him to a bed, and Miss McKinney, a former beauty pageant contestant, forced him to have sex with her.
130 years ago today - Sep 21, 1892 • Wednesday
[George Q. Cannon]
Sisters Zina D. Young, Isabella Horne, Bathsheba Smith, S. M. Kimball, Jane Richards and E. B. Wells called upon us, with Attorneys F. S. Richards and LeGrand Young. The latter had prepared articles of incorporation for the Relief Societies in such a manner that they could connect themselves with the National ladies society as a benevolent institution, and not have our relief societies appear as denominational. The question as to whether by doing this our relief societies would lose the character that was given to them by the Prophet Joseph came up and was fully discussed. Sisters Young and Horne seemed to have objections to this proposed incorporation, lest it would take from the relief societies the character which they had heretofore possessed. President Woodruff and myself did not look at it in that light, neither did Brother F. D. Richards, who was present. We thought that the end could be accomplished without in the least detracting from the character of the societies; at the same time by effecting the incorporation our sisters could have some voice in the national and international conventions.
[The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]
Sisters Zina D. Young, Isabella Horne, Bathsheba Smith, S. M. Kimball, Jane Richards and E. B. Wells called upon us, with Attorneys F. S. Richards and LeGrand Young. The latter had prepared articles of incorporation for the Relief Societies in such a manner that they could connect themselves with the National ladies society as a benevolent institution, and not have our relief societies appear as denominational. The question as to whether by doing this our relief societies would lose the character that was given to them by the Prophet Joseph came up and was fully discussed. Sisters Young and Horne seemed to have objections to this proposed incorporation, lest it would take from the relief societies the character which they had heretofore possessed. President Woodruff and myself did not look at it in that light, neither did Brother F. D. Richards, who was present. We thought that the end could be accomplished without in the least detracting from the character of the societies; at the same time by effecting the incorporation our sisters could have some voice in the national and international conventions.
[The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]
150 years ago today - Sep 21, 1872 (Saturday)
Miss Phoebe W. Couzins, of St. Louis, and Miss Georgie Snow, daughter of Judge Zerubbabel Snow, of Salt Lake City, were admitted to the bar in the Third District Court—the first ladies thus admitted in Utah.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
160 years ago today - Sep 21, 1862
James E. Talmage was born in Hungerford, Berkshire, England, to James Joyce Talmage and Susannah Preator on 21 September 1862.
[Utah History Encyclopedia: James E. Talmage, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
[Utah History Encyclopedia: James E. Talmage, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
165 years ago today - Sep 21, 1857
At weekly circle of Samuel L. Sprague: "Br. P[hineai]. Richards [a member of Council of Fifty] spoke of coming in contact with our enemies. We have covenanted to avenge the blood of the Prophets and Saints. Why, then, should we hesitate to go forth and slay them-shed their blood-when called upon. Pres. Sprague spoke a few words in answer to the inquiry made by br. Richards; that the Lord had said 'vengeance is mine.' Nevertheless, we shall have blood to shed."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
190 years ago today - Sep 21, 1832
A meeting of the Executive Committee of the American Temperance Society designates Tuesday, February 26, 1833 (the day before the Word of Wisdom was received) as a national temperance day set aside for simultaneous meetings "in all the cities, towns and villages throughout the United States" hoping that "persons of all denominations, sects, and parties, can cordially unite."
A severe cholera epidemic swept the nation in 1832-33. Sometimes referred to as 'the destroying angel' it was thought that drinking greatly increased ones chances of death by cholera. The Executive Committee felt that through temperance, cholera, "that scourge of the nations ... would be nearly, if not altogether unknown" and "ever-growing light, purity, and joy, under the means of divine appointment, with all who obey the divine will, would universally prevail."
[Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source]
A severe cholera epidemic swept the nation in 1832-33. Sometimes referred to as 'the destroying angel' it was thought that drinking greatly increased ones chances of death by cholera. The Executive Committee felt that through temperance, cholera, "that scourge of the nations ... would be nearly, if not altogether unknown" and "ever-growing light, purity, and joy, under the means of divine appointment, with all who obey the divine will, would universally prevail."
[Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source]
195 years ago today - Sep 21, 1827
Around midnight Joseph Smith asks his mother, Lucy Mack Smith, if she has a box with a lock on it. She says she doesn't and Joseph says, "Never mind, I can do very well for the present without it-be calm-all is right." Minutes later Joseph's new wife, Emma, passes through the room in her bonnet and riding dress, and Lucy hears the two of them drive off in Joseph Knight's wagon-borrowed without permission-to get the gold plates from the Hill Cumorah. Joseph is dressed in black.
105 years ago today - Sep 20, 1917
James H. Moyle is appointed as Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Treasury, serving to 1921, and again from 1939-40. He is the first Mormon to achieve a sub-Cabinet appointment in the U.S. government. Appointments of similar rank for other Mormons are the Assistant Attorney General Frank K. Nebeker (1919-21), Under-Secretary of State J. Reuben Clark (1928-30), Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Marriner S. Eccles (1934-36), Assistant Secretary of Commerce Robert H. Hinckley (1940-42), Assistant Secretary of the Treasury David M. Kennedy (1953-54), Assistant Secretary of Labor Esther W. Eggertsen Peterson (1961-69), Assistant Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare Rodney Brady (1970-72), Assistant Secretary of Interior Jack W. Carlson (1974-76), Assistant Attorney General Rex E. Lee (1975-76), Assistant Secretary of State Gregory J. Newell (1982-85), Under-Secretary of Commerce Sidney L. Jones (1984-86), Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services James O. Mason (1989-93), Assistant Secretary of Treasury Sidney L. Jones (1989-93). Clark is an LDS general authority in 1933; Mason in 1994. Mormons with equivalent of sub-Cabinet positions in non-U.S. governments are Tevita Mapa as secretary to Tonga's Premier; Alexander B. Morrison as Canada's deputy minister of National Health and Welfare (1972-84). Morrison becomes LDS general authority in 1987.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
125 years ago today - Sep 20, 1897
[John M. whittaker]
On the 20th, had an interview with President Jos[eph]. F. Smith of the Law of Tithing, United order and Order of Enoch, and invited me to come to his office ... and here for a long time the brethren explained, Tithing, United order, The Law of Consecration and the Order of Enoch. The Presidency believes that the Law of Consecration is the highest law of all.
[John M. Whittaker, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
On the 20th, had an interview with President Jos[eph]. F. Smith of the Law of Tithing, United order and Order of Enoch, and invited me to come to his office ... and here for a long time the brethren explained, Tithing, United order, The Law of Consecration and the Order of Enoch. The Presidency believes that the Law of Consecration is the highest law of all.
[John M. Whittaker, 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 - Sep 20, 1857
John Lee leaves for Salt Lake, where he will provide Young with a detailed account of the [Mountain Meadows] massacre. According to Lee, Young first expresses dismay and concern that the massacre will damage the LDS reputation. The next day, however, Young tells Lee, "I asked the Lord if it was all right for the deed to be done, to take away the vision of the deed from my mind, and the Lord did so, and I feel first rate. It is all right. The only fear I have is from traitors."
[Linder, Douglas, The Mountain Meadows Massacre Trials, http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTRIALS/mountainmeadows/leechrono.html]
[Linder, Douglas, The Mountain Meadows Massacre Trials, http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTRIALS/mountainmeadows/leechrono.html]
165 years ago today - Sep 20, 1857
Ten days after the Mountain Meadows massacre Heber C. Kimball preaches in Salt Lake City: "Do I want to shed the blood of my brethren and sisters, or to see it shed? No: and neither do you, unless the Holy Ghost dictates for us to shed the blood of our enemies; then it is just as right as it is for us to partake of the sacrament. But I wish they would take the hint, and go the other way, and not attempt to come here. We do not want to hurt them; but if they come upon us, and we have to repel them by the force of arms, God Almighty will give us the power to do it: now, mark it."
The next speaker, President Brigham Young, begins his sermon with "Brother Heber wants to know whether he has said anything wrong. So far as I am concerned, and so far as the truth is concerned, he has not."
The next speaker, President Brigham Young, begins his sermon with "Brother Heber wants to know whether he has said anything wrong. So far as I am concerned, and so far as the truth is concerned, he has not."
195 years ago today - Sep 20, 1827
Josiah Stowell and Joseph Knight, Sr, arrived in Manchester and stayed with the Smiths for several days -- probably in anticipation of Joseph Smith, Jr.'s receiving the supposedly ancient record on the eve of the fall equinox.
[Broadhurst, Dale R., Oliver Cowdery Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/Cdychrn1.htm]
[Broadhurst, Dale R., Oliver Cowdery Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/Cdychrn1.htm]
30 years ago today - Sep 19, 1992.
Victims: The LDS Church and the Mark Hofmann Case, authored by Richard Turley, managing director of the LDS Historical Department, is published by the University of Illinois Press. Turley claims "unprecedented access" to church officials and "previously unavailable documents." He acknowledges that "a substantial amount of writing was done on church time."
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1]
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1]
45 years ago today - Sep 19, 1977
British police arrested Joyce McKinney, 27, of Minneapolis, North Carolina, and Keith Joseph May, 25, of Los Angeles, California. The two Americans had arrived in England in Aug, sometimes identifying themselves as husband and wife and used a variety of assumed names. They are charged on Sep 21 with "kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, and possessing an imitation firearm with intent to commit an offense" in the abduction and of 21-year-old LDS missionary Kirk Anderson of Orem Utah. McKinney, a former Miss USA contestant and BYU graduate student in drama, was in love with Anderson, traveled to England, abducted him, shackled him to a bed, and forced him to have sex with her. Formal charges are made two days later.
60 years ago today - Sep 19, 1962
The First Presidency rules that a prominent Egyptian polygamist can be baptized because polygamy is legal in Egypt. This is in reference to "an earlier ruling in the matter of Indians who had married more than one wife and it was decided that they may be baptized, if they were legally married according to their tribal customs." The First Presidency agrees that such legal polygamists cannot be sealed in temples, to avoid confusing the LDS policy toward Mormon Fundamentalists. With regard to black Africa, President David O. McKay says it "is a cruel thing" to require Nigerian polygamists to cease their legally polygamous marriages, yet the Presidency decides to forbid the baptism of black African polygamists (who are also denied priesthood ordination by LDS policy for all persons of black African descent). By contrast, the Egyptian polygamist, a Coptic Christian, is baptized in London in February 1963 and ordained an elder.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
125 years ago today - Sep 19, 1897
[George Q. Cannon]
Attended meeting in the Tabernacle at 2 o'clock. A great dread came over me about having to speak. I had not met with the saints here but once or twice since last General Conference, and I felt that I ought to say something; but I wanted to have one of the Elders break the ice, and so told my brother Angus, who was presiding. There was no one, however, suitable that he could see, and at his request I arose, but was very much frightened. ...
[The Journal of George Q. Cannon]
Attended meeting in the Tabernacle at 2 o'clock. A great dread came over me about having to speak. I had not met with the saints here but once or twice since last General Conference, and I felt that I ought to say something; but I wanted to have one of the Elders break the ice, and so told my brother Angus, who was presiding. There was no one, however, suitable that he could see, and at his request I arose, but was very much frightened. ...
[The Journal of George Q. Cannon]
140 years ago today - Sep 19, 1882
Patriarchal Blessing of Samuel RosKelley by John Lyman Smith ... thy Guardian Angel hath watched over thee and whispered over thee words of comfort to thine heart and warded off distruction [destruction] and death from thy path, and will continue to do so until thou shalt accomplish a mighty work in Israel, and become a mighty man in Zion, thy wives and thy children shall not be few ... the destroyer shall flee at thy command, streams break forth on dry places to water thy people, mountains remove hence, prison doors open and the captive sent free, and when thou shalt return from thy speedy mission to the Ten Tribes thou shalt travel as upon the wings of thw [th]e wind. ... and many will fall down and worship thee except thou tellest them to worship the Lord. ... Thou shalt stand on the Earth, thy wives and children will be with thee a great army and meet thy Redeemeer [Redeemer], A Saviour on Mount Zion with the Hundred and forty and four thousand having the fathers seal in thy forehead. ...
[Patriarchal Blessings]
[Patriarchal Blessings]
165 years ago today - Sep 19, 1857
"The Mormon" ceases publication (New York City); John Taylor, editor. Began publication in 1855.
[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]
85 years ago today - Sep 18, 1937
A Deseret News Church Section full-page article "The Eleusinian Mysteries," which continues as another full-page article on 25 Sept. This is 100 years since an LDS periodical at church headquarters first described the Eleusinian Mysteries. Through 23 Oct. there are weekly full-page discussions of "The Mysteries of Bacchus" in two parts, "Orphic Reincarnation," and finally "The Mysteries Of The Great Mother."
[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 )]]
90 years ago today - Sep 18, 1932
The church's Adult Aaronic Priesthood program begins as a local innovation in the Salt Lake 28th Ward. It becomes a churchwide program the next year.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
115 years ago today - Sep 18, 1907
Front-page headline of 'The Logan Republican:' "Bear Lake Monster Appears: Leviathan Comes from Lake and Devours Horse While Men Shoot At It."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
130 years ago today - Sep 18, 1892
First Presidency Secretary L. John Nuttall writes in his diary: "I went on the 8 a.m. train for Provo. Found all well. This afternoon Mr. M. M. Warner called on me and requested permission to keep company with my daughter Eleanor. I explained to him my reason for my objections to her doing so, and to his keeping company with her with a view to marriage. . . . I told him I wished him to not keep her company at least until I had more proof of his intentions to settled down as a Citizen, and show by his acts of his honorable intentions, &c., also that I did not want him to come to my house to visit my daughter, but to treat her as any other lady but not anything further. Which he promised to do. He then asked my permission to come to the house this evening, which I granted. "This is a matter which has caused me much grief and sorrow. For I cannot consent for any one of my daughters to marry an outsider, and my daughter Eleanor seems almost determined to keep Mr. Warner's company, which is very strange to myself as also her mother. I walked out with my wife Elizabeth this evening for an hour and we talked over this matter. She is also much opposed as her feelings to Eleanor's wishes. I went to bed early, before which I went to the Lord in prayer and asked for the guidance of His spirit, and asked forgiveness for allowing Mr. Warner to even spend this evening at my house, for it is so repugnant to my feelings."
135 years ago today - Sep 18, 1887
[Moses Thatcher to Heber J. Grant]
Dear Brother Grant,
... Just previous to the time when George Q. could not 'remember whether he said it or not' would have been a more favorable time to act than the present. We live in an age when fixing, scheming and wire working often overreach even moral courage of the 'first water.' However I will see what can be done. And whether George's statement be confirmed or otherwise, it is true all the same And if it only leads to a full ventilation and reopening of other matters of vital interest to God's people, then shall I feel grateful.
This issue should surely come, perhaps the sooner the better. We can never claim the blessings of heaven, the approval of God or the companionship of the Holy Ghost while things remain in our Quorum as they are: for while the head is feverish the whole body must be sick. We cannot expect union in the body where the head is divided; nor confidence among the people where it does not exist among their leaders. 'A house divided against itself cannot stand.'
...With love to the brethren Yourself included I remain, Your brother in the Covenant, Moses Thatcher
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
Dear Brother Grant,
... Just previous to the time when George Q. could not 'remember whether he said it or not' would have been a more favorable time to act than the present. We live in an age when fixing, scheming and wire working often overreach even moral courage of the 'first water.' However I will see what can be done. And whether George's statement be confirmed or otherwise, it is true all the same And if it only leads to a full ventilation and reopening of other matters of vital interest to God's people, then shall I feel grateful.
This issue should surely come, perhaps the sooner the better. We can never claim the blessings of heaven, the approval of God or the companionship of the Holy Ghost while things remain in our Quorum as they are: for while the head is feverish the whole body must be sick. We cannot expect union in the body where the head is divided; nor confidence among the people where it does not exist among their leaders. 'A house divided against itself cannot stand.'
...With love to the brethren Yourself included I remain, Your brother in the Covenant, Moses Thatcher
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
170 years ago today - Sep 18, 1852. Saturday.
[William Clayton]
A very singular incident transpired this morning, which I will here record. The circumstances occurred with Chauncy G. Webbs team as they were ascending the hill near where we camped last night. ...
"As we were rising a sharp, but short hill, a ring which fastened the stretchers to the tongue of the wagon gave way, and our lead horses being under good speed, drew the lines from the driver, and started off on a fast gallop. They had not proceeded but a few yards, when the whipple trees, from some unseen cause, were instantly detached from the traces. ..."
This circumstance caused the hearts of the brethren to rejoice, and all who were acquainted with it could see that the angel of the Lord freed the horses from the whipple trees; because being fastened by steel springs, it was utterly impossible for them to become unloosed by accident; and the fact that the four became unhooked at the same instant, proves beyond a doubt that some unseen power was present to perform such an act so speedily. ...
This is not the only instance that the brethren have had, that the Angel of the Lord guards us by night and by day, and the hearts of the brethren are made to rejoice continually. ...
[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]
A very singular incident transpired this morning, which I will here record. The circumstances occurred with Chauncy G. Webbs team as they were ascending the hill near where we camped last night. ...
"As we were rising a sharp, but short hill, a ring which fastened the stretchers to the tongue of the wagon gave way, and our lead horses being under good speed, drew the lines from the driver, and started off on a fast gallop. They had not proceeded but a few yards, when the whipple trees, from some unseen cause, were instantly detached from the traces. ..."
This circumstance caused the hearts of the brethren to rejoice, and all who were acquainted with it could see that the angel of the Lord freed the horses from the whipple trees; because being fastened by steel springs, it was utterly impossible for them to become unloosed by accident; and the fact that the four became unhooked at the same instant, proves beyond a doubt that some unseen power was present to perform such an act so speedily. ...
This is not the only instance that the brethren have had, that the Angel of the Lord guards us by night and by day, and the hearts of the brethren are made to rejoice continually. ...
[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]
195 years ago today - Sep 18, 1827
Joseph Sr. buys lampblack and other painting materials ($2.44) for his "son". [In a few days, Joseph Smith Jr. would dress in black as instructed by the guardian, to obtain gold plates and other objects buried in the Hill Cumorah.]
[Vogel, Dan, Early Mormon Documents, Appendix B: Chronology, 1771-1831, http://amzn.to/T5nY8w]
[Vogel, Dan, Early Mormon Documents, Appendix B: Chronology, 1771-1831, http://amzn.to/T5nY8w]
40 years ago today - Sep 17, 1982
Mark Hofmann interviewed by Peggy Fletcher, editor of Sunstone. The interview is published in Sunstone Review 2. Hofmann admits in the interview that with the high prices being paid for Mormon documents "there may be some temptation to forge." Later in the interview he says, "I'm in this for the money."
[Whittaker, David J., The Hofmann Maze, A Book Review Essay with a Chronology and Bibliography of the Hofmann Case, BYU Studies Vol. 29, No. 1, pg.80,]
[Whittaker, David J., The Hofmann Maze, A Book Review Essay with a Chronology and Bibliography of the Hofmann Case, BYU Studies Vol. 29, No. 1, pg.80,]
80 years ago today - Sep 17, 1942
[Heber J. Grant]
... I have known of course the feelings of some of the brethren to the effect that the great grandson of Patriarch John Smith should be made the Patriarch, and I have tried to feel that he was the right man. I have prayed earnestly to the Lord that if he were the right man the Lord would give me a manifestation to that effect, and I have never received it. Just recently I assured the Lord that I was very anxious that something be done and that I had made up my mind if the brethren were a unit in favor of this young man I might surrender and put him in, but I would not give my approval. ... Every time I have tried to appoint this young man [Eldred G. Smith] I have had a stupor of thought, and I could not do it. It breaks my heard for the sake of his mother and brother to have to tell them or ask someone else to do so, and I know it will almost kill them because they feel the boy ought to have the position. I have spoken to all the brethren and told them that if I named a man I would like them not to tell anybody he was not their choice, because we admit no man to our Council except that he understands that when we discuss a subject and the Council approves of it that a man, although he may have the opposite view, is expected to surrender that view and to be one with the majority. I realize that there never was a day when we could quite seem to be united as one on this man.... I have talked this morning with Brother Lee, he is the last to whom I have spoken, and all the brethren have manifested a very fine spirit in having him as their choice, and I nominate for your approval Brother Hyrum M. Smith's son, a grandson of the Prophet Joseph F. Smith'Brother Joseph F. Smith the third.
On the matter being put to a vote all the brethren voted unanimously in favor of the nomination. ...
I feel very happy with the selection and the voting, and I feel that it is worth a lot. My recollection is that it was very often talked of that Brother Brigham tried to get Joseph F. to take the two offices, but he was so loyal to his older brother he would not take the office of Patriarch. Brother Brigham felt he ought to be both an Apostle and a Patriarch. That was when I was a young man.
[Minutes (Present: Presidents Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark, Jr., Rudger Clawson, Elders George F. Richards, Joseph Fielding Smith, Richard R. Hyman, John A. Widtsoe, Charles A. Callis, Albert E. Bowen, Sylvester Q. Cannon, and Harold B. Lee), as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
... I have known of course the feelings of some of the brethren to the effect that the great grandson of Patriarch John Smith should be made the Patriarch, and I have tried to feel that he was the right man. I have prayed earnestly to the Lord that if he were the right man the Lord would give me a manifestation to that effect, and I have never received it. Just recently I assured the Lord that I was very anxious that something be done and that I had made up my mind if the brethren were a unit in favor of this young man I might surrender and put him in, but I would not give my approval. ... Every time I have tried to appoint this young man [Eldred G. Smith] I have had a stupor of thought, and I could not do it. It breaks my heard for the sake of his mother and brother to have to tell them or ask someone else to do so, and I know it will almost kill them because they feel the boy ought to have the position. I have spoken to all the brethren and told them that if I named a man I would like them not to tell anybody he was not their choice, because we admit no man to our Council except that he understands that when we discuss a subject and the Council approves of it that a man, although he may have the opposite view, is expected to surrender that view and to be one with the majority. I realize that there never was a day when we could quite seem to be united as one on this man.... I have talked this morning with Brother Lee, he is the last to whom I have spoken, and all the brethren have manifested a very fine spirit in having him as their choice, and I nominate for your approval Brother Hyrum M. Smith's son, a grandson of the Prophet Joseph F. Smith'Brother Joseph F. Smith the third.
On the matter being put to a vote all the brethren voted unanimously in favor of the nomination. ...
I feel very happy with the selection and the voting, and I feel that it is worth a lot. My recollection is that it was very often talked of that Brother Brigham tried to get Joseph F. to take the two offices, but he was so loyal to his older brother he would not take the office of Patriarch. Brother Brigham felt he ought to be both an Apostle and a Patriarch. That was when I was a young man.
[Minutes (Present: Presidents Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark, Jr., Rudger Clawson, Elders George F. Richards, Joseph Fielding Smith, Richard R. Hyman, John A. Widtsoe, Charles A. Callis, Albert E. Bowen, Sylvester Q. Cannon, and Harold B. Lee), 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]
80 years ago today - Sep 17, 1942
Heber J. Grant had called Joseph Fielding Smith on the phone, the Apostle on the phone, and told him that all of the other Apostles were in agreement to calling Joseph Fielding rather than Eldred [G. Smith] to the office and would he go along. Joseph Fielding replied, what about [George Albert] Smith, is he going along with this? Heber J. Grant said yes and that Joseph Fielding Smith was the only one yet that was not going along with it and he said well, he wasn't going to be'he wasn't going to hold it up if he was the only one that was objecting and to go ahead with it. He then'Joseph Fielding Smith, as he hung up the telephone, thought it rather strange that George Albert Smith would have agreed to this since he had been so much against it in the past and so he decided to call and ask him why he decided to change his mind, and so he picked up the telephone and called him and the line was busy, and he called several times and the line was busy. Then finally, he got through to him and he asked him the question and George Albert Smith said that he had just got off the phone with Heber J. Grant and that Heber J. Grant called and told him that George Albert Smith was the only one that had not yet agreed to having Joseph Fielding Smith put in as the next Patriarch, and he had asked whether Joseph Fielding the Apostle had gone along with this, and he said yes, that George Albert was the only one that was holding up. George Albert indicated that if he were the only one and if Joseph Fielding was going along with it, then he would'indicating that Heber J. Grant had'that each of them thought the other one was giving in and it was on that basis that they had agreed to the compromise choice of Joseph Fielding as Patriarch, when in fact, neither was the case until after the fact.
['Conversation between E. Gary Smith and Eldred Smith on April 11, 1983,' April 12, 1983, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
['Conversation between E. Gary Smith and Eldred Smith on April 11, 1983,' April 12, 1983, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
120 years ago today - Sep 17, 1902
Emmeline B. Wells, editor of 'Woman's Exponent' and later president of the Relief Society, writes, "Sister Walden told Em's [Emmeline B.'s granddaughter] fortune in her hand also Anna Henderson's."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
145 years ago today - Sep 17, 1877 (Monday)
The corner stones of the Logan Temple were laid.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
185 years ago today - Sep 17, 1837
At evening conference of elders, ... Over a hundred missionaries are given assignments. General conference of elders in Kirtland appoints Joseph and Sidney to visit Far West and locate gathering places "for a refuge and safety, in the day of the wrath of God which is soon to burst upon the head of this generation, according to the testimony of the prophets; who speak expressly concerning the last days."
[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]
100 years ago today - Sep 16, 1922
[George F. Richards]
I spent the day at the Temple where I read carefully all the ordinances used in the temples as changed and corrected and noted 18 times [where there are issues] which I think need changing. It is my intention to present these to the [First] Presidency for their consideration. I also detected 7 errors in copying the ordinances.
[George F. Richards diary, Sept. 16, 1922, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
I spent the day at the Temple where I read carefully all the ordinances used in the temples as changed and corrected and noted 18 times [where there are issues] which I think need changing. It is my intention to present these to the [First] Presidency for their consideration. I also detected 7 errors in copying the ordinances.
[George F. Richards diary, Sept. 16, 1922, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
125 years ago today - Sep 16, 1897
[Post-Manifesto plural marriage]
Arthur Riley, born at Nottingham, England, November 3, 1852
Sarah Lydia Davis, born at Bountiful, Utah, November 17, 1864
Married at Ciudad Juarez, September 16, 1897
[Stanley Ivins typewritten copy of Anthony Ivins "Record Book of Marriages" [Plural] performed in Mexican colonies, 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), Appendix A]
Arthur Riley, born at Nottingham, England, November 3, 1852
Sarah Lydia Davis, born at Bountiful, Utah, November 17, 1864
Married at Ciudad Juarez, September 16, 1897
[Stanley Ivins typewritten copy of Anthony Ivins "Record Book of Marriages" [Plural] performed in Mexican colonies, 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), Appendix A]
125 years ago today - Sep 16, 1897; Thursday
Pres[ident]. G[eorge]. Q. Cannon stated that the Presidents of Missions had been instructed not to encourage people to emirate to Utah until they had become well grounded in the faith and not then until times in Utah became better, unless they have friends or means to provide a home on their arrival.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
130 years ago today - Sep 16, 1892 • Friday
[George Q. Cannon]
The First Presidency went down to Mr. Dallin's studio, at his request, where we found Capt. Willard Young. Our purpose was to examine a statue of President Young which Mr. Dallin had nearly finished. It is 10 feet in height, and will stand on a pedestal 21 feet high. On one side of the pedestal will be an Indian, on another will be a trapper, on another will be an emigrant, and on another will be a beehive with an eagle upon it. These figures are to represent the condition of the Territory—first the Indian, next the trapper, next the settler. President Young stands with a cane in his right hand and his left hand extended. I criticized the eyes somewhat. Both appeared to me to turn in a little too much. The nose also was not as aquiline as the President's nose in life. Otherwise the statue I think is very fine.
[The Journal of George Q. Cannon]
The First Presidency went down to Mr. Dallin's studio, at his request, where we found Capt. Willard Young. Our purpose was to examine a statue of President Young which Mr. Dallin had nearly finished. It is 10 feet in height, and will stand on a pedestal 21 feet high. On one side of the pedestal will be an Indian, on another will be a trapper, on another will be an emigrant, and on another will be a beehive with an eagle upon it. These figures are to represent the condition of the Territory—first the Indian, next the trapper, next the settler. President Young stands with a cane in his right hand and his left hand extended. I criticized the eyes somewhat. Both appeared to me to turn in a little too much. The nose also was not as aquiline as the President's nose in life. Otherwise the statue I think is very fine.
[The Journal of George Q. Cannon]
135 years ago today - Sep 16, 1887
[Heber J. Grant to Moses Thatcher]
Moses Thatcher Esq.
Logan Utah
Dear Brother:
Will you do me the favor of learning from Bro Merrill and the other members of the Logan Temple Corporation Directors, that is one or two of them whether they heard Angus M. Cannon say that his brother George Q. told him that he should have pulled my coattail.
It certainly looks to me as though someone had told a lie over this little matter and I would like to 'nail it.'
Erastus has informed George Q. that Grant, Thatcher & Lyman lacked confidence in him and that Grant had called him a liar. George declines to act on any Committee until these matters are all straightened up. I want us one and all to have the moral courage to tell all we have in our hearts against George Q. when this matter comes up again and not say we are satisfied with his explanations unless we are. I am ashamed of my part of the acceptance of his explanations on the John Q. matter. Come prepared to say all you wish to, and let us hope & pray that George Q. can straighten out matters so that we will have confidence in him hereafter and if he can't that we will say so. With assurances of confidence & esteem, I remain, Your Brother in the Gospel, Heber J. Grant
Be prepared to come down a day or two in advance of our meeting as I am inclined to think Prest Woodruff will want a meeting with us.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
Moses Thatcher Esq.
Logan Utah
Dear Brother:
Will you do me the favor of learning from Bro Merrill and the other members of the Logan Temple Corporation Directors, that is one or two of them whether they heard Angus M. Cannon say that his brother George Q. told him that he should have pulled my coattail.
It certainly looks to me as though someone had told a lie over this little matter and I would like to 'nail it.'
Erastus has informed George Q. that Grant, Thatcher & Lyman lacked confidence in him and that Grant had called him a liar. George declines to act on any Committee until these matters are all straightened up. I want us one and all to have the moral courage to tell all we have in our hearts against George Q. when this matter comes up again and not say we are satisfied with his explanations unless we are. I am ashamed of my part of the acceptance of his explanations on the John Q. matter. Come prepared to say all you wish to, and let us hope & pray that George Q. can straighten out matters so that we will have confidence in him hereafter and if he can't that we will say so. With assurances of confidence & esteem, I remain, Your Brother in the Gospel, Heber J. Grant
Be prepared to come down a day or two in advance of our meeting as I am inclined to think Prest Woodruff will want a meeting with us.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
135 years ago today - Sep 16, 1887
[George Q. Cannon]
... I could promise, perhaps, to not associate with any of my wives; but I certainly never could consent to recognize one wife as legal and the other as not legal, when they were all taken by me as my wives and were sealed to me by the same ceremony and with a mutual understanding that they were all to occupy the same relationship to me. Naturally, I am averse to making promises of any kind. There seems, however, to be an anxiety to endeavor to deprive our enemies of all grounds for the accusations which they make against us upon these points. It is not probable that anything we could say would suit Judge Zane, unless we came to his terms, which no Latter-day Saint could consciencously do.
[The Journal of George Q. Cannon]
... I could promise, perhaps, to not associate with any of my wives; but I certainly never could consent to recognize one wife as legal and the other as not legal, when they were all taken by me as my wives and were sealed to me by the same ceremony and with a mutual understanding that they were all to occupy the same relationship to me. Naturally, I am averse to making promises of any kind. There seems, however, to be an anxiety to endeavor to deprive our enemies of all grounds for the accusations which they make against us upon these points. It is not probable that anything we could say would suit Judge Zane, unless we came to his terms, which no Latter-day Saint could consciencously do.
[The Journal of George Q. Cannon]
140 years ago today - Saturday, Sep 16, 1882
[John Henry Smith]
Today Judges Hunter and Emerson decided in favor of the woman suffrage act.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
Today Judges Hunter and Emerson decided in favor of the woman suffrage act.
[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 - Sep 16, 1882
[Charles Lowell Walker]
St. George President of the Seventy "Spoke of the persecutions of the Saints in Missouri and Illinois, and the duties of the Seventies and the great things that would transpire before the winding up scene in 1891."
[Larson and Larson, Diary of Charles L. Walker, p. 586 http://rationalfaiths.com/even-fifty-six-years-wind-scene/, as quoted in The Last Days and December 1890 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ, y George D. Speer Sr., privately circulated]
St. George President of the Seventy "Spoke of the persecutions of the Saints in Missouri and Illinois, and the duties of the Seventies and the great things that would transpire before the winding up scene in 1891."
[Larson and Larson, Diary of Charles L. Walker, p. 586 http://rationalfaiths.com/even-fifty-six-years-wind-scene/, 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 - Sep 16, 1877
[Wilford Woodruff]
I will say here, before closing, that two weeks before I left St. George, the spirits of the dead were gathered around me, wanting to know why we did not redeem them. Said they, "You have had the use of the Endowment House for a number of years, and yet nothing has ever been done for us. We laid the foundation of the government you now enjoy, and we never apostatized from it, but we remained true to it and were faithful to God." These were the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and they waited on me for two days and two nights. I thought it very singular, that notwithstanding so much work had been done, and yet nothing had been done for them. The thought never entered my heart, from the fact, I suppose, that heretofore our minds were reaching after our more immediate friends and relatives. I straightway went into the baptismal font and called upon Brother [John D. T.] MacAllister to baptize me for the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and fifty other eminent men, making one hundred in all, including John Wesley, Columbus, and others; I then baptized him for every President of the United States, except three; and when their cause is just, somebody will do the work for them.
[Wilford Woodruff discourse, Sept. 16, 1877 , Journal of Discourses, 19:229-30, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
I will say here, before closing, that two weeks before I left St. George, the spirits of the dead were gathered around me, wanting to know why we did not redeem them. Said they, "You have had the use of the Endowment House for a number of years, and yet nothing has ever been done for us. We laid the foundation of the government you now enjoy, and we never apostatized from it, but we remained true to it and were faithful to God." These were the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and they waited on me for two days and two nights. I thought it very singular, that notwithstanding so much work had been done, and yet nothing had been done for them. The thought never entered my heart, from the fact, I suppose, that heretofore our minds were reaching after our more immediate friends and relatives. I straightway went into the baptismal font and called upon Brother [John D. T.] MacAllister to baptize me for the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and fifty other eminent men, making one hundred in all, including John Wesley, Columbus, and others; I then baptized him for every President of the United States, except three; and when their cause is just, somebody will do the work for them.
[Wilford Woodruff discourse, Sept. 16, 1877 , Journal of Discourses, 19:229-30, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
145 years ago today - Sep 16, 1877
Wilford Woodruff preaches: "But when we came to this country, what did we find here? A barren desert as barren as the Desert of Sahara; and the only signs of life were a few black crickets, some cayote wolves, and a few poor wandering Indians." However his journal for Jul 24, 1847 reads: "We gazed with wonder and admiration upon the vast rich fertile valley which lay for about 25 miles in length & 16 miles in width Clothed with the Heaviest garb of green vegetation . . ."
165 years ago today - Sep 16, 1857
[Wilford Woodruff]
Some indians called upon President Young. The Chief of the Bannocks was among them. Brother Hamlin was here with the Chief of the D[esert?] Pi[edes?] Totsigauah [Tutsegabits]. He was ordained an Elder. He called to see me & my garden. I gave him some peaches & peach pitts to take home & plant.
Presidet Young said He w[anted/ished?] the Elders to marry the squaws of the Tribes to fulfill the commandment of God &c.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Some indians called upon President Young. The Chief of the Bannocks was among them. Brother Hamlin was here with the Chief of the D[esert?] Pi[edes?] Totsigauah [Tutsegabits]. He was ordained an Elder. He called to see me & my garden. I gave him some peaches & peach pitts to take home & plant.
Presidet Young said He w[anted/ished?] the Elders to marry the squaws of the Tribes to fulfill the commandment of God &c.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
165 years ago today - Sep 16, 1857
[Utah War]
Capt. Van Vliet wrote his report to Gen. Pleasanton of his mission to SLC. He relayed Mormon belief that the Army's purpose was to continue previous religious persecution and would resist to the death the Army's entrance into SLC. If the Army were too large to resist, the Mormons would burn everthing and flee to the mountains. He wrote of his kind and hospitable treatment and his regret that he could not dissuade the determination to resist the Army.
[Hale, Van, Mormon Miscellaneous, Utah War Chronology, http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/utahwar/id2.html]
Capt. Van Vliet wrote his report to Gen. Pleasanton of his mission to SLC. He relayed Mormon belief that the Army's purpose was to continue previous religious persecution and would resist to the death the Army's entrance into SLC. If the Army were too large to resist, the Mormons would burn everthing and flee to the mountains. He wrote of his kind and hospitable treatment and his regret that he could not dissuade the determination to resist the Army.
[Hale, Van, Mormon Miscellaneous, Utah War Chronology, http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/utahwar/id2.html]
165 years ago today - September 16 or 17, 1857
Brigham Young hears his first reports concerning Mormon participation in the massacre at Mountain Meadows.
[Linder, Douglas, The Mountain Meadows Massacre Trials, http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTRIALS/mountainmeadows/leechrono.html]
[Linder, Douglas, The Mountain Meadows Massacre Trials, http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTRIALS/mountainmeadows/leechrono.html]
30 years ago today - Sep 15, 1992
Avraham Gileadi, LDS scholar who had published commentaries on Isaiah, is excommunicated for apostasy. He is reportedly told he was excommunicated for teaching false doctrine, being predatory in teaching his theology, and for believing dead prophets over living ones.
45 years ago today - Sep 15, 1977
LDS missionary Kirk M. Anderson, 21, of Orem, Utah, disappears on from the village of Epsom, twenty miles south of London. The disappearance sets off a two-day nationwide search by Scotland Yard. Two days later Anderson is released. He had been held, handcuffed and shackled, in a rented vacation cottage on an isolated farm. Two days after Anderson's release police arrested Joyce McKinney, 27, of Minneapolis, North Carolina. It is later revealed that McKinney, former Miss Universe contestant, manacled Anderson to a bed and forced him to have sex with her.
165 years ago today - Sep 15, 1857
Gov. Brigham Young issued a proclamation: "Citizens of Utah - We are invaded by a hostile force" without any investigation by the government. He declared his actions justified by "the great first law of self preservation and put the Territory of Utah under martial law, forbidding the troops to enter Salt Lake Valley. He ordered large numbers of armed militia to Echo Canyon and other points to intercept the soldiers and prevent their access to the Valley.
[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]
80 years ago today - Sep 14, 1942
[Heber J. Grant]
Had a chat with George F. Richards and then one with Joseph Fielding Smith. I tried Saturday last to see Joseph Fielding Smith. He has been very strongly in favor of supporting Eldred Smith for Patriarch. After my talk today he assured me he was delighted with the choice I had decided to make and with all his heart could support him. I feel very glad to have this message from him. I had feared that he might still stand out for the appointment of Eldred Smith. He said the man I have nominated'Joseph F. Smith III., now teaching in the University, was worthy of it and he could with all his heart approve of him, and that he had felt that he was worthy to be one of the Apostles.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
Had a chat with George F. Richards and then one with Joseph Fielding Smith. I tried Saturday last to see Joseph Fielding Smith. He has been very strongly in favor of supporting Eldred Smith for Patriarch. After my talk today he assured me he was delighted with the choice I had decided to make and with all his heart could support him. I feel very glad to have this message from him. I had feared that he might still stand out for the appointment of Eldred Smith. He said the man I have nominated'Joseph F. Smith III., now teaching in the University, was worthy of it and he could with all his heart approve of him, and that he had felt that he was worthy to be one of the Apostles.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
125 years ago today - Sep 14, 1897
[Franklin D. Richards]
There are said to be 3 or 5 detectives from the East in Utah seeking out our condition as to Polygamy & illegal cohabitation.
[Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
There are said to be 3 or 5 detectives from the East in Utah seeking out our condition as to Polygamy & illegal cohabitation.
[Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
135 years ago today - Sep 14, 1887
[Wilford Woodruff]
I decided to Give Hannah Grover her 2 Anointing to D H Wells. She had been Anointed once to Thomas Grover but through bad treatment she was liberated from Thomas Grover got Divorce and [was] sealed to D H Wells. This is the first time I Ever gave Concent for a woman to twice have second Anointing.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I decided to Give Hannah Grover her 2 Anointing to D H Wells. She had been Anointed once to Thomas Grover but through bad treatment she was liberated from Thomas Grover got Divorce and [was] sealed to D H Wells. This is the first time I Ever gave Concent for a woman to twice have second Anointing.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
165 years ago today - Sep 14, 1857
Mormon leader Brigham Young tried to prevent U.S. troops from entering the territory of Utah, when President James Buchanan sent them into to impose federal law. The Mormons attacked the federal troops' supply lines, burning Fort Bridger, and setting fire to the plains to deprive the advancing army of forage for its horses. At the same time, he readied a plan to evacuate and destroy Salt Lake City, should the federal troops get through.
[Legends of America, Old West Timeline, http://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-TimeLine2.html]
[Legends of America, Old West Timeline, http://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-TimeLine2.html]
165 years ago today - Sept 14. 1857
Ira Hatch and others kill the last of the Fancher party messengers. (note: Undertaking to cover sins?) Brigham Young writes to Dame that martial law is enacted. Individuals are instructed to do everything with peace.
[Exploring Mormonism: Mountain Meadows Massacre Timeline, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/mountain-meadows-massacre-timeline/]
[Exploring Mormonism: Mountain Meadows Massacre Timeline, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/mountain-meadows-massacre-timeline/]
170 years ago today - Sep 14, 1852
Deseret News—Extra edition (a 48-page pocket-sized pamphlet) makes ―the first public announcement of the Church teaching of plural marriage, including Orson Pratt's discourse on the subject at a special conference of the Church on August 29, 1852.
[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]
180 years ago today - Sep 14, 1842
The SANGAMO JOURNAL carries the following notice: "We, the undersigned, feeling ourselves aggrieved by the conduct of Joseph Smith, and others of the leaders of the Church of Latter Day Saints-and feeling that we have been most scandalously imposed upon in matters and things of a Divine character, wish publicly to withdraw from said Church, and no longer claim allegiance thereto." It is signed by ten people.
185 years ago today - Sep 14, 1837
"To the Saints scattered abroad, the Bishop and his Counselors of Kirtland send greeting. "Whereas… The church of Kirtland has, therefore, required at the hand of our beloved brethren Joseph Smith jun. and Sidney Rigdon Presidents, whom God has appointed to preside over the whole church, and the persons to whom this work belongs, that they should go forth, and lay off other stakes of Zion or places of gathering, so that the poor may have a place of refuge, or places of refuge, in the day of tribulation which is coming swiftly on the earth. N. K. WHITNEY, R. CAHOON, V. KNIGHT. Palmyra Portage Co. Ohio, Sept. 14th, 1837."
[THE LATTER DAY SAINTS' MESSENGER AND ADVOCATE, Vol. III, No. 12, KIRTLAND, OHIO, SEPTEMBER, 1837. http://www.centerplace.org/history/ma/v3n12.htm, as quoted in The Last Days and December 1890 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ, y George D. Speer Sr., privately circulated]
[THE LATTER DAY SAINTS' MESSENGER AND ADVOCATE, Vol. III, No. 12, KIRTLAND, OHIO, SEPTEMBER, 1837. http://www.centerplace.org/history/ma/v3n12.htm, as quoted in The Last Days and December 1890 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ, y George D. Speer Sr., privately circulated]
65 years ago today - Sep 13, 1957
While Benson was Secretary of Agriculture, BYU's president observed: "Apparently, however, Benson stands aloof from all his advisors, and they are afraid to tell him what they think.
[Wilkinson diary, 13 Sept. 1957. 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.]
[Wilkinson diary, 13 Sept. 1957. 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.]
80 years ago today - Sep 13, 1942
[Heber J. Grant]
I had a long talk with him [George F. Richards] and he is very anxious that I nominate someone to be the Patriarch of the Church. He feels that a mistake has been made in waiting ten long years since Brother Hyrum G. Smith died. I assured him that I had made up my mind to appoint some person to the position. He expressed his pleasure and assured me that whomever I named he would heartily support.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
I had a long talk with him [George F. Richards] and he is very anxious that I nominate someone to be the Patriarch of the Church. He feels that a mistake has been made in waiting ten long years since Brother Hyrum G. Smith died. I assured him that I had made up my mind to appoint some person to the position. He expressed his pleasure and assured me that whomever I named he would heartily support.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
85 years ago today - Sep 13, 1937
Con Bluth, later the Disney animator for such classics as Sleeping Beauty (1955) and Pete's Dragon (1977) and director of An American Tail (1987) and Land Before Time (1987), is born in El Paso, Texas.
135 years ago today - Sep 13, 1887 • Tuesday
[George Q. Cannon]
Tuesday, Sept. 13/87. I did not sleep very much last night in consequence of a communication which was made to me concerning the feelings of some of the brethren of the Twelve in regard to myself. The communication was made in confidence and the party making it did not wish his name mentioned in connection with it. I have felt for some time that there is some influence at work which is not of the Lord. We have had more division and feelings among us than I think is profitable. In fact, I have lost confidence in the State movement, because of these manifestations of feeling that I have witnessed, and for some reason I have been made in part the object of (at least, it seemed to me so) manifestations of feeling. The acts of the First Presidency which have not been agreeable to some of the brethren of the Twelve, I find that I am blamed with. I am credited with having had great influence with President Taylor and that through this influence measures were adopted that, in some instance, were not pleasing to the brethren of the Twelve. I have learned that Bro. H. J. Grant particularly had made expressions that I considered very unsuitable for a man in his calling to make concerning another. But I learned that Bros. M. Thatcher and F. M. Lyman had also expressed themselves concerning me. I was very much grieved to hear this, because I have met with these brethren before President Taylor died and supposed that everything was pleasant and harmonious; but they have concealed their feelings from me; and even now, after we have had one meeting in which explanations were made, they seem still, so it appears, to entertain feelings that I think improper. ...
[The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]
Tuesday, Sept. 13/87. I did not sleep very much last night in consequence of a communication which was made to me concerning the feelings of some of the brethren of the Twelve in regard to myself. The communication was made in confidence and the party making it did not wish his name mentioned in connection with it. I have felt for some time that there is some influence at work which is not of the Lord. We have had more division and feelings among us than I think is profitable. In fact, I have lost confidence in the State movement, because of these manifestations of feeling that I have witnessed, and for some reason I have been made in part the object of (at least, it seemed to me so) manifestations of feeling. The acts of the First Presidency which have not been agreeable to some of the brethren of the Twelve, I find that I am blamed with. I am credited with having had great influence with President Taylor and that through this influence measures were adopted that, in some instance, were not pleasing to the brethren of the Twelve. I have learned that Bro. H. J. Grant particularly had made expressions that I considered very unsuitable for a man in his calling to make concerning another. But I learned that Bros. M. Thatcher and F. M. Lyman had also expressed themselves concerning me. I was very much grieved to hear this, because I have met with these brethren before President Taylor died and supposed that everything was pleasant and harmonious; but they have concealed their feelings from me; and even now, after we have had one meeting in which explanations were made, they seem still, so it appears, to entertain feelings that I think improper. ...
[The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]