[Leonard Arrington]
This morning Jim [Allen] and Davis [Bitton] and I went down to the Board Room in the Church Administration Building to witness the news conference in which the new First Presidency were presented to national and local reporters. ... Wendell Ashton brought in the First Presidency, seated them at a table with President [Spencer W.] Kimball in the center-President [N. Eldon] Tanner on his right, President [Marion G.] Romney on his left, and Elder Ezra [Taft] Benson on President Romney's left. ...
In giving biographical information about President Romney, he mentioned that his father, George Romney, [[George S. Romney (1874-1935) presided over Ricks College for thirteen years, 1917-30. He was an uncle of George W. Romney, governor of Michigan and US presidential candidate, and like his nephew grew up in the Mormon colonies in Mexico.]] had served as president of Ricks College. It occurred to me that we ought to do an article on President Romney and his father for Idaho Yesterdays.
Wendell then introduced in turn each of the persons to say a few words. President Kimball spoke about ten minutes. He said first that it had occurred to him that there was a broad biographical representation in the First Presidency of the Church. President Tanner was from Canada, President Romney from Mexico, himself from Arizona, and Elder Benson from Idaho, and all of them had spent a great deal of time in Utah. This emphasized the international leadership of the Church. ...
President Kimball said that he had also been instrumental in establishing the radio station in Safford, KGLU. "K" stood for Kimball; "G" for his partner, whose name I didn't get; "L" for another partner, Long; "U" for Udall, anther prominent family in that region and perhaps another partner.
... President Romney began his remarks by speaking in Spanish. ... President Benson said he had always tried to be accommodating to the press and regarded the press as the only dictators that he knew. ...
[Question fro reporter:] Negroes and the priesthood. Will there be any change in that policy now or in the future? President Kimball said that "this is a matter which depends upon the Lord. We ourselves have not said [made] this policy. We are subject to the revelations of the Lord and if the Lord should dictate a change in this then it will occur." ... [Question:] Women. Will there be a change in attitude toward women? "Not too abruptly," answered President Kimball. "We believe that the ideal place for women is in the home. She has a sacred responsibility and privilege to be a partner with God in the creation of children and in bringing them up to be fine persons." ...
In the news conference of the new First Presidency, I was impressed with the extreme soberness of the brethren present. There were no smiles or no jokes. There seemed to be a gravely serious demeanor, no smiles, perhaps even a tenseness. They were overly solemn. This may have been partly a result of the occasion of President Lee's death. It may also be the result of special prayers offered in the meeting in the temple.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
75 years ago today - Dec 31, 1948
A report indicates that the total value of relief supplies sent to the Saints in Europe after World War II amounts to $1,736,000.
85 years ago today - Dec 31, 1938
[Heber J. Grant]
Joseph Fielding Smith called on me today and I handed him the letter that I dictated to him this morning. I told him of my remarks to his father at the time he, Joseph, was chosen to be an apostle, and that I was glad to welcome him into the quorum, and that I had had an impression that he would be an apostle, that I was disappointed when his brother Hyrum was chosen first. I haven't any doubt in my mind that he is the best scriptorian of the General Authorities of the Church.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
Joseph Fielding Smith called on me today and I handed him the letter that I dictated to him this morning. I told him of my remarks to his father at the time he, Joseph, was chosen to be an apostle, and that I was glad to welcome him into the quorum, and that I had had an impression that he would be an apostle, that I was disappointed when his brother Hyrum was chosen first. I haven't any doubt in my mind that he is the best scriptorian of the General Authorities of the Church.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
130 years ago today - Dec 31, 1893
[Wilford Woodruff]
It has been a vary important year in Many respects. It has been a hard year throughout the world in financial Matters. Money hard to obtain. Their has been the Greatest Changes taken place Concerning the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints during the year 1893 Ever known since its Organization.
A Bill for the Admission of Utah into the Union as A State Passed the House of Representatives with ownly 5 opposing votes.
The Mormon Quire [Choir] took the 2d Prize in the Chicago fair in Contesting against the world. W. Woodruff G Q Cannon & J F Smith as the Presidency of the Church was Received with open Arms at the Chicago fair by the Leading Men of the world. Even the Mayor & Citizens of Jackson County Entertained us in the & made us welcome And all our opponets in Utah have laid down the weapons of war And Ask for a State Government.
Our Temple is Dedicated.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
It has been a vary important year in Many respects. It has been a hard year throughout the world in financial Matters. Money hard to obtain. Their has been the Greatest Changes taken place Concerning the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints during the year 1893 Ever known since its Organization.
A Bill for the Admission of Utah into the Union as A State Passed the House of Representatives with ownly 5 opposing votes.
The Mormon Quire [Choir] took the 2d Prize in the Chicago fair in Contesting against the world. W. Woodruff G Q Cannon & J F Smith as the Presidency of the Church was Received with open Arms at the Chicago fair by the Leading Men of the world. Even the Mayor & Citizens of Jackson County Entertained us in the & made us welcome And all our opponets in Utah have laid down the weapons of war And Ask for a State Government.
Our Temple is Dedicated.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
130 years ago today - Sunday, Dec 31, 1893
[John Henry Smith, during the 1893 recession]
My affairs at this writing are in bad fix. I owe much money and am paying no interest on it. Times are hard. Many people are without the necessities of life. My heart bleeds for my Kind. Confidence seems lacking in the breast of men everywhere in the world.
[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]
My affairs at this writing are in bad fix. I owe much money and am paying no interest on it. Times are hard. Many people are without the necessities of life. My heart bleeds for my Kind. Confidence seems lacking in the breast of men everywhere in the world.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
130 years ago today - Dec 31, 1893
[Heber J. Grant]
.... I am thankful to be able to record that there has not seemed to be the great change in our home that most people have to endure when the wife dies. I do not know how to be thankful enough that I was the husband of more than one wife at the time that Lucy died.
I am fully convinced that the hard times will do me good by teaching me the lesson not to borrow so much money.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
.... I am thankful to be able to record that there has not seemed to be the great change in our home that most people have to endure when the wife dies. I do not know how to be thankful enough that I was the husband of more than one wife at the time that Lucy died.
I am fully convinced that the hard times will do me good by teaching me the lesson not to borrow so much money.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
130 years ago today - Dec 31, 1893
... Prest. Geo. Q. Cannon then came to stand and desired to make a few remarks upon the Kingdom of God as he understood it from the Prophet Joseph Smith who had said to some of the members of the Church who were there assembled. "The Kingdom of God is a political organization and is composed both of members of the Church of Christ and those who are not members of the Church. The object of this Kingdom will be to uphold the rights and liberties of all denominations and to Sustain the Constitution of the Country."
[Diary Excerpts of Thomas A. Clawson, Signature Books Library, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Diary Excerpts of Thomas A. Clawson, Signature Books Library, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
135 years ago today - Dec 31, 1888 (Monday)
The Old Folks, widows and orphans were treated to a free entertainment at the Theatre.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
160 years ago today - Dec 31, 1863
[Wilford Woodruff]
Thus Ends the year 1863. Joseph the Prophet said whoever lived to see 1860 would live to See the Commencement of the downfall of the United States. The Union was dissolved in 1860 & Civel war Commenced which has raged Ever since & the Land is beginning to be bathed in Blood & will Continue untill the words of the Prophet will be fulfilled. It is an important age of the world, and the Events of Each year are rapidly fullfilling the words of all Prophets since the world Began.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Thus Ends the year 1863. Joseph the Prophet said whoever lived to see 1860 would live to See the Commencement of the downfall of the United States. The Union was dissolved in 1860 & Civel war Commenced which has raged Ever since & the Land is beginning to be bathed in Blood & will Continue untill the words of the Prophet will be fulfilled. It is an important age of the world, and the Events of Each year are rapidly fullfilling the words of all Prophets since the world Began.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
180 years ago today - Dec 31, 1843
Joseph writes: "At midnight, about 50 musicians and singers sang Phelps' New Year's Hymn under my window."
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
190 years ago today - 1833 Winter.
Joseph Smith's first polygamous marriage (Fanny Alger).
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
50 years ago today - Dec 30, 1973-Sunday
[Leonard Arrington]
I was told this afternoon that President Kimball was a traditionalistvery conservative as to doctrine and as to procedures. A prediction was made that he would most likely choose Elders [Ezra Taft] Benson and [Mark E.] Petersen, as the senior members of the Quorum after him, to be his counselors. He has great compassion for ordinary persons and their problems, but his approach is that of a traditionalist rather than an innovator.
I was also told that Elder Kimball and Elder Benson were called at the same time. They were notified to go to church headquarters for the interview at about the same time. [[Kimball was actually notified of his call several months before Benson.]] Elder Kimball happened to arrive just 10 minutes ahead of Elder Benson, and had the first interview. Then Elder Benson. Then their names were presented in that order to the conference, and they were ordained in that order. I was told that he had heard this from Elder Benson himself. This suggests that perhaps Elder Benson feels it was an accident that he followed Elder Kimball in order of seniority. If this story is true, and if Elder Kimball is aware of or sympathetic with this feeling, then perhaps he will choose Elder Benson as a counselor. On the other hand, there will certainly be strong precedent for maintaining the same counselors that President Lee had. We'll know tomorrow at 10 a.m.
I have been amazed at the number of reports of people reading Nightfall at Nauvoo by Sam Taylor. This suggests how starved member[s] of the Church are for dramatically written historical material. It also shows their curiosity. They are not buying the seminary version of Church History. It must not be the whole story. So they are reading something that may give them the low down on what really happened.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
I was told this afternoon that President Kimball was a traditionalistvery conservative as to doctrine and as to procedures. A prediction was made that he would most likely choose Elders [Ezra Taft] Benson and [Mark E.] Petersen, as the senior members of the Quorum after him, to be his counselors. He has great compassion for ordinary persons and their problems, but his approach is that of a traditionalist rather than an innovator.
I was also told that Elder Kimball and Elder Benson were called at the same time. They were notified to go to church headquarters for the interview at about the same time. [[Kimball was actually notified of his call several months before Benson.]] Elder Kimball happened to arrive just 10 minutes ahead of Elder Benson, and had the first interview. Then Elder Benson. Then their names were presented in that order to the conference, and they were ordained in that order. I was told that he had heard this from Elder Benson himself. This suggests that perhaps Elder Benson feels it was an accident that he followed Elder Kimball in order of seniority. If this story is true, and if Elder Kimball is aware of or sympathetic with this feeling, then perhaps he will choose Elder Benson as a counselor. On the other hand, there will certainly be strong precedent for maintaining the same counselors that President Lee had. We'll know tomorrow at 10 a.m.
I have been amazed at the number of reports of people reading Nightfall at Nauvoo by Sam Taylor. This suggests how starved member[s] of the Church are for dramatically written historical material. It also shows their curiosity. They are not buying the seminary version of Church History. It must not be the whole story. So they are reading something that may give them the low down on what really happened.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
50 years ago today - Dec 30, 1973
Quorum of Twelve Apostles sustains Spencer W. Kimball as church president with N. Eldon Tanner and Marion G. Romney as counselors, and ordains President Kimball.
[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 - Dec 30, 1933
[Heber J. Grant]
I had a talk with President Ivins and told him I was in favor of all of the General Authorities resigning as directors of the Utah Hotel, because I felt they would simply have to sell beer and it would be better for us to be out of it. He did not agree with me. We decided to call a directors meeting, however, for Tuesday to decide just what to do with regard to selling legalized beer.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
I had a talk with President Ivins and told him I was in favor of all of the General Authorities resigning as directors of the Utah Hotel, because I felt they would simply have to sell beer and it would be better for us to be out of it. He did not agree with me. We decided to call a directors meeting, however, for Tuesday to decide just what to do with regard to selling legalized beer.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
90 years ago today - Dec 30, 1933
The Salt Lake Temple receives forty thousand or more recommends annually. Since most of these are received during January, and thousands of members require the redating of their admission cards, it is no small task to maintain the readily accessible file required.
[Deseret News, Dec. 30, 1933, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
[Deseret News, Dec. 30, 1933, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
35 years ago today - Dec 29, 1988
New York Times reports that the fertility rate declined in Utah for the first time since the arrival of Mormons.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
45 years ago today - Dec 29,1978
First Presidency allows women to pray in sacrament meetings again, rescind earlier ban from Jul 1967.
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-1996, http://amzn.to/extensions-power]
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-1996, http://amzn.to/extensions-power]
55 years ago today - Dec 29, 1968
Gallup opinion poll lists David O. McKay as second most admired religious leader in America. Richard James Cushing, Roman Catholic cardinal of Boston, is most admired.
[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 - Dec 29, 1928
[Heber J. Grant]
President Hugh B. Brown called and told of meetings that were being held in which plural marriage is advocated, and that people say you cannot reach the highest glory without entering into it; that Kimball who was excommunicated from the Church was there and opened the meeting and told the Lord in his prayer that they were there in opposition to the Church and in opposition to the laws of the land, but they were there to do the will of the Lord, etc. We told him to cite all they could that were at such a meeting and make them pledge themselves to stop going or be tried for their fellowship.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
President Hugh B. Brown called and told of meetings that were being held in which plural marriage is advocated, and that people say you cannot reach the highest glory without entering into it; that Kimball who was excommunicated from the Church was there and opened the meeting and told the Lord in his prayer that they were there in opposition to the Church and in opposition to the laws of the land, but they were there to do the will of the Lord, etc. We told him to cite all they could that were at such a meeting and make them pledge themselves to stop going or be tried for their fellowship.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
125 years ago today - Dec 29, 1898 (Thursday)
Pres. Lorenzo Snow, in a telegraphic communication to the New York World, declared officially that polygamous or plural marriages ceased in Utah with the issuance of the manifesto by the late Pres. Wilford Woodruff in 1890, and that the election of Brigham H. Roberts to Congress was an entirely secular affair, with which the Church had nothing to do.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
125 years ago today - Dec 29, 1898; Thursday
Elder Lund reported information to the effect that the Governor of Aleppo had received word from Constantinople [Turkey] not to recognize the petition presented by the Saints at the former place for recognition as a religious body. The primary object in endeavoring to obtain such recognition was that our people in that country might tax themselves and have the right to circulate printed matter. The Governor of Aleppo had also received instructions to prevent the Armenian Saints from colonizing. Brother Lund thought the best thing that could be done at present was to advance a little means to enable our Armenian brethren to purchase looms and some raw material for weaving purposes, as this would make the independent of employers who had commended to boycott them on account of their religion. ...
An order was issued by the Presidency for the payment of $200, appropriated some time ago by President [Wilford] Woodruff in favor of Elder C[harles]. W. Penrose, in view of the fact that at the time of the general reduction of salaries in the Church offices, his salary was reduced a greater percentage than those of other Church employes.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
An order was issued by the Presidency for the payment of $200, appropriated some time ago by President [Wilford] Woodruff in favor of Elder C[harles]. W. Penrose, in view of the fact that at the time of the general reduction of salaries in the Church offices, his salary was reduced a greater percentage than those of other Church employes.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
130 years ago today - Dec 29, 1893
[Francis M. Lyman]
The next question was the purchase of $30,000 worth of coal mines in coal creek canyon. This I also strenuously opposed til Pres[ident] [Wilford] Woodruff announced it as the mind of the Lord that the purchase should be made. I then voted for it with the rest of the council. The next matter was the building of the Salt Lake and Los Angeles Railway to the Pacific Coast. I was in favor of building the road but opposed the use of Church funds for the purpose. I found myself off my base a little because I was not at a meeting of the council some weeks ago when it was concluded to make it a church enterprise. I found myself alone in my opposition and finally yielded to sustain the Presidency in using church funds or guaranteeing the bonds of the road as the spirit of the Lord shall prompt. It took us 7 1/41/4 hours to agree to those things. My words were almost alone in opposition and it made me tremble lest I was wrong in my feelings. I never made so many objections to propositions of
the Presidency. Pres[ident] [George Q.] Cannon particularly seemed annoyed by my persistent objections. I yielded ever point to the better judgement of my brethren when I had almost exhausted their patience, though I was not converted.
[Francis M. Lyman, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
The next question was the purchase of $30,000 worth of coal mines in coal creek canyon. This I also strenuously opposed til Pres[ident] [Wilford] Woodruff announced it as the mind of the Lord that the purchase should be made. I then voted for it with the rest of the council. The next matter was the building of the Salt Lake and Los Angeles Railway to the Pacific Coast. I was in favor of building the road but opposed the use of Church funds for the purpose. I found myself off my base a little because I was not at a meeting of the council some weeks ago when it was concluded to make it a church enterprise. I found myself alone in my opposition and finally yielded to sustain the Presidency in using church funds or guaranteeing the bonds of the road as the spirit of the Lord shall prompt. It took us 7 1/41/4 hours to agree to those things. My words were almost alone in opposition and it made me tremble lest I was wrong in my feelings. I never made so many objections to propositions of
the Presidency. Pres[ident] [George Q.] Cannon particularly seemed annoyed by my persistent objections. I yielded ever point to the better judgement of my brethren when I had almost exhausted their patience, though I was not converted.
[Francis M. Lyman, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
170 years ago today - Dec 29, 1853 (Thursday)
The so-called Spanish wall built in part around G.S.L. City this year was twelve feet high, six feet thick at the base, tapering to two feet six inches six feet from the ground, and preserving that thickness to the top. It was six miles in length.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
180 years ago today - Dec 29, 1843
At the organization of the Nauvoo police (former Danites), Smith authorizes them to kill "if need be" and says his life is endangered by "a little dough-head" and "a Brutus." First Counselor William Law assumes this refers to him. Joseph Smith pronounced a blessing on them and offered to pay twice the amount of any bribe offered to them for information about the briber.
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power; BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power; BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]
190 years ago today - Dec 29, 1833
Wilford Woodruff begins recording early Latter-day Saint history in his diary for the first time upon his conversion. In these diaries, he recorded the daily events of the Church for some sixty-five years. He writes:
"I thought it was what I had long been looking for. I could not feel it my duty to leeve the house without bearing witness to the truth before the people. I opened my eyes to see, my ears to hear, my heart to understand, and my doors to entertain him who had administered to us. Brother Pulsipher continued labouring with us for several days and on the 31th of December I with my Brother—Azmon Woodruff with two yong females which had been healed by the laying on of hands went forward in baptism."
"I thought it was what I had long been looking for. I could not feel it my duty to leeve the house without bearing witness to the truth before the people. I opened my eyes to see, my ears to hear, my heart to understand, and my doors to entertain him who had administered to us. Brother Pulsipher continued labouring with us for several days and on the 31th of December I with my Brother—Azmon Woodruff with two yong females which had been healed by the laying on of hands went forward in baptism."
25 years ago today - Dec 28, 1998
A major revision of the Church Handbook of Instructions was completed. It brought priesthood and auxiliary leader guidebooks together for the first time into a two volume handbook. Previously, there had been thirty separate handbooks and publications.
[Correlation Timeline, Compiled by Lisle Brown]
[Correlation Timeline, Compiled by Lisle Brown]
50 years ago today - Dec 28, 1973-Friday
[Leonard Arrington]
Dr. Warr told some interesting things about Reed Benson [oldest son of apostle Ezra Taft Benson] while he was fixing my teeth. He was a companion to Reed in the British Mission [in 1947-49]. ...
Dr. Warr said Reed had heard when he was a student at BYU that when two people sleep together (like missionaries) [in the same bed] the smaller and weaker of the two will lose strength and vitality to the stronger of the two. And he thought that he must be losing strength to Dr. Warr, which accounted for his lack of vitality and energy to do all he wanted on his mission. So he proposed to sleep in his sleeping bag next to Dr. Warr so he wouldn't continue to lose his strength. Dr. Warr told him he wasn't sleeping next to a sleeping bag. The matter came up to President Boyer who told Dr. Warr to throw it out the window if he persisted in doing it. Dr. Warr was later telling this to one of his relatives who responded, with reference to Reed: "That elder should have known that it is always the weaker person who draws strength from the stronger!"
Reed was always wanting to do things an easier and better way, and this sometimes involved questions of mission policy and mission rules; so he was a kind of problem for the mission president. ... according to Dr. Warr, at the suggestion of President Lee and other church authorities, he has left John Birch, and is now a full-time [LDS] seminary teacher in Washington.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
Dr. Warr told some interesting things about Reed Benson [oldest son of apostle Ezra Taft Benson] while he was fixing my teeth. He was a companion to Reed in the British Mission [in 1947-49]. ...
Dr. Warr said Reed had heard when he was a student at BYU that when two people sleep together (like missionaries) [in the same bed] the smaller and weaker of the two will lose strength and vitality to the stronger of the two. And he thought that he must be losing strength to Dr. Warr, which accounted for his lack of vitality and energy to do all he wanted on his mission. So he proposed to sleep in his sleeping bag next to Dr. Warr so he wouldn't continue to lose his strength. Dr. Warr told him he wasn't sleeping next to a sleeping bag. The matter came up to President Boyer who told Dr. Warr to throw it out the window if he persisted in doing it. Dr. Warr was later telling this to one of his relatives who responded, with reference to Reed: "That elder should have known that it is always the weaker person who draws strength from the stronger!"
Reed was always wanting to do things an easier and better way, and this sometimes involved questions of mission policy and mission rules; so he was a kind of problem for the mission president. ... according to Dr. Warr, at the suggestion of President Lee and other church authorities, he has left John Birch, and is now a full-time [LDS] seminary teacher in Washington.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
85 years ago today - Dec 28, 1938
[Joseph Fielding Smith]
I attended sessions of meetings held in the assembly hall for the Institute teachers held in the assembly room on the fourth floor of the Church Office Building. I cannot say that I was very greatly edified. Too much philosophy of a worldly nature does not seem to mix well with the fundamentals of the Gospel. In my opinion many of our teachers employed in the Church School System have absorbed too much of the paganism of the world, and have accepted too readily the views of uninspired educators without regard for the revealed word of God. What to do about it I do not know. ... It is easy for one who observes to see how the Apostacy came about in the Primitive Church of Jesus Christ. Are we not traveling the same road? ... Modern theories which are so popular today just do not harmonize with the Gospel as revealed to the Prophets and it would be amusing if it were not a tragedy to see how some of our educated brethren attempted to harmonize the theories of men with the revealed
word of the Lord. Thank the Lord there is still some faith left, and some members who still cherish the word of the Lord and accept the prophets. Surely the world is ripening for destruction and Satan has power and dominion over his own. ...
[Joseph Fielding Smith, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
I attended sessions of meetings held in the assembly hall for the Institute teachers held in the assembly room on the fourth floor of the Church Office Building. I cannot say that I was very greatly edified. Too much philosophy of a worldly nature does not seem to mix well with the fundamentals of the Gospel. In my opinion many of our teachers employed in the Church School System have absorbed too much of the paganism of the world, and have accepted too readily the views of uninspired educators without regard for the revealed word of God. What to do about it I do not know. ... It is easy for one who observes to see how the Apostacy came about in the Primitive Church of Jesus Christ. Are we not traveling the same road? ... Modern theories which are so popular today just do not harmonize with the Gospel as revealed to the Prophets and it would be amusing if it were not a tragedy to see how some of our educated brethren attempted to harmonize the theories of men with the revealed
word of the Lord. Thank the Lord there is still some faith left, and some members who still cherish the word of the Lord and accept the prophets. Surely the world is ripening for destruction and Satan has power and dominion over his own. ...
[Joseph Fielding Smith, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
105 years ago today - Dec 28, 1918
Resumption of regular religious services following influenza epidemic
[1918-December 28-Deseret News, December 28, 1918, in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
[1918-December 28-Deseret News, December 28, 1918, in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
125 years ago today - Dec 28, 1898; Wednesday
Elder B. H. Roberts came to the Presidents' office and stated that he had been called upon by a special correspondent of the New York World, who had invited him to use the columns of that paper in whatever defence he might have to make against the efforts of the Presbyterians to prevent him from getting his seat in Congress. Brother Roberts said that up to this time he had studiously remained silent, but it had now become a question whether he should not take advantage of this offer to tell his side of the story. During the conversation that ensued President [Lorenzo] Snow told Brother Roberts that he regarded this as a very important matter, and felt that the Lord had design in relation to it which he would bring about. The President felt that the Lord would sustain Brother Roberts in the position he was now in, as he himself sustained him
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
130 years ago today - Dec 28, 1893
[Francis M. Lyman]
.... Then Pres[ident] [George Q.] Cannon reported his trip east to raise money to build the Salt Lake and Los Angeles Railway. Capitalists in the East must have the church endorse the bonds if they buy them.
[Francis M. Lyman, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
.... Then Pres[ident] [George Q.] Cannon reported his trip east to raise money to build the Salt Lake and Los Angeles Railway. Capitalists in the East must have the church endorse the bonds if they buy them.
[Francis M. Lyman, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
175 years ago today - Dec 28, 1848
[Hosea Stout]
Meeting called this morning for the purpose of consulting the practibility of issuing Bills of credit or notes to answer for curiency for the time being as the gold dust cannot be coined for the want of crusibles at present.
The gold dust to be deposited with the President & no more than the amount to be issued in bills.which plan was agreed upon.
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
Meeting called this morning for the purpose of consulting the practibility of issuing Bills of credit or notes to answer for curiency for the time being as the gold dust cannot be coined for the want of crusibles at present.
The gold dust to be deposited with the President & no more than the amount to be issued in bills.which plan was agreed upon.
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
180 years ago today - Dec 28, 1843
[Brigham Young]
When the Temple is done I expect we shall be baptized, washed anointed ordained, & offer up the keys & signs of the priesthood for our dead that they may have a full salvation & we shall be a saviors on mount Zion acording to the Scriptures.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
When the Temple is done I expect we shall be baptized, washed anointed ordained, & offer up the keys & signs of the priesthood for our dead that they may have a full salvation & we shall be a saviors on mount Zion acording to the Scriptures.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
125 years ago today - Dec 27, 1898
[James E. Talmage]
Began the reading of manuscript for a proposed theological publication; the reading was before a committee created at my request by action of the First Presidency of the Church. The history of the affair is briefly as follows:—Years ago, while I was officially connected with the Church School work, the First Presidency expressed to me their desire to have prepared a book or a series of books, suitable for use as textbooks in theological classes of the Church. This developed into a request that I write such a book ... I was appointed instructor, and the work decided upon was a series of lectures on the "Articles of Faith," the plan being that I present in lecture form the matter which would have been published as the substance of the proposed book. At my request a committee was appointed to pass upon the matter of the lectures. Twenty-two lectures were given before the class: ... Part of the matter presented to the class was published in serial form in the "Juvenile
Instructor" ... For three months past I have been suffering from my baneful affliction of sleeplessness, and my nights, often extending until daybreak have been devoted to writing the matter, which is now practically completed. ... As stated, at my recent request, the First Presidency appointed a committee to hear and pass upon the matter in its present form. ...
[The Journals of James E. Talmage—Excerpts, Compiled by J. Trevor Antley, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dOE6pgN6OkBJIq-X73JGpCdt0p5b8_UdfTfLREz4uTg/]
Began the reading of manuscript for a proposed theological publication; the reading was before a committee created at my request by action of the First Presidency of the Church. The history of the affair is briefly as follows:—Years ago, while I was officially connected with the Church School work, the First Presidency expressed to me their desire to have prepared a book or a series of books, suitable for use as textbooks in theological classes of the Church. This developed into a request that I write such a book ... I was appointed instructor, and the work decided upon was a series of lectures on the "Articles of Faith," the plan being that I present in lecture form the matter which would have been published as the substance of the proposed book. At my request a committee was appointed to pass upon the matter of the lectures. Twenty-two lectures were given before the class: ... Part of the matter presented to the class was published in serial form in the "Juvenile
Instructor" ... For three months past I have been suffering from my baneful affliction of sleeplessness, and my nights, often extending until daybreak have been devoted to writing the matter, which is now practically completed. ... As stated, at my recent request, the First Presidency appointed a committee to hear and pass upon the matter in its present form. ...
[The Journals of James E. Talmage—Excerpts, Compiled by J. Trevor Antley, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dOE6pgN6OkBJIq-X73JGpCdt0p5b8_UdfTfLREz4uTg/]
125 years ago today - Dec 27, 1898; Tuesday
[J. Golden Kimball]
At 7 A.M. called to see President Lorenzo Snow, at his residence #37 Canyon Road. He received me very kindly. We chatted about polygamy. Pres[ident] Snow said, if there has been any marriages since the Manifesto I do not know it, but I can assure you there will be no more until the Lord reveals it direct. Also conversed on financial condition of the Church, saying the Church owed One Million and one half. Pres[ident] Snow said it was a great trial to him, as he was not an advocate of the Church Speculating or going in debt, and they should not with his consent.
[J. Golden Kimball, Diary]
At 7 A.M. called to see President Lorenzo Snow, at his residence #37 Canyon Road. He received me very kindly. We chatted about polygamy. Pres[ident] Snow said, if there has been any marriages since the Manifesto I do not know it, but I can assure you there will be no more until the Lord reveals it direct. Also conversed on financial condition of the Church, saying the Church owed One Million and one half. Pres[ident] Snow said it was a great trial to him, as he was not an advocate of the Church Speculating or going in debt, and they should not with his consent.
[J. Golden Kimball, Diary]
130 years ago today - Dec 27, 1893
[John M. Whitaker]
At the Council meeting of the Seventies today in the Temple, a matter occurred that all present will never forget. The Council room of the Seventies is next to that of the Twelve Apostles, and just as I was finishing reading the Minutes, Apostle Francis M. Lyman president of the Twelve came in and sat down by me, and asked for the privilege, of speaking: He took the letter written to him by Brother [B. H.] Roberts wherein Brother Roberts held that the High Priests were not as high as the Seventy, and also spoke of Brother Roberts address at Loa, San Pete County [Utah] Conference of Seventies wherein Brother Roberts preached the doctrine that the Seventies hold a higher Priesthood than that of the High Priests.
'The same controversy that has been going on for weeks, and for nearly three hours Brother Lyman, preached opposite to this that the Position of the High Priests is the highest office a man can hold, and that the Seventy is World wide as a missionary, and under the directions of the Twelve Apostles, and what he Brother Lyman was saying is the word of the Lord and he asked that from this time forward Brother Roberts adhere to this doctrine. After Brother Lyman went back to the room of the Twelve, the First Council remained and discussed the matter until after 3 pm and although there was an excellent feeling, I don't believe this will settle the matter between President B. H. Roberts and President Francis M. Lyman, two strong characters, but that we will hear more from this marvelous and important matter. And unless there is a revelation, or a pronouncement from the First Presidency of the Church it will rage as it has been doing for months past and it is not a good thing.
All over the Church people of different views are taking sides, and I have a ticket to a debate on this same subject in this City this coming Saturday night. I regret this wide publicity and division of sentiment on doctrines of the Church. And pray that wisdom may bring it to a speedy conclusion. It has also brought a division on the subject on church influence and this is affecting Both Democratic as well as Republican members of the Church, both taking sides as they see it. I hope to see it settled soon.
[John M. Whitaker, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
At the Council meeting of the Seventies today in the Temple, a matter occurred that all present will never forget. The Council room of the Seventies is next to that of the Twelve Apostles, and just as I was finishing reading the Minutes, Apostle Francis M. Lyman president of the Twelve came in and sat down by me, and asked for the privilege, of speaking: He took the letter written to him by Brother [B. H.] Roberts wherein Brother Roberts held that the High Priests were not as high as the Seventy, and also spoke of Brother Roberts address at Loa, San Pete County [Utah] Conference of Seventies wherein Brother Roberts preached the doctrine that the Seventies hold a higher Priesthood than that of the High Priests.
'The same controversy that has been going on for weeks, and for nearly three hours Brother Lyman, preached opposite to this that the Position of the High Priests is the highest office a man can hold, and that the Seventy is World wide as a missionary, and under the directions of the Twelve Apostles, and what he Brother Lyman was saying is the word of the Lord and he asked that from this time forward Brother Roberts adhere to this doctrine. After Brother Lyman went back to the room of the Twelve, the First Council remained and discussed the matter until after 3 pm and although there was an excellent feeling, I don't believe this will settle the matter between President B. H. Roberts and President Francis M. Lyman, two strong characters, but that we will hear more from this marvelous and important matter. And unless there is a revelation, or a pronouncement from the First Presidency of the Church it will rage as it has been doing for months past and it is not a good thing.
All over the Church people of different views are taking sides, and I have a ticket to a debate on this same subject in this City this coming Saturday night. I regret this wide publicity and division of sentiment on doctrines of the Church. And pray that wisdom may bring it to a speedy conclusion. It has also brought a division on the subject on church influence and this is affecting Both Democratic as well as Republican members of the Church, both taking sides as they see it. I hope to see it settled soon.
[John M. Whitaker, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
180 years ago today - Dec 27, 1843
Church newspaper Nauvoo Neighbor advertises ale and beer from Nauvoo Brewery.
[Chronology of Mormon History, http://followtheprophets.com/chronology-of-mormon-history/]
[Chronology of Mormon History, http://followtheprophets.com/chronology-of-mormon-history/]
185 years ago today - Dec 27, 1838
Anson Call returns to Ray County to sell some property and is taken by a mob and beaten for four hours, until he escapes. ___
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
10 years ago today - Dec 26, 2013
[Same-sex Marriage]
The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals denies Utah's request for stay on Shelby's ruling. Utah County begins issuing same-sex marriage licenses.
[Herald Extra, "LDS Church: No gay marriages in meetinghouses", http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/lds-church-no-gay-marriages-in-meetinghouses/article_9115817b-5e81-5e2f-b1e7-692843870e5d.html]
The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals denies Utah's request for stay on Shelby's ruling. Utah County begins issuing same-sex marriage licenses.
[Herald Extra, "LDS Church: No gay marriages in meetinghouses", http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/lds-church-no-gay-marriages-in-meetinghouses/article_9115817b-5e81-5e2f-b1e7-692843870e5d.html]
10 years ago today - 1 year ago - Dec 26, 2013
[Same-sex Marriage]
The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals denies Utah's request for stay on Shelby's ruling. Utah County begins issuing same-sex marriage licenses.
[Herald Extra, "LDS Church: No gay marriages in meetinghouses", http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/lds-church-no-gay-marriages-in-meetinghouses/article_9115817b-5e81-5e2f-b1e7-692843870e5d.html]
The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals denies Utah's request for stay on Shelby's ruling. Utah County begins issuing same-sex marriage licenses.
[Herald Extra, "LDS Church: No gay marriages in meetinghouses", http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/lds-church-no-gay-marriages-in-meetinghouses/article_9115817b-5e81-5e2f-b1e7-692843870e5d.html]
50 years ago today - Dec 26, 1973
[Harold B. Lee]
Harold Bingham Lee was the eleventh president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was ordained president on 7 July 1972 and served until his death on 26 December 1973. This 538-day tenure is the shortest service by a Mormon Church president in history, this despite the fact that when he assumed the office at age seventy-three he was the youngest president of the church in nearly forty years. His major contributions to the church, as the first managing director of its welfare program and later as the organizer of the church correlation program, were made when he was still serving as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
President Lee's impressive attainments resulted partly from his personal struggles. He had to overcome critics who were jealous of his "beyond his years" abilities; he learned to control a fiery temper and a quick, action-oriented disposition which early in his life offended some people. Especially in his later years, Lee was gentle in manner, compassionate, gracious, hospitable, and thoughtful of others. He was always a gentleman, impeccably dressed. At age seventy-four he served as though in the prime of life, with a rich, full voice and characteristic vigor. His sudden death on 26 December 1973 from cardiac and lung failure stunned the entire church.
[Utah History Encyclopedia: Harold B. Lee, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
Harold Bingham Lee was the eleventh president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was ordained president on 7 July 1972 and served until his death on 26 December 1973. This 538-day tenure is the shortest service by a Mormon Church president in history, this despite the fact that when he assumed the office at age seventy-three he was the youngest president of the church in nearly forty years. His major contributions to the church, as the first managing director of its welfare program and later as the organizer of the church correlation program, were made when he was still serving as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
President Lee's impressive attainments resulted partly from his personal struggles. He had to overcome critics who were jealous of his "beyond his years" abilities; he learned to control a fiery temper and a quick, action-oriented disposition which early in his life offended some people. Especially in his later years, Lee was gentle in manner, compassionate, gracious, hospitable, and thoughtful of others. He was always a gentleman, impeccably dressed. At age seventy-four he served as though in the prime of life, with a rich, full voice and characteristic vigor. His sudden death on 26 December 1973 from cardiac and lung failure stunned the entire church.
[Utah History Encyclopedia: Harold B. Lee, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
175 years ago today - Dec 26, 1848
[Hosea Stout]
I am mostly at home trying to do without coffee which goes very hard.
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
I am mostly at home trying to do without coffee which goes very hard.
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
125 years ago today - Dec 25, 1898
[Apostle Marriner W. Merrill]
Sunday. I am home with Sarah; she had her children all home today but Amos, who is in England on a mission. I went to South Farm at 8 p. m. Maria also had all her children home but Joseph, who is in Baltimore, Md.
[Notes from the Miscellaneous Record Book, 1886-1906: Selected diary notes from the journal books of Marriner Wood Merrill, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Sunday. I am home with Sarah; she had her children all home today but Amos, who is in England on a mission. I went to South Farm at 8 p. m. Maria also had all her children home but Joseph, who is in Baltimore, Md.
[Notes from the Miscellaneous Record Book, 1886-1906: Selected diary notes from the journal books of Marriner Wood Merrill, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
140 years ago today - Dec 25, 1883
[Wilford Woodruff]
25 I wrote a letter to A Hinkley. I sealed 1 Couple at the Altar and I had 4 Adopted to me. I had 1 Sarah Harvey sealed to me. I was sealed for 13 Dead Couple. I Ordained Charoques Erastus to the office of a Seventy I think the first Lamanite Ever ordained to that office in this dispensation. There was 316 Baptisms to day which is Called Christmass.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
25 I wrote a letter to A Hinkley. I sealed 1 Couple at the Altar and I had 4 Adopted to me. I had 1 Sarah Harvey sealed to me. I was sealed for 13 Dead Couple. I Ordained Charoques Erastus to the office of a Seventy I think the first Lamanite Ever ordained to that office in this dispensation. There was 316 Baptisms to day which is Called Christmass.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
180 years ago today - Dec 25, 1843
At one o'clock on Christmas morning, a family of English converts sings Christmas carols under Joseph's window. Joseph's family and boarders in the Mansion House are awake and listen to the music. Joseph blesses the singers. In the afternoon Joseph has 50 couples over for Christmas dinner.
During the evening a long-haired man breaks in and acts "like a Missourian.." The police are called, but when Joseph sees the man, he realizes, to his "great surprise and joy untold," it is Orrin Porter Rockwell, just returned to Nauvoo from his Missouri imprisonment. Rockwell then eats and drinks and relates his Missouri experiences, after which Joseph blesses him, saying, "I prophesy, in the name of the Lord, that you—Orrin Porter Rockwell—so long as you shall remain loyal and true to thy faith, need fear no enemy. Cut not thy hair and no bullet or blade can harm thee!"
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
During the evening a long-haired man breaks in and acts "like a Missourian.." The police are called, but when Joseph sees the man, he realizes, to his "great surprise and joy untold," it is Orrin Porter Rockwell, just returned to Nauvoo from his Missouri imprisonment. Rockwell then eats and drinks and relates his Missouri experiences, after which Joseph blesses him, saying, "I prophesy, in the name of the Lord, that you—Orrin Porter Rockwell—so long as you shall remain loyal and true to thy faith, need fear no enemy. Cut not thy hair and no bullet or blade can harm thee!"
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
180 years ago today - Dec 25, 1843
Amos Davis: Issued six-month license to sell merchandise 25 December 1843.
[Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith]
[Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith]
185 years ago today - Dec 25, 1838
Joseph's brother, Don Carlos, and cousin George A. Smith return from missions in Kentucky and Tennessee. "When nearly home they were known and pursued by the mob, which compelled them to travel one hundred miles in two days and nights. The ground at the time was slippery, and a severe northwest wind was blowing in their faces; they had but little to eat, and narrowly escaped freezing both nights."
[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]
185 years ago today - Dec 25, 1838
Don Carlos Smith: Returned 25 December 1838.
[Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith]
[Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith]
100 years ago today - Dec 24, 1923
Upon returning from his mission to Salt Lake, Ezra Taft Benson asked for and received a second patriarchal blessing, this time from the Church's presiding patriarch, Hyrum Gibbs Smith (1879–1932), to serve as a guidepost for his life's next stage.
[Gary James Bergera, "Ezra Taft Benson's 1921-23 Mission to England", Journal of Mormon History 35:4 (Fall 2009)]
[Gary James Bergera, "Ezra Taft Benson's 1921-23 Mission to England", Journal of Mormon History 35:4 (Fall 2009)]
120 years ago today - Thursday, Dec 24, 1903
[Rudger Clawson]
Elder Jno. H. Smith suggested that it would be wise for the apostles in visiting the stakes to confine their remarks to the preaching of the gospel rather than to refer to ministers of the gospel (?) in the world. Our enemies are watching for something to take hold of just at present.
[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]
Elder Jno. H. Smith suggested that it would be wise for the apostles in visiting the stakes to confine their remarks to the preaching of the gospel rather than to refer to ministers of the gospel (?) in the world. Our enemies are watching for something to take hold of just at present.
[Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
140 years ago today - Dec 24, 1883
[Wilford Woodruff]
I met with 28 Men Holding the Melchesedek Priesthood and I organized them into the school of the Prophets, all of which had Entered into the school of the Patriarchal order of Marriage and all agreed to keep the word of wisdom. <I washed the feet of 24 men.> We broak bread and partook of the sacramet of Bread and wine. <The washing of feet was an introductory ordinance into the school of the prophets. I also gave the salutation to the brethren as they entered the school.> We had a vary interesting day. The spirit of the Lord rested upon us.
[Text in angled brackets are coded in shorthand. Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I met with 28 Men Holding the Melchesedek Priesthood and I organized them into the school of the Prophets, all of which had Entered into the school of the Patriarchal order of Marriage and all agreed to keep the word of wisdom. <I washed the feet of 24 men.> We broak bread and partook of the sacramet of Bread and wine. <The washing of feet was an introductory ordinance into the school of the prophets. I also gave the salutation to the brethren as they entered the school.> We had a vary interesting day. The spirit of the Lord rested upon us.
[Text in angled brackets are coded in shorthand. Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
145 years ago today - Dec 24, 1878
Mormon writes John Taylor concerning new United Order at Sunset, Arizona: "We are building a dining room and are calculating to all eat at the same table like they do at Orderville. But the rumor has come here that the Twelve counsel otherwise." He had not learned about Taylor's letter on 26 Nov. advising against "the idea of all eating at one and the same table, and like matter of lesser moment."
[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 )]]
180 years ago today - Dec 24, 1843
[Helen Mar Kimball (plural wife of Joseph Smith, current age: 15)]
During the winter of 1843, there were plenty of parties and balls, and many were held at the Mansion. The last one that I attended there that winter, was on Christmas Eve. ... I had to stay at home, as my father had been warned by the Prophet to keep his daughter away from there, because of the blacklegs and certain ones of questionable character who attended there. His wife Emma had become the ruling spirit, and money had become her God. ... I felt quite sore over it ... for no girl loved dancing better than I did, and I really felt that it was too much to bear. It made the dull school still more dull, and like a wild bird I longed for the freedom that was denied me; and thought myself a much abused child, and that it was pardonable if I did murmur. I imagined that my happiness was all over, and brooded over the sad memories of sweet departed joys...
[Whitney, Helen Mar, Jeni Broberg Holzapfel, and Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, A Woman's View: Helen Mar Whitney's Reminiscences of Early Church History, Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1997]
During the winter of 1843, there were plenty of parties and balls, and many were held at the Mansion. The last one that I attended there that winter, was on Christmas Eve. ... I had to stay at home, as my father had been warned by the Prophet to keep his daughter away from there, because of the blacklegs and certain ones of questionable character who attended there. His wife Emma had become the ruling spirit, and money had become her God. ... I felt quite sore over it ... for no girl loved dancing better than I did, and I really felt that it was too much to bear. It made the dull school still more dull, and like a wild bird I longed for the freedom that was denied me; and thought myself a much abused child, and that it was pardonable if I did murmur. I imagined that my happiness was all over, and brooded over the sad memories of sweet departed joys...
[Whitney, Helen Mar, Jeni Broberg Holzapfel, and Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, A Woman's View: Helen Mar Whitney's Reminiscences of Early Church History, Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1997]
180 years ago today - Dec 24, 1843
Apostle John E. Page preaches at Boston "that England, Ireland & Scotland would again become catholic....That the pope will unite all Europe to go & fight the Jews at Jerusalem....And the world will not come to an end before 1863."
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
190 years ago today - Dec 24, 1833
[Jesse Townsend]
.... He has had a stone, into which, when placed in a hat, he pretended to look and see chests of money buried in the earth. He was also a fortune-teller, and he claimed to know where stolen goods went--probably too well.
Smith flattered a few of his peculiar fraternity to engage with him in digging for money. After a while, many of these got out of patience with his false pretensions and repeated failures; and, finally, to avoid the sneers of those who had been deceived by him, he pretended that he had found, in digging alone, a wonderful curiosity, which he [p. 288] kept closely secreted. After telling different stories about it, and applying to it different names, he at length called it the golden plates of the Book of Mormon. As he was questioned on the subject from time to time, his story assumed a more uniform statement, the term finally given to the marvellous treasure being the "Golden Bible."
In the mean time, Joe visited a visionary fanatic by the name of Martin Harris, and told him he had received some golden plates of ancient records from the Lord, with a "revelation" to call on him for fifty dollars to enable him to go to Pennsylvania and translate the contents of the plates; at the same time telling Harris that the Lord had revealed to him that they (Smith and Harris) were the only honest men in the world. ... and the fifty dollars was soon put into the hands of Smith ...
... it was assumed to the uninitiated that it would be "immediate death" for any except the translators to see the plates. Poor Martin's faith was apparently strengthened by this pretension, but afterward the "command" was modified, and he claimed to have seen the plates with "spiritual eyes."
... He [Martin Harris] has whipped his wife and beaten her so cruelly and frequently, that she was obliged to seek refuge in separation. ...
[Jesse Townsend to Phineas Stiles, 24 December 1833, Pomeroy Tucker, Origin, Rise, and Progress of Mormonism (New York: D. Appleton and Co., 1867), 288-91., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Jesse Townsend To Phineas Stiles]
.... He has had a stone, into which, when placed in a hat, he pretended to look and see chests of money buried in the earth. He was also a fortune-teller, and he claimed to know where stolen goods went--probably too well.
Smith flattered a few of his peculiar fraternity to engage with him in digging for money. After a while, many of these got out of patience with his false pretensions and repeated failures; and, finally, to avoid the sneers of those who had been deceived by him, he pretended that he had found, in digging alone, a wonderful curiosity, which he [p. 288] kept closely secreted. After telling different stories about it, and applying to it different names, he at length called it the golden plates of the Book of Mormon. As he was questioned on the subject from time to time, his story assumed a more uniform statement, the term finally given to the marvellous treasure being the "Golden Bible."
In the mean time, Joe visited a visionary fanatic by the name of Martin Harris, and told him he had received some golden plates of ancient records from the Lord, with a "revelation" to call on him for fifty dollars to enable him to go to Pennsylvania and translate the contents of the plates; at the same time telling Harris that the Lord had revealed to him that they (Smith and Harris) were the only honest men in the world. ... and the fifty dollars was soon put into the hands of Smith ...
... it was assumed to the uninitiated that it would be "immediate death" for any except the translators to see the plates. Poor Martin's faith was apparently strengthened by this pretension, but afterward the "command" was modified, and he claimed to have seen the plates with "spiritual eyes."
... He [Martin Harris] has whipped his wife and beaten her so cruelly and frequently, that she was obliged to seek refuge in separation. ...
[Jesse Townsend to Phineas Stiles, 24 December 1833, Pomeroy Tucker, Origin, Rise, and Progress of Mormonism (New York: D. Appleton and Co., 1867), 288-91., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Jesse Townsend To Phineas Stiles]
190 years ago today - Dec 24, 1833
Four aged families are driven out of Independence, Missouri. These are Revolutionary War veterans, and one was a bodyguard to George Washington.
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
10 years ago today - Dec 23, 2013
[Same-sex Marriage]
The state of Utah asks the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals to grant a stay on Shelby's ruling. Utah County Clerk/Auditor Bryan Thompson announces Utah County will not issue same-sex marriage licenses until the court of appeals rules on the request for stay.
[Herald Extra, "LDS Church: No gay marriages in meetinghouses", http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/lds-church-no-gay-marriages-in-meetinghouses/article_9115817b-5e81-5e2f-b1e7-692843870e5d.html]
The state of Utah asks the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals to grant a stay on Shelby's ruling. Utah County Clerk/Auditor Bryan Thompson announces Utah County will not issue same-sex marriage licenses until the court of appeals rules on the request for stay.
[Herald Extra, "LDS Church: No gay marriages in meetinghouses", http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/lds-church-no-gay-marriages-in-meetinghouses/article_9115817b-5e81-5e2f-b1e7-692843870e5d.html]
10 years ago today - 1 year ago - Dec 23, 2013
The state of Utah asks the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals to grant a stay on Shelby's ruling. Utah County Clerk/Auditor Bryan Thompson announces Utah County will not issue same-sex marriage licenses until the court of appeals rules on the request for stay.
[Herald Extra, "LDS Church: No gay marriages in meetinghouses", http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/lds-church-no-gay-marriages-in-meetinghouses/article_9115817b-5e81-5e2f-b1e7-692843870e5d.html]
[Herald Extra, "LDS Church: No gay marriages in meetinghouses", http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/lds-church-no-gay-marriages-in-meetinghouses/article_9115817b-5e81-5e2f-b1e7-692843870e5d.html]
60 years ago today - Dec 23, 1963
Joseph Fielding Smith wrote [to Congressman Harding]: "I am glad to report to you that it will be some time before we hear anything from Brother Benson, who is now on his way to Great Britain where I suppose he will be, at least for the next two years. When he returns I hope his blood will be purified."
[Joseph Fielding Smith to Congressman Ralph Harding, 23 Dec. 1963, photocopy in folder 2, box 4, King Papers, and in folder 22, box 5, Buerger Papers. Apostle Smith's letter was first quoted in "Ike, LDS Leaders Thank Harding For Anti-Birch, Benson Speech," Idaho State Journal, 20 Feb. 1964,1; "Ike Praises Idaho Solon For Benson Criticism," Salt Lake Tribune, 21 Feb. 1964, A-4; also Anderson, "Church and Birch In Utah," 12. (21 Feb 1964) Newspapers printed (Joseph Fielding) Smith's caustic assessment (of 23 Dec 1963) and the Quorum of Twelve's president made a public disclaimer which actually verified the political motivations for Benson's assignment to Europe: "I meant that when he returned he would be free of all political ties." 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.]
[Joseph Fielding Smith to Congressman Ralph Harding, 23 Dec. 1963, photocopy in folder 2, box 4, King Papers, and in folder 22, box 5, Buerger Papers. Apostle Smith's letter was first quoted in "Ike, LDS Leaders Thank Harding For Anti-Birch, Benson Speech," Idaho State Journal, 20 Feb. 1964,1; "Ike Praises Idaho Solon For Benson Criticism," Salt Lake Tribune, 21 Feb. 1964, A-4; also Anderson, "Church and Birch In Utah," 12. (21 Feb 1964) Newspapers printed (Joseph Fielding) Smith's caustic assessment (of 23 Dec 1963) and the Quorum of Twelve's president made a public disclaimer which actually verified the political motivations for Benson's assignment to Europe: "I meant that when he returned he would be free of all political ties." 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.]
115 years ago today - Dec 23, 1908; Wednesday
Brother Reed Smoot said ... the Smithsonian Institute would like a model of the temple and tabernacle for its own use, also photograph of leaders of the Church to be hung on the walls of the Institute.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
125 years ago today - Friday, Dec 23, 1898
[John Henry Smith]
Joseph Smith the Prophet would have been 93 years old today. ... There were 24 persons present who knew the Prophet and 23 persons who were related to him by blood or Mariage.
[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]
Joseph Smith the Prophet would have been 93 years old today. ... There were 24 persons present who knew the Prophet and 23 persons who were related to him by blood or Mariage.
[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]
180 years ago today - Dec 23, 1843
Emma Smith supervises initiation of women into the Anointed Quorum, apparently her last meeting. She never enters the temple.
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
105 years ago today - Dec 22, 1918
The Church holds a special fast, to petition the Lord to end a worldwide epidemic of influenza, that had killed twenty one million people in just four months.
[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, United Kingdom, "On This Day," https://www.lds.org.uk/show_oda.php]
[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, United Kingdom, "On This Day," https://www.lds.org.uk/show_oda.php]
125 years ago today - Dec 22, 1898
[Albert Chandler]
My recollection of Joseph Smith Jr. and of the first steps taken in regard to his Bible have never been printed. At the time of the printing of the Mormon Bible by Egbert B. Grandin of the Sentinel I was an apprentice in the book-bindery connected with the Sentinel office. I helped to collate and stitch the Gold Bible ...
Joseph Smith Jr., who read through the wonderful spectacles, pretended to give the scribe the exact reading of the plates, even to spelling, in which Smith was wofully deficient. Martin Harris was permitted to be in the room with the scribe, and would try the knowledge of Smith, as he told me, saying that Smith could not spell the word February, when his eyes were off the spectacles through which he pretended to work. This ignorance of Smith was proof positive to him that Smith was dependent on the spectacles for the contents of the Bible. Smith and the plates containing the original of the Mormon Bible were hid from view of the scribe and Martin Harris by a screen.
... He would call public meetings and address them himself. He was enthusiastic, and went so far as to say that God, through the Latter Day Saints, was to rule the world. I heard him make this statement, that there would never be another President of the United States elected ; that soon all temporal and spiritual power would be given over to the prophet Joseph Smith and the Latter Day Saints. ... he told me that he saw the devil, in all his hideousness, on the road, just before dark, near his farm, a little north of Palmyra. ...
[Albert Chandler to William Linn, 22 December 1898, William Linn, The Story of the Mormons (New York: Macmillan Co., 1902), 48-49., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Albert Chandler To William Linn]
My recollection of Joseph Smith Jr. and of the first steps taken in regard to his Bible have never been printed. At the time of the printing of the Mormon Bible by Egbert B. Grandin of the Sentinel I was an apprentice in the book-bindery connected with the Sentinel office. I helped to collate and stitch the Gold Bible ...
Joseph Smith Jr., who read through the wonderful spectacles, pretended to give the scribe the exact reading of the plates, even to spelling, in which Smith was wofully deficient. Martin Harris was permitted to be in the room with the scribe, and would try the knowledge of Smith, as he told me, saying that Smith could not spell the word February, when his eyes were off the spectacles through which he pretended to work. This ignorance of Smith was proof positive to him that Smith was dependent on the spectacles for the contents of the Bible. Smith and the plates containing the original of the Mormon Bible were hid from view of the scribe and Martin Harris by a screen.
... He would call public meetings and address them himself. He was enthusiastic, and went so far as to say that God, through the Latter Day Saints, was to rule the world. I heard him make this statement, that there would never be another President of the United States elected ; that soon all temporal and spiritual power would be given over to the prophet Joseph Smith and the Latter Day Saints. ... he told me that he saw the devil, in all his hideousness, on the road, just before dark, near his farm, a little north of Palmyra. ...
[Albert Chandler to William Linn, 22 December 1898, William Linn, The Story of the Mormons (New York: Macmillan Co., 1902), 48-49., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Albert Chandler To William Linn]
170 years ago today - Dec 22, 1853
Formation of phonetic Deseret Alphabet, which LDS leaders try to make the standard written language of Mormon Utah. The formal announcement is on 19 Jan. 1854.
[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 )]]
180 years ago today - Dec 22, 1843 (Friday)
David Holman's house, near Ramus, Hancock Co., Ill, was burned by the mob.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
20 years ago today - Dec 21, 2003
A Jewish group says it is considering legal action in an effort to stop the Mormon Church from posthumously baptizing many Jews, especially Holocaust victims.
[Ian Urbina, "Again, Jews Fault Mormons Over Posthumous Baptisms", New York Times; A chronicle of the Mormon-Jewish controversy; The LDS Agreement: A JewishGen InfoFile, http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/ldsagree.html]
[Ian Urbina, "Again, Jews Fault Mormons Over Posthumous Baptisms", New York Times; A chronicle of the Mormon-Jewish controversy; The LDS Agreement: A JewishGen InfoFile, http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/ldsagree.html]
125 years ago today - Dec 21, 1898
[Brigham Young Jr.]
Understand that 500 000 Church Bonds have been sold to our people or [blank] or home people. Pres[ident]. [Lorenzo] Snow gave me private papers to read concerning our indebtedness and moral responsibility for debts. It is a mystery to me where these millions have gone to say nothing of the 6 or 700 000 dol in come we have every year which for years has vanished like the rest. God help us, and I know he will.
[Brigham Young Jr., Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
Understand that 500 000 Church Bonds have been sold to our people or [blank] or home people. Pres[ident]. [Lorenzo] Snow gave me private papers to read concerning our indebtedness and moral responsibility for debts. It is a mystery to me where these millions have gone to say nothing of the 6 or 700 000 dol in come we have every year which for years has vanished like the rest. God help us, and I know he will.
[Brigham Young Jr., Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
135 years ago today - Dec 21, 1888
[Brigham Young Jr.]
Had conversation with Bro[ther & Apostle] F. M. Lyman on his surrendering to the Marshall and pleading guilty to living with two women as his wives. I confess that my father always taught me to never, voluntarily surrender to the enemy. Pres[iden]t Taylor charged me upon three several occasions to keep out of "their" hands, meaning the Marshall and Courts, as he also charged all the Twelve.
[Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Had conversation with Bro[ther & Apostle] F. M. Lyman on his surrendering to the Marshall and pleading guilty to living with two women as his wives. I confess that my father always taught me to never, voluntarily surrender to the enemy. Pres[iden]t Taylor charged me upon three several occasions to keep out of "their" hands, meaning the Marshall and Courts, as he also charged all the Twelve.
[Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
140 years ago today - Dec 21, 1883; Friday
[Anthony Ivins]
This morning a great excitement was created by an uprising of the people on account of the Nickel money [a new version of the nickel] which has been put in circulation by the govt. A large number of people gathered in front of the national palace where they became boisterous in their demands that the nickel money be called in. Cavelry finally charged the crowd and dispersed it but not until much damage had been done by the breaking of [street] lamps windows &c. by the infuriated mob.
[Anderson, Elizabeth Oberdick, editor, Cowboy Apostle: The Diaries of Anthony W. Ivins: 1875-1932, Signature Books, Salt Lake City in association with the Smith-Pettit Foundation (2013) - http://bit.ly/AnthonyIvins]
This morning a great excitement was created by an uprising of the people on account of the Nickel money [a new version of the nickel] which has been put in circulation by the govt. A large number of people gathered in front of the national palace where they became boisterous in their demands that the nickel money be called in. Cavelry finally charged the crowd and dispersed it but not until much damage had been done by the breaking of [street] lamps windows &c. by the infuriated mob.
[Anderson, Elizabeth Oberdick, editor, Cowboy Apostle: The Diaries of Anthony W. Ivins: 1875-1932, Signature Books, Salt Lake City in association with the Smith-Pettit Foundation (2013) - http://bit.ly/AnthonyIvins]
165 years ago today - winter of 1858
Freemasonry made its first organized appearance in Utah during the winter of 1858 when twenty-three officers and men of Johnston's Army, sent to quell the reported "rebellion of Mormons," sought fraternal fellowship at their inhospitable outpost of Camp Floyd near Fairfield, called "Frogtown."
[Utah History Encyclopedia: Freemasonry in Utah, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
[Utah History Encyclopedia: Freemasonry in Utah, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
180 years ago today - Dec 21, 1843
The city council sends to the Congress of the United States a petition that explains the abuses suffered by the Saints in Missouri and the unwillingness of the state of Illinois to protect the Saints. They therefore ask Congress to make the City of Nauvoo an independent sovereign territory, free from the control of the state of Illinois, to be governed as the Congress governs any other territory. Joseph instructs the police force to clean the streets of carrion, to stop boys from fighting in the streets, to keep children from floating on ice, and to correct anything else out of order; he also offers to build the city jail.
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
10 years ago today - Dec 20, 2013
District Judge Robert Shelby rules against the state and overturns Utah's same-sex marriage ban. Same-sex couples rush to county clerk offices to obtain marriage licenses. State files for an emergency stay on Shelby's ruling and is denied.
[Herald Extra, "LDS Church: No gay marriages in meetinghouses", http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/lds-church-no-gay-marriages-in-meetinghouses/article_9115817b-5e81-5e2f-b1e7-692843870e5d.html]
[Herald Extra, "LDS Church: No gay marriages in meetinghouses", http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/lds-church-no-gay-marriages-in-meetinghouses/article_9115817b-5e81-5e2f-b1e7-692843870e5d.html]
10 years ago today - 1 year ago - Dec 20, 2013
District Judge Robert Shelby rules against the state and overturns Utah's same-sex marriage ban. Same-sex couples rush to county clerk offices to obtain marriage licenses. State files for an emergency stay on Shelby's ruling and is denied.
[Herald Extra, "LDS Church: No gay marriages in meetinghouses", http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/lds-church-no-gay-marriages-in-meetinghouses/article_9115817b-5e81-5e2f-b1e7-692843870e5d.html]
[Herald Extra, "LDS Church: No gay marriages in meetinghouses", http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/lds-church-no-gay-marriages-in-meetinghouses/article_9115817b-5e81-5e2f-b1e7-692843870e5d.html]
60 years ago today - Dec 20, 1963
[U.S. Senator Frank Moss (D-Utah) to Hugh B. Brown] I read the account of Apostle Benson's speech in the Logan LDS Tabernacle in the December 15th issue of the Herald Journal. I won't comment on the contents of the speech except to say that it appears that he has not changed his position at all from that that he expressed in Los Angeles at the testimonial dinner for Robert Welch. On page 10 there is a picture of Reed Benson passing out copies of the speech of Ezra T. Benson, and on that same page the following paragraph in the article says: "Copies of Elder Benson's complete speech were available at the meeting or can be obtained by writing directly to him at the LDS Church Offices in Salt Lake City, the Apostle said." I don't know how we could be tied in more closely as a Church with the doctrines espoused by Ezra Taft Benson than by an announcement of this sort. I continue to be bombarded daily by questions and criticisms back here.
[Frank E. Moss to Hugh B. Brown, Moss Papers 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)]
[Frank E. Moss to Hugh B. Brown, Moss Papers 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)]
65 years ago today - Dec 20, 1958
First television broadcast of Mormon Tabernacle Choir takes place on KSL television.
[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]
105 years ago today - Dec 20, 1918
Special Fast for arrest of influenza epidemic
[1918-December 20-Deseret News, December 20, 1918; Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
[1918-December 20-Deseret News, December 20, 1918; Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
135 years ago today - Thursday, Dec 20, 1888
[John Henry Smith]
A communication [regarding amnesty] from some outside friends was read and, beginning with the youngest, each member of the twelve gave their views and we were a unite that we could not subscribe to the conditions prescribed [abandoning polygamy]. President Woodruff said all of the brethren had spoken right and had we accepted the proposition the Lord would have rejected us, as the Doctrine of celestial marriage had come to stay for all time. [Brigham Young Jr., Wilford Woodruff, Franklin D. Richards, & Heber J. Grant each record the same sentiment in their journals.]
[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]
A communication [regarding amnesty] from some outside friends was read and, beginning with the youngest, each member of the twelve gave their views and we were a unite that we could not subscribe to the conditions prescribed [abandoning polygamy]. President Woodruff said all of the brethren had spoken right and had we accepted the proposition the Lord would have rejected us, as the Doctrine of celestial marriage had come to stay for all time. [Brigham Young Jr., Wilford Woodruff, Franklin D. Richards, & Heber J. Grant each record the same sentiment in their journals.]
[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 - Dec 20, 1883
[Wilford Woodruff]
20 I had an Interview with Elders Ray & Hawks and three Lamanite Elders who had Come to get their Endowment in the Temple. Their Names were Charoquis Erastus (Son in Law to the Chief Ivan Lot of the Maricopa tribe) Also Nephi Montano, & Peblo Flores. Charoquis Erastus is an Elder & a vary intelligent man. He speaks the English Spanish & several Indian tongue. He has visited New York Boston, Philadelphia, Washington & Salt Lake. He was the leading Scout under Crook in the late Apache war. He has a great desire for the Conversion of his tribe & the Pimos and wished to go and labor among them as a Missionary. The Mariacopes & Pimos number over 40,000 and all seem ready to receive the gospel. I ordained Charoquis Erastus a seventy I think the first Lamanite ordained to that office in the Church.
These Lamanites all received their Endowments. Were much pleased and deeply interested. There is also 40,000 of the Papagoes and all looking to the Latter Day Saints for Council.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
20 I had an Interview with Elders Ray & Hawks and three Lamanite Elders who had Come to get their Endowment in the Temple. Their Names were Charoquis Erastus (Son in Law to the Chief Ivan Lot of the Maricopa tribe) Also Nephi Montano, & Peblo Flores. Charoquis Erastus is an Elder & a vary intelligent man. He speaks the English Spanish & several Indian tongue. He has visited New York Boston, Philadelphia, Washington & Salt Lake. He was the leading Scout under Crook in the late Apache war. He has a great desire for the Conversion of his tribe & the Pimos and wished to go and labor among them as a Missionary. The Mariacopes & Pimos number over 40,000 and all seem ready to receive the gospel. I ordained Charoquis Erastus a seventy I think the first Lamanite ordained to that office in the Church.
These Lamanites all received their Endowments. Were much pleased and deeply interested. There is also 40,000 of the Papagoes and all looking to the Latter Day Saints for Council.
[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 - Dec 20, 1848
[Wilford Woodruff]
In the midst of this order of things, the Latter Day Saints discover vast quantities of Gold at the base of the mountains of Israel in the valley of the sacramento in upper Calafornia. And not ownly the people of the United States but of other nations ketch the sound of Gold Gold & tens of thousands are rushing forward evry way in their power to get to the gold country as A Horse would rush to Battle. But the Amount of Gold, silver, Coper &c discoverd in that Country indicates that the word of the Lord spoken by Isaiah will be fulfilled, when He says that "for Brass He will bring Gold "for Iron I will bring silver, for wood brass for stones Iron, &c. Truly this is an age big with Events.
Companies Are forming in all most all parts of the United States And ships in all our ports pre-pareing to take the people to the Bay of San Francisco which is ownly 20 miles from Capt Sutters Fort whare the Mormon gold digings commenced. And It seems As though all the world thought of at the present time was to obtain gold. Though the Cholera has commenced spreading in New York once more yet the gold panic is so much greater then the fear of the Cholery that it is hardy noticed.
Among the letters which I obtained yesterday was one from O Hyde who informed me that Olever Cowdery had come back to the Church had made satisfaction And was voted to come in by the door of Baptism. He was the first man baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in this last dispensation, under the Hands of Joseph Smith the Prophet but after being out of the Church Eleven years He had now returned again. And may the Lord bless him & Keep him steadfast unto the end.
The following is A Fac similae of the Alphabet used in conveying intelligence by the magnetic telegraph:
A.- B-... C... D-.. E. F.-. G--. H .... I.. J-.-.K-.- L- M-- N-. O[..] P----- Q..-. R.-. S... T- U..- V...- W.-- X.-.. Y.. Z--- - &- -- 1.--. 2..-.. 3...-. 4....- 5--- 6...... 7--.. 8-..... 9-.-- 0- [sic]. [One line of dots and dashes not decipherable.] <Remember the [law?] [-] of [-].>
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
In the midst of this order of things, the Latter Day Saints discover vast quantities of Gold at the base of the mountains of Israel in the valley of the sacramento in upper Calafornia. And not ownly the people of the United States but of other nations ketch the sound of Gold Gold & tens of thousands are rushing forward evry way in their power to get to the gold country as A Horse would rush to Battle. But the Amount of Gold, silver, Coper &c discoverd in that Country indicates that the word of the Lord spoken by Isaiah will be fulfilled, when He says that "for Brass He will bring Gold "for Iron I will bring silver, for wood brass for stones Iron, &c. Truly this is an age big with Events.
Companies Are forming in all most all parts of the United States And ships in all our ports pre-pareing to take the people to the Bay of San Francisco which is ownly 20 miles from Capt Sutters Fort whare the Mormon gold digings commenced. And It seems As though all the world thought of at the present time was to obtain gold. Though the Cholera has commenced spreading in New York once more yet the gold panic is so much greater then the fear of the Cholery that it is hardy noticed.
Among the letters which I obtained yesterday was one from O Hyde who informed me that Olever Cowdery had come back to the Church had made satisfaction And was voted to come in by the door of Baptism. He was the first man baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in this last dispensation, under the Hands of Joseph Smith the Prophet but after being out of the Church Eleven years He had now returned again. And may the Lord bless him & Keep him steadfast unto the end.
The following is A Fac similae of the Alphabet used in conveying intelligence by the magnetic telegraph:
A.- B-... C... D-.. E. F.-. G--. H .... I.. J-.-.K-.- L- M-- N-. O[..] P----- Q..-. R.-. S... T- U..- V...- W.-- X.-.. Y.. Z--- - &- -- 1.--. 2..-.. 3...-. 4....- 5--- 6...... 7--.. 8-..... 9-.-- 0- [sic]. [One line of dots and dashes not decipherable.] <Remember the [law?] [-] of [-].>
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
185 years ago today - Dec 20, 1838
Emma Smith visits her husband, Joseph, in Liberty Jail, Missouri, and spends two days confined with him in the jail.
65 years ago today - Dec 17, 1958
President David O. McKay dedicates the Church College of Hawaii campus (later known as BYU—Hawaii), in Laie, Hawaii.
70 years ago today - Dec 17, 1953
[J. Reuben Clark]
[In conversation with Ernest McKay of Ogden at 8:45 a.m. regarding the bitterness in Ogden about the possibility of the Weber College reverting to the LDS Church:] Bro. McKay: It is a terrible situation. We are in such a terrible situation. I don't know what to say and what to do. There is so much bitterness developed and everything is running rampant. I wanted to talk to somebody and get some help.
Pres. Clark: He has had this under consideration and I am sure is doing all he can.
Bro. McKay: The thing I am concerned about is if he understands the bitterness.
Pres. Clark: He has been told about it.
Bro. McKay: That is the thing that alarms us. It is something terrible. It is going beyond control ...
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
[In conversation with Ernest McKay of Ogden at 8:45 a.m. regarding the bitterness in Ogden about the possibility of the Weber College reverting to the LDS Church:] Bro. McKay: It is a terrible situation. We are in such a terrible situation. I don't know what to say and what to do. There is so much bitterness developed and everything is running rampant. I wanted to talk to somebody and get some help.
Pres. Clark: He has had this under consideration and I am sure is doing all he can.
Bro. McKay: The thing I am concerned about is if he understands the bitterness.
Pres. Clark: He has been told about it.
Bro. McKay: That is the thing that alarms us. It is something terrible. It is going beyond control ...
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
85 years ago today - Dec 17, 1938
[Heber J. Grant]
Brother George F. Richards called at the office and showed us a sample of a temple apron, which President McKay and I approved. I very much like the appearance of it. It looks more expensive than the others and yet it is cheaper. It is worked on a machine instead of by hand.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
Brother George F. Richards called at the office and showed us a sample of a temple apron, which President McKay and I approved. I very much like the appearance of it. It looks more expensive than the others and yet it is cheaper. It is worked on a machine instead of by hand.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
110 years ago today - Dec 17, 1913
The death of Joseph Smith's last surviving plural wife, Mary E. Rollins Lightner. She helped save the still-unbound Book of Commandments from the printing office set afire by a mob in 1833. She witnessed the adoption of the 1835 D&C, which prohibited polygamy, and became a secret plural wife of Joseph Smith at Nauvoo while still living with her non-Mormon husband. She moved with her husband to Utah where she also witnessed polygamy's accepted practice in Mormon society, its "underground" survival despite federal raid, its official prohibition by the 1890 Manifesto, the renewal of authorized polygamy despite official denials, the Second Manifesto and disciplining of two apostles for post-Manifesto polygamy, the general disfavor of plural marriage by "modern" Latter-day Saints, and even the early stages of Fundamentalist polygamy.
[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 )]]
180 years ago today - Dec 16, 1843
The Nauvoo City Council hears Joseph Smith say: "I prophecy by virtue of the Holy Priesthood vested in me [and] in the name of Jesus Christ that if Congress will not hear our petition and grant us protection they shall be broken up as a government and God shall damn them. There shall nothing be left of them, not even a grease spot." Congress ignores the petition.
When this was reprinted in the HC (vol. 6, 116), 18 words were omitted in order to read: `While discussing the petition to Congress, I prophesied, by virtue of the holy Priesthood vested in me, and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that, if Congress will not hear our petition and grant us protection, they shall be broken up as a government.* * * *' Notice how the comma after the word `government' was changed to a period in order to make it appear as if the sentence was complete."
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power; Abanes, R., "One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church," Four Walls Eight Windows: New York NY, 2002, p.467)]
When this was reprinted in the HC (vol. 6, 116), 18 words were omitted in order to read: `While discussing the petition to Congress, I prophesied, by virtue of the holy Priesthood vested in me, and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that, if Congress will not hear our petition and grant us protection, they shall be broken up as a government.* * * *' Notice how the comma after the word `government' was changed to a period in order to make it appear as if the sentence was complete."
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power; Abanes, R., "One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church," Four Walls Eight Windows: New York NY, 2002, p.467)]
185 years ago today - Dec 16, 1838
Joseph Smith writes [from Libery Jail] in a letter: "Was it for committing adultery that we were assailed? We are aware that that false slander has gone abroad, for it has been reiterated in our ears. These are falsehoods also.
[Hales, Brian C., Joseph Smith's Polygamy: History and Theology, 3 vols., Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2013 (www.JosephSmithsPolygamy.com)]
[Hales, Brian C., Joseph Smith's Polygamy: History and Theology, 3 vols., Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2013 (www.JosephSmithsPolygamy.com)]
190 years ago today - Dec 16, 1833
Doctrine and Covenants 101. Inhabitants of Zion brought persecution on themselves by transgression, but the Lord will remember them. He will let his sword fall in their behalf. During millennium Satan will have no power. Those born during the millennium will not die, but be changed in the twinkling of an eye. Continue to gather, purchase lands in Zion. No other gathering place. Appeal to the courts, governor, and president. If they won't restore lands, the Lord will. Don't sell property in Zion.
[Kenney, Scott; Saints Without Halos, 'Doctrine and Covenants,' http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/s/_dc.phtml]
[Kenney, Scott; Saints Without Halos, 'Doctrine and Covenants,' http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/s/_dc.phtml]
35 years ago today - Dec 15, 1988
After more than a year of confinement to a wheelchair, the Twelve's president Howard W. Hunter walks into the council room of the Salt Lake temple. Apostles stand and clap their hands, which is apparently the first occasion of applause in the temple council room.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
50 years ago today - Dec 15, 1973
A First Presidency statement, in response to the Middle East oil embargo, urges energy conservation and authorizes local wards and branches to hold all auxiliary meetings on a single day of the week.
[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 - Thursday, Dec 15, 1898
Apostle Rudger Clawson wanted to know if the authorities approved of the teachings of a certain sister by the name of Hannah Sorensen, relating particulary to "diet" and "marital relations of the sexes." Stated that she was so radical in her views upon these subjects that harm was being done among young married women in the Box Elder Stake, who had studied in her classes. Some discussion ensued, and the general opinion seemed to be that Sister Sorensen was a "frank," or in other words, an extremist.
[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]
[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]
160 years ago today - Dec 15, 1863
[Wilford Woodruff]
I spent the day in the Legislature to day we met in Joint Session and Received the Acting Govornors Message which was vary good Considering a Gentile Govornor.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I spent the day in the Legislature to day we met in Joint Session and Received the Acting Govornors Message which was vary good Considering a Gentile Govornor.
[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 - Dec 15, 1858
In reply to man's request for divorce, "Pres. Young said that when a man married a wife he took her for better or worse, and had no right to ill use her, and if she shit in bed and laid in it until noon; he must bare it, until he gets power over her to learn her better." Young readily grants divorce to unhappy plural wives but requires husband to pay him $10 fee. Young issues 1,600 certificates of divorce for unhappy polygamous marriages. Civil divorces for monogamous marriages are even more common in pioneer Utah where courts require only statement of incompatibility.
[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 )]]
60 years ago today - Dec 14, 1963
As for the mission call to Europe, at a church farewell on 14 December Reed Benson complained that his father had been "`stabbed' in the back." The Twelve's president [Joseph Fielding Smith] was present to hear the younger Benson's remark that his father's mission call was a back-stab.
[Wilkinson diary, 14 Dec. 1963. 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, 14 Dec. 1963. 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.]
60 years ago today - Dec 14, 1963
"LOGAN, UTAH--Former Agriculture Secretary Ezra Taft Benson charged Friday night that the civil-rights movement in the South had been 'formatted almost entirely by the Communists.' Elder Benson, a member of the Council of the Twelve of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said in a public meeting here that the whole civil-rights movement was 'phony'.***"
[Deseret News, Dec. 14, 1963]
[Deseret News, Dec. 14, 1963]
70 years ago today - Dec 14, 1953
Brigham Young University produces its first television program, the BYU Christmas Hour. It was an annual remote broadcast run on KTVT until BYU had its own television studio.
[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]
95 years ago today - Dec 14, 1928
[Heber J. Grant]
John M. Knight called. He had been asked to speak at the funeral of [Mormon fundementalist] John Woolley. We told him that we did not wish him to do so.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
John M. Knight called. He had been asked to speak at the funeral of [Mormon fundementalist] John Woolley. We told him that we did not wish him to do so.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
100 years ago today - Dec 14, 1923
[George F. Richards]
Called on the First Presidency and attended to some business with them. I presented to them the corrected form of [the] Ceremony for time marriage [sealings] which received their approval.
[George F. Richards diary, Dec. 14, 1923, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
Called on the First Presidency and attended to some business with them. I presented to them the corrected form of [the] Ceremony for time marriage [sealings] which received their approval.
[George F. Richards diary, Dec. 14, 1923, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
180 years ago today - Dec 14, 1843
Joseph receives a letter from Governor Ford stating that he will not call out the state militia for the general protection of Nauvoo, except on rare and very specifically defined occasions. He tells Joseph not to worry about past offenses by the state of Missouri, and says, concerning any affidavits about their wrongs in Missouri given to him by the Mormons the previous August, "I have not yet read them and probably never will." Joseph records his personal anger at Ford's letter.
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
60 years ago today - Dec 13, 1963
Lamar Peterson tells Jerald and Sandra Tanner of a 1832 hand written "strange account" first vision, they begin writing about it, pressure builds to release it. Joseph Fielding Smith tapes the removed pages pages back into Joseph Smith's journal and grants access to BYU's Paul Cheesman.
[Chronology of Mormon History, http://followtheprophets.com/chronology-of-mormon-history/]
[Chronology of Mormon History, http://followtheprophets.com/chronology-of-mormon-history/]
130 years ago today - Dec 13, 1893
[Franklin D. Richards]
Wires say that the bill enabling Utah to become a state passed the House of Rep[resentative]s about 4 pm today. On my arrival learned that Utah Statehood bill passed the House today with only two votes against it one Democrat and one Republican. This is glorious news.
[Franklin D. Richards Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
Wires say that the bill enabling Utah to become a state passed the House of Rep[resentative]s about 4 pm today. On my arrival learned that Utah Statehood bill passed the House today with only two votes against it one Democrat and one Republican. This is glorious news.
[Franklin D. Richards Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
140 years ago today - Dec 13, 1883
[Wilford Woodruff]
Emma was Anointed to W Woodruff & W Woodruff for her Father Samuel Smith and He was Adopted to W Woodruff.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Emma was Anointed to W Woodruff & W Woodruff for her Father Samuel Smith and He was Adopted to W Woodruff.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
180 years ago today - Dec 13, 1843
[Nauvoo Neighbor]
Special Edition Issue
- Ordinances: "An Extra Ordinance for the Extra Case of Joseph Smith and Others" -- Joseph Smith -- Anyone who comes to arrest Joseph Smith or other citizens involved in "Missouri Difficulties" will be arrested, and if found guilty, incarcerated for life. ...
- Note: "Dinner Party" - Christmas Day -- Editorial -- Joseph Smith plans a dinner party for Christmas Day. ...
- Ordinances: "An Ordinance for the Health and Conscience of Travelers--" -- Joseph Smith -- Gives Joseph Smith the power to sell "spirits" for the "health, comfort, and convenience of such travelers."
[http://boap.org/LDS/Nauvoo-Neighbor]
Special Edition Issue
- Ordinances: "An Extra Ordinance for the Extra Case of Joseph Smith and Others" -- Joseph Smith -- Anyone who comes to arrest Joseph Smith or other citizens involved in "Missouri Difficulties" will be arrested, and if found guilty, incarcerated for life. ...
- Note: "Dinner Party" - Christmas Day -- Editorial -- Joseph Smith plans a dinner party for Christmas Day. ...
- Ordinances: "An Ordinance for the Health and Conscience of Travelers--" -- Joseph Smith -- Gives Joseph Smith the power to sell "spirits" for the "health, comfort, and convenience of such travelers."
[http://boap.org/LDS/Nauvoo-Neighbor]
190 years ago today - Dec 13, 1833
The first issue of the Evening and Morning Star is printed by Oliver Cowdery.
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books, http://bit.ly/lucys-book]
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books, http://bit.ly/lucys-book]
20 years ago today - Dec 12, 2003
Less than a year after the Mormon church promised, again, to stop baptizing dead Jews into its faith, the Mormons have raised concerns by buying - at 10 cents a sheet - thousands of names of dead Russian Orthodox Church members
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has long collected names from government documents and other records worldwide. The names are then used in temple rituals, during which Mormon stand-ins are dunked in water to offer the dead salvation and entry to the Mormon religion.
Salt Lake City independent researcher Helen Radkey said she has found such notable non-Mormons as Adolph Hitler, Anne Frank, and even Roman Catholic popes and saints within the church's database ...
[Mark Thiessen, Associated Press, azcentral.com; A chronicle of the Mormon-Jewish controversy; The LDS Agreement: A JewishGen InfoFile, http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/ldsagree.html]
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has long collected names from government documents and other records worldwide. The names are then used in temple rituals, during which Mormon stand-ins are dunked in water to offer the dead salvation and entry to the Mormon religion.
Salt Lake City independent researcher Helen Radkey said she has found such notable non-Mormons as Adolph Hitler, Anne Frank, and even Roman Catholic popes and saints within the church's database ...
[Mark Thiessen, Associated Press, azcentral.com; A chronicle of the Mormon-Jewish controversy; The LDS Agreement: A JewishGen InfoFile, http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/ldsagree.html]
135 years ago today - Dec 12, 1888
Release of Rudger Clawson after serving three years and one month in prison, the longest any nineteenth-century Mormon is imprisoned for polygamy for unlawful cohabitation. On this same day, Idaho Legislature expels all Mormon legislators.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
135 years ago today - Dec 12, 1888
Elder [Apostle] Francis M. Lyman surrendered himself to the US Marshal [Frank] Dyer this morning appeared in the 3rd Dist[rict] Court & plead guilty to the last indictment found against him [Unlawful Cohabitation]. ...
[Francis M. Lyman reports to First Presidency.] He had also been out to the penitentiary & saw Bro[ther] Geo[rge]. Q. Cannon. He purposes devoting as much of his time as possible among the saints preaching to & counseling with them. ... [Lyman was placed under a $1,500 bond].
[First Presidency Office Journal, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
[Francis M. Lyman reports to First Presidency.] He had also been out to the penitentiary & saw Bro[ther] Geo[rge]. Q. Cannon. He purposes devoting as much of his time as possible among the saints preaching to & counseling with them. ... [Lyman was placed under a $1,500 bond].
[First Presidency Office Journal, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
180 years ago today - Dec 12, 1843
After prodding from Joseph Smith to embrace plural marriage, John Taylor is sealed to his first plural wife, Elizabeth Kaighan.
[Hales, Brian C., Joseph Smith's Polygamy: History and Theology, 3 vols., Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2013 (www.JosephSmithsPolygamy.com)]
[Hales, Brian C., Joseph Smith's Polygamy: History and Theology, 3 vols., Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2013 (www.JosephSmithsPolygamy.com)]
180 years ago today - Dec 12, 1843
Smith as Mayor of Nauvoo passes ordinance allowing him to sell alcohol from the bar in his house.
[Chronology of Mormon History, http://followtheprophets.com/chronology-of-mormon-history/]
[Chronology of Mormon History, http://followtheprophets.com/chronology-of-mormon-history/]
190 years ago today - Dec 12, 1833
A letter arrives stating that the Saints who had moved to Van Buren County will also be driven from there.
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
30 years ago today - Dec 10, 1993-Thursday
[Leonard Arrington]
Ron Walker, who was at the Salt Lake Institute of Religion in 1976, said Bill Nelson orchestrated the movement to ban Story of the Latter-day Saints. He looked for people who would write what he wanted them to write.
Gary Bennett [who had reviewed Story of the Latter-day Saints even though he was] not trained in history. Why not Ron Walker? "Because he wouldn't write what I want him to write." [[Bennett was apparently asked by Nelson if he would write a review of the book for Ezra Taft Benson. See Apr. 13, 1981.]] Elder Mark [E.] Petersen [also] sought a reviewer who was not too well-trained or read in history.
Bill Nelson orchestrated the whole business. He didn't like liberals. When Gene England learned of the Committee to Control Members [Strengthening Church Members Committee] he went to Nelson. "Why?" [Nelson had said,] ["]I want to get rid of every liberal in the Church." He Nelson persuaded Elder [Boyd K.] Packer to vote against Tom Alex[ander] as [Charles] Redd professor because of his article on "The Reconstruction of Mormon Doctrine." [[Alexander's article was "The Reconstruction of Mormon Doctrine: From Joseph Smith to Progressive Theology," published in the July-August 1980 issue of Sunstone. Twelve years later, Alexander was appointed Charles Redd Professor.]] [Neal A.] Maxwell & [Dallin H.] Oaks later talked Packer into withdrawing his objection & Tom got the post.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
Ron Walker, who was at the Salt Lake Institute of Religion in 1976, said Bill Nelson orchestrated the movement to ban Story of the Latter-day Saints. He looked for people who would write what he wanted them to write.
Gary Bennett [who had reviewed Story of the Latter-day Saints even though he was] not trained in history. Why not Ron Walker? "Because he wouldn't write what I want him to write." [[Bennett was apparently asked by Nelson if he would write a review of the book for Ezra Taft Benson. See Apr. 13, 1981.]] Elder Mark [E.] Petersen [also] sought a reviewer who was not too well-trained or read in history.
Bill Nelson orchestrated the whole business. He didn't like liberals. When Gene England learned of the Committee to Control Members [Strengthening Church Members Committee] he went to Nelson. "Why?" [Nelson had said,] ["]I want to get rid of every liberal in the Church." He Nelson persuaded Elder [Boyd K.] Packer to vote against Tom Alex[ander] as [Charles] Redd professor because of his article on "The Reconstruction of Mormon Doctrine." [[Alexander's article was "The Reconstruction of Mormon Doctrine: From Joseph Smith to Progressive Theology," published in the July-August 1980 issue of Sunstone. Twelve years later, Alexander was appointed Charles Redd Professor.]] [Neal A.] Maxwell & [Dallin H.] Oaks later talked Packer into withdrawing his objection & Tom got the post.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
125 years ago today - Dec 10, 1898 (Saturday)
The last number (No. 26, Vol. 57) of the Deseret Weekly was issued.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
165 years ago today - Dec 10, 1858
[Wilford Woodruff]
I feel to acknowledge the Hand of God in all these things. The Lord has sustained us through the war ["Utah War"] and is now Sustaining us through the Courts & is thwarting all the designs of our Enemies in all their wicked designs against the Latter Day Saints. The Lord has given President Young wisdom to out general all the United States with their Armies Judges & Courts So that they have had no power over him or this people for which I feel to praise the name of the Lord.
President Young wished the Twelve who went to Fillmore to inquire into ... into the Case of McBrides sons who Bishop Bronson was jealeous were laying plans to kill him.
We made an estimate of some of the expenses of the war of the United States against the mormons. We made including soldiers teamsters & waiters for 1858: 12,730 Men
Russel & Wardles Government freight amounted to $5,445,468
20,400 Government waggons cost of each outfit $1,500 $9,180,000.00
Paid for 3,200 teamsters 480 dollars each 1,536,000.00
Paid 4,600 soldiers $300 each 1,380.000.00
Sum total for the Above four items $17,540,468.00 [$484 million, infation adjusted]
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I feel to acknowledge the Hand of God in all these things. The Lord has sustained us through the war ["Utah War"] and is now Sustaining us through the Courts & is thwarting all the designs of our Enemies in all their wicked designs against the Latter Day Saints. The Lord has given President Young wisdom to out general all the United States with their Armies Judges & Courts So that they have had no power over him or this people for which I feel to praise the name of the Lord.
President Young wished the Twelve who went to Fillmore to inquire into ... into the Case of McBrides sons who Bishop Bronson was jealeous were laying plans to kill him.
We made an estimate of some of the expenses of the war of the United States against the mormons. We made including soldiers teamsters & waiters for 1858: 12,730 Men
Russel & Wardles Government freight amounted to $5,445,468
20,400 Government waggons cost of each outfit $1,500 $9,180,000.00
Paid for 3,200 teamsters 480 dollars each 1,536,000.00
Paid 4,600 soldiers $300 each 1,380.000.00
Sum total for the Above four items $17,540,468.00 [$484 million, infation adjusted]
[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 - Dec 10, 1848
[Hosea Stout]
Also passed a law granting a bounty of one dollar each on wolf skins and for J. M. Grant to recieve them.
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
Also passed a law granting a bounty of one dollar each on wolf skins and for J. M. Grant to recieve them.
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
175 years ago today - Dec 10, 1848
[Brigham Young]
[We need a] petition for a territorial government each year until the honest in heart had been gathered out of the nations and the armies of Israel had become very great, and then we will say 'We don't care whether you grant it [the territorial recognition] or not. Damn you, we are here and we ask no odds of you.' -- Salt Lake City
[John Pulsipher Journal, BYU; The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
[We need a] petition for a territorial government each year until the honest in heart had been gathered out of the nations and the armies of Israel had become very great, and then we will say 'We don't care whether you grant it [the territorial recognition] or not. Damn you, we are here and we ask no odds of you.' -- Salt Lake City
[John Pulsipher Journal, BYU; The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
180 years ago today - Dec 10, 1843
[Anointed Quorum]
Sunday prayer meeting in the upper room of Joseph Smith's store; "Joseph not present," and "Brigham Young presided," apparently for the first time .
"B Young was called to the chair who addressed the meeting in a vary feeling manner & interesting to our minds, he reasoned clearly that we should follow our file leaders & our savior in all his law & commandments without asking any questions why they were so[--]He was followed by P. P. Pratt & others who expressed their minds freely[--]several sick were prayed for"
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Signature Books, 1994, Appendex: Meetings and Initiations of the Anointed Quorum, 1842-45, http://amzn.to/origins-power; Wilford Woodruff's Journal. 9 Vols. Scott G. Kenney, ed. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1983-85. 2:331]
Sunday prayer meeting in the upper room of Joseph Smith's store; "Joseph not present," and "Brigham Young presided," apparently for the first time .
"B Young was called to the chair who addressed the meeting in a vary feeling manner & interesting to our minds, he reasoned clearly that we should follow our file leaders & our savior in all his law & commandments without asking any questions why they were so[--]He was followed by P. P. Pratt & others who expressed their minds freely[--]several sick were prayed for"
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Signature Books, 1994, Appendex: Meetings and Initiations of the Anointed Quorum, 1842-45, http://amzn.to/origins-power; Wilford Woodruff's Journal. 9 Vols. Scott G. Kenney, ed. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1983-85. 2:331]
190 years ago today - Dec 10, 1833.
Joseph Smith tells the saints that they should retain their lands in Missouri and seek legal redress against their enemies. If they should not obtain it, God will avenge them with `ten thousand of his Saints' and all their adversaries would be destroyed.
[History of Church, v1, p 455]
[History of Church, v1, p 455]
45 years ago today - Dec 09, 1978
Missionary couples Rendell N. and Rachel Mabey and Edwin and Janath Cannon, the first missionaries to Ghana, arrive in that country and soon baptize eighty-nine people who have been waiting for the missionaries, some of them for many years. Within a year, more than four hundred people are baptized.
70 years ago today - Dec 9, 1953
[J. Reuben Clark]
Proposed Statement of President McKay to State Legislators.
In the early 1930's the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints transferred to the State of Utah, Dixie College, Snow College, and Weber College. The deeds in each instance provided that in the event the particular college was not maintained as a Junior College by the State, it would revert to the Church.
If the Legislature now decides no longer to operate these three Colleges, the Church will again take title to them and operate them as a part of its educational system.
Drafted by Pres. Wilkinson.
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
Proposed Statement of President McKay to State Legislators.
In the early 1930's the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints transferred to the State of Utah, Dixie College, Snow College, and Weber College. The deeds in each instance provided that in the event the particular college was not maintained as a Junior College by the State, it would revert to the Church.
If the Legislature now decides no longer to operate these three Colleges, the Church will again take title to them and operate them as a part of its educational system.
Drafted by Pres. Wilkinson.
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
90 years ago today - Dec 9,1933
Church News article "Mormonism in The New Germany," enthusiastically emphasizes parallels "between the LDS Church and some of the ideas and policies of the National Socialists." First, Nazis have introduced "Fast Sunday." Second, "it is a very well known fact that Hitler observes a form of living which Mormons term the Word of Wisdom. Finally, due to the importance given to the racial question by Nazis and the almost necessity of proving that one's grandmother was not a Jewess, there no longer is resistance against genealogical research by German Mormons who now have received letters of encouragement complimenting them for their patriotism."
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-1996, http://amzn.to/extensions-power]
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-1996, http://amzn.to/extensions-power]
135 years ago today - Dec 9, 1888
[Brigham Young Jr.]
Pres[iden]t. [Wilford] Woodruff & members of the Council decided to advise the brethren who had resigned their standing in the wards in our northern stakes [Idaho] to remain as they are until after the Court trials in the spring. The Repub[lican]s. of Idaho want an opportunity to accuse the people of perjury in leaving the church to vote. And the pubs. Will prosecute our people for conspiracy if they return to their fellowship in the Church. Three hundred & fifty dollars was voted for the relief of brethren involved in litigation in Idaho. [It was illegal in Idaho for Mormons to vote.]
[Brigham Young Jr., Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
Pres[iden]t. [Wilford] Woodruff & members of the Council decided to advise the brethren who had resigned their standing in the wards in our northern stakes [Idaho] to remain as they are until after the Court trials in the spring. The Repub[lican]s. of Idaho want an opportunity to accuse the people of perjury in leaving the church to vote. And the pubs. Will prosecute our people for conspiracy if they return to their fellowship in the Church. Three hundred & fifty dollars was voted for the relief of brethren involved in litigation in Idaho. [It was illegal in Idaho for Mormons to vote.]
[Brigham Young Jr., Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
175 years ago today - Saturday, Dec 9, 1848
[John D. Lee, Council of Fifty]
The council of YTFIF [Fifty] again met at the House of H[eber] C. Kimballs, & took into consideration the propriety of Petition[ing] Congress for a Teritorial Government, Giving them to understand at the same time we wanted officers of our own nomination &, should they Send such men as Lilburn W. Boggs, Neal Gilliam [of] Benton County, [Austin] King, [Wiley] Williams & others, that we would send them Cross Lots to Hell, that dark & dreary Road where no traveler ever returns. Pres. B[righam] Young was nominated & voted to be the governor of Said Territory. ... The Territory should be called Desarett [Deseret] & bounded as follows: [blank]. [Ten men] … were appointed a commity to obtain the Names of all the inhabitants of the valley & all the region roundabout to [be] incorporated in the Pe[ti]tion. The subject of gathering up the catle & Hors[es] that were Scatered over the valley, exposed to the ravages of the wolves & Indian[s], was called up & voted that O[rrin] P. Rockwell, J[ohn] D. Lee & Geo[rge] D. Grant be the commity to manage or superintend the geathering of the catle; the above commity was nominated by Pres. B[righam] Y[oung] who observed, ["]If there is not fire and thunder in this commity we will try & put some in them.["] ...
[John D. Lee diary, 80-81, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
The council of YTFIF [Fifty] again met at the House of H[eber] C. Kimballs, & took into consideration the propriety of Petition[ing] Congress for a Teritorial Government, Giving them to understand at the same time we wanted officers of our own nomination &, should they Send such men as Lilburn W. Boggs, Neal Gilliam [of] Benton County, [Austin] King, [Wiley] Williams & others, that we would send them Cross Lots to Hell, that dark & dreary Road where no traveler ever returns. Pres. B[righam] Young was nominated & voted to be the governor of Said Territory. ... The Territory should be called Desarett [Deseret] & bounded as follows: [blank]. [Ten men] … were appointed a commity to obtain the Names of all the inhabitants of the valley & all the region roundabout to [be] incorporated in the Pe[ti]tion. The subject of gathering up the catle & Hors[es] that were Scatered over the valley, exposed to the ravages of the wolves & Indian[s], was called up & voted that O[rrin] P. Rockwell, J[ohn] D. Lee & Geo[rge] D. Grant be the commity to manage or superintend the geathering of the catle; the above commity was nominated by Pres. B[righam] Y[oung] who observed, ["]If there is not fire and thunder in this commity we will try & put some in them.["] ...
[John D. Lee diary, 80-81, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
15 years ago today - Dec 8, 2008
The inaugural volume of the much-anticipated Joseph Smith Papers, released today, brings to light a project that has been under way for many years. This landmark publishing venture begins with Joseph Smiths personal journal entries, covering the years 1832 to 1839.
[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, United Kingdom, "On This Day," https://www.lds.org.uk/show_oda.php]
[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, United Kingdom, "On This Day," https://www.lds.org.uk/show_oda.php]
80 years ago today - Dec 8, 1943
[George Albert Smith]
[Excommunicated apostle] Richard [R. Lyman] applied for [re-]Baptism.
[George Albert Smith 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]
[Excommunicated apostle] Richard [R. Lyman] applied for [re-]Baptism.
[George Albert Smith 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]
135 years ago today - Dec 8, 1888
Bro[ther] Parkinson reported the condition of things in the Oneida [Idaho] Stake ... prospective nonpayment of tithings by the brethren, who felt it to be necessary to withdraw from the church [so they could vote] & they believing they can now pay their tithes for fear of the results &c they needed some assistance. 200 allowed. The Idaho political situation was discussed. The feeling being that those who were out of the church should remain so. Pres[ident] Woodruff seemed quite clear that it would be better for no one to return to the church until after the cases in courts came up & were disposed of In cases of aged brethren returning thought it would be done privately.
[First Presidency Office Journal, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
[First Presidency Office Journal, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
170 years ago today - Dec 8, 1853
[Hosea Stout]
This fore noon I arrived at home or what more properly might be said where once was my home.
Here, not 14 months since was concentrated all my earthly happiness. Here, the confiding Louisa, the dearest object of my heart, the solace in all my troubles and my inocent prattling children, was left, in the most perfect enjoyment of earthly bliss. To them I fled as a refuge from trouble & disappointment & how often I have rejoiced that I was thus blessed with that most essential ingredient for mans comfort, a true, faithful & confiding wife, and obedient lovely children There were here then, Here then was my own ocean of affection & love[.] I left them by the command of the Lord to preach the gospel in foreign lands & returned but not to them.
Louisa was no more, the scource of my happiness was beneath the cold sod while the very geniuse of desolation & loneliness seemed to brood over the scenes of by gone happiness.
What did I find? Even my brother had removed into the country & not the first vistage of former associations moved on the desolate place.
A family of English saints, total stranger to me resided here and could give no account of neither family or friends.
I gazed upon the sad wreck of all my hopes in silence while my heart sank within me & those around could not refrain from mingling their tears with mine for a few moments when we all hastily with drew from a place so full of sad reccollections as my HOME.
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
This fore noon I arrived at home or what more properly might be said where once was my home.
Here, not 14 months since was concentrated all my earthly happiness. Here, the confiding Louisa, the dearest object of my heart, the solace in all my troubles and my inocent prattling children, was left, in the most perfect enjoyment of earthly bliss. To them I fled as a refuge from trouble & disappointment & how often I have rejoiced that I was thus blessed with that most essential ingredient for mans comfort, a true, faithful & confiding wife, and obedient lovely children There were here then, Here then was my own ocean of affection & love[.] I left them by the command of the Lord to preach the gospel in foreign lands & returned but not to them.
Louisa was no more, the scource of my happiness was beneath the cold sod while the very geniuse of desolation & loneliness seemed to brood over the scenes of by gone happiness.
What did I find? Even my brother had removed into the country & not the first vistage of former associations moved on the desolate place.
A family of English saints, total stranger to me resided here and could give no account of neither family or friends.
I gazed upon the sad wreck of all my hopes in silence while my heart sank within me & those around could not refrain from mingling their tears with mine for a few moments when we all hastily with drew from a place so full of sad reccollections as my HOME.
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
180 years ago today - Dec 8, 1843
The Nauvoo City council passes a law stating that any officer bringing a writ against Joseph Smith based on a Missouri charge will be subject to life imprisonment, "which convict or convicts can only be pardoned by the Governor, with the consent of the Mayor of said city." (Joseph Smith himself is, of course, the mayor.) The Nauvoo Legion is also ordered to be ready to protect the rights of Nauvoo citizens. Affidavits are drawn up in protest of the recent kidnappings
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
55 years ago today - Dec 7, 1968
[Phone call, Ezra Taft Benson to First Presidency secretary Clare Middlemiss] "Clare, President McKay has told me on various occasions that there are two things he regretted in his presidency: (1) the untimely decision, which was later changed, to move the college at Rexburg to Idaho Falls; and (2) the issuing of the statement in the public press against the John Birch Society. Now, in order to alleviate that feeling about the John Birch Society, I wonder, since they are celebrating their 10th Anniversary tonight at a meeting and banquet in Indianapolis, Indiana, if President McKay would send a telegram similar to the following: "John Birch Society, c/o Mr. Robert Welch, Stauffer Inn, Indianapolis, Indiana—Congratulations upon reaching ten years of courageous and effective service in defense of our freedom and acquainting the American people with the insidious dangers of the atheistic communistic conspiracy. Best wishes for future success in the fight to preserve our God-given liberties." McKay was in a meeting, and counselor Alvin R. Dyer vetoed the request.
["Note by C.M. (Clare Middlemiss)", 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)]
["Note by C.M. (Clare Middlemiss)", 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)]
70 years ago today - Dec 07, 1953
The West German government grants the Church Koerperschaft des Oeffenlichen Rechts (Corporation under Public Law), giving it equal rights with the established churches in Germany. This is the first time in German history that a foreign church has been so honored.
130 years ago today - Dec 7, 1893
[Franklin D. Richards]
.... decided that white is the color for marked garments to be worn. also that baptism should be administered as directed in the B[ook]. of M[ormon]. & Doc[trine]. & Cov[enants]. and not in a Bath Tub where the person officiating cannot go down into the water with the candidate. [This is the first departure of the Utah temple garment from the contemporary "Union suit" which comes in various colors and upon which the Utah "street garment" is based.]
[Franklin D. Richards Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
.... decided that white is the color for marked garments to be worn. also that baptism should be administered as directed in the B[ook]. of M[ormon]. & Doc[trine]. & Cov[enants]. and not in a Bath Tub where the person officiating cannot go down into the water with the candidate. [This is the first departure of the Utah temple garment from the contemporary "Union suit" which comes in various colors and upon which the Utah "street garment" is based.]
[Franklin D. Richards Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
160 years ago today - Dec 7, 1863
[Wilford Woodruff]
Dec 7th 1863 I spent the fore part of the day in the office writing. Jason Luce killed a man in the street by the name of Samuel Burton from Origon. He cut his throat with a Bowe knife. He was immediately arested & imprisioned.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Dec 7th 1863 I spent the fore part of the day in the office writing. Jason Luce killed a man in the street by the name of Samuel Burton from Origon. He cut his throat with a Bowe knife. He was immediately arested & imprisioned.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
170 years ago today - Dec 7, 1853
[Hosea Stout]
I forgot to state that while at American Creek I had the satisfaction to witness the triumph of Mormonism over the traditions of our fathers for George A. sealed Arza Adams to an old maid aged 48 as withered and forbidding as 4 Doz. Years of celibacy might natturally be supposed to indicate. She joyfully took his hand and consented to be part of himself as number two. Thus entering into a respectible state of matrimony under auspicious circumstances when nothing except the privileges of Mormonism would have permitted
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
I forgot to state that while at American Creek I had the satisfaction to witness the triumph of Mormonism over the traditions of our fathers for George A. sealed Arza Adams to an old maid aged 48 as withered and forbidding as 4 Doz. Years of celibacy might natturally be supposed to indicate. She joyfully took his hand and consented to be part of himself as number two. Thus entering into a respectible state of matrimony under auspicious circumstances when nothing except the privileges of Mormonism would have permitted
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
180 years ago today - Dec 7, 1843
The citizens of Nauvoo meet to draw up petitions against the Missouri kidnappings of the two Avery men and others.
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
125 years ago today - Dec 6, 1898 (Tuesday)
Twenty-four "ministers of the gospel," mostly residents of Salt Lake City, met and adopted an address, prepared by a committee of the so-called ministerial union, in which they "most earnestly" called upon the people of the United States to join them in a strong protest to Congress against the seating of Brigham H. Roberts, member elect from Utah.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
140 years ago today - Dec 6, 1883
Patriarchal Blessing of Rudger Clawson given by William J. Smith ... Thou shalt be filled with revelation and prophecy and have power to discern and detect wicked and false spirits wherever thou goest, and thou shalt have power over devils and demons and all diseases and the desolating sickness which shall come over the land and all destructive elements. The winds and the waves shall obey thy voice, and the tempests of the mighty deep shall be stayed at thy command. No enemy shall have power over thee - not even a hair of thy head shall fall by a foe. Thou shalt heal the sick, and cast out devils and raise the dead, if it be necessary, and the sun and the moon shall even be stayed at thy command for the furtherance of the work of God.
Thy faith shall increase and thou shalt have power to prevail with God like the brother of Jared, until thou shalt behold God face to face. Thou shalt have mighty faith in Jesus and gather thy thousands to Zion and feed them in the days of famine by the power of God. Thou shalt assist in gathering the Zion of God from all nations and live to see Israel gathered from the four corners of the earth. Thou shalt be gathered to the center stake, and assist in building that holy temple where a cloud by day shall rest and a pillar of fire by night. Thou shalt be a pillar in that temple, and perform a great work for thy progenitors, and assist in the redemption of thousands of thy friends and kindred that have died without a knowledge of the gospel. ...
I seal thee up against all plagues and pestilence that shall be sent forth to devastate the wicked, but thy feet shall stand in holy and sure places in these days of trouble and woe. ... I seal you up to eternal life, to a holy resurrection with thy full redemption, with thine inheritance, in a kingdom of glory that shall never fail thee. Even so. Amen.
[Patriarchal Blessings]
Thy faith shall increase and thou shalt have power to prevail with God like the brother of Jared, until thou shalt behold God face to face. Thou shalt have mighty faith in Jesus and gather thy thousands to Zion and feed them in the days of famine by the power of God. Thou shalt assist in gathering the Zion of God from all nations and live to see Israel gathered from the four corners of the earth. Thou shalt be gathered to the center stake, and assist in building that holy temple where a cloud by day shall rest and a pillar of fire by night. Thou shalt be a pillar in that temple, and perform a great work for thy progenitors, and assist in the redemption of thousands of thy friends and kindred that have died without a knowledge of the gospel. ...
I seal thee up against all plagues and pestilence that shall be sent forth to devastate the wicked, but thy feet shall stand in holy and sure places in these days of trouble and woe. ... I seal you up to eternal life, to a holy resurrection with thy full redemption, with thine inheritance, in a kingdom of glory that shall never fail thee. Even so. Amen.
[Patriarchal Blessings]
190 years ago today - Dec 6, 1833
Kirtland, Ohio. Joseph Smith and others prayed that the newly arrived printing press would be a means to bring -"about the restoration of the house of Israel.-",
[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]
55 years ago today - Dec 5, 1968
[David O. McKay]
Attention was called to a letter from President Reuel E. Christensen of the Manti Temple reporting that a bishop and stake president in one of the BYU Stakes had inquired if they could send colored people who are members of the Church in good standing residing in their wards to do baptismal work for the dead in the temple. I ruled that worthy negro baptized members of the Church should be permitted to do baptismal work for the dead if they desire to do so.
[David O. McKay diary, Dec. 5, 1968, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
Attention was called to a letter from President Reuel E. Christensen of the Manti Temple reporting that a bishop and stake president in one of the BYU Stakes had inquired if they could send colored people who are members of the Church in good standing residing in their wards to do baptismal work for the dead in the temple. I ruled that worthy negro baptized members of the Church should be permitted to do baptismal work for the dead if they desire to do so.
[David O. McKay diary, Dec. 5, 1968, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
90 years ago today - Dec 5, 1933
Prompted by Prohibition's vast unpopularity as well rampant organized crime--namely bootlegging--and the loss of potential tax revenue from alcohol, the 21st Amendment is passed, repealing Prohibition. Utah is the last state to ratify the amendment.
[Harward, Randy; Utah Brewing Timeline, Salt Lake City Weekly, Aug 24, 2011]
[Harward, Randy; Utah Brewing Timeline, Salt Lake City Weekly, Aug 24, 2011]
120 years ago today - Dec 05, 1903
Harper's Weekly, a U.S. national newspaper, defends Apostle Reed Smoot during the Senate hearings on his worthiness to be seated following his election to the U.S. Senate. Smoot's seating was opposed because it was rumored the church continued to secretly sanction polygamous marriages.
185 years ago today - Dec 5, 1838
Governor Boggs defends his Extermination Order in the state legislature.
[Wikipedia: Chronology of Mormonism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Mormonism]
[Wikipedia: Chronology of Mormonism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Mormonism]
190 years ago today - Dec 5, 1833
[David Stafford (neighbor of the Smiths)]
I have been acquainted with the family of Joseph Smith Sen. for several years ... It is well known, that the general employment of the Smith family was money digging and fortune-telling. They kept around them constantly, a gang of worthless fellows who dug for money nights, and were idle in the day time. ...
[Eber D. Howe, Mormonism Unvailed (Painesville, Ohio: E. D. Howe, 1834), 249-50., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: David Stafford Statement]
I have been acquainted with the family of Joseph Smith Sen. for several years ... It is well known, that the general employment of the Smith family was money digging and fortune-telling. They kept around them constantly, a gang of worthless fellows who dug for money nights, and were idle in the day time. ...
[Eber D. Howe, Mormonism Unvailed (Painesville, Ohio: E. D. Howe, 1834), 249-50., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: David Stafford Statement]
10 years ago today - 1 year ago - Dec 4, 2013
The court hears arguments from the same-sex couples and the state on the same-sex marriage issue.
[Herald Extra, "LDS Church: No gay marriages in meetinghouses", http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/lds-church-no-gay-marriages-in-meetinghouses/article_9115817b-5e81-5e2f-b1e7-692843870e5d.html]
[Herald Extra, "LDS Church: No gay marriages in meetinghouses", http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/lds-church-no-gay-marriages-in-meetinghouses/article_9115817b-5e81-5e2f-b1e7-692843870e5d.html]
115 years ago today - Friday, Dec 4, 1908
[John Henry Smith]
I went with John M. Cannon of Granite Stake to South Cottonwood Ward where we investigated the Bishopric of that ward. We are satisfied that they obeyed the Words of Wisdom.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
I went with John M. Cannon of Granite Stake to South Cottonwood Ward where we investigated the Bishopric of that ward. We are satisfied that they obeyed the Words of Wisdom.
[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]
185 years ago today - Dec 4, 1838
[Wilford Woodruff]
Phebe is still vary feeble & low. ... I felt the power of the destroyer resting upon me in the fore part of the day.
In the evening Phebe for the first time during her sickness began to lay hold on faith for her recovery. Her faith was strong in God. We laid hold on faith together repented of all our sins & confessed them befor God & covenanted to keep his Commandments. I had some oil that was Consecrated for my anointing while in kirtland. I again Consecrated it before God for anointing the sick. I bowed myself down before the Lord & prayed with my companion & anointed her [with] oil in the name of the Lord. I laid my hands upon her in the name of JESUS CHRIST and rebuked the fever the destroyier the deadly malidy that was praying upon her system & thank God we both obtained a great blessing in so doing & according to her faith her fever left her & praised be the name of GOD for we will ever keep his commandments & trust in him. Praise the Lord O my soul for all of his wonderful acts.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Phebe is still vary feeble & low. ... I felt the power of the destroyer resting upon me in the fore part of the day.
In the evening Phebe for the first time during her sickness began to lay hold on faith for her recovery. Her faith was strong in God. We laid hold on faith together repented of all our sins & confessed them befor God & covenanted to keep his Commandments. I had some oil that was Consecrated for my anointing while in kirtland. I again Consecrated it before God for anointing the sick. I bowed myself down before the Lord & prayed with my companion & anointed her [with] oil in the name of the Lord. I laid my hands upon her in the name of JESUS CHRIST and rebuked the fever the destroyier the deadly malidy that was praying upon her system & thank God we both obtained a great blessing in so doing & according to her faith her fever left her & praised be the name of GOD for we will ever keep his commandments & trust in him. Praise the Lord O my soul for all of his wonderful acts.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
190 years ago today - Dec 4, 1833
[Joseph Smith]
[On] the 4th [of] Dec[ember 1833] [we] commenced distributing the type and commenced setting on the 6[th of December]. Being prepared to commence our Labours in the printing buisness I ask God in the name of Jesus to establish it for ever and cause that his word may speedily go forth [to] the Nations of the earth to the accomplishing of his great work in bringing about the restoration of the house of Israel.
[Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1832-34, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
[On] the 4th [of] Dec[ember 1833] [we] commenced distributing the type and commenced setting on the 6[th of December]. Being prepared to commence our Labours in the printing buisness I ask God in the name of Jesus to establish it for ever and cause that his word may speedily go forth [to] the Nations of the earth to the accomplishing of his great work in bringing about the restoration of the house of Israel.
[Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1832-34, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
190 years ago today - Dec 4, 1833
Palmyra, Dec. 4, 1833.
We, the undersigned, have been acquainted with the Smith family, for a number of years, while they resided near this place, and we have no hesitation in saying, that we consider them destitute of that moral character, which ought to entitle them to the confidence of any community. They were particularly famous for visionary projects, spent much of their time in digging for money which they pretended was hid in the earth; and to this day, large excavations may be seen in the earth, not far from their residence, where they used to spend their time in digging for hidden treasures. Joseph Smith, Senior, and his son Joseph, were in particular, considered entirely destitute of moral character, and addicted to vicious habits. ...
Geo. N. Williams,
Clark Robinson,
Lemael Durfee,
E. S. Townsend,
Henry P. Alger,
C. E. Thayer,
G. W. Anderson,
H. P. Thayer,
L. Williams,
Geo. W. Crosby,
Levi Thayer,
R. S. Williams,
P. Sexton,
M. Butterfield,
S. P. Seymour,
D. S. Jackways,
John Hurlbut,
H. Linnell,
Jas. Jenner,
S. Ackley,
Josiah Rice,
Jesse Townsend,
Rich'd. D. Clark,
Th. P. Baldwin,
John Sothington,
Durfey Chase,
Wells Anderson,
N. H. Beckwith,
Philo Durfee,
Giles. S. Ely,
R. W. Smith,
Pelatiah West,
Henry Jessup,
Linus North,
Thos. Rogers, 2d.
Wm. Parke,
Josiah Francis,
Amos Hollister,
G. A. Hathaway,
David G. Ely,
H. K. Jerome,
G. Beckwith,
Lewis Foster,
Hiram Payne,
P. Grandin,
L. Hurd,
Joel Thayer,
E. D. Robinson,
Asahel Millard,
A. Ensworth,
Isarel F. Chilson
[Eber D. Howe, Mormonism Unvailed (Painesville, Ohio: E. D. Howe, 1834), 261-62., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Palmyra Residents Group Statement]
We, the undersigned, have been acquainted with the Smith family, for a number of years, while they resided near this place, and we have no hesitation in saying, that we consider them destitute of that moral character, which ought to entitle them to the confidence of any community. They were particularly famous for visionary projects, spent much of their time in digging for money which they pretended was hid in the earth; and to this day, large excavations may be seen in the earth, not far from their residence, where they used to spend their time in digging for hidden treasures. Joseph Smith, Senior, and his son Joseph, were in particular, considered entirely destitute of moral character, and addicted to vicious habits. ...
Geo. N. Williams,
Clark Robinson,
Lemael Durfee,
E. S. Townsend,
Henry P. Alger,
C. E. Thayer,
G. W. Anderson,
H. P. Thayer,
L. Williams,
Geo. W. Crosby,
Levi Thayer,
R. S. Williams,
P. Sexton,
M. Butterfield,
S. P. Seymour,
D. S. Jackways,
John Hurlbut,
H. Linnell,
Jas. Jenner,
S. Ackley,
Josiah Rice,
Jesse Townsend,
Rich'd. D. Clark,
Th. P. Baldwin,
John Sothington,
Durfey Chase,
Wells Anderson,
N. H. Beckwith,
Philo Durfee,
Giles. S. Ely,
R. W. Smith,
Pelatiah West,
Henry Jessup,
Linus North,
Thos. Rogers, 2d.
Wm. Parke,
Josiah Francis,
Amos Hollister,
G. A. Hathaway,
David G. Ely,
H. K. Jerome,
G. Beckwith,
Lewis Foster,
Hiram Payne,
P. Grandin,
L. Hurd,
Joel Thayer,
E. D. Robinson,
Asahel Millard,
A. Ensworth,
Isarel F. Chilson
[Eber D. Howe, Mormonism Unvailed (Painesville, Ohio: E. D. Howe, 1834), 261-62., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Palmyra Residents Group Statement]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)