LDS Brent Scowcroft, national security adviser to President George Bush, presents the U.S. Citizens Award to Ezra Taft Benson.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
45 years ago today - Aug 30, 1979-Thursday
[Leonard Arrington]
.... Last evening the excitement continued when [ward] home teachers (Joe Wood and Tope Tucker) came. They arrived just before the end of Hogan's Heroes [TV show], so I'll be worrying the rest of my life about what happened. ...
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
.... Last evening the excitement continued when [ward] home teachers (Joe Wood and Tope Tucker) came. They arrived just before the end of Hogan's Heroes [TV show], so I'll be worrying the rest of my life about what 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 - Aug 30, 1974-Friday
[Leonard Arrington]
We had day before yesterday a nice talk with Merlo Pusey, who was here with his son David. He said that he had done a history of George A. Smith, John Henry Smith, and George Albert Smith, which was completed except for tying up a few loose ends. He had submitted the manuscript to Peregrine Smith. They had read it (Davis said he read it) and had accepted it for publication. I got the impression that he had submitted it earlier to Bookcraft or Deseret Book and it had been turned down as being too controversial; that is to say, he mentioned a few things which were not 100 percent favorable to the Smiths and the Church. Davis said that there was nothing wrong with the manuscript-really no problems. The tone throughout was favorable and friendly and the so-called controversial portions were mentions of relatively minor problems. The book is based upon original journals of the three persons. Merlo said that the [Reed] Smoot book had been held up because he refused to eliminate the diary
entries which related to the criminality of his son, but he said he thought the book still might appear soon since all of those who felt keenly on this matter had now died. He said he could not avoid mentioning this nor was it libelous nor did it mention anything that had not been widely published in newspapers or magazines. ...
Over the past several weeks I have had telephone calls from John Reed, an employee from Hill Air Force Base, a non-Mormon who says he is planning to do an article for an eastern concern about the Mormons. I have tried to be very careful, cagey, and cautious in my remarks to him and have no evidence that he is taping my conversations, but hope everything will turn out all right. I have tried to be friendly and helpful without giving him anything that would later prove to be embarrassing to myself or the department. ...
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
We had day before yesterday a nice talk with Merlo Pusey, who was here with his son David. He said that he had done a history of George A. Smith, John Henry Smith, and George Albert Smith, which was completed except for tying up a few loose ends. He had submitted the manuscript to Peregrine Smith. They had read it (Davis said he read it) and had accepted it for publication. I got the impression that he had submitted it earlier to Bookcraft or Deseret Book and it had been turned down as being too controversial; that is to say, he mentioned a few things which were not 100 percent favorable to the Smiths and the Church. Davis said that there was nothing wrong with the manuscript-really no problems. The tone throughout was favorable and friendly and the so-called controversial portions were mentions of relatively minor problems. The book is based upon original journals of the three persons. Merlo said that the [Reed] Smoot book had been held up because he refused to eliminate the diary
entries which related to the criminality of his son, but he said he thought the book still might appear soon since all of those who felt keenly on this matter had now died. He said he could not avoid mentioning this nor was it libelous nor did it mention anything that had not been widely published in newspapers or magazines. ...
Over the past several weeks I have had telephone calls from John Reed, an employee from Hill Air Force Base, a non-Mormon who says he is planning to do an article for an eastern concern about the Mormons. I have tried to be very careful, cagey, and cautious in my remarks to him and have no evidence that he is taping my conversations, but hope everything will turn out all right. I have tried to be friendly and helpful without giving him anything that would later prove to be embarrassing to myself or the department. ...
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
80 years ago today - Aug 30, 1944
The First Presidency authorizes a stake president and bishops to join "AS INDIVIDUALS a civic organization whose purpose is to restrict and control negro sttlement in his stake" (emphasis in original).
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
80 years ago today - Aug 30, 1944
First Presidency authorizes stake president and bishops to join "AS INDIVIDUALS a civic organizaton whose purpose is to restrict and control negro settlement in his stake" (emphasis in original)
80 years ago today - Aug 30, 1944
[Ezra Taft Benson]
This is a day I shall never forget. Flora [Amussen Benson] and I met in the Celestial Room of the [Salt Lake] temple at 12:30 [p.m.] and in line with the recommendation of Pres[ident] [Heber J.] Grant received our second blessings under the hands of Elders Geo[rge] F. Richards and Jos[eph] Fielding Smith of the Council of Twelve. Our hearts swelled to overflowing with gratitude for the Lord's rich blessings.
[Ezra Taft Benson diary, Aug. 30, 1944 as quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
This is a day I shall never forget. Flora [Amussen Benson] and I met in the Celestial Room of the [Salt Lake] temple at 12:30 [p.m.] and in line with the recommendation of Pres[ident] [Heber J.] Grant received our second blessings under the hands of Elders Geo[rge] F. Richards and Jos[eph] Fielding Smith of the Council of Twelve. Our hearts swelled to overflowing with gratitude for the Lord's rich blessings.
[Ezra Taft Benson diary, Aug. 30, 1944 as quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
85 years ago today - Aug 30, 1939
[President Heber J. Grant]
[In conversation with a man] I told him that when my first wife came to die she said: 'I can die happy because the woman you love and I love can raise my baby boy and my five daughters.'
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[In conversation with a man] I told him that when my first wife came to die she said: 'I can die happy because the woman you love and I love can raise my baby boy and my five daughters.'
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
85 years ago today - Aug 30, 1939
President Heber J. Grant writes to Kenneth Macgowen, associate producer of Twentiety-Century-Fox's film "Brigham Young:" "I hope we shall not appear to you to be over anxious, and we have no disposition to be oversensitive, but we are tremendously concerned that this picture shall be a true picture, and, while we are not, any of us, playwrights, or dramatists, or Movie technicians, we can appreciate the war which must constantly go on in one preparing a picture, between the highly dramatic and the sober fact." The LDS Church provided constant input to the making of the film.
155 years ago today - Aug 30, 1869
[John Wesley Powell]
During his most famous expedition, from 24 May through 30 August 1869, he and his party made a daring nine-hundred-mile journey with four boats, traveling from the Union Pacific Railroad crossing of the Green River in Wyoming down through the Grand Canyon.
[Utah History Encyclopedia: John Wesley Powell, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
During his most famous expedition, from 24 May through 30 August 1869, he and his party made a daring nine-hundred-mile journey with four boats, traveling from the Union Pacific Railroad crossing of the Green River in Wyoming down through the Grand Canyon.
[Utah History Encyclopedia: John Wesley Powell, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
185 years ago today - Aug 30, 1839
The word Nauvoo appears officially in print, published on the city plat, for the first time. Some time previous to this the word had been chosen as the new name of Commerce.
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
60 years ago today - Aug 29, 1964
Joseph F. Smith II dies. At the time of his death he is serving as a stake high counselor. He had been Presiding Patriarch to the Church but is released in 1946 due to homosexual activities. No church trial is ever held, and no formal action is taken against him but for ten years his local leaders are instructed that he is not to assume any responsibilities or callings. This restriction is lifted by President David O. McKay in 1957.
120 years ago today - Aug 29, 1904
Joseph Smith's youngest son, David Hyrum Smith dies in the Northern Illinois Hospital and Asylum for the Insane in Elgin, Illinois. Although David was born after his father's martyrdom Joseph had prophesied that his unborn son would be male and would be named "David" and would be "president and king of Israel". David did not go with Brigham Young to Utah. However as an apostle and later first presidency member in the Reorganized church he went on two missions to Utah to convert the "poor decieved souls." The Utah Mormons returned the favor by trying to convince him that polygamy was instituted by his father rather than by Brigham Young as his mother (and Joseph widow) Emma had claimed. He gradually accepted that his father practiced polygamy but considered it to be adulterous rather than of divine revelation. This realization was accompanied by a decent into severe mental illness. He spent the final 27 years of his life in the Asylum for the Insane.
135 years ago today - Aug 29, 1889
[Apostle Heber J. Grant]
[Wilford] Woodruff, [George Q.] Cannon, [John Henry] Smith and I were the only ones present After prayers we had quite a talk as to the ideas that were entertained by some of the brethren on the coming of a man like unto Moses to lead the saints out of bondage, and also the idea of some that this man had already come and that he was Brigham Young.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Wilford] Woodruff, [George Q.] Cannon, [John Henry] Smith and I were the only ones present After prayers we had quite a talk as to the ideas that were entertained by some of the brethren on the coming of a man like unto Moses to lead the saints out of bondage, and also the idea of some that this man had already come and that he was Brigham Young.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
185 years ago today - Aug 29, 1839
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff]
....The enemy made a powerful grasp upon the life of Elder John Taylor. He fainted several times & it seemed as though he would die...
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
....The enemy made a powerful grasp upon the life of Elder John Taylor. He fainted several times & it seemed as though he would die...
[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 - Aug 29, 1834
[Brigham Young Sermon]
.... in relation to a certain difficulty which took place relative to a dog [in Zion's Camp], that on a certain evening after crossing the Mississippi River, brother Sylvester came up with the remaining part of the camp when the dog came out and [insulted] him, he knew not whether he touched him or not. The next morning after hearing considerable complaint and murmuring concerning the dog, Brother Joseph spoke to several brethren present and said, I will descend to the Spirit that is in the camp to show you the spirit you are of for I want to drive it from the camp. '"The first man that kills that dog, (or my dog) I will whip him!'" He thought about this time that brother Sylvester came up who said, '"If that dog bites me I will kill him.'" '"If you do,'" said brother Joseph, '"I will whip you.'" '"If you do,'" said brother Sylvester, '"I shall defend myself the best way that I can.'"'- Brother B. Young further said, relative to a certain difficulty arising out of a circumstance
concerning some bread. That brother J. S. Carter on their journey to Missouri on the line between Ohio and Indiana said to brother Joseph is this thing right? '"What thing? concerning brother Parley. P. Pratt's asking brother Sylvester for some bread for supper. He then learned that brother Pratt had asked brother Sylvester for some bread, that brother Sylvester had bread at the time, but directed him to some one else, who he (brother Sylvester) said had a sufficient. That brother Pratt called upon that individual and could not obtain any. That he was present when brother Joseph told brother Sylvester that he had not conducted right in the matter. That he ought to impart when he had in preference to directing one where he was not certain he could obtain. That by so doing some might be deprived of food at times. He further said that brother Sylvester contended he had been right and justified his own conduct in the matter. That brother Joseph reasoned with brother Sylvester to
convince him that he, brother Sylvester, was in a fault, but he continued to justify his course till brother Joseph reproved him sharply. He frequently heard the brethren speak of this circumstance, and all (whom he heard say any thing on the subject) manifested a satisfaction with brother Joseph and thought his observations correct, and the principles which he advanced to be just'...
[The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
.... in relation to a certain difficulty which took place relative to a dog [in Zion's Camp], that on a certain evening after crossing the Mississippi River, brother Sylvester came up with the remaining part of the camp when the dog came out and [insulted] him, he knew not whether he touched him or not. The next morning after hearing considerable complaint and murmuring concerning the dog, Brother Joseph spoke to several brethren present and said, I will descend to the Spirit that is in the camp to show you the spirit you are of for I want to drive it from the camp. '"The first man that kills that dog, (or my dog) I will whip him!'" He thought about this time that brother Sylvester came up who said, '"If that dog bites me I will kill him.'" '"If you do,'" said brother Joseph, '"I will whip you.'" '"If you do,'" said brother Sylvester, '"I shall defend myself the best way that I can.'"'- Brother B. Young further said, relative to a certain difficulty arising out of a circumstance
concerning some bread. That brother J. S. Carter on their journey to Missouri on the line between Ohio and Indiana said to brother Joseph is this thing right? '"What thing? concerning brother Parley. P. Pratt's asking brother Sylvester for some bread for supper. He then learned that brother Pratt had asked brother Sylvester for some bread, that brother Sylvester had bread at the time, but directed him to some one else, who he (brother Sylvester) said had a sufficient. That brother Pratt called upon that individual and could not obtain any. That he was present when brother Joseph told brother Sylvester that he had not conducted right in the matter. That he ought to impart when he had in preference to directing one where he was not certain he could obtain. That by so doing some might be deprived of food at times. He further said that brother Sylvester contended he had been right and justified his own conduct in the matter. That brother Joseph reasoned with brother Sylvester to
convince him that he, brother Sylvester, was in a fault, but he continued to justify his course till brother Joseph reproved him sharply. He frequently heard the brethren speak of this circumstance, and all (whom he heard say any thing on the subject) manifested a satisfaction with brother Joseph and thought his observations correct, and the principles which he advanced to be just'...
[The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
195 years ago today - Late August-Early September 1829
Egbert B. Grandin and Thomas McAuley begin printing the Book of Mormon . Joseph Smith, Sr., Joseph Smith, Jr., Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, and Stephen S. Harding are in Grandin's office when the title page printed.
[Vogel, Dan, Early Mormon Documents, Appendix B: Chronology, 1771-1831, http://amzn.to/T5nY8w]
[Vogel, Dan, Early Mormon Documents, Appendix B: Chronology, 1771-1831, http://amzn.to/T5nY8w]
70 years ago today - Aug 28, 1954
Joseph Fielding Smith speaks, at a lecture for Seminary and Institute teachers, for two hours on his recently published book, MAN HIS ORIGIN AND DESTINY, repeating many of the points in previous classes at the summer session. He insists on the view that the earth was only 6,000 years old and that no one and nothing had died before Adam and Eve's transgression. He concludes, 'I hope you take what I'm saying [literally], because if you don't you have no business in the church school system.'"
120 years ago today - Aug 28, 1904
[Patriarchal Blessing of Gertrude Martineau Taylor by Winslow Farr]
....Thou art a chosen vessel of the Lord, selected from the Courts of heaven, and given the privilege to choose thy parentage and dispensation to come forth on the earth, and thy Guardian Angel that was given thee at thy birth has watched over thee and for a wise purpose thy life has been preserved. ...
[Patriarchal Blessings]
....Thou art a chosen vessel of the Lord, selected from the Courts of heaven, and given the privilege to choose thy parentage and dispensation to come forth on the earth, and thy Guardian Angel that was given thee at thy birth has watched over thee and for a wise purpose thy life has been preserved. ...
[Patriarchal Blessings]
135 years ago today - Aug 28, 1889
[Iosopa Community]
The first group of forty-six [Hawaiian] settlers arrived on 28 August 1889 and drew lots for the land they were to occupy. Additional settlers arrived, built houses, a schoolhouse, a general store, and an irrigation system which drew water from the Stansbury Mountains to water a variety of crops including lucern, beets, wheat, oats, barley, corn, potatoes, and squash. [The community is named Iosopa, Hawaiian for Joseph].
[Utah History Encyclopedia: Iosopa Community, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
The first group of forty-six [Hawaiian] settlers arrived on 28 August 1889 and drew lots for the land they were to occupy. Additional settlers arrived, built houses, a schoolhouse, a general store, and an irrigation system which drew water from the Stansbury Mountains to water a variety of crops including lucern, beets, wheat, oats, barley, corn, potatoes, and squash. [The community is named Iosopa, Hawaiian for Joseph].
[Utah History Encyclopedia: Iosopa Community, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
135 years ago today - Aug 28, 1889
A group of Hawaiian Saints arrives at the Church-owned ranch in Skull Valley, Utah, and names the settlement Iosepa (Joseph in Hawaiian) in honor of the Prophet Joseph Smith and Joseph F. Smith, who had served in Hawaii as a missionary.
175 years ago today - Aug 28, 1849
Captain Howard Stansbury and Lt. John W. Gunnison arrived in the Salt Lake Valley to survey the area.
[History to Go, Pioneers and Cowboys, http://historytogo.utah.gov/timeline/pioneersandcowboys.html]
[History to Go, Pioneers and Cowboys, http://historytogo.utah.gov/timeline/pioneersandcowboys.html]
180 years ago today - Aug 28, 1844
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal]
Upon the head of Phoebe W. Woodruff
...Thou art Sealed up unto eternal life & we Seal all these blessings upon thy head & all others which thou shall desire in righteouness even so, Amen...
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Upon the head of Phoebe W. Woodruff
...Thou art Sealed up unto eternal life & we Seal all these blessings upon thy head & all others which thou shall desire in righteouness even so, Amen...
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
45 years ago today - Aug 27, 1979-Monday
[Leonard Arrington]
Friday and Saturday I attended the [first] theological symposium sponsored by Sunstone. The symposium began at 12:30 Friday afternoon and continued until 6:00 in the evening. A reception was held later in the evening in the old Salt Lake Tenth Ward church. The sessions were held Saturday from 8:15 a.m. until about 6:30 Saturday evening. Dean Madsen attended with me. I would judge that there were approximately 400 persons attending overall, of whom about 300 attended nearly all of the sessions. There seemed to be people from all over the country in attendance, with perhaps half of the people from the Salt Lake Valley. Davis Bitton from our office attended all the sessions; others attending part or all of the sessions from our office included Gordon Irving, Ron Esplin, Ron Walker, Glen Leonard, Maureen Beecher, and Richard Jensen. About half of the audience seemed to be very younguniversity students or recent graduates. ... The symposium was managed by Allen Roberts and Peggy
Fletcher, with Scott Kenney assisting to some extent. Things ran fairly smoothly. ...
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
Friday and Saturday I attended the [first] theological symposium sponsored by Sunstone. The symposium began at 12:30 Friday afternoon and continued until 6:00 in the evening. A reception was held later in the evening in the old Salt Lake Tenth Ward church. The sessions were held Saturday from 8:15 a.m. until about 6:30 Saturday evening. Dean Madsen attended with me. I would judge that there were approximately 400 persons attending overall, of whom about 300 attended nearly all of the sessions. There seemed to be people from all over the country in attendance, with perhaps half of the people from the Salt Lake Valley. Davis Bitton from our office attended all the sessions; others attending part or all of the sessions from our office included Gordon Irving, Ron Esplin, Ron Walker, Glen Leonard, Maureen Beecher, and Richard Jensen. About half of the audience seemed to be very younguniversity students or recent graduates. ... The symposium was managed by Allen Roberts and Peggy
Fletcher, with Scott Kenney assisting to some extent. Things ran fairly smoothly. ...
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
70 years ago today - Aug 27, 1954
With specific reference to the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision of Brown vs. Board of Education which declared segregation unconstitutional, Apostle Mark E. Petersen instructs all LDS "college level" religion teachers: "I would be willing to let every Negro drive a Cadillac if they could afford it. I would be willing that they have all the advantages they can get out of life in the world. But let them enjoy these things among themselves. I think the Lord segregated the Negro and who is man to change that segregation?" After stating that marriage with an African-American is impossible for faithful Caucasian Mormons, Apostle Petersen extends his opposition to racial intermarriage by affirming that it is God's will that "the Hawaiians should marry Hawaiians, the Japanese ought to marry the Japanese, and the Chinese ought to marry Chinese, and the Caucasians should marry Caucasians."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
70 years ago today - Aug 27, 1954
With specific reference to U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision of BROWN vs. BOARD OF EDUCATION which declared segregation unconstitutional, Apostle Mark E. Petersen instructs all LDS "college level" religion teachers: "I would be willing to let every Negro drive a Cadillac if they could afford it. I would be willing that they have all the advantages they can get out of life in the world. But let them enjoy these things among themselves. I think the Lord segregated the Negro and who is man to change that segregation?" After stating that marriage with African-American is impossible for faithful caucasian Mormons, Apostle Petersen extends his opposition to racial intermarriage by affirming that it is God's will that "the Hawaiians should marry Hawaiians, the Japanese ought to marry the Japanese, and the Chinese ought to marry Chinese, and the Caucasians should marry Caucasians."
130 years ago today - Aug 27, 1894
President Grover Cleveland issued a proclamation granting pardons and restoring civil rights to those who had been disfranchised under anti-polygamy laws.
[Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html]
[Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html]
135 years ago today - Aug 27, 1889
Deseret News describes as "Organized Tyranny" a labor strike at the construction site of Zion's Savings Bank. "We feel ashamed to know that many of these men who have combined [in] this improper manner are 'Mormons,'" the News observes. "On general principles we are opposed to 'strikes,' because they usually result in much more harm than good to all parties affected and are often started on incorrect principles."
[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 - Aug 27, 1889
DESERET NEWS describes as "Organized Tyranny" a labor strike at construction site of Zion's Savings Bank. "We feel ashamed to know that many of these men who have combined [in] this improper manner are 'Mormons,'" NEWS observes. "On general principles we are opposed to 'strikes,' because they usually result in much more harm than good to all parties affected and are often started on incorrect principles."
180 years ago today - 27 August 1844, Tuesday
[William Clayton Diary]
"...Thus has ended the earthly career of an innocent sufferer [Clayton's son via secret polygamous wife] who has known no comfort in this life but has suffered since his birth to his death. The tongue of slander has swung freely against him and many which his death /sic/. He is gone to rest with the just and will come forth again to inherit thrones, kingdoms, dominions principalities and powers in the mansions of his father. /Same day Cahoon went to get the Secretary but she returned it empty of its important papers/ ''She did this by means of a false key which will unlock it. Her [Emma's] treachery seems unbounded Rigdon, Marks, Emma, and some others are trying to draw of [off] a party They say there is no church."
[Fillerup, Robert C., compiler; William Clayton Nauvoo Diaries and Personal Writings, A chronological compilation of the personal writings of William Clayton while he was a resident of Nauvoo, Illinois. http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/clayton-diaries]
"...Thus has ended the earthly career of an innocent sufferer [Clayton's son via secret polygamous wife] who has known no comfort in this life but has suffered since his birth to his death. The tongue of slander has swung freely against him and many which his death /sic/. He is gone to rest with the just and will come forth again to inherit thrones, kingdoms, dominions principalities and powers in the mansions of his father. /Same day Cahoon went to get the Secretary but she returned it empty of its important papers/ ''She did this by means of a false key which will unlock it. Her [Emma's] treachery seems unbounded Rigdon, Marks, Emma, and some others are trying to draw of [off] a party They say there is no church."
[Fillerup, Robert C., compiler; William Clayton Nauvoo Diaries and Personal Writings, A chronological compilation of the personal writings of William Clayton while he was a resident of Nauvoo, Illinois. http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/clayton-diaries]
180 years ago today - Aug 27, 1844
[Heber C. Kimball]
....At 10 in the morning I met at the Masonick Hall with the officers of the Legion with the Twelve. Elder Young was nominated Liutenant General and Charls Rich Major Genral. ...
[Kimball, Stanley B. ed, On the Potter's Wheel: The Diaries of Heber C. Kimball]
....At 10 in the morning I met at the Masonick Hall with the officers of the Legion with the Twelve. Elder Young was nominated Liutenant General and Charls Rich Major Genral. ...
[Kimball, Stanley B. ed, On the Potter's Wheel: The Diaries of Heber C. Kimball]
180 years ago today - 1844 27 Aug.
A private council meeting votes to sustain Young's resolution to fulfill all of Joseph Smith's Nauvoo innovations.
[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]
180 years ago today - Aug 27, 1844
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff before leaving for England]
.... we walked to the Temple of the Lord in Nauvoo, and as we approached it we lifted up our eyes and beheld the greatness grandure and glory that presented itself to our view in a conspicuous manner. While she was coverd with the silver rays of the Queen of the night who was pouring the whole strength of the brighness of her glory upon her it presented an imposing, grand, and sublime senery to the beholder.
After gazing a few moments upon her magnus walls, and examining her capitols which were Completed, standing on the ground, we all as of one accord assended the laders unto the top of the walls. Several of the policee and friends followed our example ... we bowed our knees upon the top corner stone which was prepaired to recieve its Capitol, And their with up lifted hands towards heaven, I called upon the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph by Prayer and supplication to except the gratitude of our hearts for his mercies and blessings unto us in preserving our lives giving us power to build the Temple thus far. Prayed that the Saints might have power to finish the Temple according to the Patern given, and accepted at their hands, that the Saints might recieve their endowment, and be prepared to plant the work of God in all the world.
I asked my heavenly father in the name of Jesus Christ and by virtue of the Holy Priesthood and the Keys of the kingdom of God that he would spedily avenge the blood of Joseph the Prophet Seer and Revelator, and Hiram the Patriarch, which had been shed by the hands of the American gentile nation, upon all the heads of the Nation and State that have aided, abeted or perpetrated the horid deed, of sheding the blood of those righteous men even the Lords anointed.
...After Prayers we again desended to the ground returned to our homes with Joy and peace in our hearts.
A Blessing given under the hands of B. Young
And H. C. Kimball
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
.... we walked to the Temple of the Lord in Nauvoo, and as we approached it we lifted up our eyes and beheld the greatness grandure and glory that presented itself to our view in a conspicuous manner. While she was coverd with the silver rays of the Queen of the night who was pouring the whole strength of the brighness of her glory upon her it presented an imposing, grand, and sublime senery to the beholder.
After gazing a few moments upon her magnus walls, and examining her capitols which were Completed, standing on the ground, we all as of one accord assended the laders unto the top of the walls. Several of the policee and friends followed our example ... we bowed our knees upon the top corner stone which was prepaired to recieve its Capitol, And their with up lifted hands towards heaven, I called upon the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph by Prayer and supplication to except the gratitude of our hearts for his mercies and blessings unto us in preserving our lives giving us power to build the Temple thus far. Prayed that the Saints might have power to finish the Temple according to the Patern given, and accepted at their hands, that the Saints might recieve their endowment, and be prepared to plant the work of God in all the world.
I asked my heavenly father in the name of Jesus Christ and by virtue of the Holy Priesthood and the Keys of the kingdom of God that he would spedily avenge the blood of Joseph the Prophet Seer and Revelator, and Hiram the Patriarch, which had been shed by the hands of the American gentile nation, upon all the heads of the Nation and State that have aided, abeted or perpetrated the horid deed, of sheding the blood of those righteous men even the Lords anointed.
...After Prayers we again desended to the ground returned to our homes with Joy and peace in our hearts.
A Blessing given under the hands of B. Young
And H. C. Kimball
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
40 years ago today - Aug 25, 1984
BYU anthropology professor Ray T. Matheny, speaking at a Sunstone Symposium states, "All these [Book of Mormon cultural traits] paint a scene that seem[s] to be quite foreign to what I am familiar with in the archaeological record of the New World. . . And the terminologies and the language used and the methods of explaining and putting things down are nineteenth century literary concepts and cultural experiences one would expect Joseph Smith and his colleagues would experience. . . If I were doing this cold like John Carlson is here. I would say in evaluating the Book of Mormon that it had no place in the New World whatsoever. . . It seems like these are anachronisms. It seems like the items are out of time and place, in trying to put them into the New World. And I think there's a great difficulty here for we Mormons in understanding what this book [of Mormon] is all about."
85 years ago today - Aug 25, 1939
[President Heber J. Grant Diary]
During the day we have sent a number of cables regarding the prospective war in Europe arranging through the office of the Secretary of State for visas for our missionaries to get out of the country, suggesting that the missionaries go to Holland and the Scandinavian countries, and if war should break out that they should come on to America. We telegraphed to all our Mission Presidents in the United States asking how many missionaries they could utilize in the respective missions. President Clark has practically given his whole day to this matter; namely, cables, telegrams and interviews regarding conditions in Europe.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
During the day we have sent a number of cables regarding the prospective war in Europe arranging through the office of the Secretary of State for visas for our missionaries to get out of the country, suggesting that the missionaries go to Holland and the Scandinavian countries, and if war should break out that they should come on to America. We telegraphed to all our Mission Presidents in the United States asking how many missionaries they could utilize in the respective missions. President Clark has practically given his whole day to this matter; namely, cables, telegrams and interviews regarding conditions in Europe.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
120 years ago today - Thursday, Aug 25, 1904
[Apostle John Henry Smith Diary]
.... All of the first Presidency and some Twelve met and had prayer. Prest. J. F. Smith told me he had been offended with some remarks I had made at the Y.M.M.I.A. meeting. After mutual explanation we kissed and made up forgiving each other.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
.... All of the first Presidency and some Twelve met and had prayer. Prest. J. F. Smith told me he had been offended with some remarks I had made at the Y.M.M.I.A. meeting. After mutual explanation we kissed and made up forgiving each other.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
195 years ago today - 25-Aug 31, 1829
The printing of the Book of Mormon begins, according to John H. Gilbert, "about the middle of August, 1829" ; however, it is also likely that it began only after Harris signed the mortgage on 25 August 1829.
[Vogel, Dan, Early Mormon Documents, Appendix B: Chronology, 1771-1831, http://amzn.to/T5nY8w]
[Vogel, Dan, Early Mormon Documents, Appendix B: Chronology, 1771-1831, http://amzn.to/T5nY8w]
195 years ago today - Aug 25, 1829
Articles of agreement made and concluded this first day of April, in the year 1831, between Martin Harris of the first part, and Thomas Lakey of the second part, both of Palmyra in the County of Wayne, and the State of New York, in the manner and form following:
The said Martin Harris, for the consideration hereinafter mentioned, agrees to sell to the said Thomas Lakey the farm on which he now resides, containing by estimation, one hundred and fifty acres, for the sum of twenty dollars for each acre...
(Signed) MARTIN HARRIS, L.S.
THOMAS LAKEY, L.S.
On 7 April 1831, six days after signing the agreement, Harris deeded the land to Lakey ...
[Martin Harris, Mortgage to Egbert B. Grandin, 25 August 1829, Mortgages, Liber 3, 325, Wayne County Clerk's Office, Lyons, New York., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Martin Harris Mortgage]
The said Martin Harris, for the consideration hereinafter mentioned, agrees to sell to the said Thomas Lakey the farm on which he now resides, containing by estimation, one hundred and fifty acres, for the sum of twenty dollars for each acre...
(Signed) MARTIN HARRIS, L.S.
THOMAS LAKEY, L.S.
On 7 April 1831, six days after signing the agreement, Harris deeded the land to Lakey ...
[Martin Harris, Mortgage to Egbert B. Grandin, 25 August 1829, Mortgages, Liber 3, 325, Wayne County Clerk's Office, Lyons, New York., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Martin Harris Mortgage]
45 years ago today - August 24-25 1979
The Sunstone Foundation holds its first theological symposium in Salt Lake City, providing a platform for classroom-style lectures by informed individuals, and responses from colleagues, with Q&A from the audience, all based on academic rather than church credentials.
[Chronology, in Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, chronology by Joseph Geisner, and Lavina Fielding Anderson]
[Chronology, in Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, chronology by Joseph Geisner, and Lavina Fielding Anderson]
85 years ago today - Aug 24, 1939
The First Presidency directed all missionaries in Germany to move to neutral countries. Later the missionaries were instructed to leave Europe and return to the United States. The last group arrived in New York Nov. 6, 1939.
[Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html]
[Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html]
70 years ago today - Aug 24, 1954
Apostle Mark E. Petersen states, in defense of the exclusion of black men from LDS priesthood ordination, "Is it not a reasonable belief that the Lord would select the choice spirits for the better grades of nations?" Three days later he gives a speech I support of segregation.
115 years ago today - Aug 24, 1909
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal]
- has "sinking spell"
[Journals of George Albert Smith]
- has "sinking spell"
[Journals of George Albert Smith]
125 years ago today - Thursday, Aug 24, 1899
[Apostle Rudger Clawson Diary]
During the day Brother [Ludwig] Shurke called upon Pres. Snow and made a request that he would christen a spring that he—Shurke—had recently discovered. At 8 p.m. Pres. Snow and party repaired to the spring, which is one of the best in Soda Springs, and by candle light Pres. Snow with a cup of the water in his hand christened it the "Woodruff" Spring.
[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]
During the day Brother [Ludwig] Shurke called upon Pres. Snow and made a request that he would christen a spring that he—Shurke—had recently discovered. At 8 p.m. Pres. Snow and party repaired to the spring, which is one of the best in Soda Springs, and by candle light Pres. Snow with a cup of the water in his hand christened it the "Woodruff" Spring.
[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]
180 years ago today - 1844 24 Aug.
A council meeting of the apostles and other members of the Anointed Quorum accepts two written revelations to Young concerning completion of the Nauvoo temple. These would never be published and are unavailable.
[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]
115 years ago today - Aug 23, 1909
Two days after the death of former Apostle Moses Thatcher, who had been removed from the Quorum of Apostles, the DESERET NEWS publishes an obituary claiming that Moses Thatcher "lived to acknowledge the justness of the action of his brethren of the Twelve."
Two weeks later Thatcher's son, Moses Thatcher Jr. responds: "There is a wide difference between accepting the decision of that council, and even fulfilling its every requirement, and acknowledging the justice of the decision or the justice of the action of his brethren in the twelve in making the complaint. So far as I understand my father's position, or so far as his family and near friends understand it, he accepted the decision of the high council and complied with its requirements because it was the only thing he could do and retain his membership in the church, and to lose his standing in the church for him was not to be thought of. But the truth of the statement 'he lived to acknowledge the justice of the action of his brethren of the Twelve,' should be denied, for no such acknowledgement was ever made so far as I know or can find out."
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
Two weeks later Thatcher's son, Moses Thatcher Jr. responds: "There is a wide difference between accepting the decision of that council, and even fulfilling its every requirement, and acknowledging the justice of the decision or the justice of the action of his brethren in the twelve in making the complaint. So far as I understand my father's position, or so far as his family and near friends understand it, he accepted the decision of the high council and complied with its requirements because it was the only thing he could do and retain his membership in the church, and to lose his standing in the church for him was not to be thought of. But the truth of the statement 'he lived to acknowledge the justice of the action of his brethren of the Twelve,' should be denied, for no such acknowledgement was ever made so far as I know or can find out."
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
130 years ago today - Aug 23, 1894
[Apostle & Logan Temple President Marriner W. Merrill]
We have 22 for endowments. Not a cent donation given today and only 50 cents yesterday.
[Notes from the Miscellaneous Record Book, 1886-1906: Selected diary notes from the journal books of Marriner Wood Merrill, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
We have 22 for endowments. Not a cent donation given today and only 50 cents yesterday.
[Notes from the Miscellaneous Record Book, 1886-1906: Selected diary notes from the journal books of Marriner Wood Merrill, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
180 years ago today - Aug 23, 1844
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal]
I visited Emma Smith the widow of the prophet. She let me have a peace of oak for a Staff * out of the Coffin of the Prophet Joseph who was inhumanly martered in Carthage Ill in company with his brother Hiram. Emma also let me have a Pair of gloves composed of white cotton and Mrs Woodruff a cotton hankerchief both of which the Prophet wore while living.
We called upon Sister Mary Smith widow of Hiram Smith the Patriarch. She gave us some hair from the head of Joseph Smith, Hiram Smith, Samuel Smith, & Don Carloss Smith, all brothers of the same Parents. I also obtained some hair of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints. My object was in putting a portion of each in the top of my staff as a relick of those noble men, master spirits of the nineteenth centaury, to hand down to my posterity, to deposit in the most Holy and Sacred place in the Holy temple of GOD, on the consecrated Hill of Zion.
I next visited Mother Lucy Smith, the mother of those noble men even the Lords anointed, whose names were Joseph, Hiram, Samuel and Don Carloss, and the wife of Joseph Smith sen. the first Patriarch of the last dispensation. All those men fell directly or indirectly as matters for the cause of truth and of God, Joseph and Hiram being shot in Cold Blood.
The Old Mother and Prophetess felt most heart broaken at the loss of her Children and the wicked and Cruel treatment she had recieved from the hands of the gentile world. She begged a blessing at my hands. I lade my hands upon her head and proclaimed [a blessing] by the Spirit of God.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I visited Emma Smith the widow of the prophet. She let me have a peace of oak for a Staff * out of the Coffin of the Prophet Joseph who was inhumanly martered in Carthage Ill in company with his brother Hiram. Emma also let me have a Pair of gloves composed of white cotton and Mrs Woodruff a cotton hankerchief both of which the Prophet wore while living.
We called upon Sister Mary Smith widow of Hiram Smith the Patriarch. She gave us some hair from the head of Joseph Smith, Hiram Smith, Samuel Smith, & Don Carloss Smith, all brothers of the same Parents. I also obtained some hair of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints. My object was in putting a portion of each in the top of my staff as a relick of those noble men, master spirits of the nineteenth centaury, to hand down to my posterity, to deposit in the most Holy and Sacred place in the Holy temple of GOD, on the consecrated Hill of Zion.
I next visited Mother Lucy Smith, the mother of those noble men even the Lords anointed, whose names were Joseph, Hiram, Samuel and Don Carloss, and the wife of Joseph Smith sen. the first Patriarch of the last dispensation. All those men fell directly or indirectly as matters for the cause of truth and of God, Joseph and Hiram being shot in Cold Blood.
The Old Mother and Prophetess felt most heart broaken at the loss of her Children and the wicked and Cruel treatment she had recieved from the hands of the gentile world. She begged a blessing at my hands. I lade my hands upon her head and proclaimed [a blessing] by the Spirit of God.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
40 years ago today - Aug 22, 1984
[Mark Hofmann]
Utah Lighthouse Ministry publishes The Money-Digging Letter.
[Whittaker, David J., The Hofmann Maze, A Book Review Essay with a Chronology and Bibliography of the Hofmann Case, BYU Studies Vol. 29, No. 1, pg.80,]
Utah Lighthouse Ministry publishes The Money-Digging Letter.
[Whittaker, David J., The Hofmann Maze, A Book Review Essay with a Chronology and Bibliography of the Hofmann Case, BYU Studies Vol. 29, No. 1, pg.80,]
65 years ago today - Aug 22, 1959
[J. Reuben Clark]
Pres. Wilkinson came in to see me on two or three matters:
1. First, the pamphlet which is being circulated in California, signed by a Committee of Ricks College Graduates, but giving no names. This has relation to an attack sometime last Fall or Spring regarding the interest or alleged interest of the Brigham Young University in some food distributing company. ...
2. He talked with me about several other reports that were being circulated up in the Ricks College area, that were malicious and false ...
3. He also told me he and a committee had had a long discussion this morning about the archaeological excavations in Mexico and particularly those by [Thomas Stewart] Ferguson. He said they had made an inquiry of archaeologists and found that we had no archaeologist in Utah or in the Church who commanded respect, that therefore they were met with a proposal from Ferguson which was growing into hundreds of thousands of dollars to be expended by himself or under his direction, though his findings would not be accepted by archeologists all over the country. They did not feel that the Brigham Young University under the circumstances, ought to form any great Department of Archaeology at this time.
I told him I agreed with him on this and that some other plan should have immediate investigation and something worked out, though, of course, we would have ultimately to secure somebody who could go forward as we desire them.
He said that Ferguson was having in mind the appropriation and expenditure of hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
I told him I had always felt we were slack in knowing the archaeological facts about the Book of Mormon and that personally I did not anticipate that we should ever find anything archaeological that we could absolutely depend upon as justifying our saying, "This proves that he Boom of Mormon is true," but that we ought to know the facts and that we ought to do active work of this sort ...
He said Brother Hunter was disappointed with the finding that there was nobody in the State or connected with the Church who was really an expert archaeologist.
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
Pres. Wilkinson came in to see me on two or three matters:
1. First, the pamphlet which is being circulated in California, signed by a Committee of Ricks College Graduates, but giving no names. This has relation to an attack sometime last Fall or Spring regarding the interest or alleged interest of the Brigham Young University in some food distributing company. ...
2. He talked with me about several other reports that were being circulated up in the Ricks College area, that were malicious and false ...
3. He also told me he and a committee had had a long discussion this morning about the archaeological excavations in Mexico and particularly those by [Thomas Stewart] Ferguson. He said they had made an inquiry of archaeologists and found that we had no archaeologist in Utah or in the Church who commanded respect, that therefore they were met with a proposal from Ferguson which was growing into hundreds of thousands of dollars to be expended by himself or under his direction, though his findings would not be accepted by archeologists all over the country. They did not feel that the Brigham Young University under the circumstances, ought to form any great Department of Archaeology at this time.
I told him I agreed with him on this and that some other plan should have immediate investigation and something worked out, though, of course, we would have ultimately to secure somebody who could go forward as we desire them.
He said that Ferguson was having in mind the appropriation and expenditure of hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
I told him I had always felt we were slack in knowing the archaeological facts about the Book of Mormon and that personally I did not anticipate that we should ever find anything archaeological that we could absolutely depend upon as justifying our saying, "This proves that he Boom of Mormon is true," but that we ought to know the facts and that we ought to do active work of this sort ...
He said Brother Hunter was disappointed with the finding that there was nobody in the State or connected with the Church who was really an expert archaeologist.
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
140 years ago today - Aug 22, 1884
[Wilford Woodruff]
I spent the day reading Bancroft History of the Mormons. ...
[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 reading Bancroft History of the Mormons. ...
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
40 years ago today - 1984 21-24 August
[Mark Hofmann]
Sunstone Theological Symposium, Hotel Utah, Salt Lake City. First public discussion of the Harris 1830 letter by Jan Shipps and Richard Bushman.
[Whittaker, David J., The Hofmann Maze, A Book Review Essay with a Chronology and Bibliography of the Hofmann Case, BYU Studies Vol. 29, No. 1, pg.80,]
Sunstone Theological Symposium, Hotel Utah, Salt Lake City. First public discussion of the Harris 1830 letter by Jan Shipps and Richard Bushman.
[Whittaker, David J., The Hofmann Maze, A Book Review Essay with a Chronology and Bibliography of the Hofmann Case, BYU Studies Vol. 29, No. 1, pg.80,]
115 years ago today - Aug 21, 1909
[George Albert Smith]
Attends Episcopal Church services
[Journals of George Albert Smith]
Attends Episcopal Church services
[Journals of George Albert Smith]
115 years ago today - Aug 21, 1909
[Apostle George Albert Smith]
-attends Episcopal Church services
[Journals of George Albert Smith]
-attends Episcopal Church services
[Journals of George Albert Smith]
125 years ago today - Aug 21, 1899
[Patriarchal blessing of James E. Talmage by Jessee B. Martin]
.... the time is not far distant when thou shalt be called and set apart and ordained as one of the Apostles of Jesus Christ in this dispensation. And thou shalt do much good among the people in preparing them to go to the Center Stake of Zion; ... thousands will flock around thee to hear thy words; and thy influence among the people shall cause many to turn from their wayward ways and serve the Lord more perfectly. And thou shalt have the privilege of going with the Saints of God even to the Center Stake of Zion, and do much good in helping to build that beautiful Temple; ... Thou shalt enter into that Temple when it shall be prepared for the reception of Jesus Christ; and thou shalt see the Redeemer and know that He is the Son of God. And thou shalt travel from place to place with the Apostles of God and organize stakes in the land of Zion; for thou hast been chosen to do this great work ... And thou shalt enter into the great feast as one of the wise, and shall feast and drink
wine with the Apostles of old, and with Jesus Christ here upon this earth. Let thy heart be comforted, and fear not the powers of darkness, for thou shalt have power over all evil spirits that come in thy way, and they shall have no power to tempt thee more than thou canst bear.
And I seal thee up against the power of the Devil, and he shall not lead thee from the Church of Jesus Christ. And I seal thee up unto Eternal Life, to come forth in the morning of the First Resurrection.
All these blessings I seal upon thy head in the name of Jesus Christ; Amen.
[Chronology of the Life and Work of James E. Talmage, J. Trevor Antley, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MJsHY83JZL_n6CjWq11y1trT_CVXMMXAx2uYOWAwn0c/edit#heading=h.2zfdaoa]
.... the time is not far distant when thou shalt be called and set apart and ordained as one of the Apostles of Jesus Christ in this dispensation. And thou shalt do much good among the people in preparing them to go to the Center Stake of Zion; ... thousands will flock around thee to hear thy words; and thy influence among the people shall cause many to turn from their wayward ways and serve the Lord more perfectly. And thou shalt have the privilege of going with the Saints of God even to the Center Stake of Zion, and do much good in helping to build that beautiful Temple; ... Thou shalt enter into that Temple when it shall be prepared for the reception of Jesus Christ; and thou shalt see the Redeemer and know that He is the Son of God. And thou shalt travel from place to place with the Apostles of God and organize stakes in the land of Zion; for thou hast been chosen to do this great work ... And thou shalt enter into the great feast as one of the wise, and shall feast and drink
wine with the Apostles of old, and with Jesus Christ here upon this earth. Let thy heart be comforted, and fear not the powers of darkness, for thou shalt have power over all evil spirits that come in thy way, and they shall have no power to tempt thee more than thou canst bear.
And I seal thee up against the power of the Devil, and he shall not lead thee from the Church of Jesus Christ. And I seal thee up unto Eternal Life, to come forth in the morning of the First Resurrection.
All these blessings I seal upon thy head in the name of Jesus Christ; Amen.
[Chronology of the Life and Work of James E. Talmage, J. Trevor Antley, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MJsHY83JZL_n6CjWq11y1trT_CVXMMXAx2uYOWAwn0c/edit#heading=h.2zfdaoa]
180 years ago today - Aug 21, 1844
[William Clayton]
Evening Ers [Elders Brigham] Young, [Heber C.] Kimball, [John] Taylor, [Newell K.] Whitney, [Wilford] Woodruff & [willard] Richards called to take a drink of wine. They blessed D. Adelbert who is very sick.
[The Nauvoo Diaries of William Clayton, 1842-1846, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
Evening Ers [Elders Brigham] Young, [Heber C.] Kimball, [John] Taylor, [Newell K.] Whitney, [Wilford] Woodruff & [willard] Richards called to take a drink of wine. They blessed D. Adelbert who is very sick.
[The Nauvoo Diaries of William Clayton, 1842-1846, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
90 years ago today - Aug 20, 1934
A memorandum was submitted in answer to a letter addressed to the Presidency by Nancy Williams, a descendant of Frederick G. Williams, a former member of the First Presidency of the Church at the time the Kirtland Temple was started, in which it stated that the property was deeded to the Church by Frederick G. Williams, with a provision that if the building was not used for Temple purposes, the property was to revert to the doner, and asked for further information. An examination has been made of the files of the Church Historian's Office which consisted largely of statements of monies advanced to the Prophet Joseph Smith. During the administration of the late President John Taylor when suit was brought by the Reorganized Church to acquire title, it was deemed inadvisable to contest the suit, and a court decree was entered, vesting title in the Reorganized Church. There was no documentary evidence to this effect.
[First Presidency, Meeting with Presiding Bishopric, Minutes, 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]
[First Presidency, Meeting with Presiding Bishopric, Minutes, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
125 years ago today - Sunday, Aug 20, 1899
[Apostle Rudger Clawson]
Pres. Snow said that the Lord had shown him that the people of His Church must wake up and obey the law of tithing, or calamities would come upon them. Read the revelation on tithing and made some remarks upon it. "I say to you in the name of the Lord," he said, "if you will pay your tithing in full, the Lord will forgive you for your disobedience in the past."
[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]
Pres. Snow said that the Lord had shown him that the people of His Church must wake up and obey the law of tithing, or calamities would come upon them. Read the revelation on tithing and made some remarks upon it. "I say to you in the name of the Lord," he said, "if you will pay your tithing in full, the Lord will forgive you for your disobedience in the past."
[Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
125 years ago today - Sunday, Aug 20, 1899
[Apostle John Henry Smith]
....Prest. Lorenzo Snow shook hands with 1,010 persons.
We blest eight sisters who had qualified by study to practice mid-wifery...
[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]
....Prest. Lorenzo Snow shook hands with 1,010 persons.
We blest eight sisters who had qualified by study to practice mid-wifery...
[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 - Aug 20, 1894
[President Wilford Woodruff]
This is the pioneer Day. We go to Saltair Pavillion to have a Celebration of the Pioneer day. We went to Saltair at 2.25. We met about 20 of the Remnant of the Pioneers. They were aged feeble men. I think I was the oldest man of the pioneers present. All were introduced to the Assembly of some 4,000 persons. Speeches were made by quite a Number of the Pioneers. Bishop Weilen & Lorenzo Young were among the number. Both vary feeble. We returned home at 6.30. It was a vary interesting day. 30 Miles.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
This is the pioneer Day. We go to Saltair Pavillion to have a Celebration of the Pioneer day. We went to Saltair at 2.25. We met about 20 of the Remnant of the Pioneers. They were aged feeble men. I think I was the oldest man of the pioneers present. All were introduced to the Assembly of some 4,000 persons. Speeches were made by quite a Number of the Pioneers. Bishop Weilen & Lorenzo Young were among the number. Both vary feeble. We returned home at 6.30. It was a vary interesting day. 30 Miles.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
150 years ago today - Aug 20, 1874
Rules that should be observed by Members of the United Order-- RULE 1st.-We will not take the name of the Deity in vain, nor speak lightly of His character or of sacred things. ...
RULE 5th.-We will observe personal cleanliness, and preserve ourselves in all chastity by refraining from adultery, whoredom and lust. We will also discountenance and refrain from all vulgar and obscene language or conduct. ...
RULE 10th.-We will patronize our brethren who are in the Order. ...
RULE 11th.-In our apparel and deportment we will not pattern after nor encourage foolish and extravagant fashions, and cease to import or buy from abroad any article which can be reasonably dispensed with, or which can be produced by combination of home labor. ...
RULE 12th.-We will be simple in our dress and manner of living, using proper economy and prudence in the management of all entrusted to our care.
[Rules That Should be Observed by Members of the United Order, in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
RULE 5th.-We will observe personal cleanliness, and preserve ourselves in all chastity by refraining from adultery, whoredom and lust. We will also discountenance and refrain from all vulgar and obscene language or conduct. ...
RULE 10th.-We will patronize our brethren who are in the Order. ...
RULE 11th.-In our apparel and deportment we will not pattern after nor encourage foolish and extravagant fashions, and cease to import or buy from abroad any article which can be reasonably dispensed with, or which can be produced by combination of home labor. ...
RULE 12th.-We will be simple in our dress and manner of living, using proper economy and prudence in the management of all entrusted to our care.
[Rules That Should be Observed by Members of the United Order, in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
150 years ago today - Aug 20, 1874
Instructions to Members of the United Order ... Inasmuch as some continue the use of tobacco, and as it is good for sick cattle, and when planted in orchards is said to be a preventive against the codling moth, it is recommended that enough be raised to at least supply our own wants.
... Our situation renders it advisable, so far as we may be able, to keep on hand a supply of bread-stuff sufficient for from three to seven years.
As rapidly as possible the finest varieties of grapes for raisins should be added to those already in our southern settlements, and all our markets supplied with the best of raisins. So far as wine and brandy are produced, pains should be taken that they be of the purest and best qualities, and vessels and storage cellars should be prepared for keeping the wines in the best condition.
...
[Instructions for Members of the United Order, in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
... Our situation renders it advisable, so far as we may be able, to keep on hand a supply of bread-stuff sufficient for from three to seven years.
As rapidly as possible the finest varieties of grapes for raisins should be added to those already in our southern settlements, and all our markets supplied with the best of raisins. So far as wine and brandy are produced, pains should be taken that they be of the purest and best qualities, and vessels and storage cellars should be prepared for keeping the wines in the best condition.
...
[Instructions for Members of the United Order, in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
150 years ago today - Aug 20, 1874
To the President, Vice-Presidents and Board of Directors of the United Order at St. George-- ...
These are the results which we should expect to see follow where people have divided interests. If a man presented himself to you for baptism, and requested that only a portion of his body should be baptized, you would reject his application and say to him that he must have his entire person immersed or he could not become a member of the Church. So with the Order: we do not wish to accept a portion of a man's person and a portion of his substance; therefore, until he is ready to enter himself and with all that he has he should not be a member of the Order, and this is our instruction to all the branches of the Order....
[Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
These are the results which we should expect to see follow where people have divided interests. If a man presented himself to you for baptism, and requested that only a portion of his body should be baptized, you would reject his application and say to him that he must have his entire person immersed or he could not become a member of the Church. So with the Order: we do not wish to accept a portion of a man's person and a portion of his substance; therefore, until he is ready to enter himself and with all that he has he should not be a member of the Order, and this is our instruction to all the branches of the Order....
[Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
165 years ago today - Aug 20, 1859
[Martin Harris]
"Then describing their dimensions, he pointed with one of the fingers of his left hand to the back of his right hand and said, "I should think they were so long, or about eight inches, and about so thick, or about four inches; and each of the plates was thicker than the thickest tin."
[Martin Harris (D.B. Dille Interview), "Additional Testimony of Martin Harris", Millennial Star, 20 August 1859; Antley, Joseph, Early Mormon Writings, Appearance of the gold plates, http://earlymormon.com/wiki/index.php?title=Appearance_of_the_gold_plates]
"Then describing their dimensions, he pointed with one of the fingers of his left hand to the back of his right hand and said, "I should think they were so long, or about eight inches, and about so thick, or about four inches; and each of the plates was thicker than the thickest tin."
[Martin Harris (D.B. Dille Interview), "Additional Testimony of Martin Harris", Millennial Star, 20 August 1859; Antley, Joseph, Early Mormon Writings, Appearance of the gold plates, http://earlymormon.com/wiki/index.php?title=Appearance_of_the_gold_plates]
165 years ago today - Aug 20, 1859
New York Daily Tribune publishes Horace Greeley's recent interview with Brigham Young:
"H. G. What is the position of your church with respect to slavery?"
"B. Y. We consider it of divine institution, and not to be abolished until the curse pronounced on Ham shall have been removed from his descendants."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
"H. G. What is the position of your church with respect to slavery?"
"B. Y. We consider it of divine institution, and not to be abolished until the curse pronounced on Ham shall have been removed from his descendants."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
180 years ago today - Aug 20, 1844
[Heber C. Kimball]
Was called to Lay hands on Arther Millican. He was healled. I dremp the following dreames. I was on my wheel molding vessels on the wheel. They ware of a pure nature. Then an other thing is thare was a man come along to run, he went ahead of me, and run into a slow hole, and I on the drie land. He suak [sank] out of my sight.
[Kimball, Stanley B. ed, On the Potter's Wheel: The Diaries of Heber C. Kimball]
Was called to Lay hands on Arther Millican. He was healled. I dremp the following dreames. I was on my wheel molding vessels on the wheel. They ware of a pure nature. Then an other thing is thare was a man come along to run, he went ahead of me, and run into a slow hole, and I on the drie land. He suak [sank] out of my sight.
[Kimball, Stanley B. ed, On the Potter's Wheel: The Diaries of Heber C. Kimball]
25 years ago today - Aug 19, 1999
The First Presidency announces that the massive new assembly building located north of Temple Square will be called the Conference Center.
45 years ago today - Aug 19, 1979.
Ann Kenney, a student at the University of Utah, is set apart as president of the University of Utah Second Stake Sunday School. Gilbert Sharffs, counselor in the stake presidency, assures her that he has been "strongly impressed" to issue the calling and also had a general authority approve the calling. On 24 September she is released. Sharffs explains that "in the past there has been no policy set. The quorum [of the Twelve] was divided on the issue, and the decision was left to the president." The president was Ezra Taft Benson.
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1]
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1]
110 years ago today - Aug 19, 1914
Circular is sent to all Stake Patriarchs from Presiding Patriarch Hyrum G. Smith: "You may accept a gift if it is offered, but do not permit anyone you have blessed to leave your presence feeling that they have paid for a blessing; Patriarchal blessings cannot be purchased, they are the free gifts of God to his children under the hands of His Patriarchs." Some Stake Patriarchs had been charging a fee for Patriarchal blessings.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
180 years ago today - Aug 19, 1844
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal]
.... [S]ome dreams rehearsed one of which I told as follows: I met with Br Joseph Smith in the Congregation of the Saints. He had his old Hebrew and Jerman Bible, and preached to the Saints. B[ut] he seemed to be to thronged by the people and he rose up lifted up a curtain and passed into another room where the people could not distirb him and there he was going to teach the people.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
.... [S]ome dreams rehearsed one of which I told as follows: I met with Br Joseph Smith in the Congregation of the Saints. He had his old Hebrew and Jerman Bible, and preached to the Saints. B[ut] he seemed to be to thronged by the people and he rose up lifted up a curtain and passed into another room where the people could not distirb him and there he was going to teach the people.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
20 years ago today - 2004-08-18
[Women]
"Feminist Mormon Housewives" blog established by Lisa Butterworth
[Mormon Women's History Timeline, http://www1.chapman.edu/~remy/MoFem/mormonwomen.html]
"Feminist Mormon Housewives" blog established by Lisa Butterworth
[Mormon Women's History Timeline, http://www1.chapman.edu/~remy/MoFem/mormonwomen.html]
70 years ago today - Aug 18, 1954
First Presidency rules that Apostle Joseph Fielding Smith's anti-evolutionary MAN: HIS ORIGIN AND DESTINY should not be used for study in LDS seminaries and institutes. McKay expresses from 1954 on: "On the subject of organic evolution the Church has officially taken no position. The book 'Man, His Origin and Destiny' was not published by the Church, and is not approved by the Church."
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
70 years ago today - Aug 18, 1954
The First Presidency rules that Apostle Joseph Fielding Smith's anti-evolutionary 'Man: His Origin and Destiny' should not be used for study in LDS seminaries and institutes. McKay expresses from 1954 on: "On the subject of organic evolution the Church has officially taken no position. The book 'Man, His Origin and Destiny' was not published by the Church, and is not approved by the Church."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
75 years ago today - Aug 18, 1949
Apostle (and Salt Lake Temple President) George F. Richards reads a letter to the assembled First Presidency and Twelve Apostles decrying the lack of second anointings being performed. The letter states that to date 22,278 second anointings had been performed for living persons and 10,217 for the dead. Richards's letter states: "I have not been able to bring myself to feel that the Lord is pleased with us in neglecting such an important and sacred endowment, which He has given us to be administered in His holy temples to worthy members of His Church. The Second Anointings were given by revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith to be administered to worthy members of the Church, both the living and the dead; and from the days of the Prophet Joseph to the days of President Heber J. Grant that practice continued. . . . When living members receive their Second blessings, or anointings, they are given a charge that they must not speak of those things to anybody; that only those who are
invited by the President of the Church are to receive them, and that none others are supposed to know anything about them. . . . About 1928 an incident occurred which so incensed the First Presidency that they had all the recommend books brought in to the President's office, and instructions were given that no recommends of that character should be given by stake presidents thereafter. . . .The incident above mentioned which so exasperated the First Presidency was as follows: A brother who had received his Second Blessings, while speaking in a priesthood meeting in one of the Idaho stakes, told the brethren that they all should have their Second Blessings. Of course that was a serious infraction of the charge which he received when he had his Second Anointings; but I have never learned of any serious consequences to follow, except the action on the part of the Authorities, discontinuing the administration of those blessings in the Church. It appears to me that the mistake made by
the good brother in Idaho was not so serious as to justify letting those sacred ordinances come into disuse in the Church. I think now is the time to act; with such modifications as to details as the brethren might feel to make, insuring that these blessings be administered only to those who are worthy to receive them." The letter quotes the endowment ceremony to say, "Brethren and Sisters, if you are true and faithful, the day will come when you will be chosen, called up and anointed kings and queens, priests and priestesses, whereas you are now anointed only to become such. The realization of these blessings depends upon your faithfulness." (Endowment Ceremonies, p. 1x2.}"
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
invited by the President of the Church are to receive them, and that none others are supposed to know anything about them. . . . About 1928 an incident occurred which so incensed the First Presidency that they had all the recommend books brought in to the President's office, and instructions were given that no recommends of that character should be given by stake presidents thereafter. . . .The incident above mentioned which so exasperated the First Presidency was as follows: A brother who had received his Second Blessings, while speaking in a priesthood meeting in one of the Idaho stakes, told the brethren that they all should have their Second Blessings. Of course that was a serious infraction of the charge which he received when he had his Second Anointings; but I have never learned of any serious consequences to follow, except the action on the part of the Authorities, discontinuing the administration of those blessings in the Church. It appears to me that the mistake made by
the good brother in Idaho was not so serious as to justify letting those sacred ordinances come into disuse in the Church. I think now is the time to act; with such modifications as to details as the brethren might feel to make, insuring that these blessings be administered only to those who are worthy to receive them." The letter quotes the endowment ceremony to say, "Brethren and Sisters, if you are true and faithful, the day will come when you will be chosen, called up and anointed kings and queens, priests and priestesses, whereas you are now anointed only to become such. The realization of these blessings depends upon your faithfulness." (Endowment Ceremonies, p. 1x2.}"
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
85 years ago today - Aug 18, 1939
[J. Reuben Clark]
A case had been referred to us in which a woman whose father and mother had been through the Temple was applying to go through the Temple herself. She was from the Southern States Mission, and the Church records showed that opposite her name someone had placed the endorsement, "negro blood." Brother [David O.] McKay talked with me yesterday or the day before about it, and I suggested that he get her patriarchal blessing and see what the patriarch said her lineage was. Brother McKay did that, and found the blessing had been given by Elder George F. Richards, that he had told her she was of the lineage of Israel through Joseph and Ephraim. We decided that under those circumstances she could not be denied admission to the Temple.
[J. Reuben Clark office diary, Aug. 18, 1939 , Perry Special Collections as quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
A case had been referred to us in which a woman whose father and mother had been through the Temple was applying to go through the Temple herself. She was from the Southern States Mission, and the Church records showed that opposite her name someone had placed the endorsement, "negro blood." Brother [David O.] McKay talked with me yesterday or the day before about it, and I suggested that he get her patriarchal blessing and see what the patriarch said her lineage was. Brother McKay did that, and found the blessing had been given by Elder George F. Richards, that he had told her she was of the lineage of Israel through Joseph and Ephraim. We decided that under those circumstances she could not be denied admission to the Temple.
[J. Reuben Clark office diary, Aug. 18, 1939 , Perry Special Collections as quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
115 years ago today - Wed., Aug 18, 1909
[Apostle John Henry Smith Diary]
.... We were Royally entertained. It is a most beautifull place. Coffee, Lemonade, Sandwichs, Cake and Ice cream went the Round, all seemed most happy. ...
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
.... We were Royally entertained. It is a most beautifull place. Coffee, Lemonade, Sandwichs, Cake and Ice cream went the Round, all seemed most happy. ...
[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 - Aug 18, 1894
[James E. Talmage]
Talmage meets with the First Presidency about obtaining moral support and public awareness regarding the Church's investment in the University of Utah. The First Presidency drafts a letter, subsequently printed in the Deseret News, calling for Church members to support the University of Utah and instructing bishops to have the letter read in their wards.
[Chronology of the Life and Work of James E. Talmage, J. Trevor Antley, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MJsHY83JZL_n6CjWq11y1trT_CVXMMXAx2uYOWAwn0c/edit#heading=h.2zfdaoa]
Talmage meets with the First Presidency about obtaining moral support and public awareness regarding the Church's investment in the University of Utah. The First Presidency drafts a letter, subsequently printed in the Deseret News, calling for Church members to support the University of Utah and instructing bishops to have the letter read in their wards.
[Chronology of the Life and Work of James E. Talmage, J. Trevor Antley, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MJsHY83JZL_n6CjWq11y1trT_CVXMMXAx2uYOWAwn0c/edit#heading=h.2zfdaoa]
130 years ago today - Aug 18, 1894
The Church University referred to was neither the Brigham Young Academy (now University,) which the L.D.S. Church had established in 1875 in Provo, nor the Latter-day Saints College which the Church had established in Salt Lake City but a projected Church University which it was planned should become "the head of our Church School system." Evidently this Church University, according to this announcement had a short life of one academic year after which this announcement marked its demise. The L.D.S. First Presidency thereupon announced their support of the University of Utah, a "State" institution which had been funded by the "Mormons" less than three years after their arrival in Utah under the title of the University of Deseret.
The Latter-day Saint's College, then located adjacent to a "downtown" location of the University of Utah, was by this announcement to serve the students of the University of Utah and others with a religious education which they could not receive in the "State" institution. By this assigned function the Latter-day Saint's College thus became the forerunner of the present system of LDS Institutes of Religion adjacent to numerous State University campuses throughout North America.
[James E. Talmage noted in his diary, "Long interview with the Presidency, in which I asked them to consider the wisdom of issuing a letter to the Church announcing the closing of the Church University, and bespeaking the support of the people for the University of Utah."]
[Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
The Latter-day Saint's College, then located adjacent to a "downtown" location of the University of Utah, was by this announcement to serve the students of the University of Utah and others with a religious education which they could not receive in the "State" institution. By this assigned function the Latter-day Saint's College thus became the forerunner of the present system of LDS Institutes of Religion adjacent to numerous State University campuses throughout North America.
[James E. Talmage noted in his diary, "Long interview with the Presidency, in which I asked them to consider the wisdom of issuing a letter to the Church announcing the closing of the Church University, and bespeaking the support of the people for the University of Utah."]
[Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
180 years ago today - Aug 18, 1844
President Young arose and said that he had many things to speak of. ...
The report has gone forth through the city that the Twelve has a secret understanding with those men who are going away to take a company with them, that they shall take all they can but the Twelve will blow it up in public but privately wish it to go on. But if it was the last words I had to say before going into the Eternal world I would swear by the Holy Trinity that it was utterly fals and not a word of truth in it.
...And I tel you in the name of Jesus Christ, that if Lyman Wight & Geo Miller take a course contrary to our Council, and will not act in consert with us but take a course against us they will be damned and go to destruction. And if men will not stop striving to be great and exhalted and lead away parties from us and strive to weaken our hands they will fall and not rise again, and I will destroy their influence in this church with the help of God and my brethren.
...It has been whispered about that all that go into the wilderness with Wight and Miller will get their endowment. But they Cannot give an endowment in the wilderness. If we do not Carry out the plan Joseph has laid and the pattern he has given for us to work by we cannot get any further endowment. ...
We shall require the 10th of all your property for the tithing for the building of the Temples the poor and for the Priesthood. ...
The time has come now for bickerings to scease. Their must be a strict order of things, and we are no longer bound to harbor black legs, Counterfieters, boges makers. We know all about them.
They have been in our midst long enough. I advise all the Saints to have no dealing with such men. Let them alone. The time has come that they should be wiped out of our midst. ...
As to the doctors let them go. I can prove that a doctor in this place doctored a woman that was in the family way and did not know it untill she was deliverd, and both woman and Child died, and if you will employ them you will all die, but the time has come when you need no longer to support them.
...I had a dream which I will here relate. I saw a fruit tree, & I went into the tree in search of fruit. I soon discoverd that some of the main branches on top going from the main body was dead. It seemed necessary to cut off the dead branches in order to save the tree. So I told some person to help me cut them off & they steped on to a large green limb. They were afraid it would break, so I put my sholder under it & held it up while he cut off the dead branches. It cracked the green limb but it did not break. After we cut of the dry limbs the wounds healed up and the tree grew finely.) Now let us cut of the dead branches of the Church that good fruit may grow and the voice will soon be herd Go and build Zion and the great Temple of the Lord...
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
The report has gone forth through the city that the Twelve has a secret understanding with those men who are going away to take a company with them, that they shall take all they can but the Twelve will blow it up in public but privately wish it to go on. But if it was the last words I had to say before going into the Eternal world I would swear by the Holy Trinity that it was utterly fals and not a word of truth in it.
...And I tel you in the name of Jesus Christ, that if Lyman Wight & Geo Miller take a course contrary to our Council, and will not act in consert with us but take a course against us they will be damned and go to destruction. And if men will not stop striving to be great and exhalted and lead away parties from us and strive to weaken our hands they will fall and not rise again, and I will destroy their influence in this church with the help of God and my brethren.
...It has been whispered about that all that go into the wilderness with Wight and Miller will get their endowment. But they Cannot give an endowment in the wilderness. If we do not Carry out the plan Joseph has laid and the pattern he has given for us to work by we cannot get any further endowment. ...
We shall require the 10th of all your property for the tithing for the building of the Temples the poor and for the Priesthood. ...
The time has come now for bickerings to scease. Their must be a strict order of things, and we are no longer bound to harbor black legs, Counterfieters, boges makers. We know all about them.
They have been in our midst long enough. I advise all the Saints to have no dealing with such men. Let them alone. The time has come that they should be wiped out of our midst. ...
As to the doctors let them go. I can prove that a doctor in this place doctored a woman that was in the family way and did not know it untill she was deliverd, and both woman and Child died, and if you will employ them you will all die, but the time has come when you need no longer to support them.
...I had a dream which I will here relate. I saw a fruit tree, & I went into the tree in search of fruit. I soon discoverd that some of the main branches on top going from the main body was dead. It seemed necessary to cut off the dead branches in order to save the tree. So I told some person to help me cut them off & they steped on to a large green limb. They were afraid it would break, so I put my sholder under it & held it up while he cut off the dead branches. It cracked the green limb but it did not break. After we cut of the dry limbs the wounds healed up and the tree grew finely.) Now let us cut of the dead branches of the Church that good fruit may grow and the voice will soon be herd Go and build Zion and the great Temple of the Lord...
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
200 years ago today - Aug 18, 1824
Universalist Hosea Ballou sermon:
- Apostasy and Restoration: "The falling away of the Christian Church, the corruptions of its doctrines by the inventions of an ignorant, superstitious priesthood, sanctioned by the authority of Synods and Councils, having introduced the man of sin into the Temple of God, who has for ages been worshiped as God, the glory which Jesus manifested departed, and the darkness of papal errors and abominations have succeeded.
But the reign of the beast may be said to have come to an end; the true testimony is received, and God is now carrying on the work ... and God is about to fill the [nations] with glory."
Original sin: "[why would God by] an act of his almighty power, gave us a totally depraved nature, laid the blame of it to Adam, and is determined to punish us everlastingly for the same!"
The Godhead: "the mystery of an invented Trinity, which has been the means of sore contentions and bitter animosities in the Church. This self contradictory doctrine of three infinite persons in but one infinite Being, has been so thoroughly shaken..."
[Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source]
- Apostasy and Restoration: "The falling away of the Christian Church, the corruptions of its doctrines by the inventions of an ignorant, superstitious priesthood, sanctioned by the authority of Synods and Councils, having introduced the man of sin into the Temple of God, who has for ages been worshiped as God, the glory which Jesus manifested departed, and the darkness of papal errors and abominations have succeeded.
But the reign of the beast may be said to have come to an end; the true testimony is received, and God is now carrying on the work ... and God is about to fill the [nations] with glory."
Original sin: "[why would God by] an act of his almighty power, gave us a totally depraved nature, laid the blame of it to Adam, and is determined to punish us everlastingly for the same!"
The Godhead: "the mystery of an invented Trinity, which has been the means of sore contentions and bitter animosities in the Church. This self contradictory doctrine of three infinite persons in but one infinite Being, has been so thoroughly shaken..."
[Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source]
75 years ago today - Aug 17, 1949
First Presidency statement: The attitude of the Church with reference to Negroes remains as it has always stood. It is not a matter of the declaration of a policy but of direct commandment from the Lord, on which is founded the doctrine of the Church from the days of its organization, to the effect that Negroes may become members of the Church but that they are not entitled to the priesthood at the present time.
The prophets of the Lord have made several statements as to the operation of the principle. President Brigham Young said: "Why are so many of the inhabitants of the earth cursed with a skin of blackness? It comes in consequence of their fathers rejecting the power of the holy priesthood, and the law of God. They will go down to death. And when all the rest of the children have received their blessings in the holy priesthood, then that curse will be removed from the seed of Cain, and they will then come up and possess the priesthood, and receive all the blessings which we now are entitled to."
President Wilford Woodruff made the following statement: "The day will come when all that race will be redeemed and possess all the blessings which we now have." The position of the Church regarding the Negro may be understood when another doctrine of the Church is kept in mind, namely, that the conduct of spirits in the premortal existence has some determining effect upon the conditions and circumstances under which these spirits take on mortality and that while the details of this principle have not been made known, the mortality is a privilege that is given to those who maintain their first estate; and that the worth of the privilege is so great that spirits are willing to come to earth and take on bodies no matter what the handicap may be as to the kind of bodies they are to secure; and that among the handicaps, failure of the right to enjoy in mortality the blessings of the priesthood is a handicap which spirits are willing to assume in order that they might come to
earth. Under this principle there is no injustice whatsoever involved in this deprivation as to the holding of the priesthood by the Negroes.
The prophets of the Lord have made several statements as to the operation of the principle. President Brigham Young said: "Why are so many of the inhabitants of the earth cursed with a skin of blackness? It comes in consequence of their fathers rejecting the power of the holy priesthood, and the law of God. They will go down to death. And when all the rest of the children have received their blessings in the holy priesthood, then that curse will be removed from the seed of Cain, and they will then come up and possess the priesthood, and receive all the blessings which we now are entitled to."
President Wilford Woodruff made the following statement: "The day will come when all that race will be redeemed and possess all the blessings which we now have." The position of the Church regarding the Negro may be understood when another doctrine of the Church is kept in mind, namely, that the conduct of spirits in the premortal existence has some determining effect upon the conditions and circumstances under which these spirits take on mortality and that while the details of this principle have not been made known, the mortality is a privilege that is given to those who maintain their first estate; and that the worth of the privilege is so great that spirits are willing to come to earth and take on bodies no matter what the handicap may be as to the kind of bodies they are to secure; and that among the handicaps, failure of the right to enjoy in mortality the blessings of the priesthood is a handicap which spirits are willing to assume in order that they might come to
earth. Under this principle there is no injustice whatsoever involved in this deprivation as to the holding of the priesthood by the Negroes.
125 years ago today - Thursday, Aug 17, 1899
[Apostle John Henry Smith Diary]
Prests. Lorenzo Snow, Joseph F. Smith, Myself, Geo. Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, Artthou [Anthon] H. Lund, and Rudger Clawson met at the Temple. It was determined to have a silk Temple apron with raised flowers woven.
[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]
Prests. Lorenzo Snow, Joseph F. Smith, Myself, Geo. Teasdale, Heber J. Grant, Artthou [Anthon] H. Lund, and Rudger Clawson met at the Temple. It was determined to have a silk Temple apron with raised flowers woven.
[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]
150 years ago today - Aug 17, 1874,
William Clayton appears before notary public John T. Caine and swears out an affidavit giving in greater detail than any other document the circumstances surrounding the origin of the written revelation on polygamy later published as section 132 of the D&C. He does this to counter charges by Joseph Smith's son, Joseph Smith III, president of the RLDS church that polygamy was not started by his father..
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
160 years ago today - Aug 17, 1864
The Deseret News reports the setting up of a list of articles and prices in gold for Utah markets. Flour is put at $12 a hundred pounds, wheat $5 a bushel, and corn $4. This is, in reality, a form of price control.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
180 years ago today - Aug 17, 1844
[William Clayton]
At the Temple Office all day. At noon brother Kimball came and told me that Emma says somebody has stole of the money he paid her. It is thought it is a plan to hurt me by making the public believe that I stole it.
[The Nauvoo Diaries of William Clayton, 1842-1846, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
At the Temple Office all day. At noon brother Kimball came and told me that Emma says somebody has stole of the money he paid her. It is thought it is a plan to hurt me by making the public believe that I stole it.
[The Nauvoo Diaries of William Clayton, 1842-1846, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
195 years ago today - Aug 17, 1829
Joseph Smith and Martin Harris sign contract with Grandin publishing, each agreeing to pay half of the publication costs of the Book of Mormon.
80 years ago today - Aug 16, 1944
First Presidency instructs its Hotel Utah to stop serving liquor.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
80 years ago today - Aug 16, 1944
The First Presidency instructs its Hotel Utah to stop serving liquor.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
130 years ago today - Aug 16, 1894
Jewish boy gives his bar mitzvah talk in LDS stake conference "in confirmation of his faith in the Jewish religion."
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
130 years ago today - Aug 16, 1894
A Jewish boy gives his bar mitzvah talk in an LDS stake conference "in confirmation of his faith in the Jewish religion."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
130 years ago today - Aug 16, 1894
[Abraham H. Cannon]
Concerning the proper position of the altar in a prayer circle * as to whether it should face the east or south * there is no rule, though the custom is to generally have them face the south. Pres[ident] [Lorenzo] Snow says he always aims to face the chief temple in offering his prayers.
[Abraham H. Cannon diary, Aug. 16, 1894 , Perry Special Collections as quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
Concerning the proper position of the altar in a prayer circle * as to whether it should face the east or south * there is no rule, though the custom is to generally have them face the south. Pres[ident] [Lorenzo] Snow says he always aims to face the chief temple in offering his prayers.
[Abraham H. Cannon diary, Aug. 16, 1894 , Perry Special Collections as quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
150 years ago today - Aug 16, 1874
President B. Young spoke One Hour & 2 Minutes & delivered one of the most interesting discourses I Ever heard in my life. Said it would take a whole life devoted to God & his work to get a full & Complete salvation and as much short as any person Came of this after receiving this work so much short would He be Clipped of a full & Complete salvation & none such would the Lord Choose when He made up his Jewels. -- Logan, Utah
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal. 9 Vols. Scott G. Kenney, ed. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1983-85. 7:192; Journal History of the Church, Selected Collections from the Archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints DVD 2 (2002) as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal. 9 Vols. Scott G. Kenney, ed. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1983-85. 7:192; Journal History of the Church, Selected Collections from the Archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints DVD 2 (2002) as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
190 years ago today - Aug 16, 1834
Joseph Smith - the churches should "be in readiness to move to Jackson county in two years from the eleventh of September next, which is the appointed time for the redemption of Zion. ... you will learn by this we have a great work to do, and but little time to do it in;"
[Note, this is the 5th anniversary of D&C 64:21: "I will not that my servant Frederick G. Williams should sell his farm, for I, the Lord, will to retain a strong hold in the land of Kirtland, for the space of five years, in the which I will not overthrow the wicked, that thereby I may save some."]
[History of the Church, vol. 2, p. 145, as quoted in Instutite for Religious Research]
[Note, this is the 5th anniversary of D&C 64:21: "I will not that my servant Frederick G. Williams should sell his farm, for I, the Lord, will to retain a strong hold in the land of Kirtland, for the space of five years, in the which I will not overthrow the wicked, that thereby I may save some."]
[History of the Church, vol. 2, p. 145, as quoted in Instutite for Religious Research]
135 years ago today - Aug 15, 1889
Zina D. H. Young, plural wife of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young said, "It is the privilege of the sisters, who are faithful in the discharge of their duties, and have received their endowments and blessings in the house of the Lord, to administer to their sisters, and to the little ones, in time of sickness, in meekness and humility, ever being careful to ask in the name of Jesus, and to give God the glory."
[Woman's Exponent 17, 172, as quoted at http://ordainwomen.org/quotes. See Quinn, "Mormon Political Conflicts" for full cite and context.]
[Woman's Exponent 17, 172, as quoted at http://ordainwomen.org/quotes. See Quinn, "Mormon Political Conflicts" for full cite and context.]
135 years ago today - Aug 15, 1889
The church purchases a ranch in Skull Valley, Tooele County, Utah, for Hawaiian Mormon immigrants. They name the community Iosepa (Joseph). The colony continues until 1917.
[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 - Aug 15, 1889
Church pruchases ranch in Skull Valley, Tooele county, Utah for Hawaiian Mormon immigrants. They name the community Iosepa (Joseph). Colony continues until 1917.
155 years ago today - Aug 15, 1869
Apostle George Q. Cannon preaches: "We close the door on one side, and say that whoredoms, seductions and adulteries must not be committed among us, and we say to those who are determined to carry on such things[:] we will kill you..."
[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 - Aug 15, 1844. Thursday.
[William Clayton Journal]
.... Sister Emma I know I don't lie and you know better what I know I know and although I never have told it to any soul on earth nor never intend to yet it is still the truth and I shall not deny it. She then several times called me a liar and said she knew I was her enemy and she never had been so abused in all her life. I told her I was not her enemy nor never had been. She said I neglected her and spent my time in the secret counsel of the Twelve and it was secret things which had cost Joseph and Hyrum their lives, and says she "I prophecy that it will cost you and the Twelve your lives as it has done them." She repeated this two or three times in a threatening manner, and said it in a manner that I understood that she intended to make it cost us our lives as she had done by President Smith. I told her that I would rather die than do anything to ruin the Church.... I went and told President Young the whole circumstances and he told me to fear not, but rejoice.
[George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton]
.... Sister Emma I know I don't lie and you know better what I know I know and although I never have told it to any soul on earth nor never intend to yet it is still the truth and I shall not deny it. She then several times called me a liar and said she knew I was her enemy and she never had been so abused in all her life. I told her I was not her enemy nor never had been. She said I neglected her and spent my time in the secret counsel of the Twelve and it was secret things which had cost Joseph and Hyrum their lives, and says she "I prophecy that it will cost you and the Twelve your lives as it has done them." She repeated this two or three times in a threatening manner, and said it in a manner that I understood that she intended to make it cost us our lives as she had done by President Smith. I told her that I would rather die than do anything to ruin the Church.... I went and told President Young the whole circumstances and he told me to fear not, but rejoice.
[George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton]
180 years ago today - Aug 15, 1844
Epistle of Twelve to the Saints-- On August 8, 1844, a special meeting of the Church of Jesus Christ was held in Nauvoo, Illinois to determine who would lead the Church following the death of Joseph Smith. On August 9th, The Twelve Apostles were sustained in their Presidency of the Church. This was the first Epistle issued by the Twelve following their being sustained. ...
You are now without a prophet present with you in the flesh to guide you; but you are not without Apostles, who hold the keys of power to seal on earth that which shall be sealed in heaven, and to preside over all the affairs of the church in all the world...
On the subject of the gathering, let it be distinctly understood that the city of Nauvoo and the Temple of our Lord are to continue to be built up according to the pattern which has been commenced, and which has progressed with such rapidity thus far.
The city must be built up and supported by the gathering of those who have capital, and are willing to lay it out for the erection of every branch of industry and manufacture, which is necessary for the employment and support of the poor, or of those who depend wholly on this labor...
let every member proceed immediately to tithe himself or herself, a tenth of all their property and money ... for the building of the Temple for the support of the priesthood ... and then let them continue to pay in a tenth of their income from that time forth... And let this law or ordinance be henceforth taught to all who present themselves for admission into this church...
The United States and adjoining provinces will be immediately organized by the Twelve into proper districts...
[Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
You are now without a prophet present with you in the flesh to guide you; but you are not without Apostles, who hold the keys of power to seal on earth that which shall be sealed in heaven, and to preside over all the affairs of the church in all the world...
On the subject of the gathering, let it be distinctly understood that the city of Nauvoo and the Temple of our Lord are to continue to be built up according to the pattern which has been commenced, and which has progressed with such rapidity thus far.
The city must be built up and supported by the gathering of those who have capital, and are willing to lay it out for the erection of every branch of industry and manufacture, which is necessary for the employment and support of the poor, or of those who depend wholly on this labor...
let every member proceed immediately to tithe himself or herself, a tenth of all their property and money ... for the building of the Temple for the support of the priesthood ... and then let them continue to pay in a tenth of their income from that time forth... And let this law or ordinance be henceforth taught to all who present themselves for admission into this church...
The United States and adjoining provinces will be immediately organized by the Twelve into proper districts...
[Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
185 years ago today - Aug 15, 1839
Baptism for the dead publicly announced.
[Chronology of Mormon History, http://followtheprophets.com/chronology-of-mormon-history/]
[Chronology of Mormon History, http://followtheprophets.com/chronology-of-mormon-history/]
195 years ago today - Mid August 1829
Joseph Smith writes the Book of Mormon preface , with reference for the first time to an exact page count for "116 pages" that were lost. Because the printer's manuscript is 116 pages for First Nephi through Words of Mormon, the replacement portion, it can be assumed that the number 116 came from the printer's manuscript rather than from the original manuscript. It was an approximation, in other words--an assumption that the original manuscript occupied about the same number of pages for the same period covered. It can be further assumed that Oliver Cowdery would have copied at least 116 pages of the manuscript for the printer before the preface was written. Cowdery probably began copying the manuscript near the beginning of July and apparently reached Alma 36 by 6 November 1829 . Averaging the number of pages per day, he would have copied 116 pages by about the beginning of August. Thus, since the first signature included the Preface , Joseph Smith probably wrote the preface
shortly before the printer began setting type in mid- or late-August.
[Vogel, Dan, Early Mormon Documents, Appendix B: Chronology, 1771-1831, http://amzn.to/T5nY8w]
shortly before the printer began setting type in mid- or late-August.
[Vogel, Dan, Early Mormon Documents, Appendix B: Chronology, 1771-1831, http://amzn.to/T5nY8w]
45 years ago today - Aug 14, 1979-Tuesday
[Leonard Arrington]
Elder Durham has received a letter from the presidency of the Relief Society, asking us to do a study of the role of women in the Church during the 19th century and early 20th century. ...
I asked him to see if he could get permission for me to examine the George Q. Cannon diaries for the period up to 1877, when Brigham Young died. He said he would try to do that but might put it off for a month or two.19 I reported on the Richard Bushman manuscript, and on the request from [public relations employee] Jerry Cahill about a response to Sonia Johnson's paper to be given at the American Psychology Association meetings in New York. Elder Durham seemed to be very much in a hurry for some reason. Earl [Olson] was not present. I learned that Russ Ballard of the First Council of Seventy, who is the son of Melvin J. Ballard, Jr., the son of Melvin J. Ballard the apostle, and who is now the editor of the Ensign, is a grandson of [apostle] Hyrum [M.] Smith. Hyrum Mack Smith's oldest sister Geraldine [Smith Ballard] married Melvin J. Ballard, Jr., and is thus the mother of Russ.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
Elder Durham has received a letter from the presidency of the Relief Society, asking us to do a study of the role of women in the Church during the 19th century and early 20th century. ...
I asked him to see if he could get permission for me to examine the George Q. Cannon diaries for the period up to 1877, when Brigham Young died. He said he would try to do that but might put it off for a month or two.19 I reported on the Richard Bushman manuscript, and on the request from [public relations employee] Jerry Cahill about a response to Sonia Johnson's paper to be given at the American Psychology Association meetings in New York. Elder Durham seemed to be very much in a hurry for some reason. Earl [Olson] was not present. I learned that Russ Ballard of the First Council of Seventy, who is the son of Melvin J. Ballard, Jr., the son of Melvin J. Ballard the apostle, and who is now the editor of the Ensign, is a grandson of [apostle] Hyrum [M.] Smith. Hyrum Mack Smith's oldest sister Geraldine [Smith Ballard] married Melvin J. Ballard, Jr., and is thus the mother of Russ.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
95 years ago today - Aug 14, 1929
Elder Yeates of Church of Christ, Temple Lot, asks Heber J. Grant for permission to solicit donations for construction of temple at independence, Missouri. President Grant declines "to assist in erecting a temple for a church with which we have no connection whatever."
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
95 years ago today - Aug 14, 1929
Elder Yeates of the Church of Christ, Temple Lot, asks Heber J. Grant for permission to solicit donations for the construction of a temple at Independence, Missouri. President Grant declines "to assist in erecting a temple for a church with which we have no connection whatever."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
160 years ago today - Aug 14, 1864
The so-called Dream Mine is located east of Salem in Utah County. The mine founder, John H. Koyle, was born August 14, 1864 at Spanish Fork, Utah County.
[Utah History Encyclopedia: Dream Mine, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
[Utah History Encyclopedia: Dream Mine, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
180 years ago today - Aug 14, 1844
[Nauvoo Neighbor]
- Poetry: "Joseph Smith" - Praise to the Man -- The Times and Seasons -- To be sung to the tune of "Star in the East," what we now know as Praise to the Man.
- Poetry: "To Elder John Taylor" -- E.R. Snow -- Poem about John Taylor's survival of the martyrdom.
- Reprinted Story: "Joseph Smith, Mayor of Nauvoo, Murdered" -- The Philadelphia Sun -- Describes the martyrdom as a vicious crime, and lends support and credibility to the Church.
- Story: "The Next President" -- Editorial -- Says that the Saints will never find someone who shares Joseph Smith's views to support for president.
- Story: Joseph Smith's Successor -- Editorial -- Encourages the Saints to be patient while the successor is selected, but for now the church is in the hands of the Twelve.
- Ordinances: "An Ordinance Concerning Brothels and Disorderly Characters" -- Geo W. Harris -- Prohibits brothels and describes the fines for operating such establishments.
- Announcement: "Miniature Likenesses" - Daguerreotypes Available -- L.R. Foster -- Advertisement promoting taking photos with his equipment....
[http://boap.org/LDS/Nauvoo-Neighbor]
- Poetry: "Joseph Smith" - Praise to the Man -- The Times and Seasons -- To be sung to the tune of "Star in the East," what we now know as Praise to the Man.
- Poetry: "To Elder John Taylor" -- E.R. Snow -- Poem about John Taylor's survival of the martyrdom.
- Reprinted Story: "Joseph Smith, Mayor of Nauvoo, Murdered" -- The Philadelphia Sun -- Describes the martyrdom as a vicious crime, and lends support and credibility to the Church.
- Story: "The Next President" -- Editorial -- Says that the Saints will never find someone who shares Joseph Smith's views to support for president.
- Story: Joseph Smith's Successor -- Editorial -- Encourages the Saints to be patient while the successor is selected, but for now the church is in the hands of the Twelve.
- Ordinances: "An Ordinance Concerning Brothels and Disorderly Characters" -- Geo W. Harris -- Prohibits brothels and describes the fines for operating such establishments.
- Announcement: "Miniature Likenesses" - Daguerreotypes Available -- L.R. Foster -- Advertisement promoting taking photos with his equipment....
[http://boap.org/LDS/Nauvoo-Neighbor]
180 years ago today - 1844 14 Aug.
Lucien R. Foster, the first Mormon photographer, places an ad in Nauvoo Neighbor. President of the New York City branch (1841-43) and member of the Council of Fifty (1845-46), Foster's two daguerreotypes of the Nauvoo temple in 1846 are the most enduring images of the Mormon capital. He is excommunicated in 1846.
[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]
20 years ago today - Aug 13, 2004
At a Sunstone Symposium one of the speakers with the subject "Why We Stay" is Edward L. Kimball, son and biographer of Spencer W. Kimball. The talks are by people who have problems with the Church but decide to stay active anyway.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
145 years ago today - Aug 13, 1879
[Joseph F. Smith]
Bro[ther] [Daniel H.] Wells told a dream better not told for him. The 'Twelve must be united.'
[Joseph F. 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]
Bro[ther] [Daniel H.] Wells told a dream better not told for him. The 'Twelve must be united.'
[Joseph F. 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]
150 years ago today - Aug 13, 1874
The Constitution of the United Order was still further discussed, and adopted, with very little variation, according to the printed form. Much good instruction was given by President Young in relation to the object of the United Order; he did not want any one to join the order, unless he would put into the same all his personal and real property, which was free from incumbrance, and be willing to be guided and dictated in his labors, or in the disposition of his time. He requested the Twelve to see that every branch of the Church in the Territory was organized, so far as the Saints were willing... The most of the Twelve present were each assigned to some specified part of the Territory ...
[Church Historian's Office Journal, 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]
[Church Historian's Office Journal, 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]
180 years ago today - 1844: 13 August
[Patriarchal Blessing of George Washington Johnson, by John Smith]
.... Thou shalt be a savior upon Mt Zion and stand with the 144,000 clothed in white. Thou shalt have power to go from land to land and from sea to sea. From island to island and from Planet to Planet and visit the prisons where the spirits of the departed dwell proclaiming salvation thro all thy course and mighty power and success which cannot now be described. The number of thy years shall be according to thy faith even to see the curtains of Zion spread over all the continent of America with all the beauty and glory thereof. Thou shalt have thine inheritance with thy brethren in time and in eternity and thy companion and thy children with thee possessing all the riches of heaven and earth to thy full satisfaction if thou are faithful not one word shall fail for I seal it upon thee by the authority of the Priesthood and I seal thee up to Eternal Life ...
[Selected LDS Patriarchal Blessings, New Mormon Studies CD ROM, Signature Book, 2009, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
.... Thou shalt be a savior upon Mt Zion and stand with the 144,000 clothed in white. Thou shalt have power to go from land to land and from sea to sea. From island to island and from Planet to Planet and visit the prisons where the spirits of the departed dwell proclaiming salvation thro all thy course and mighty power and success which cannot now be described. The number of thy years shall be according to thy faith even to see the curtains of Zion spread over all the continent of America with all the beauty and glory thereof. Thou shalt have thine inheritance with thy brethren in time and in eternity and thy companion and thy children with thee possessing all the riches of heaven and earth to thy full satisfaction if thou are faithful not one word shall fail for I seal it upon thee by the authority of the Priesthood and I seal thee up to Eternal Life ...
[Selected LDS Patriarchal Blessings, New Mormon Studies CD ROM, Signature Book, 2009, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
180 years ago today - Aug 13, 1844
Apostle Orson Hyde arrives in Nauvoo. However he later gives elaborate personal reminiscences of a "transfiguration" he could not possibly have witnessed. Hyde reports, in 1869 that when Brigham Young began to speak to the Saints on Aug 8, 1844, "his words went through me like electricity." This is my testimony, Hyde added for special emphasis, "it was not only the voice of Joseph Smith but there were the features, the gestures and even the stature of Joseph before us in the person of Brigham." In 1877 Hyde declares in general conference, "I heard the voice of Joseph through him, and it was as familiar to me as the voice of my wife, the voice of my child, or the voice of my father. And not only the voice of Joseph did I distinctly and unmistakably hear, but I saw the very gestures of his person, the very features of his countenance, and if I mistake not, the very size of his person appeared on the stand. And it went through me with the thrill of conviction that Brigham was the man
to lead this people."
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
to lead this people."
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
20 years ago today - Aug 12, 2004
[Joseph Smith Papers project]
The Deseret News reports that the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, a division of the National Archives, has endorsed the project. The paper also reports that "upon completion the compiled documents will be available in libraries, homes and on a Web site that will launch in 2005."
[Joseph Smith Papers Timeline: History of the Joseph Smith Papers Project, MormonWasp Blog (defunct)]
The Deseret News reports that the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, a division of the National Archives, has endorsed the project. The paper also reports that "upon completion the compiled documents will be available in libraries, homes and on a Web site that will launch in 2005."
[Joseph Smith Papers Timeline: History of the Joseph Smith Papers Project, MormonWasp Blog (defunct)]
40 years ago today - Aug 12, 1984
Harmon Killebrew is inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame. His career record of 573 home-runs is exceeded only by Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, and Frank Robinson. Larry H. Miller enters National Softball Hall of Fame in 1992.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
40 years ago today - Aug 12, 1984
Harmon Killebrew is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. His career record of 573 home-runs is exceeded only by Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, and Frank Robinson (until the steroid breaking records of the 90s). Larry H. Miller enters the National Softball Hall of Fame in 1992.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
130 years ago today - Aug 12, 1894
[Apostle Marriner W. Merrill]
After the afternoon meeting Apostle Lyman put the High Council, Bishops, and Counselors under a rigid examination in regard to their private habits and the keeping of the Word of Wisdom.
[Notes from the Miscellaneous Record Book, 1886-1906: Selected diary notes from the journal books of Marriner Wood Merrill, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
After the afternoon meeting Apostle Lyman put the High Council, Bishops, and Counselors under a rigid examination in regard to their private habits and the keeping of the Word of Wisdom.
[Notes from the Miscellaneous Record Book, 1886-1906: Selected diary notes from the journal books of Marriner Wood Merrill, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
160 years ago today - Aug 12, 1864
[RLDS Church]
When the first two Reorganized Church missionaries left Utah on 12 August 1864 they were satisfied with their efforts. Briggs reported that he was "happy to inform that the work of the Lord in this territory is onward with rapid strides to the spiritual observer, and I feel every day more and more encouraged with the prospects before me of the triumph of the gospel of Jesus."
[Utah History Encyclopedia: R.L.D.S Church, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
When the first two Reorganized Church missionaries left Utah on 12 August 1864 they were satisfied with their efforts. Briggs reported that he was "happy to inform that the work of the Lord in this territory is onward with rapid strides to the spiritual observer, and I feel every day more and more encouraged with the prospects before me of the triumph of the gospel of Jesus."
[Utah History Encyclopedia: R.L.D.S Church, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
180 years ago today - Aug 12, 1844
[Wilford Woodruff]
Voted that Amasa Lyman is one of the Apostles. Voted that the estate of Joseph Smith settle its own depts and the Church have nothing to do with it.
Voted to organize the Continant of America into districts and appoint High Priest to Preside over each district.
Voted that B Young H. C. Kimball and W Richards district the Continant of America and appoint Presidents over the several districts. ...
Moved by H. C. Kimball that Elder W. Woodruff take a mission to England and Preside over the Church and Printing esstablishment in England, Ireland, Scotland & the ajacent Islands and Continant. Carried.
Voted that the general Superintendance direction and control of the emigration in England to be at the disposal of Brigham Young President of the quorum of the Twelve.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Voted that Amasa Lyman is one of the Apostles. Voted that the estate of Joseph Smith settle its own depts and the Church have nothing to do with it.
Voted to organize the Continant of America into districts and appoint High Priest to Preside over each district.
Voted that B Young H. C. Kimball and W Richards district the Continant of America and appoint Presidents over the several districts. ...
Moved by H. C. Kimball that Elder W. Woodruff take a mission to England and Preside over the Church and Printing esstablishment in England, Ireland, Scotland & the ajacent Islands and Continant. Carried.
Voted that the general Superintendance direction and control of the emigration in England to be at the disposal of Brigham Young President of the quorum of the Twelve.
[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 - Aug 12, 1844
Lyman Wight: Commissioned by apostles 12 Aug. 1844 to "carry out the instructions he has received from Joseph.—to procure a location" in Texas
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 6, Biographical Sketches of General Officers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 6, Biographical Sketches of General Officers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
25 years ago today - Aug 11, 1999
[Utah]
A tornado ripped through downtown Salt Lake City doing over $100 million of dollars in damage.
[History to Go, Utah Today, http://historytogo.utah.gov/timeline/utahtoday.html]
A tornado ripped through downtown Salt Lake City doing over $100 million of dollars in damage.
[History to Go, Utah Today, http://historytogo.utah.gov/timeline/utahtoday.html]
150 years ago today - Aug 11, 1874
[Wilford Woodruff]
[The day after Young proclaims a revelation on the United Order] I spent these days in Council with the Presidency & Twelve in discussing the principle of the United Order that we might understand it alike & be prepared to teach it to the People. At the Close of the Meeting President Young wished the Twelve to go to now & organize the whole Church into the United Order.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[The day after Young proclaims a revelation on the United Order] I spent these days in Council with the Presidency & Twelve in discussing the principle of the United Order that we might understand it alike & be prepared to teach it to the People. At the Close of the Meeting President Young wished the Twelve to go to now & organize the whole Church into the United Order.
[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 - Aug 11, 1834
[General Smith]
The Kirtland high council meets to investigate a charge by Sylvester Smith that, on the march of Zion's Camp, Joseph was a "Tyrant—Pope—King—Usurper—Abuser of men—Angel—False Prophet—Prophesying lies in the name of the Lord—Taking consecrated monies." This begins a long series of Church court proceedings with Joseph and Sylvester accusing each other of wrong actions. After several months the matter is finally resolved when Sylvester Smith publishes a public confession and apology of his shortcomings in the Messenger and Advocate, written on Oct. 28, 1834.
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
The Kirtland high council meets to investigate a charge by Sylvester Smith that, on the march of Zion's Camp, Joseph was a "Tyrant—Pope—King—Usurper—Abuser of men—Angel—False Prophet—Prophesying lies in the name of the Lord—Taking consecrated monies." This begins a long series of Church court proceedings with Joseph and Sylvester accusing each other of wrong actions. After several months the matter is finally resolved when Sylvester Smith publishes a public confession and apology of his shortcomings in the Messenger and Advocate, written on Oct. 28, 1834.
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
195 years ago today - Aug 11, 1829
The anti-Masonic Palmyra Freeman calls the Book of Mormon "the greatest piece of superstition that has come to our knowledge." The article gives an account of how the plates were found by Joseph Smith, referring to three visits by "the spirit of the Almighty", "a huge pair of spectacles", golden plates of dimensions eight by eight by six inches, Harris' visit to Samuel Mitchill. The article reproduces the title page of the Book of Mormon. No known copies survive, but the article was reprinted in other newspapers such as the Niagara Courier (27 August 1829).
[Wikipedia: Chronology of Mormonism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Mormonism]
[Wikipedia: Chronology of Mormonism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Mormonism]
70 years ago today - Aug 10, 1954
The First Presidency issues a letter counseling members involved in the Indian student placement program to provide Indian children with all spiritual and cultural opportunities possible in addition to their education at public schools.
80 years ago today - Aug 10, 1944
Notes on interview with Thorpe Issacson, 1st Counselor in the Bishopric of the Yale Ward, Bonneville Stake:
(1) The Brother Merrill N. Warnick, member of the Board of Trustees of the Utah State Agricultural College, stated before that Board that President George Albert Smith had called him in and 'told me (President Warnick) what to do, but did not give me a chance to tell him (President George Albert Smith) How I felt.' ...
(3) That Fonnesbeck really should be dismissed from the Board, because he called in the President of the student body and tried to get the President of the Student Body to create a 'riot' in the school. Also that he (Fonnesbeck) had frequently invited one or two of the Deans down to his office and engered distrust in their hearts towards President Peterson. ...
(5) That there are sinister forces at work in Logan which are not conducive to the building of character in the lives of the students and citizens.
[David O. McKay, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
(1) The Brother Merrill N. Warnick, member of the Board of Trustees of the Utah State Agricultural College, stated before that Board that President George Albert Smith had called him in and 'told me (President Warnick) what to do, but did not give me a chance to tell him (President George Albert Smith) How I felt.' ...
(3) That Fonnesbeck really should be dismissed from the Board, because he called in the President of the student body and tried to get the President of the Student Body to create a 'riot' in the school. Also that he (Fonnesbeck) had frequently invited one or two of the Deans down to his office and engered distrust in their hearts towards President Peterson. ...
(5) That there are sinister forces at work in Logan which are not conducive to the building of character in the lives of the students and citizens.
[David O. McKay, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
85 years ago today - Aug 10, 1939
[President Heber J. Grant Diary]
I also called at Zion's Securities Company and had a nice long talk with Brother Parker Robison, Manager. He is very anxious to publish Orson Pratt's works again. I told him that I doubted the wisdom of doing this but that I believed Orson Pratt was the greatest scriptorian, mathematician, and astronomer the Church has ever known. I would like some of the Brethren to go over his writings, however, before they are published, because we have heard there were some complaints about them when I was first made an Apostle, and I thought it should be considered very carefully before publishing it. I also heard complaints about his grandfather's writing of 'The Voice of Warning.'
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I also called at Zion's Securities Company and had a nice long talk with Brother Parker Robison, Manager. He is very anxious to publish Orson Pratt's works again. I told him that I doubted the wisdom of doing this but that I believed Orson Pratt was the greatest scriptorian, mathematician, and astronomer the Church has ever known. I would like some of the Brethren to go over his writings, however, before they are published, because we have heard there were some complaints about them when I was first made an Apostle, and I thought it should be considered very carefully before publishing it. I also heard complaints about his grandfather's writing of 'The Voice of Warning.'
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
140 years ago today - Aug 10, 1884
Anti-Mormon mob attacks a Sunday meeting of Mormons in Tennessee and murders four men, including missionaries William S. Berry and John J. Gibbs.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
140 years ago today - Aug 10, 1884
Anti-Mormon mob attacks Sunday meeting of Mormons in Tennessee and murders four men, including missionaries William S. Berry and John H. Gibbs.
165 years ago today - Aug 10 1859
The New York Times publishes The Great Forgery Case, detailing Brigham Young's attempt to finance Utah War with counterfeit money.
[Chronology of Mormon History (Mormon Stories), http://www.mormonstories.org/truth-claims/chronology-of-mormon-history/]
[Chronology of Mormon History (Mormon Stories), http://www.mormonstories.org/truth-claims/chronology-of-mormon-history/]
180 years ago today - August 10th 1844
[Nauvoo City Council]
....Moved & Second that Alderman [Heber C.] Kimball be instructed to settle for the [destruction of the] Nauvoo Expositor so soon as the proprietors of the press will indemnify the city council from all all further suits suits commenced or to be commenced by them or their influence in future time...
[Nauvoo City Council Rough Book, http://amzn.to/uXAcJh%20]
....Moved & Second that Alderman [Heber C.] Kimball be instructed to settle for the [destruction of the] Nauvoo Expositor so soon as the proprietors of the press will indemnify the city council from all all further suits suits commenced or to be commenced by them or their influence in future time...
[Nauvoo City Council Rough Book, http://amzn.to/uXAcJh%20]
180 years ago today - Aug 10, 1844
According to divorce suit by legal husband Henry Cobb, Augusta Cobb (plural wife of Brigham Young) committed adultery with Brigham Young the first time on August 10, 1844 in Boston, and a 2nd time in Nauvoo on December 1, 1845.
Court testimony provided by Elder George J. Adams states she then told Henry she loved Brigham Young better than she did Mr. Cobb, and, live or die, she was going to live with him at all hazards. This was in the course of a conversation in which she used extravagant language in favor of Mr. Young, and against Mr. Cobb.
"To the Honorable the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court now holden at Boston within and for the County of Suffolk."
"Henry Cobb husband of Augusta Cobb of said Boston, libels and gives this Honorable Court to be informed, that on the twenty fifth day of December in the year Eighteen hundred and twenty two, at Charles town in the County of Middlesex, he was lawfully married to the said Augusta Cobb, and hath always behaved towards her as a chaste and faithful husband; yet the said Augusta neglecting her marriage vows & duty, since the said marriage, on the tenth day of August in the year Eighteen hundred & forty four, at said Boston, and on the first day of xxxxx December in the year Eighteen hundred and forty five, at Nauvou in the State of Illinois, committed the crime of adultery with one Brigham Young. Wherefore your libellant prays that the bonds of matrimony may be dissolved between himself and the said Augusta Cobb"
"Henry Cobb"
[Marquardt Papers, Suffolkss Supreme Judicial Court]
Court testimony provided by Elder George J. Adams states she then told Henry she loved Brigham Young better than she did Mr. Cobb, and, live or die, she was going to live with him at all hazards. This was in the course of a conversation in which she used extravagant language in favor of Mr. Young, and against Mr. Cobb.
"To the Honorable the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court now holden at Boston within and for the County of Suffolk."
"Henry Cobb husband of Augusta Cobb of said Boston, libels and gives this Honorable Court to be informed, that on the twenty fifth day of December in the year Eighteen hundred and twenty two, at Charles town in the County of Middlesex, he was lawfully married to the said Augusta Cobb, and hath always behaved towards her as a chaste and faithful husband; yet the said Augusta neglecting her marriage vows & duty, since the said marriage, on the tenth day of August in the year Eighteen hundred & forty four, at said Boston, and on the first day of xxxxx December in the year Eighteen hundred and forty five, at Nauvou in the State of Illinois, committed the crime of adultery with one Brigham Young. Wherefore your libellant prays that the bonds of matrimony may be dissolved between himself and the said Augusta Cobb"
"Henry Cobb"
[Marquardt Papers, Suffolkss Supreme Judicial Court]
195 years ago today - Aug 10, 1829
Oliver Cowdery buys a 1828 H. & E. Phinney Bible with the Apocryphia at E. Phinney Bible with the Apocryphia at Egbert B. Grandin's book store in Palmyra, NY for $3.75.
[Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology, Rev 01 Volume 01" http://bit.ly/tiddchron]
[Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology, Rev 01 Volume 01" http://bit.ly/tiddchron]
80 years ago today - Aug 9, 1944
Reading standards committee ... is to pass upon and approve all materials, other than those that are purely secular, to be used by our Church Priesthood, Educational, Auxiliary, and Missionary organizations in their work of instructing members of the Church ....
To meet the required standards for use by Church organizations, such materials must:
1. Clearly set forth or be fully consistent with the principles of the Restored Gospel.
2. Be wholly free from any taint of sectarianism and also of all theories and conclusions destructive of faith in the simple truths of the Restored Gospel, and especially be free from the teachings of the so-called "higher criticism." Worldly knowledge and speculation have their place; but they must yield to revealed truth.
3. Be so framed and written as affirmatively to breed faith and not to raise doubts. "Rationalizing" may be most destructive of faith. That the Finite cannot fully explain the Infinite casts no doubt upon the Infinite. Truth, not error, must be stressed.
4. Be so built in form and substance as to lead to definite conclusions that accord with the principles of the Restored Gospel, which conclusions must be expressed and not left to possible deduction by the students. When truth is involved there is no place for student preference or choice. Youth must be taught that truth cannot be blinked or put aside; it must be accepted.
5. Be filled with a spirit of deepest reverence. They should give no place for the slightest levity. They should be so written that those who teach from them will so understand.
6. Be so organized and written that the matter may be effectively taught by men and women untrained in teaching and without the background equipment given by such fields of learning as psychology, pedagogy, philosophy, and ethics. The great bulk of our teachers are in this untrained group.
Courses on "comparative religion" have no place otherwise than in the Post-Graduate School to be established at the Brigham Young University and there only for the purpose of developing and demonstrating the truth of the Restored Gospel and the falsity of the other religions of the world, and thereby build the faith and knowledge of post-graduate scholars. The subject is one for careful, prayerful study by the mature mind, not for the framing of the thought and belief of the youthful mind.
... All texts written and lessons prepared are to bear the name of those who write or prepare them.
In the preparation of all these materials prime consideration should be given, by those undertaking it, to our own Church history and doctrinal literature. In the rather recent past these sources have been too little considered. Sectarian views and doctrines have had too large a place and consideration; the paganistic theories and tenets of the so-called "higher criticism' have not been without their influence; none of these have a place in our Church. They should be wholly eliminated from our literature.
... The discussion of mysteries and of doctrines upon which there is not a recognized accepted view, should be avoided. The aim should be to present the simple truths of the Restored Gospel in as plain and understandable a way as possible.
[Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
To meet the required standards for use by Church organizations, such materials must:
1. Clearly set forth or be fully consistent with the principles of the Restored Gospel.
2. Be wholly free from any taint of sectarianism and also of all theories and conclusions destructive of faith in the simple truths of the Restored Gospel, and especially be free from the teachings of the so-called "higher criticism." Worldly knowledge and speculation have their place; but they must yield to revealed truth.
3. Be so framed and written as affirmatively to breed faith and not to raise doubts. "Rationalizing" may be most destructive of faith. That the Finite cannot fully explain the Infinite casts no doubt upon the Infinite. Truth, not error, must be stressed.
4. Be so built in form and substance as to lead to definite conclusions that accord with the principles of the Restored Gospel, which conclusions must be expressed and not left to possible deduction by the students. When truth is involved there is no place for student preference or choice. Youth must be taught that truth cannot be blinked or put aside; it must be accepted.
5. Be filled with a spirit of deepest reverence. They should give no place for the slightest levity. They should be so written that those who teach from them will so understand.
6. Be so organized and written that the matter may be effectively taught by men and women untrained in teaching and without the background equipment given by such fields of learning as psychology, pedagogy, philosophy, and ethics. The great bulk of our teachers are in this untrained group.
Courses on "comparative religion" have no place otherwise than in the Post-Graduate School to be established at the Brigham Young University and there only for the purpose of developing and demonstrating the truth of the Restored Gospel and the falsity of the other religions of the world, and thereby build the faith and knowledge of post-graduate scholars. The subject is one for careful, prayerful study by the mature mind, not for the framing of the thought and belief of the youthful mind.
... All texts written and lessons prepared are to bear the name of those who write or prepare them.
In the preparation of all these materials prime consideration should be given, by those undertaking it, to our own Church history and doctrinal literature. In the rather recent past these sources have been too little considered. Sectarian views and doctrines have had too large a place and consideration; the paganistic theories and tenets of the so-called "higher criticism' have not been without their influence; none of these have a place in our Church. They should be wholly eliminated from our literature.
... The discussion of mysteries and of doctrines upon which there is not a recognized accepted view, should be avoided. The aim should be to present the simple truths of the Restored Gospel in as plain and understandable a way as possible.
[Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
85 years ago today - Aug 9, 1939
[J. Reuben Clark]
[During a meeting with the Presiding Bishopric:] The point was raised by Bishop Richards about a brother on their payroll who is old and blind and can not do his work any more. Brother Richards' question was whether or not they should pension him. It was agreed that we should not talk about pensioning anybody. I observed that there is no more reason why we should pension some bishop or president of stake or other Church worker who had spent his life in service of the Church. It was decided that cases of this kind should be referred to the Bishop involved, who should be instructed to take care of the individual even though we had to furnish the funds to the Bishop. ...
The decision was re-affirmed that no tithing should be requested from people on direct relief or on Old Age pensions, but that all persons earning money, for example W.P.A. workers, would be expected to pay tithing.
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
[During a meeting with the Presiding Bishopric:] The point was raised by Bishop Richards about a brother on their payroll who is old and blind and can not do his work any more. Brother Richards' question was whether or not they should pension him. It was agreed that we should not talk about pensioning anybody. I observed that there is no more reason why we should pension some bishop or president of stake or other Church worker who had spent his life in service of the Church. It was decided that cases of this kind should be referred to the Bishop involved, who should be instructed to take care of the individual even though we had to furnish the funds to the Bishop. ...
The decision was re-affirmed that no tithing should be requested from people on direct relief or on Old Age pensions, but that all persons earning money, for example W.P.A. workers, would be expected to pay tithing.
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
115 years ago today - Aug 9, 1909
[Joseph F. Smith]
There is a fund established known as the Jackson County [Missouri] Redemption Fund, the trustee of which is the trustee in trust for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
[Joseph F. Smith, Letter to J. Z. Stewart, 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]
There is a fund established known as the Jackson County [Missouri] Redemption Fund, the trustee of which is the trustee in trust for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
[Joseph F. Smith, Letter to J. Z. Stewart, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
115 years ago today - Aug 9, 1909
On the invitation of President Nephi L. Morris, Elder David P. Felt made this statement regarding his present situation:'While performing missionary service abroad in the interest of the Church, he became converted to the rightfulness of plural marriage and decided that when an opportunity should be presented he would marry a plural wife. Before he could gratify his wish, the manifesto of President Wilford Woodruff forbidding plural marriages between members of the Church was issued and became binding upon its adherents. He had come to the conclusion that he could not attain the highest exaltation in eternity without having a plurality of wives. This is as essential to the highest advancement in the next world as baptism is to man's salvation.
... He had spoken to his Bishop, George R. Jones, regarding this matter, and the latter had told him that it would be possible to achieve the desired result in this way:'Let him enter into an agreement with the woman whom he desired, that on the death of either the other would go into the Temple and be sealed to the deceased party. In this way the privileges of marriage could be enjoyed during the lifetime of both, and at the death of either, the union could be consummated by the performance of a marriage ceremony.
This plan was laid before Sister Applegreen, and, after several months of consideration, she accepted it, and a covenant was entered into, written in duplicate, signed and sealed, to be opened on the dea[t]h of eith[e]r party by the Bishop of his or her ward. Thus he might freely enter into plural marriage and yet not be amendable to the laws of the land which had been enacted against that system of marriage, inasmuch as no ceremony had been performed, and the Church could not be held responsible, as it had not sanctioned the union and none of its officials had joined the parties in wedlock. Continuing, he said that while his motives were pure and he believed that he had divine approval of his act, he expected that he would be stripped of his offices in the Church, in order that the latter might make it appear to the world that it condemned what he had done and that it was attempting to suppress polygamy but he did not think he should be deprived of his Priesthood. ...
Elder George R. Jones had never seen the contracts, but he had known of their existence for two or three months.
Elder Felt said that he had indulged in sexual intercourse with Annie Applegreen, but not previous to the making of the agreement. About two years ago he had asked President Francis M. Lyman, of the Quorum of Apostles, whether it was possible to enter into plural marriage. The latter replied that there was not opportunity for new plural marriages, but that if there should be in the future, he would let him know. ...
Elder Felt said that he had heard that plural marriages had been performed since the Woodruff manifesto. The Church had declared that none such had been celebrated with its knowledge or sanction. Yet men who were reputed to have married in polygamy since 1890, were retained in membership and office in the Church. If the Church repudiated the marriages but not the men, it seemed that there was some way by which one could evade the manifesto without coming into conflict with the discipline of the Church.
[Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015, Appendix 7: The Salt Lake Stake High Council and Post-1904 Plural Marriage: Minutes of Meetings, 1909-1914]
... He had spoken to his Bishop, George R. Jones, regarding this matter, and the latter had told him that it would be possible to achieve the desired result in this way:'Let him enter into an agreement with the woman whom he desired, that on the death of either the other would go into the Temple and be sealed to the deceased party. In this way the privileges of marriage could be enjoyed during the lifetime of both, and at the death of either, the union could be consummated by the performance of a marriage ceremony.
This plan was laid before Sister Applegreen, and, after several months of consideration, she accepted it, and a covenant was entered into, written in duplicate, signed and sealed, to be opened on the dea[t]h of eith[e]r party by the Bishop of his or her ward. Thus he might freely enter into plural marriage and yet not be amendable to the laws of the land which had been enacted against that system of marriage, inasmuch as no ceremony had been performed, and the Church could not be held responsible, as it had not sanctioned the union and none of its officials had joined the parties in wedlock. Continuing, he said that while his motives were pure and he believed that he had divine approval of his act, he expected that he would be stripped of his offices in the Church, in order that the latter might make it appear to the world that it condemned what he had done and that it was attempting to suppress polygamy but he did not think he should be deprived of his Priesthood. ...
Elder George R. Jones had never seen the contracts, but he had known of their existence for two or three months.
Elder Felt said that he had indulged in sexual intercourse with Annie Applegreen, but not previous to the making of the agreement. About two years ago he had asked President Francis M. Lyman, of the Quorum of Apostles, whether it was possible to enter into plural marriage. The latter replied that there was not opportunity for new plural marriages, but that if there should be in the future, he would let him know. ...
Elder Felt said that he had heard that plural marriages had been performed since the Woodruff manifesto. The Church had declared that none such had been celebrated with its knowledge or sanction. Yet men who were reputed to have married in polygamy since 1890, were retained in membership and office in the Church. If the Church repudiated the marriages but not the men, it seemed that there was some way by which one could evade the manifesto without coming into conflict with the discipline of the Church.
[Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015, Appendix 7: The Salt Lake Stake High Council and Post-1904 Plural Marriage: Minutes of Meetings, 1909-1914]
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