25 years ago today - Dec 24, 1999
President Gordon B. Hinckley appears on CNN's Larry King Live, which is broadcast from the Tabernacle. Also appearing on the program are Reverend Robert Schuller, who was in Bethlehem, and South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who was at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
165 years ago today - Dec 24, 1859
[Brigham Young]
In course of conversation the President alluded to the character of Emma Smith (wife of Prophet). He said he liked her now, but he would never be dictated by her. He observed to a person who alluded to her dictating course, and who he knew would tell her again, that he had heard geese cockle or howl before. He observed that Emma had tried to poison Joseph at the table and had sought to injure him in other ways. The President remarked in every instance where women were mentioned in the scriptures to have performed any remarkable thing it was where men ceased to magnify their priesthood, and the women were the smartest of the two. -- Salt Lake City
[Brigham Young Office Journals, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.; Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.; New Mormon Studies CD-ROM 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]
In course of conversation the President alluded to the character of Emma Smith (wife of Prophet). He said he liked her now, but he would never be dictated by her. He observed to a person who alluded to her dictating course, and who he knew would tell her again, that he had heard geese cockle or howl before. He observed that Emma had tried to poison Joseph at the table and had sought to injure him in other ways. The President remarked in every instance where women were mentioned in the scriptures to have performed any remarkable thing it was where men ceased to magnify their priesthood, and the women were the smartest of the two. -- Salt Lake City
[Brigham Young Office Journals, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.; Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.; New Mormon Studies CD-ROM 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]
170 years ago today - Dec 24, 1854
[Brigham Young]
There is nothing good, virtuous, right or any thing good but is incorporated in this religion we believe in. ... I will insure there are 666 religions, then comes the child, the priesthood in the hands of Joseph.
[Thomas Bullock Minutes, LJA; Thomas Bullock—LDS Church Reporter, 1844-56.C, Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.; GCM, Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah..; General Church Minutes. Selected Collections from the Archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints DVD 1 (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]
There is nothing good, virtuous, right or any thing good but is incorporated in this religion we believe in. ... I will insure there are 666 religions, then comes the child, the priesthood in the hands of Joseph.
[Thomas Bullock Minutes, LJA; Thomas Bullock—LDS Church Reporter, 1844-56.C, Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.; GCM, Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah..; General Church Minutes. Selected Collections from the Archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints DVD 1 (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]
180 years ago today - December 24, 1844. Tuesday.
[William Clayton]
....Evening I went to converse with Brother [Winslow] Farr concerning D[iantha]. He and Sister Farr feels well towards me and are quite willing to give me what I ask [Diantha as a wife]. He wishes to converse with Brother [Heber C.] Kimball and D[iantha] before he decides. Thus has my prayer been answered to the full, and my heart is full of joy and gratitude to God for his mercies to me and my house. If my heart was as pure as I desire it should be, no sin nor evil would ever be found there but I am subject to vanity.
[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]
....Evening I went to converse with Brother [Winslow] Farr concerning D[iantha]. He and Sister Farr feels well towards me and are quite willing to give me what I ask [Diantha as a wife]. He wishes to converse with Brother [Heber C.] Kimball and D[iantha] before he decides. Thus has my prayer been answered to the full, and my heart is full of joy and gratitude to God for his mercies to me and my house. If my heart was as pure as I desire it should be, no sin nor evil would ever be found there but I am subject to vanity.
[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]
85 years ago today - Dec 23, 1939
[President Heber J. Grant]
I have pledged myself to gamble again $750.00 on Frank Taylor's gold mine in California. I am more anxious, I feel sure, to have this succeed on account of Frank Taylor than I am on account of myself. Frank has been very careless in his money affairs-a great borrower-and by having had misfortune, not able to meet his obligations, but he is a very lovable man and as true to the Gospel in his heart as many of my near and dear friends. I nominated him, when we divided the Salt Lake Stake, which included all of Salt Lake County, into three stakes, creating the Cottonwood and Granite Stakes, I nominated him for the Granite Stake President and he made a decided success of that Stake of Zion.'
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I have pledged myself to gamble again $750.00 on Frank Taylor's gold mine in California. I am more anxious, I feel sure, to have this succeed on account of Frank Taylor than I am on account of myself. Frank has been very careless in his money affairs-a great borrower-and by having had misfortune, not able to meet his obligations, but he is a very lovable man and as true to the Gospel in his heart as many of my near and dear friends. I nominated him, when we divided the Salt Lake Stake, which included all of Salt Lake County, into three stakes, creating the Cottonwood and Granite Stakes, I nominated him for the Granite Stake President and he made a decided success of that Stake of Zion.'
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
135 years ago today - Monday, Dec 23, 1889
[Apostle Abraham H. Cannon]
This is the anniversary of the Prophet Joseph Smith's birthday, and has been set apart as a day of fasting and prayer for all the Saints throughout the Church [to stop the federal crusade against polygamy]. ...
At 10 a.m. met at the Gardo House with Presidents Woodruff, Cannon, and Smith. Apostles John H. Smith, H. J. Grant, and John W. Taylor; Counselors J. W. Young, and D. H. Wells. All but the two latter dressed in their temple robes. We then kneeled down, and commencing with Bro. Wells, each of us prayed until Pres. Woodruff had his turn. Bro. Jos. F. was strongest in his prayer and urged that Baskin should be made blind, deaf and dumb unless he would repent of his wickedness. In this prayer we all kneeled with out [our] faces in.
[Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
This is the anniversary of the Prophet Joseph Smith's birthday, and has been set apart as a day of fasting and prayer for all the Saints throughout the Church [to stop the federal crusade against polygamy]. ...
At 10 a.m. met at the Gardo House with Presidents Woodruff, Cannon, and Smith. Apostles John H. Smith, H. J. Grant, and John W. Taylor; Counselors J. W. Young, and D. H. Wells. All but the two latter dressed in their temple robes. We then kneeled down, and commencing with Bro. Wells, each of us prayed until Pres. Woodruff had his turn. Bro. Jos. F. was strongest in his prayer and urged that Baskin should be made blind, deaf and dumb unless he would repent of his wickedness. In this prayer we all kneeled with out [our] faces in.
[Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
170 years ago today - Dec 23, 1854
[Hosea Stout]
This evening a considerable melee happened at the Theatre between a policeman (Thos Hall) and a soldier in which quite a number of soldiers participated and about as many on our side[.] It commenced immediately after the curtain droped.
The soldier who began it was put in the lock-up. Several attempts were made by soldiers to rescue him which however proved unseccesful and several of them were knocked down but no material injury was done to either side
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
This evening a considerable melee happened at the Theatre between a policeman (Thos Hall) and a soldier in which quite a number of soldiers participated and about as many on our side[.] It commenced immediately after the curtain droped.
The soldier who began it was put in the lock-up. Several attempts were made by soldiers to rescue him which however proved unseccesful and several of them were knocked down but no material injury was done to either side
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
45 years ago today - Dec 22, 1979
The first female LDS missionaries to be murdered are sixty-six-year-old Elizabeth W. King and sixty-five-year-old Jane Ruth Teuchner in North Carolina.
[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 - Dec 22, 1944
[Ezra Taft Benson]
Had long conference with Bro. Geo[rge] F. Richards re. temple work, temple rulings and the importance of the second or higher blessings. I am very grateful that my faithful and devoted wife and I have recently received these rich blessings. I wish more of the Latter-day Saints could receive these blessings. I feel sure there are hundreds who are worthy.
[Ezra Taft Benson diary, Dec. 22, 1944 as quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
Had long conference with Bro. Geo[rge] F. Richards re. temple work, temple rulings and the importance of the second or higher blessings. I am very grateful that my faithful and devoted wife and I have recently received these rich blessings. I wish more of the Latter-day Saints could receive these blessings. I feel sure there are hundreds who are worthy.
[Ezra Taft Benson diary, Dec. 22, 1944 as quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
120 years ago today - Dec 22, 1904; Thursday
[Carl Badger]
James H. Anderson has been telling me a story that for strangeness to moral straightness is a prize one. It began by my observing that these new cases of polygamy should be tried. James says that they should not ... The law of the Church, which is the law of God, is not against polygamy, and the Church will not punish polygamy. If you are forced to do wrong, it is not you who do wrong, but the one who forces you.
Reed [Smoot] received a letter, which I did not see from the Presidency, in answer to the one he sent asking that unlawful cohabitation be given up, in which he was told that he was to leave these things alone.
[Carl A. Badger, Diary]
James H. Anderson has been telling me a story that for strangeness to moral straightness is a prize one. It began by my observing that these new cases of polygamy should be tried. James says that they should not ... The law of the Church, which is the law of God, is not against polygamy, and the Church will not punish polygamy. If you are forced to do wrong, it is not you who do wrong, but the one who forces you.
Reed [Smoot] received a letter, which I did not see from the Presidency, in answer to the one he sent asking that unlawful cohabitation be given up, in which he was told that he was to leave these things alone.
[Carl A. Badger, Diary]
125 years ago today - Dec 22, 1899
Presidents Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith were at the office. The sums of $30 and $100 were appropriated, the former in favor of the St. George [Utah] Indians, and the latter in favor of Lees Ferry.
[Journal History, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
[Journal History, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
125 years ago today - Friday, Dec 22, 1899
[Apostle John Henry Smith]
I bot four sets of Knives and Forks, paid $15.00. Z.C.M.I. gave one hundred tons of coal to the poor as a Christmas present.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
I bot four sets of Knives and Forks, paid $15.00. Z.C.M.I. gave one hundred tons of coal to the poor as a Christmas present.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
140 years ago today - Mon. Dec. 22nd 1884
[General Authority Abraham H. Cannon]
Abram & Geo. Q. go to Ogden to stop & visit Frank (first Utah senator). "Frank was not in the store when we entered but came in soon afterwards, and, judging from his strange actions and the smell of his breath, he had been drinking . . . my confidence in Frank received a severe shock this evening."
[Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
Abram & Geo. Q. go to Ogden to stop & visit Frank (first Utah senator). "Frank was not in the store when we entered but came in soon afterwards, and, judging from his strange actions and the smell of his breath, he had been drinking . . . my confidence in Frank received a severe shock this evening."
[Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
180 years ago today - December 22, 1844. Sunday.
[William Clayton]
[Young reconvenes the Quorum of the Anointed which begins initiating new members into the endowment ceremony]. "Met with the brethren of the first quorum to pray and counsel. My wife and O[rson] Pratts wife, P[arley] P. Pratts wife and A[masa] Lymans wife was voted in [but not endowed]. We have to use the greatest care and caution and dare not let it be known that we meet."
[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; 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]
[Young reconvenes the Quorum of the Anointed which begins initiating new members into the endowment ceremony]. "Met with the brethren of the first quorum to pray and counsel. My wife and O[rson] Pratts wife, P[arley] P. Pratts wife and A[masa] Lymans wife was voted in [but not endowed]. We have to use the greatest care and caution and dare not let it be known that we meet."
[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; 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 - December 22, 1844. Sunday.
[William Clayton]
Met with the brethren of the first quorum to pray and counsel. My wife and O[rson] Pratts wife, P[arley] P. Pratts wife and A[masa] Lymans wife was voted in [but not endowed]. We have to use the greatest care and caution and dare not let it be known that we meet.
[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]
Met with the brethren of the first quorum to pray and counsel. My wife and O[rson] Pratts wife, P[arley] P. Pratts wife and A[masa] Lymans wife was voted in [but not endowed]. We have to use the greatest care and caution and dare not let it be known that we meet.
[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 - December 22, 1844.
Young reconvenes the Quorum of the Anointed which begins initiating new members into the endowment ceremony.
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
195 years ago today - 1829 Dec 22
Palmyra Reflector announces it will start publishing extracts from the Book of Mormon next week
[https://docs.google.com/document/d/10ttN3vOzf2UcVhruCrvDf9pF27T0o0PP0Xj1X98tKBc/edit?fbclid=IwAR3HXLgL-X-M_c5LT2W-_F7AYqsqqaQ0yIhfNuyeFsX85irSPuEO6_Q993A]
[https://docs.google.com/document/d/10ttN3vOzf2UcVhruCrvDf9pF27T0o0PP0Xj1X98tKBc/edit?fbclid=IwAR3HXLgL-X-M_c5LT2W-_F7AYqsqqaQ0yIhfNuyeFsX85irSPuEO6_Q993A]
45 years ago today - Dec 20, 1979-Thursday
[Leonard Arrington]
Today there was a gathering of LDS women scholars to coordinate some of their work relating to women's studies. ... I happened by just as they were gathering to go out to lunch, and thus had an opportunity of meeting for the first time Margaret Woodworth. ... She is obviously very brilliant and analytical. She is also a courageous speaker and conversationalist. ...
Several months ago she had been in contact with Teddy Wood, Sonia Johnson, and other Mormons for ERA. She felt they were misguided; and eventually was invited back to speak to them. Apparently she spoke to them very straightly and candidly. The conversation went on for nearly all night. She was defending the Church's point of view with them, as I understand it. While she was effective and felt good about her presentation, the women went ahead with the program they had already planned on. ...
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
Today there was a gathering of LDS women scholars to coordinate some of their work relating to women's studies. ... I happened by just as they were gathering to go out to lunch, and thus had an opportunity of meeting for the first time Margaret Woodworth. ... She is obviously very brilliant and analytical. She is also a courageous speaker and conversationalist. ...
Several months ago she had been in contact with Teddy Wood, Sonia Johnson, and other Mormons for ERA. She felt they were misguided; and eventually was invited back to speak to them. Apparently she spoke to them very straightly and candidly. The conversation went on for nearly all night. She was defending the Church's point of view with them, as I understand it. While she was effective and felt good about her presentation, the women went ahead with the program they had already planned on. ...
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
110 years ago today - Dec 20, 1914
[President Joseph F. Smith]
....You all know that your fathers are indeed your fathers and that your mothers are indeed your mothers you all know that don't you? You cannot deny it. Now, we are told in scriptures that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God in the flesh. Well, now for the benefit of the older ones, how are children begotten? I answer just as Jesus Christ was begotten of his father. The Christian denominations believe that Christ was begotten not of God but of the spirit that overshadowed his mother. This is nonsense. Why will not the world receive the truth? Why will they not believe the Father when he says that Jesus Christ is His only begotten Son? ...
Now, little boys and girls, when you are confronted by infidels in the world who know nothing of how Christ was begotten, you can say he was born just as the infidel was begotten and born, so was Christ begotten by his Father, who is also our Father-the Father of our spirits-and he was born of his mother Mary.
... Now, my little friends, I will repeat again in words as simple as I can, and you talk to your parents about it, that God, the Eternal Father is literally the father of Jesus Christ.
Mary was married to Joseph for time. No man could take her for eternity because she belonged to the Father of her divine Son.
[1914-December 20-The Box Elder News, January 28, 1915 as quoted in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
....You all know that your fathers are indeed your fathers and that your mothers are indeed your mothers you all know that don't you? You cannot deny it. Now, we are told in scriptures that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God in the flesh. Well, now for the benefit of the older ones, how are children begotten? I answer just as Jesus Christ was begotten of his father. The Christian denominations believe that Christ was begotten not of God but of the spirit that overshadowed his mother. This is nonsense. Why will not the world receive the truth? Why will they not believe the Father when he says that Jesus Christ is His only begotten Son? ...
Now, little boys and girls, when you are confronted by infidels in the world who know nothing of how Christ was begotten, you can say he was born just as the infidel was begotten and born, so was Christ begotten by his Father, who is also our Father-the Father of our spirits-and he was born of his mother Mary.
... Now, my little friends, I will repeat again in words as simple as I can, and you talk to your parents about it, that God, the Eternal Father is literally the father of Jesus Christ.
Mary was married to Joseph for time. No man could take her for eternity because she belonged to the Father of her divine Son.
[1914-December 20-The Box Elder News, January 28, 1915 as quoted in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
120 years ago today - Dec 20, 1904
[Carl A. Badger]
Last night I had a talk with F[ranklin]. S. Richards and asked him to give me a reason why I should not go outside of the Church, if I doubted, disbelieved in things that all orthodox Mormons considered essential. He said he would illustrate his reasons. In 1877 he went on a mission to the Sandwich Islands with Jos[eph]. F. Smith. Up to that time no one had thought that polygamy was not mand[a]tory upon all the Church; one would have lost his standing if he had voiced other sentiments. In 1887 he was here in Washington [D.C.] with Jos[eph]. F. Smith who was on the underground. He thought he must argue before the senate committee that polygamy was not mand[a]tory upon the Church. Jerry Wilson agreed with him; Jos[eph]. F. opposed it strongly; he believed it was mand[a]tory, but Richards got him to consent that the argument be made'it would not hurt the Church anyway. When Richards got home he came near to loosing his fellowship. On the witness stand before the committee in 1904
Pres[ident]. J[oseph]. F. Smith testified that the doctrine never had been mand[a]tory. 'Now why not stay with the Church, there is good here, and truth, and noble men and women. 'I have done more for those who I love by staying with them than I could have done by fighting what I considered their faults.' Richards says that Pres[ident]. Jos[eph]. F. Smith told him recently ... that in the event of the divulgence of the temple ceremony, 'if there was anything in the Church which the Lord desired removed, he hoped he would remove it.'
[Carl A. Badger 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]
Last night I had a talk with F[ranklin]. S. Richards and asked him to give me a reason why I should not go outside of the Church, if I doubted, disbelieved in things that all orthodox Mormons considered essential. He said he would illustrate his reasons. In 1877 he went on a mission to the Sandwich Islands with Jos[eph]. F. Smith. Up to that time no one had thought that polygamy was not mand[a]tory upon all the Church; one would have lost his standing if he had voiced other sentiments. In 1887 he was here in Washington [D.C.] with Jos[eph]. F. Smith who was on the underground. He thought he must argue before the senate committee that polygamy was not mand[a]tory upon the Church. Jerry Wilson agreed with him; Jos[eph]. F. opposed it strongly; he believed it was mand[a]tory, but Richards got him to consent that the argument be made'it would not hurt the Church anyway. When Richards got home he came near to loosing his fellowship. On the witness stand before the committee in 1904
Pres[ident]. J[oseph]. F. Smith testified that the doctrine never had been mand[a]tory. 'Now why not stay with the Church, there is good here, and truth, and noble men and women. 'I have done more for those who I love by staying with them than I could have done by fighting what I considered their faults.' Richards says that Pres[ident]. Jos[eph]. F. Smith told him recently ... that in the event of the divulgence of the temple ceremony, 'if there was anything in the Church which the Lord desired removed, he hoped he would remove it.'
[Carl A. Badger Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
140 years ago today - Dec 20, 1884
[J.D.T. McAllister Diary]
Man disfellowshipped for claiming Revelations
10 A.M. at High Council. preferred a charge against Elder Herman Lascher for unchristian like conduct in presuming to give revelation in the name of the Lord without Authority Prest E. Snow with us. Herman was suspended from the functions of the Priesthood, and disfellowshipped from the Church.
[Diary Excerpts of J.D.T. McAllister, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Man disfellowshipped for claiming Revelations
10 A.M. at High Council. preferred a charge against Elder Herman Lascher for unchristian like conduct in presuming to give revelation in the name of the Lord without Authority Prest E. Snow with us. Herman was suspended from the functions of the Priesthood, and disfellowshipped from the Church.
[Diary Excerpts of J.D.T. McAllister, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
170 years ago today - Dec 20, 1854
Polysophical Society organizes with Apostle Lorenzo Snow as president. Women and men lecture and participate in discussions on equal basis. Brigham Young soon organizes male-dominated Deseret Theological Institute as competition.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
185 years ago today - Dec 20, 1839
[Brigham Young]
I told them that Baptistism, Methodism, Presbyterianism, Quakerism, Shakerism, and every other ism I had studied and learned, for I desired to know the truth, and found I could put all their doctrines, when simmered down to truth, into a snuffbox of the smallest class, put it into my vest pocket and go on my way; but, when I found "Mormonism," I found that it was higher than I could reach with my researches, deeper than I was capable of comprehending, and calculated to expand the mind and lead mankind from truth to truth, from light to light, from grace to grace, and exalt him in the celestial kingdom, to become associated with the Gods and the angels. I bade them goodnight, and went over the hill to Hamilton, and stayed at Brother Murdock's.
[Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844, ed. Elden Jay Watson (Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968).]
I told them that Baptistism, Methodism, Presbyterianism, Quakerism, Shakerism, and every other ism I had studied and learned, for I desired to know the truth, and found I could put all their doctrines, when simmered down to truth, into a snuffbox of the smallest class, put it into my vest pocket and go on my way; but, when I found "Mormonism," I found that it was higher than I could reach with my researches, deeper than I was capable of comprehending, and calculated to expand the mind and lead mankind from truth to truth, from light to light, from grace to grace, and exalt him in the celestial kingdom, to become associated with the Gods and the angels. I bade them goodnight, and went over the hill to Hamilton, and stayed at Brother Murdock's.
[Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844, ed. Elden Jay Watson (Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968).]
70 years ago today - Wednesday, Dec 19, 1954
Shortly after the 1954 publication of Joseph Fielding Smith's Man, His Origin and Destiny, BYU History professor Richard D. Poll and his wife were invited to discuss the book with the author. Knowing that President McKay disagreed strongly with the book, they managed to arrange a meeting with him on the same day. According to the Polls' combined notes, made immediately afterwards, President McKay, "striking the desk for emphasis ... repeated that [Man, His Origin and Destiny] is not the authoritative position of the Church."
[Ben Spackman, "David O. McKay, Genesis, and Evolution: Part 2.", http://www.patheos.com/blogs/benjaminthescribe/2016/08/david-o-mckay-genesis-and-evolution-part-2/; Richard D. Poll, "The Swearing Elders, Some Reflections: A Response to Thomas Blakley, Sunstone Magazine, 10:9, https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/pdf/053-14-17.pdf]
[Ben Spackman, "David O. McKay, Genesis, and Evolution: Part 2.", http://www.patheos.com/blogs/benjaminthescribe/2016/08/david-o-mckay-genesis-and-evolution-part-2/; Richard D. Poll, "The Swearing Elders, Some Reflections: A Response to Thomas Blakley, Sunstone Magazine, 10:9, https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/pdf/053-14-17.pdf]
135 years ago today - Dec 19, 1889
[Apostle John Henry Smith]
The following brethren met in Council: W. Woodruff, J. F. Smith F. D. Richards, H. J. Grant, J. W. Taylor, A. H. Cannon, J. W. Young and myself. We had prayers and Bro. Woodruff had Bro. L.J. Nuttall read a revelation the Lord had given him in which we his servants were told to remain true to our coilors and he would protect his little flock. How happy I am.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
The following brethren met in Council: W. Woodruff, J. F. Smith F. D. Richards, H. J. Grant, J. W. Taylor, A. H. Cannon, J. W. Young and myself. We had prayers and Bro. Woodruff had Bro. L.J. Nuttall read a revelation the Lord had given him in which we his servants were told to remain true to our coilors and he would protect his little flock. How happy I am.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
135 years ago today - Dec 19, 1889
[Apostle Franklin D. Richards]
[Gardo House Council meeting] A revelation received by Pres[iden]t WW on Sunday Nov 24 was read giving to those now first hearing great joy as it did the others who heard when first given.
[Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Gardo House Council meeting] A revelation received by Pres[iden]t WW on Sunday Nov 24 was read giving to those now first hearing great joy as it did the others who heard when first given.
[Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
135 years ago today - Dec 19th, 1889
[Apostle Abraham H. Cannon]
During our meeting a revelation was read which Pres. Woodruff received Sunday evening, Nov. 24th. Propositions had been made for the Church to make some concessions to the Courts in regard to its principles. Both of Pres. Woodruff's counselors refused to advise him as to the course he should pursue, and he therefore laid the matter before the Lord. The answer came quick and strong. The word of the Lord was for us not to yield one particle of that which He had revealed and established. He had done and would continue to care for His work and those of the Saints who were faithful, and we need have no fear of our enemies when we were in the line of our duty. We are promised redemption and deliverance if we will trust in God and not in the arm of flesh. We were admonished to read and study the Word of God, and to pray often. The whole revelation was filled with words of the greatest encouragement and comfort, and my heart was felled with joy and peace during the entire reading. It sets
all doubts at rest concerning the course to pursue.
[Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
During our meeting a revelation was read which Pres. Woodruff received Sunday evening, Nov. 24th. Propositions had been made for the Church to make some concessions to the Courts in regard to its principles. Both of Pres. Woodruff's counselors refused to advise him as to the course he should pursue, and he therefore laid the matter before the Lord. The answer came quick and strong. The word of the Lord was for us not to yield one particle of that which He had revealed and established. He had done and would continue to care for His work and those of the Saints who were faithful, and we need have no fear of our enemies when we were in the line of our duty. We are promised redemption and deliverance if we will trust in God and not in the arm of flesh. We were admonished to read and study the Word of God, and to pray often. The whole revelation was filled with words of the greatest encouragement and comfort, and my heart was felled with joy and peace during the entire reading. It sets
all doubts at rest concerning the course to pursue.
[Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
155 years ago today - Dec 19, 1869 (Sunday)
The "Godbeite Movement" began to take definite shape.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
155 years ago today - Dec 19, 1869
Orson Pratt taught:"By and by an obscure individual ... proclaimed the startling news that God had sent an angel to him ... This young man, some four years afterwards, was visited again by a holy angel."
["Journal of Discourses", Vol.13, pp.65-66 as quoted in A Documented History of Joseph Smith's First Vision, http://beggarsbread.org/2013/04/01/a-documented-history-of-joseph-smiths-first-vision/]
["Journal of Discourses", Vol.13, pp.65-66 as quoted in A Documented History of Joseph Smith's First Vision, http://beggarsbread.org/2013/04/01/a-documented-history-of-joseph-smiths-first-vision/]
155 years ago today - Dec 19, 1869
Orson Pratt taught:"By and by an obscure individual ... proclaimed the startling news that God had sent an angel to him ... This young man, some four years afterwards, was visited again by a holy angel."
["Journal of Discourses", Vol.13, pp.65-66 as quoted in A Documented History of Joseph Smith's First Vision, http://beggarsbread.org/2013/04/01/a-documented-history-of-joseph-smiths-first-vision/]
["Journal of Discourses", Vol.13, pp.65-66 as quoted in A Documented History of Joseph Smith's First Vision, http://beggarsbread.org/2013/04/01/a-documented-history-of-joseph-smiths-first-vision/]
165 years ago today - Dec 19, 1859
[Brigham Young]
said if a man met you with drawn sword, if you throw your sword away, in nine cases out of ten it would bring about reconciliation.
[Brigham Young Office Journals, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.; Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.; New Mormon Studies CD-ROM 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]
said if a man met you with drawn sword, if you throw your sword away, in nine cases out of ten it would bring about reconciliation.
[Brigham Young Office Journals, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.; Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.; New Mormon Studies CD-ROM 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]
180 years ago today - Dec 19, 1844. Thursday.
[William Clayton]
....Read 2 letters from Elder Woodruff to President Young concerning [apostle] W[illia]m Smith and G[eorge] J. Adams showing that they are in opposition to the Twelve and have collected money in the east for the Temple and have used it. There are warrants out for them in N[ew] York and Boston and all seems confusion and sorrow wherever they go.
[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]
....Read 2 letters from Elder Woodruff to President Young concerning [apostle] W[illia]m Smith and G[eorge] J. Adams showing that they are in opposition to the Twelve and have collected money in the east for the Temple and have used it. There are warrants out for them in N[ew] York and Boston and all seems confusion and sorrow wherever they go.
[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]
50 years ago today - Dec 18, 1974-Wednesday
[Leonard Arrington]
In the meeting with the advisors neither Brother Hunter or Brother McConkie brought up the matter of us giving any response to Elder Packer's letter to the First Presidency about our work. ... We are in no sense to regard his suggestions as binding or as causing us to change our policies duly arrived at in the past. This is comforting. I feel that we have the full confidence of both Brother McConkie and Brother Hunter and as long as our division and its work has the united support of Earl and Brother Anderson and as long as we keep Brother Hunter and Brother McConkie reasonably well informed on what we are doing, we will be able to carry out the policies which we have desired and wish continued. ...
President [N. Eldon] Tanner has been working with Brother [Lee] Bickmore on restructuring the organization of the Church in the central level. Specifically they are going to make new committee assignments to representatives of the Quorum of the Twelve and it is their purpose to reduce the administrative responsibilities of the General Authorities. Specifically they will probably reduce the number of advisors from the Quorum of the Twelve on any committee to two and they will probably avoid members of the quorum being administrators of any agency, division or chairman of any committee or department. This will leave them freer to move about the Church counseling, reorganizing and so on. This will also leave time freer in counseling strong department heads, who will be appointed. As a part of this President Tanner has asked Brother Hunter to have us do a historical study of the [organizational structure of the] First Presidency and Twelve in the history of the Church ...
That they are asking us for these historical studies shows confidence and awareness of our work. They have also asked us to do a study of the understanding Church leaders have had about what kind of temples should be built. There is apparently a feeling that the day of building temples as monuments for eternity is at an end. We are spread all over the world and it will be too expensive to build monuments all over. Thought is therefore being given to building endowment rooms where the [liturgical] film will be used in connection with ward chapels, stake centers and nice homes. In that way they would be able to do ordinance work in many parts of the world convenient to the habitations of members without an inordinate expense. ... In connection with Church organization one basic question they want answered is whether the Presiding Bishopric report to the Twelve or to the First Presidency and some suggestion on that will need to be made by whoever does the study.
...This morning coming on the bus I sat with John Talmage who told me a little about management of the Deseret News during the period he was associated with it. Brother Talmage says that in 1934 [1914] when his father [apostle] James E. Talmage became more closely connected with the Deseret News the News literally had twenty-six bosses, all of the General Authorities of the Church. Each one felt free to phone up and tell them what to do both on policy and procedure matters and often did so even to the extent of requiring them to run a picture or article on some relative leaving on a mission or something of that order. Elder Talmage felt that this was a hopeless situation and tried to get it altered. The chief obstacle was President [J. Reuben] Clark who hated newspapers, did not trust them, and wanted to have the right to interfere and make suggestions whenever he wished. Finally sometime between 1934 and 1939 [1937] Albert Bowen of President Clark's law firm was chosen
to be an apostle and was made the contact man among the General Authorities and since that date there has been one General Authority who has been more or less a representative through whom all matters pertaining to the Deseret News were channeled by Church matters. That man today is Gordon Hinckley. Brother Talmage reminisced a little and mentioned the time when President [Charles W.] Penrose as editor of the News wrote an editorial about [J. T.] Goodwin, son of C. C. Goodwin. The editorial went something like this: Many years ago there came a person into our community who was not exactly one of us but who was received well by the community. He enjoyed writing nice things about people and he was regarded as having a particular talent in writing obituaries. He was assigned to write obituaries for many people and people came to have such affection for him that as a term of affection they called him Obituary Goodwin. He reared a son who followed in his footsteps in the newspaper game,
[J. T.] Goodwin, but the son grew up in an atmosphere of anti-Mormonism and hatred for the Mormons and their institutions. The editorial went on, "This son of Obituary Goodwin ..." Brother Talmage regarded that as one of the nicest ways of calling a man a son of a bitch that he had ever read in the Church newspaper.
Brother Talmage mentioned the period when [Ralph] Jordon came in, a kind of apostate Mormon-not a good Mormon at all-free thinking. If a General Authority told him to do something, he would do the opposite twice as strongly. He mentioned [Earl] Hawkes coming in and insisting upon a good strong contract under which he could more or less run the paper the way it should be run but the people kept trying to interfere and use influence and persuasion and finally after some years according to Brother Talmage he caved in and gave up the struggle and more or less did what they asked him to do.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
In the meeting with the advisors neither Brother Hunter or Brother McConkie brought up the matter of us giving any response to Elder Packer's letter to the First Presidency about our work. ... We are in no sense to regard his suggestions as binding or as causing us to change our policies duly arrived at in the past. This is comforting. I feel that we have the full confidence of both Brother McConkie and Brother Hunter and as long as our division and its work has the united support of Earl and Brother Anderson and as long as we keep Brother Hunter and Brother McConkie reasonably well informed on what we are doing, we will be able to carry out the policies which we have desired and wish continued. ...
President [N. Eldon] Tanner has been working with Brother [Lee] Bickmore on restructuring the organization of the Church in the central level. Specifically they are going to make new committee assignments to representatives of the Quorum of the Twelve and it is their purpose to reduce the administrative responsibilities of the General Authorities. Specifically they will probably reduce the number of advisors from the Quorum of the Twelve on any committee to two and they will probably avoid members of the quorum being administrators of any agency, division or chairman of any committee or department. This will leave them freer to move about the Church counseling, reorganizing and so on. This will also leave time freer in counseling strong department heads, who will be appointed. As a part of this President Tanner has asked Brother Hunter to have us do a historical study of the [organizational structure of the] First Presidency and Twelve in the history of the Church ...
That they are asking us for these historical studies shows confidence and awareness of our work. They have also asked us to do a study of the understanding Church leaders have had about what kind of temples should be built. There is apparently a feeling that the day of building temples as monuments for eternity is at an end. We are spread all over the world and it will be too expensive to build monuments all over. Thought is therefore being given to building endowment rooms where the [liturgical] film will be used in connection with ward chapels, stake centers and nice homes. In that way they would be able to do ordinance work in many parts of the world convenient to the habitations of members without an inordinate expense. ... In connection with Church organization one basic question they want answered is whether the Presiding Bishopric report to the Twelve or to the First Presidency and some suggestion on that will need to be made by whoever does the study.
...This morning coming on the bus I sat with John Talmage who told me a little about management of the Deseret News during the period he was associated with it. Brother Talmage says that in 1934 [1914] when his father [apostle] James E. Talmage became more closely connected with the Deseret News the News literally had twenty-six bosses, all of the General Authorities of the Church. Each one felt free to phone up and tell them what to do both on policy and procedure matters and often did so even to the extent of requiring them to run a picture or article on some relative leaving on a mission or something of that order. Elder Talmage felt that this was a hopeless situation and tried to get it altered. The chief obstacle was President [J. Reuben] Clark who hated newspapers, did not trust them, and wanted to have the right to interfere and make suggestions whenever he wished. Finally sometime between 1934 and 1939 [1937] Albert Bowen of President Clark's law firm was chosen
to be an apostle and was made the contact man among the General Authorities and since that date there has been one General Authority who has been more or less a representative through whom all matters pertaining to the Deseret News were channeled by Church matters. That man today is Gordon Hinckley. Brother Talmage reminisced a little and mentioned the time when President [Charles W.] Penrose as editor of the News wrote an editorial about [J. T.] Goodwin, son of C. C. Goodwin. The editorial went something like this: Many years ago there came a person into our community who was not exactly one of us but who was received well by the community. He enjoyed writing nice things about people and he was regarded as having a particular talent in writing obituaries. He was assigned to write obituaries for many people and people came to have such affection for him that as a term of affection they called him Obituary Goodwin. He reared a son who followed in his footsteps in the newspaper game,
[J. T.] Goodwin, but the son grew up in an atmosphere of anti-Mormonism and hatred for the Mormons and their institutions. The editorial went on, "This son of Obituary Goodwin ..." Brother Talmage regarded that as one of the nicest ways of calling a man a son of a bitch that he had ever read in the Church newspaper.
Brother Talmage mentioned the period when [Ralph] Jordon came in, a kind of apostate Mormon-not a good Mormon at all-free thinking. If a General Authority told him to do something, he would do the opposite twice as strongly. He mentioned [Earl] Hawkes coming in and insisting upon a good strong contract under which he could more or less run the paper the way it should be run but the people kept trying to interfere and use influence and persuasion and finally after some years according to Brother Talmage he caved in and gave up the struggle and more or less did what they asked him to do.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
90 years ago today - Dec 18, 1934
[Heber J. Grant and David O. McKay]
1. 'Should a person who is sick be anointed with oil more than once a day?' No.
2. 'If the Elders are called in several times a day during severe illness, what should be the procedure when they have been called to administer to them?' The Elders should bless them by virtue of their Priesthood, but frequent administrations are not necessary.
3. 'Should oil be drunk that has been consecrated; if not, what are the objections?' There is no objection to one who is ill taking consecrated oil internally if he or she desires to do so. The drinking of the oil has no connection whatever with the administration ordinance, however.
4. 'Is it advisable to drink olive oil that has not been consecrated, as a cure or help in sickness?' Olive oil, whether consecrated or not, is generally considered a very good remedy. Many people claim to have avoided surgical operations by drinking olive oil. However, in cases of severe illness one should not drink olive oil except upon the prescription of a physician.
[Heber J. Grant and David O. McKay, Letter to Alfred Fallows, 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]
1. 'Should a person who is sick be anointed with oil more than once a day?' No.
2. 'If the Elders are called in several times a day during severe illness, what should be the procedure when they have been called to administer to them?' The Elders should bless them by virtue of their Priesthood, but frequent administrations are not necessary.
3. 'Should oil be drunk that has been consecrated; if not, what are the objections?' There is no objection to one who is ill taking consecrated oil internally if he or she desires to do so. The drinking of the oil has no connection whatever with the administration ordinance, however.
4. 'Is it advisable to drink olive oil that has not been consecrated, as a cure or help in sickness?' Olive oil, whether consecrated or not, is generally considered a very good remedy. Many people claim to have avoided surgical operations by drinking olive oil. However, in cases of severe illness one should not drink olive oil except upon the prescription of a physician.
[Heber J. Grant and David O. McKay, Letter to Alfred Fallows, 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]
90 years ago today - Dec 18, 1934
In answer to the questions submitted by you in your letter of December 15, we are pleased to give you the following information:
1. 'Should a person who is sick be anointed with oil more than once a day?' No.
2. 'If the Elders are called in several times a day during severe illness, what should be the procedure when they have been called to administer to them?' The Elders should bless them by virtue of their Priesthood, but frequent administrations are not necessary.
3. 'Should oil be drunk that has been consecrated; if not, what are the objections?' There is no objection to one who is ill taking consecrated oil internally if he or she desires to do so. The drinking of the oil has no connection whatever with the administration ordinance, however.
4. 'Is it advisable to drink olive oil that has not been consecrated, as a cure or help in sickness?' Olive oil, whether consecrated or not, is generally considered a very good remedy. Many people claim to have avoided surgical operations by drinking olive oil. However, in cases of severe illness one should not drink olive oil except upon the prescription of a physician.
[Heber J. Grant and David O. McKay, Letter to Alfred Fallows, 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]
1. 'Should a person who is sick be anointed with oil more than once a day?' No.
2. 'If the Elders are called in several times a day during severe illness, what should be the procedure when they have been called to administer to them?' The Elders should bless them by virtue of their Priesthood, but frequent administrations are not necessary.
3. 'Should oil be drunk that has been consecrated; if not, what are the objections?' There is no objection to one who is ill taking consecrated oil internally if he or she desires to do so. The drinking of the oil has no connection whatever with the administration ordinance, however.
4. 'Is it advisable to drink olive oil that has not been consecrated, as a cure or help in sickness?' Olive oil, whether consecrated or not, is generally considered a very good remedy. Many people claim to have avoided surgical operations by drinking olive oil. However, in cases of severe illness one should not drink olive oil except upon the prescription of a physician.
[Heber J. Grant and David O. McKay, Letter to Alfred Fallows, 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]
120 years ago today - Dec 18, 1904
[Carl A. Badger]
I just told the Senator [Reed Smoot] that I was discouraged with the Church leaders, and that unless something was done I did not know what the effect would be upon the young people'that is, something must be done with those who have violated the pledge against the taking of new wives. The Senator answered, 'Nothing will be done; I believe they were authorized to take the wives.'
[Carl A. Badger 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]
I just told the Senator [Reed Smoot] that I was discouraged with the Church leaders, and that unless something was done I did not know what the effect would be upon the young people'that is, something must be done with those who have violated the pledge against the taking of new wives. The Senator answered, 'Nothing will be done; I believe they were authorized to take the wives.'
[Carl A. Badger Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
135 years ago today - Dec 18, 1889 (Wednesday)
Judge Zane denied the People's Party [of the church] mandamus against the Salt Lake City registrars, some of whom were charged with crooked work in their official capacity, calculated to harm the People's Party and favor the Liberals at the approaching election.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
20 years ago today - Dec 17, 2004
ACLU submits its appellants' reply brief to the Tenth Circuit Court. Oral arguments are scheduled for May 4, 2005.
[The Main Street Plaza Time Line: http://www.mormonlawyers.com/2008/07/main-st-plaza-mormons-1-aclu-0.html]
[The Main Street Plaza Time Line: http://www.mormonlawyers.com/2008/07/main-st-plaza-mormons-1-aclu-0.html]
40 years ago today - Dec 17, 1984
David Fowers at age 19 is the youngest presidential elector in U.S. history to vote in the Electoral College election of the U.S. president.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
45 years ago today - Dec 17, 1979-Monday
[Leonard Arrington]
Glen Taggart... asked me how the General Authorities looked upon some of our history writing endeavors, and then made some comments about Elder [Ezra Taft] Benson. He had been an employee of the [US] Department of Agriculture during all of the years that Elder Benson was Secretary of Agriculture [1953-61]. ... When I reported to him that Elder Benson took a dim view of our analytical history, believing history ought to help sell the cause of Mormonism, President Taggart said that that was consistent with his management of the Department of Agriculture. Under his administration they cut down on the research in the Department of Agriculture quite drastically. They not only cut down the research by the staff but also cut down the appropriations for research ... President Taggart also said that when the question first arose as to trying Sonia Johnson for her membership, about a year ago, Gordon Hinckley advised that under no circumstances should they try her for her ERA activities.
They must get her on a point of doctrine or something similar. [[Hinckley told the Historical Department during their annual Christmas devo- tional two days later: "We are standing for what those whom we sustain as prophets have said is right. We may have been inept-and I think we have been in many ways-in stating our case. We've been clumsy, and some others have been clumsy. But that clumsiness hasn't come of anything but honesty, I believe. ... That's the way it should be. There could be no more vocal recognition by the powers of darkness of the divinity of this work. This is what we can expect for the Lord's work. The Adversary will oppose it by every means available to him, and he has some very powerful means available to him." Arrington's notes of this address were placed in the diary at Dec. 13, 1979.]]
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
Glen Taggart... asked me how the General Authorities looked upon some of our history writing endeavors, and then made some comments about Elder [Ezra Taft] Benson. He had been an employee of the [US] Department of Agriculture during all of the years that Elder Benson was Secretary of Agriculture [1953-61]. ... When I reported to him that Elder Benson took a dim view of our analytical history, believing history ought to help sell the cause of Mormonism, President Taggart said that that was consistent with his management of the Department of Agriculture. Under his administration they cut down on the research in the Department of Agriculture quite drastically. They not only cut down the research by the staff but also cut down the appropriations for research ... President Taggart also said that when the question first arose as to trying Sonia Johnson for her membership, about a year ago, Gordon Hinckley advised that under no circumstances should they try her for her ERA activities.
They must get her on a point of doctrine or something similar. [[Hinckley told the Historical Department during their annual Christmas devo- tional two days later: "We are standing for what those whom we sustain as prophets have said is right. We may have been inept-and I think we have been in many ways-in stating our case. We've been clumsy, and some others have been clumsy. But that clumsiness hasn't come of anything but honesty, I believe. ... That's the way it should be. There could be no more vocal recognition by the powers of darkness of the divinity of this work. This is what we can expect for the Lord's work. The Adversary will oppose it by every means available to him, and he has some very powerful means available to him." Arrington's notes of this address were placed in the diary at Dec. 13, 1979.]]
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
50 years ago today - Dec 17, 1974-Tuesday
[Leonard Arrington]
.... Maureen [Beecher] received a letter of appointment as a writer for the instructional development group in the Church. The letter indicated this was a Church service position. She was to resign all other Church positions and it was signed by Bruce McConkie, Boyd Packer, Marvin Ashton, and Tom Monson. Maureen is now a Sunday school teacher with her husband Dale [Beecher] in her ward. We were all delighted with this appointment.
Later during the morning I learned that a condition had been attached. This was apparently passed on from Bruce McConkie to Earl Olson and from Earl Olson to me. This condition was that she not publish any articles in Dialogue or Woman's Exponent II or be involved or associated with them in any official capacity during the period of her appointment, which is "indefinite." The indefinite appointment suggests that she may be asked to write other manuals in addition to the Relief Society manual which she is to direct for the coming year.
Under the appointment she is to write a series of lessons about outstanding historical Relief Society personalities. This first draft is to be finished by May and the complete work is to be finished by September. At that time she may or may not be released from the group. I told Earl that I was sure Maureen would comply with the requirement. Maureen, of course, has had her article on Eliza R. Snow as an enigma accepted by Dialogue and they had planned to publish it in the next issue. She was pleased that it was to be published there. However, she telephoned Bob Rees and asked him to withdraw it. ... The most peculiar thing is that all members of the Twelve [Apostles] had signed her appointment before she had made any commitment in regard to Dialogue and Exponent II.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
.... Maureen [Beecher] received a letter of appointment as a writer for the instructional development group in the Church. The letter indicated this was a Church service position. She was to resign all other Church positions and it was signed by Bruce McConkie, Boyd Packer, Marvin Ashton, and Tom Monson. Maureen is now a Sunday school teacher with her husband Dale [Beecher] in her ward. We were all delighted with this appointment.
Later during the morning I learned that a condition had been attached. This was apparently passed on from Bruce McConkie to Earl Olson and from Earl Olson to me. This condition was that she not publish any articles in Dialogue or Woman's Exponent II or be involved or associated with them in any official capacity during the period of her appointment, which is "indefinite." The indefinite appointment suggests that she may be asked to write other manuals in addition to the Relief Society manual which she is to direct for the coming year.
Under the appointment she is to write a series of lessons about outstanding historical Relief Society personalities. This first draft is to be finished by May and the complete work is to be finished by September. At that time she may or may not be released from the group. I told Earl that I was sure Maureen would comply with the requirement. Maureen, of course, has had her article on Eliza R. Snow as an enigma accepted by Dialogue and they had planned to publish it in the next issue. She was pleased that it was to be published there. However, she telephoned Bob Rees and asked him to withdraw it. ... The most peculiar thing is that all members of the Twelve [Apostles] had signed her appointment before she had made any commitment in regard to Dialogue and Exponent II.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
90 years ago today - Dec 17, 1934
In response to your request, I am pleased to furnish the following explanation:
The Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a corporation sole, organized under the laws of the State of Utah for religious and charitable purposes. The President of the Church is the corporation. It has no Board of Directors nor other officers. Since my official position as President of the Church constitutes me the Corporation of the President, I am therefore fully empowered to conduct the business of the Corporation, which includes depositing funds at any bank and withdrawing same by check or order.
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to W. H. Hayne, 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]
The Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a corporation sole, organized under the laws of the State of Utah for religious and charitable purposes. The President of the Church is the corporation. It has no Board of Directors nor other officers. Since my official position as President of the Church constitutes me the Corporation of the President, I am therefore fully empowered to conduct the business of the Corporation, which includes depositing funds at any bank and withdrawing same by check or order.
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to W. H. Hayne, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
110 years ago today - Dec 17, 1914; Thursday
While in Rexburg [Idaho], Bro[ther]. Whitney said, a young couple called to see him named Bergner. The young woman had been a plural wife of Bro[ther]. [former apostle] M[atthias]. F. Cowley, whom he married in 1905, the result of this union being one child. She had since left Bro[ther]. Cowley and married Bergner. They told Bro[ther]. Whitney that Bro[ther]. Cowley had spoken to Pres[iden]t. Austin, asking him to see that this child was baptized in his own name, that of Cowley and not Bergner, but Bro[ther]. and Sister Bergner wanted the name of the child changed, and in fact they had had him baptized under the name of Bergner and confirmed under that name, he having been baptized in one ward and confirmed in another. Bro[ther]. Whitney said he told them he could not give any council regard to this matter.
President Smith now raised the question of the right of Bro[ther]. M[atthias]. F. Cowley to claim Sister Bergner's child, she not having been sealed to him by the authority of the Church.
On motion of Bro[ther]. Joseph F[ielding]. Smith Jr., seconded by Bro[ther]. Talmage, the council sustained the claim of the mother, that the child belonged to her, and that she therefore had the right to call it after her name. ....
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
President Smith now raised the question of the right of Bro[ther]. M[atthias]. F. Cowley to claim Sister Bergner's child, she not having been sealed to him by the authority of the Church.
On motion of Bro[ther]. Joseph F[ielding]. Smith Jr., seconded by Bro[ther]. Talmage, the council sustained the claim of the mother, that the child belonged to her, and that she therefore had the right to call it after her name. ....
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
135 years ago today - Dec 17, 1889
[President Wilford Woodruff]
The whole City Country & Nation is stired up & moved to Destroy the Latter Day Saints.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
The whole City Country & Nation is stired up & moved to Destroy the Latter Day Saints.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
135 years ago today - Dec 17, 1889
Apostle H[eber]. J. Grant submitted the propriety of the leading businessmen of our city signing a resolution approving the Manifesto or the Official Declaration [regarding blood atonement] of the First Presidency and Twelve, and that this be done soon. This was approved and Brother Grant was requested to see that the matter is gotten into shape and attended to without delay. It was also suggested that the People's party manager get up their meetings and pass suitable resolutions as suggested at a previous meeting by Brother J. W. Pike, and that the mass meetings of the citizens on this same subject should be held.
[First Presidency 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]
[First Presidency 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]
140 years ago today - Wednesday, Dec 17, 1884
[Apostle John Henry Smith]
Bern, Switzerland
Pleasant. I found Bros. Schoenfeld, J. A. Smith and several other brethren at the office well. I wrote letters to both of my wives. I visited the Swiss Congress and enjoyed myself very much.
[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]
Bern, Switzerland
Pleasant. I found Bros. Schoenfeld, J. A. Smith and several other brethren at the office well. I wrote letters to both of my wives. I visited the Swiss Congress and enjoyed myself very much.
[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]
170 years ago today - Dec 17, 1854
[Wilford Woodruff]
I met with the presidency & Twelve in an upper room in President Young office. The room was dedicated for prayer & the sick prayed for & oil consecrated.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I met with the presidency & Twelve in an upper room in President Young office. The room was dedicated for prayer & the sick prayed for & oil consecrated.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
60 years ago today - Dec 16, 1964
Reed Benson becomes John Birch Society coordinater of washington D.C.
["Utahn Heads Birch Office in Capital," Deseret News, 16 Dec. 1964, A-13. From D. Michael Quinn, Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992), also in Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3.]
["Utahn Heads Birch Office in Capital," Deseret News, 16 Dec. 1964, A-13. From D. Michael Quinn, Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992), also in Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3.]
80 years ago today - Dec 16, 1944
A Deseret News Church Section article from New Orleans: "Negro Members of The Church Display Great Faith."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
115 years ago today - Dec 16, 1909; Thursday
[George F. Gibbs to Bishop Lorin Merrill]
[S]hould another such case arise in your ward, or come within your personal knowledge, they hope you will be emphatic in warning against it, in the understanding that there can be but the one way of dealing with such a violation of the action of the Church on the question under consideration, namely, contraction of plural marriages, and that is excommunication.
[George F. Gibbs, letter to Bishop Lorin A. Merrill, Kenney Papers, original in LDS Archives]
[S]hould another such case arise in your ward, or come within your personal knowledge, they hope you will be emphatic in warning against it, in the understanding that there can be but the one way of dealing with such a violation of the action of the Church on the question under consideration, namely, contraction of plural marriages, and that is excommunication.
[George F. Gibbs, letter to Bishop Lorin A. Merrill, Kenney Papers, original in LDS Archives]
130 years ago today - Dec 16, 1894
[Patriarchal Blessing of Samuel RosKelley by James G. Willie]
.... thou art of Ephriam through the loins of ElKanah, and Ephrathite, and of Samuel his son. And inasmuch as thy great grogenitor [progenitor] was called upon to administer unto the Great High Priest so that great influence which he enjoyed to administer unto the Holy of the Holies and wait upon Eli the great High Priest and became great and mighty in the things of God, that has descended unto thee for his blood permeates in thy veins. ... the Lord will bless thy progenitors, they have a watchful eye over thee, and the day will come, and that not very long, when your progenitors will visit you, when they will reveal unto thee the full links of thy ancestry, according to the geneology [genealogy] of the Priesthood as it has been handed down from the days of Adam. And those eho have not had the opportunities that you and I have had to live in this great gospel day, they shall be redeemed, they shalt stand forth upon Mount Zion as a Saviour, of the true and living God. ... for thy
eyes shall sparkle as living diamonds, that every power within its grasp shall fall before thee. ... and some must "bite the dust" and lay down their lives for the testimony of Jesus Christ as they have done in ancient days. ...
.... thou art of Ephriam through the loins of ElKanah, and Ephrathite, and of Samuel his son. And inasmuch as thy great grogenitor [progenitor] was called upon to administer unto the Great High Priest so that great influence which he enjoyed to administer unto the Holy of the Holies and wait upon Eli the great High Priest and became great and mighty in the things of God, that has descended unto thee for his blood permeates in thy veins. ... the Lord will bless thy progenitors, they have a watchful eye over thee, and the day will come, and that not very long, when your progenitors will visit you, when they will reveal unto thee the full links of thy ancestry, according to the geneology [genealogy] of the Priesthood as it has been handed down from the days of Adam. And those eho have not had the opportunities that you and I have had to live in this great gospel day, they shall be redeemed, they shalt stand forth upon Mount Zion as a Saviour, of the true and living God. ... for thy
eyes shall sparkle as living diamonds, that every power within its grasp shall fall before thee. ... and some must "bite the dust" and lay down their lives for the testimony of Jesus Christ as they have done in ancient days. ...
145 years ago today - Dec 16, 1879
obtained my Second Anointings Sept. 23, 1867 at 9 a.m. also my wife Elizabeth.
"Adam-ondi-Ahman" The Valley of God where Adam dwelt- so say O Pratt Sr Oct/80
[Loose papers at end of book on inside back cover:]
Pres Taylor said I heard Jan 13/80
Joseph Smith say that Adam was the Ancient of Days spoken of by Daniel ... you do not give up your priesthood Adam heard the voice of the Lord walking in the garden. Adam had a God then...
Cain heard the voice of the Lord who enquired after Abel-
referred to Peter Jas & John conferring the Mel Prt on Jos Smith Moses who conferred the spirit of gathering - Elijah the sealing of the fathers & when we get to God our Father we are told to approach him in the name of Jesus Adam is the father of our bodies who is to say he is not the Father of our spirits.
Present Pres Taylor CCR. F. D. R. & W L Johnson Jr.
[L. John Nuttal Papers; BYU Special Collections, Mss 188, Container #1, File Folder #1, Red book with gold lining, front and back covers, with the title "Records" on front cover in gold. 19.5 cm x 12.5 cm, 240 pages, Thursday June 19, 1879-Tuesday December 16, 1879 : journal [Inside front cover fly leaf: Not in BYU Typescript of Diaries:] as quoted in "Quotations Dealing with the Relationship of Our First Earthy Parents to Our Heavenly Parents (1830-1978)"]
"Adam-ondi-Ahman" The Valley of God where Adam dwelt- so say O Pratt Sr Oct/80
[Loose papers at end of book on inside back cover:]
Pres Taylor said I heard Jan 13/80
Joseph Smith say that Adam was the Ancient of Days spoken of by Daniel ... you do not give up your priesthood Adam heard the voice of the Lord walking in the garden. Adam had a God then...
Cain heard the voice of the Lord who enquired after Abel-
referred to Peter Jas & John conferring the Mel Prt on Jos Smith Moses who conferred the spirit of gathering - Elijah the sealing of the fathers & when we get to God our Father we are told to approach him in the name of Jesus Adam is the father of our bodies who is to say he is not the Father of our spirits.
Present Pres Taylor CCR. F. D. R. & W L Johnson Jr.
[L. John Nuttal Papers; BYU Special Collections, Mss 188, Container #1, File Folder #1, Red book with gold lining, front and back covers, with the title "Records" on front cover in gold. 19.5 cm x 12.5 cm, 240 pages, Thursday June 19, 1879-Tuesday December 16, 1879 : journal [Inside front cover fly leaf: Not in BYU Typescript of Diaries:] as quoted in "Quotations Dealing with the Relationship of Our First Earthy Parents to Our Heavenly Parents (1830-1978)"]
145 years ago today - Dec 16, 1879
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff]
I dreamed at night that President Taylor was sealing all in the Church Plural marriages to them that wished it. We met in the Council of the 12. I thought the glory of God rested upon us and we done all our work openly and the government had no power over us and we rejoiced together.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I dreamed at night that President Taylor was sealing all in the Church Plural marriages to them that wished it. We met in the Council of the 12. I thought the glory of God rested upon us and we done all our work openly and the government had no power over us and we rejoiced together.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
170 years ago today - Dec 16, 1854
[Hosea Stout]
Met with the Regents in the evening Subject the New [Deseret] Alphabet which is now becoming a subject of interest in the primary schools in the Territory
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
Met with the Regents in the evening Subject the New [Deseret] Alphabet which is now becoming a subject of interest in the primary schools in the Territory
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
60 years ago today - Dec 14, 1964
[Ezra Taft Benson]
Regarding his father's mission call to Europe, at a church farewell on December 14, 1964 Reed Benson complained that his father had been "`stabbed' in the back." The Twelve's president was present to hear the younger Benson's remark that his father's mission call was a back-stab.
Nine days later, Joseph Fielding Smith wrote: "I am glad to report to you that it will be some time before we hear anything from Brother Benson, who is now on his way to Great Britain where I suppose he will be, at least for the next two years.
[Quinn, D. Michael; Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought]
Regarding his father's mission call to Europe, at a church farewell on December 14, 1964 Reed Benson complained that his father had been "`stabbed' in the back." The Twelve's president was present to hear the younger Benson's remark that his father's mission call was a back-stab.
Nine days later, Joseph Fielding Smith wrote: "I am glad to report to you that it will be some time before we hear anything from Brother Benson, who is now on his way to Great Britain where I suppose he will be, at least for the next two years.
[Quinn, D. Michael; Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought]
85 years ago today - Dec 14, 1939
[President Heber J. Grant]
I made up my mind, after talking to a number of the Brethren yesterday, to recommend at our meeting today that Sister May Green Hinckley be made Superintendent of the Primary Association General Board. I called and saw Brother B.S. Hinckley and told him what I was going to do. I called up his wife and congratulated her, and then I called and told May Anderson, Superintendent of the Primary, that we had decided upon Sister Hinckley. I had a telephone message from J. Reuben Clark, Jr. He gave his endorsement of Sister Hinckley. Brother David O. McKay called me last night on the telephone. I had called him from the office telling him I was in favor of Sister Hinckley and he said, 'I think you are making a mistake. She is not well enough educated for that important position.' When I got home he called and said, 'I am a hundred per cent for Sister Hinckley. I got the wrong Hinckley in mind.' I was very glad indeed to have this endorsement. Sister Anderson was very much pleased with the
selection of Sister Hinckley.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I made up my mind, after talking to a number of the Brethren yesterday, to recommend at our meeting today that Sister May Green Hinckley be made Superintendent of the Primary Association General Board. I called and saw Brother B.S. Hinckley and told him what I was going to do. I called up his wife and congratulated her, and then I called and told May Anderson, Superintendent of the Primary, that we had decided upon Sister Hinckley. I had a telephone message from J. Reuben Clark, Jr. He gave his endorsement of Sister Hinckley. Brother David O. McKay called me last night on the telephone. I had called him from the office telling him I was in favor of Sister Hinckley and he said, 'I think you are making a mistake. She is not well enough educated for that important position.' When I got home he called and said, 'I am a hundred per cent for Sister Hinckley. I got the wrong Hinckley in mind.' I was very glad indeed to have this endorsement. Sister Anderson was very much pleased with the
selection of Sister Hinckley.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
115 years ago today - Dec 14, 1909; Tuesday
[George F. Richards]
I had a private conversation with Pres[ident]. Francis M. Lyman in which I expressed the thought that it would be well for members of our Council of Twelve who have but one living wife to have some good dead women sealed to them while they are here and can look after their own interests as I have done, and perhaps Pres[ident]. Lyman could present it to these members in a way that they would take no offense. I would have my brethren avoid the disappointments which must follow neglect of opportunity.
[George F. Richards, Diary]
I had a private conversation with Pres[ident]. Francis M. Lyman in which I expressed the thought that it would be well for members of our Council of Twelve who have but one living wife to have some good dead women sealed to them while they are here and can look after their own interests as I have done, and perhaps Pres[ident]. Lyman could present it to these members in a way that they would take no offense. I would have my brethren avoid the disappointments which must follow neglect of opportunity.
[George F. Richards, Diary]
125 years ago today - Dec 14, 1899
Brothers J. G[olden]. Kimball and J[oseph]. W. McMurrin, of the First Council of Seventies, having been invited to go into business for the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, with which concern their associate, Elder Rulon S. Wells, was already engaged under permission of the First Presidency, given last April, they now desired to know the mind of the Presidency upon their own case.
Brother Grant remarked that he could see no reason why they should not be left at liberty to enter into such an engagement. He also said that he felt there was an excellent opportunity to establish a Home Life Insurance Company among ourselves, and he heartily favored such an institution.
President Snow invited the brethren to express themselves on this subject, whereupon President Cannon said that he was against life insurance as a general proposition, but that he would favor a local organization. He could foresee, however, that if the Church were to engage in anything of that kind, it would invite attacks upon it by its opponents.
Brother Grant suggested that individual names might be used in behalf of the Church. He showed how money could be made in the business, stating that he himself had made as much as $1500 in three days. He would take delight in canvassing for a Church institution, free of charge. He showed that the risks among our people, who were more moral than others, would not be so great as those that other companies carried. Moreover, it would have the effect of keeping money at home.
Brother John W. Taylor reminded the Council that the only thing which induced our people to join secret organizations was to get the benefit of reduced rates of life insurance; and Brother Grant remarked that his brother, B[enjamin]. F. Grant, had told him that from personal experience he knew of nothing so potent as an influence to wean away the feelings and destroy the faith of our young men, as membership in these secret organizations.
President Snow observed that as this was a new idea to the Council, he thought each member might ponder it over for himself and discuss it further at some other time.
Meantime, it was asked, what should be done with the request of Brother Kimball and Brother McMurrin. Brother Grant moved that a committee be appointed to consider the question of the Church going into the business of life insurance, and that these brethren wait for an answer until that committee had reported. The motion was seconded by Brother Clawson and carried. President Snow then named Joseph F. Smith, Francis H. Lyman, John Henry Smith, Heber J. Grant, and Anthon H. Lund as the committee. ...
[Journal History, 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]
Brother Grant remarked that he could see no reason why they should not be left at liberty to enter into such an engagement. He also said that he felt there was an excellent opportunity to establish a Home Life Insurance Company among ourselves, and he heartily favored such an institution.
President Snow invited the brethren to express themselves on this subject, whereupon President Cannon said that he was against life insurance as a general proposition, but that he would favor a local organization. He could foresee, however, that if the Church were to engage in anything of that kind, it would invite attacks upon it by its opponents.
Brother Grant suggested that individual names might be used in behalf of the Church. He showed how money could be made in the business, stating that he himself had made as much as $1500 in three days. He would take delight in canvassing for a Church institution, free of charge. He showed that the risks among our people, who were more moral than others, would not be so great as those that other companies carried. Moreover, it would have the effect of keeping money at home.
Brother John W. Taylor reminded the Council that the only thing which induced our people to join secret organizations was to get the benefit of reduced rates of life insurance; and Brother Grant remarked that his brother, B[enjamin]. F. Grant, had told him that from personal experience he knew of nothing so potent as an influence to wean away the feelings and destroy the faith of our young men, as membership in these secret organizations.
President Snow observed that as this was a new idea to the Council, he thought each member might ponder it over for himself and discuss it further at some other time.
Meantime, it was asked, what should be done with the request of Brother Kimball and Brother McMurrin. Brother Grant moved that a committee be appointed to consider the question of the Church going into the business of life insurance, and that these brethren wait for an answer until that committee had reported. The motion was seconded by Brother Clawson and carried. President Snow then named Joseph F. Smith, Francis H. Lyman, John Henry Smith, Heber J. Grant, and Anthon H. Lund as the committee. ...
[Journal History, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
135 years ago today - Dec 14, 1889
[First Presidency Office Journal]
A brief synopsis of the Manifesto [regarding blood atonement] of the First Presidency and Twelve was published in the Salt Lake Herald this morning. Upon which brother W. B. Dougall called and thought it would now be proper to have the whole Manifesto published in the Deseret News and Salt Lake Herald. President [George Q.] Cannon gave instructions to send the Manifesto for publication. It was handed to Brother C[harles]. W. Penrose who called.
[First Presidency 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]
A brief synopsis of the Manifesto [regarding blood atonement] of the First Presidency and Twelve was published in the Salt Lake Herald this morning. Upon which brother W. B. Dougall called and thought it would now be proper to have the whole Manifesto published in the Deseret News and Salt Lake Herald. President [George Q.] Cannon gave instructions to send the Manifesto for publication. It was handed to Brother C[harles]. W. Penrose who called.
[First Presidency 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]
140 years ago today - Dec 14, 1884
George Q. Cannon preaches, "Now I have heard that there are men among us who are professing to cure witchcraft and other evils of that kind... Do not seek for those who have peepstones, for soothsayers, and for those who profess to be able to counter-act the influence of witchcraft." Faithful Mormons continue using counter-charms.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
50 years ago today - Dec 12, 1974-Thursday
[Leonard Arrington]
.... Truman Madsen, who is a grandson of Heber J. Grant, mentioned two things about Edwin D. Woolley. Edwin D. Woolley was bishop of the ward in which President Grant grew up. Apparently Bishop Woolley said that Heber J. Grant was a lazy good-for-nothing. Heber J. reacted so strongly against this that he promptly went to work and built a nice home for his mother and in other ways demonstrated his energy and industry. Truman's comment was that Bishop Woolley may have been a superb psychologist and this may have been his way of getting Heber J. to wake up and make a man of himself.
Truman also mentioned that ... [16 or 17-year old B. H.] Roberts was apparently not active in going to church and maybe displayed some other characteristics as drinking and/or smoking and/or swearing as the result of his experience with miners. Bishop Woolley did not like this and so either through the teachers quorum or on his own authority he excommunicated B. H. Roberts. This was in Roberts' absence. Roberts' first reaction, according to Truman, was "well, so what?" but the more he thought of it the more seriously he took this as a challenge. He went back to Bishop Woolley and protested vehemently. He demanded a hearing. At the hearing he confessed his wrongs and promised to do better, and so he was reinstated by Bishop Woolley. This was a basic point in his life and from then on he was a loyal churchman. ... Again Truman posits that this may have been Bishop Woolley's psychology at work. ...
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
.... Truman Madsen, who is a grandson of Heber J. Grant, mentioned two things about Edwin D. Woolley. Edwin D. Woolley was bishop of the ward in which President Grant grew up. Apparently Bishop Woolley said that Heber J. Grant was a lazy good-for-nothing. Heber J. reacted so strongly against this that he promptly went to work and built a nice home for his mother and in other ways demonstrated his energy and industry. Truman's comment was that Bishop Woolley may have been a superb psychologist and this may have been his way of getting Heber J. to wake up and make a man of himself.
Truman also mentioned that ... [16 or 17-year old B. H.] Roberts was apparently not active in going to church and maybe displayed some other characteristics as drinking and/or smoking and/or swearing as the result of his experience with miners. Bishop Woolley did not like this and so either through the teachers quorum or on his own authority he excommunicated B. H. Roberts. This was in Roberts' absence. Roberts' first reaction, according to Truman, was "well, so what?" but the more he thought of it the more seriously he took this as a challenge. He went back to Bishop Woolley and protested vehemently. He demanded a hearing. At the hearing he confessed his wrongs and promised to do better, and so he was reinstated by Bishop Woolley. This was a basic point in his life and from then on he was a loyal churchman. ... Again Truman posits that this may have been Bishop Woolley's psychology at work. ...
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
90 years ago today - Dec 12, 1934
[David O. McKay]
.... As President Grant is in the East attending to the organization of a Stake in New York, I am taking the liberty of answering the question you propound in your letter, namely: 'In the event of the death of a President of a Temple does the power and authority delegated to him pass to his successor without special confirmation by the President of the Church?' The answer is no. The Authority is given to the individual and not to the office.
[David O. McKay, Letter to B.E. Tilby, 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]
.... As President Grant is in the East attending to the organization of a Stake in New York, I am taking the liberty of answering the question you propound in your letter, namely: 'In the event of the death of a President of a Temple does the power and authority delegated to him pass to his successor without special confirmation by the President of the Church?' The answer is no. The Authority is given to the individual and not to the office.
[David O. McKay, Letter to B.E. Tilby, 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 - Dec 12, 1899
[Post-Manifesto plural marriage]
Alvin David Nelson, born at St. Thomas, Nevada, July 7, 1867
Elsinor Johnson, born at Johnson, Utah, May 3, 1878
Married at Colonia Oaxaca, December 12, 1899, Abraham Owen Woodruff officiating
Sixtus E. Johnson and Frank Scott, witnesses
[Stanley Ivins typewritten copy of Anthony Ivins "Record Book of Marriages" [Plural] performed in Mexican colonies, Anderson, Elizabeth Oberdick, editor, Cowboy Apostle: The Diaries of Anthony W. Ivins: 1875-1932, Signature Books, Salt Lake City in association with the Smith-Pettit Foundation (2013), Appendix A]
Alvin David Nelson, born at St. Thomas, Nevada, July 7, 1867
Elsinor Johnson, born at Johnson, Utah, May 3, 1878
Married at Colonia Oaxaca, December 12, 1899, Abraham Owen Woodruff officiating
Sixtus E. Johnson and Frank Scott, witnesses
[Stanley Ivins typewritten copy of Anthony Ivins "Record Book of Marriages" [Plural] performed in Mexican colonies, Anderson, Elizabeth Oberdick, editor, Cowboy Apostle: The Diaries of Anthony W. Ivins: 1875-1932, Signature Books, Salt Lake City in association with the Smith-Pettit Foundation (2013), Appendix A]
135 years ago today - Dec 12, 1889
Official declaration of Church on "Blood Atonement" Capital Punishment, Civil Liberty, Loyalty to the Government of the United States--...
OFFICIAL DECLARATION. Salt Lake City, December 12th, 1889. TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
In consequences of gross misrepresentations of the doctrines, aims and practices of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly called the "Mormon" Church, which have been promulgated for years, and have recently been revived for political purposes and to prevent all aliens, otherwise qualified, who are members of the "Mormon" Church for acquiring citizenship, we deem it proper on behalf of said Church to publicly deny these calumnies and enter our protest against them.
We solemnly make the following declarations, viz:
That this Church views the shedding of human blood with the utmost abhorrence. That we regard the killing of a human being, except in conformity with the civil law, as a capital crime which should be punished by shedding the blood of the criminal, after a public trial before a legally constituted court of the land.
Notwithstanding all the stories told about the killing of apostates, no case of this kind has ever occurred, and of course has never been established against the Church we represent. Hundreds of seceders from the church have continuously resided and now live in this Territory, many of whom have amassed considerable wealth, though bitterly hostile to the "Mormon" faith and people. Even those who have made it their business to fabricate the vilest falsehoods, and to render them plausible by culling isolated passages from old sermons without the explanatory context, and have suffered no opportunity to escape them of vilifying and blackening the characters of the people, have remained among those whom they have thus persistently calumniated until the present day, without receiving the slightest personal injury.
We denounce as entirely untrue the allegation which has been made, that our Church favors or believes in the killing of persons who leave the Church or apostatize from its doctrines. ...
We declare that no Bishop's or other court in this Church claims or exercises the right to supersede, annul or modify a judgment of any civil court. Such courts, while established to regulate Christian conduct, are purely ecclesiastical, and their punitive powers go no further than the suspension or excommunication of members from Church fellowship. ...
Utterances of prominent men in the Church at a time of great excitement have been selected and grouped, to convey the impression that present members are seditious. Those expressions were made more than thirty years ago, when through the falsehoods of recreant officials, afterwards demonstrated to be baseless, troops were sent to this Territory and were viewed by the people, in their isolated condition, fifteen hundred miles from railroads, as an armed mob coming to renew the bloody persecutions of years before.
At that time excitement prevailed and strong language was used;...
We also declare that this Church does not claim to be an independent, temporal kingdom of God, or to be an imperium in imperio aiming to overthrow the United States or any other civil government. ...
WILFORD WOODRUFF, GEORGE Q. CANNON, JOSEPH F. SMITH, Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. LORENZO SNOW, FRANKLIN D. RICHARDS, BRIGHAM YOUNG, MOSES THATCHER, FRANCIS M. LYMAN, JOHN HENRY SMITH, GEORGE TEASDALE, HEBER J. GRANT, JOHN W. TAYLOR, M. W. MERRILL, A. H. LUND, ABRAHAM H. CANNON, Members of the Council of the Apostles.
JOHN W. YOUNG DANIEL H. WELLS, Counselors.
[Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
OFFICIAL DECLARATION. Salt Lake City, December 12th, 1889. TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
In consequences of gross misrepresentations of the doctrines, aims and practices of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly called the "Mormon" Church, which have been promulgated for years, and have recently been revived for political purposes and to prevent all aliens, otherwise qualified, who are members of the "Mormon" Church for acquiring citizenship, we deem it proper on behalf of said Church to publicly deny these calumnies and enter our protest against them.
We solemnly make the following declarations, viz:
That this Church views the shedding of human blood with the utmost abhorrence. That we regard the killing of a human being, except in conformity with the civil law, as a capital crime which should be punished by shedding the blood of the criminal, after a public trial before a legally constituted court of the land.
Notwithstanding all the stories told about the killing of apostates, no case of this kind has ever occurred, and of course has never been established against the Church we represent. Hundreds of seceders from the church have continuously resided and now live in this Territory, many of whom have amassed considerable wealth, though bitterly hostile to the "Mormon" faith and people. Even those who have made it their business to fabricate the vilest falsehoods, and to render them plausible by culling isolated passages from old sermons without the explanatory context, and have suffered no opportunity to escape them of vilifying and blackening the characters of the people, have remained among those whom they have thus persistently calumniated until the present day, without receiving the slightest personal injury.
We denounce as entirely untrue the allegation which has been made, that our Church favors or believes in the killing of persons who leave the Church or apostatize from its doctrines. ...
We declare that no Bishop's or other court in this Church claims or exercises the right to supersede, annul or modify a judgment of any civil court. Such courts, while established to regulate Christian conduct, are purely ecclesiastical, and their punitive powers go no further than the suspension or excommunication of members from Church fellowship. ...
Utterances of prominent men in the Church at a time of great excitement have been selected and grouped, to convey the impression that present members are seditious. Those expressions were made more than thirty years ago, when through the falsehoods of recreant officials, afterwards demonstrated to be baseless, troops were sent to this Territory and were viewed by the people, in their isolated condition, fifteen hundred miles from railroads, as an armed mob coming to renew the bloody persecutions of years before.
At that time excitement prevailed and strong language was used;...
We also declare that this Church does not claim to be an independent, temporal kingdom of God, or to be an imperium in imperio aiming to overthrow the United States or any other civil government. ...
WILFORD WOODRUFF, GEORGE Q. CANNON, JOSEPH F. SMITH, Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. LORENZO SNOW, FRANKLIN D. RICHARDS, BRIGHAM YOUNG, MOSES THATCHER, FRANCIS M. LYMAN, JOHN HENRY SMITH, GEORGE TEASDALE, HEBER J. GRANT, JOHN W. TAYLOR, M. W. MERRILL, A. H. LUND, ABRAHAM H. CANNON, Members of the Council of the Apostles.
JOHN W. YOUNG DANIEL H. WELLS, Counselors.
[Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
135 years ago today - Dec 12, 1889
[Apostle Heber J. Grant]
At our meeting this afternoon. We approved of the Manifesto to be signed by the Apostles declaring that there is nothing in the Endowments that is treasonable or contrary to good citizenship in this Republic.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
At our meeting this afternoon. We approved of the Manifesto to be signed by the Apostles declaring that there is nothing in the Endowments that is treasonable or contrary to good citizenship in this Republic.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
155 years ago today - Dec 12, 1869
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff]
At the Close of the Meeting I was informed that one of my Children was nigh unto death. It had Been sick about one week. It was Delights youngest Child. I returned home & administered to it & it revived But was vary low through the night.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
At the Close of the Meeting I was informed that one of my Children was nigh unto death. It had Been sick about one week. It was Delights youngest Child. I returned home & administered to it & it revived But was vary low through the night.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
165 years ago today - Dec 12, 1859
[Mountain Meadows]
Indian Superintendent Forney arrives in Washington, D.C. with the two oldest surviving boys from the massacre. Forney hopes the boys will be allowed to testify before Congress.
[Linder, Douglas, The Mountain Meadows Massacre Trials, http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTRIALS/mountainmeadows/leechrono.html]
Indian Superintendent Forney arrives in Washington, D.C. with the two oldest surviving boys from the massacre. Forney hopes the boys will be allowed to testify before Congress.
[Linder, Douglas, The Mountain Meadows Massacre Trials, http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTRIALS/mountainmeadows/leechrono.html]
180 years ago today - Dec 12, 1844
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff]
12th Thursday It blew a gale from the South West. We shiped some heavy stern seas. Broke in all the Stern windows. Filled the first Cabin with so much water that the trunks & baggage was all afloat. Destroyed much of the baggage of the passengers. Some water came into our cabin but no damage done the first & second cabin. Was on deck towards evening. The sea was piled up like mountains. When we were in the troth of the sea waves would arise at our stern as high as the top of the mizzen mast & seemed almost impossible for the ship to arise soon enough to save the sea from breaking over her. But she was 1,000 ton ship & a clean & fast sailor. She carried at this time little or no sail.
We were all vary sick, yet we would spend a few moments in viewing the wild, romantic, terrific, grand & sublime scenery that surrounded us in the wonders of the deep. Elder Holmes was quite sick & said he never beheld such a sight before.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
12th Thursday It blew a gale from the South West. We shiped some heavy stern seas. Broke in all the Stern windows. Filled the first Cabin with so much water that the trunks & baggage was all afloat. Destroyed much of the baggage of the passengers. Some water came into our cabin but no damage done the first & second cabin. Was on deck towards evening. The sea was piled up like mountains. When we were in the troth of the sea waves would arise at our stern as high as the top of the mizzen mast & seemed almost impossible for the ship to arise soon enough to save the sea from breaking over her. But she was 1,000 ton ship & a clean & fast sailor. She carried at this time little or no sail.
We were all vary sick, yet we would spend a few moments in viewing the wild, romantic, terrific, grand & sublime scenery that surrounded us in the wonders of the deep. Elder Holmes was quite sick & said he never beheld such a sight before.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
155 years ago today - Dec 11, 1869
[Brigham Young sermon to the School of the Prophets]
He said A Bill of Divorce that is given to many is no Better than a peace of Blank paper. A woman who is sealed to a good man who bears the Priesthood if that man honors that Priesthood if that woman leaves him of her own accord & she is sealed to a dozen other men the first man will hold her in the resurrection if he wants her unless she should be sealed to a Man of a Higher Priesthood. Then he would [ ] her...
Some ordinances Cannot Be given without A temple. All Children Born Before Parents are Sealed to [at] the Altar will have to be sealed to their Parents in order to make them Legal heirs. Those who are Born after the parents are sealed are legal heirs. Men also will have to be sealed to Men untill the Chain is united from Father Adam down to the last Saint. This will be the work of the Millennium & Joseph Smith will be the Man to attend to it or to dictate it. He will not administer in person But He will receive his resurrected Body & will dictate to those who dwell in the flesh & tell what is to be done for He is the Last Prophet who is Called to lay the foundation of the great Last dispensation of the fullness of times.
Some have thought it strange what I have said Concerning Adam But the period will Come when this people of faithful will be willing to adopt Joseph Smith as their Prophet Seer Revelator & God But not the father of their spirits for that was our Father Adam.
Many questions are asked about divorces. I will say that many men & women want to be sealed that should not be for they will not stay together. But if I was to stop it there would be a fuss. Now what is to be done? They will be sealed & then they will separate. Some give them Bills of divorce. I Charge Nothing for sealing But I Charge $10 for Bills of divorce. If they will Break the Commandmts & make me Break them they shall Pay $10 for [it].
Presidt Joseph Young asked Presidet Young if He was Justified in giving these Bills of Divorce. Presidet Young says yes I am. I do not force them to separate. I give them good Council & tell them what to do. No man has a right to put away a wife Except for adultry But when a woman will leave a man against his will He does not put her away; but she puts herself away & he that Marries her Commits adultery as James Says. I am Justified in giving these Bills of Divorce for they will separate against my Council & the woman takes the responsibility upon herself & not me.
President Young said in relation to Joseph Smith returning the Plates of the Book of Mormon that He did not return them to the Box from wh[ence?] He had Received But He went [1 m/in?] a Cave in the Hill Comoro with Oliver Cowdry & deposited those plates upon a table or shelf. In that room were deposited a large amount of gold plates Containing sacred records & when they first visited that Room the sword of Laban was Hanging upon the wall & when they last visited it the sword was drawn from the scabbard & [laid?] upon a table & a Messenger who was the keeper of the room informed them that that sword would never be returned to its scabbard untill the Kingdom of God was Esstablished upon the Earth & untill it reigned triumphant over Evry Enemy. Joseph Smith said that Cave Contained tons of Choice Treasures & records.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
He said A Bill of Divorce that is given to many is no Better than a peace of Blank paper. A woman who is sealed to a good man who bears the Priesthood if that man honors that Priesthood if that woman leaves him of her own accord & she is sealed to a dozen other men the first man will hold her in the resurrection if he wants her unless she should be sealed to a Man of a Higher Priesthood. Then he would [ ] her...
Some ordinances Cannot Be given without A temple. All Children Born Before Parents are Sealed to [at] the Altar will have to be sealed to their Parents in order to make them Legal heirs. Those who are Born after the parents are sealed are legal heirs. Men also will have to be sealed to Men untill the Chain is united from Father Adam down to the last Saint. This will be the work of the Millennium & Joseph Smith will be the Man to attend to it or to dictate it. He will not administer in person But He will receive his resurrected Body & will dictate to those who dwell in the flesh & tell what is to be done for He is the Last Prophet who is Called to lay the foundation of the great Last dispensation of the fullness of times.
Some have thought it strange what I have said Concerning Adam But the period will Come when this people of faithful will be willing to adopt Joseph Smith as their Prophet Seer Revelator & God But not the father of their spirits for that was our Father Adam.
Many questions are asked about divorces. I will say that many men & women want to be sealed that should not be for they will not stay together. But if I was to stop it there would be a fuss. Now what is to be done? They will be sealed & then they will separate. Some give them Bills of divorce. I Charge Nothing for sealing But I Charge $10 for Bills of divorce. If they will Break the Commandmts & make me Break them they shall Pay $10 for [it].
Presidt Joseph Young asked Presidet Young if He was Justified in giving these Bills of Divorce. Presidet Young says yes I am. I do not force them to separate. I give them good Council & tell them what to do. No man has a right to put away a wife Except for adultry But when a woman will leave a man against his will He does not put her away; but she puts herself away & he that Marries her Commits adultery as James Says. I am Justified in giving these Bills of Divorce for they will separate against my Council & the woman takes the responsibility upon herself & not me.
President Young said in relation to Joseph Smith returning the Plates of the Book of Mormon that He did not return them to the Box from wh[ence?] He had Received But He went [1 m/in?] a Cave in the Hill Comoro with Oliver Cowdry & deposited those plates upon a table or shelf. In that room were deposited a large amount of gold plates Containing sacred records & when they first visited that Room the sword of Laban was Hanging upon the wall & when they last visited it the sword was drawn from the scabbard & [laid?] upon a table & a Messenger who was the keeper of the room informed them that that sword would never be returned to its scabbard untill the Kingdom of God was Esstablished upon the Earth & untill it reigned triumphant over Evry Enemy. Joseph Smith said that Cave Contained tons of Choice Treasures & records.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
170 years ago today - Dec 11, 1854 (Monday)
The Utah legislature (4th annual session) convened in the Council House, in G.S.L. City, and organized by electing Heber C. Kimball president of the Council, and Jedediah M. Grant speaker of the House.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
180 years ago today - Dec 11, 1844
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff]
11th Wednesday Wind changed to the east. Commenced blowing a gale. It was head wind. We were drove under bare poles through the day & evening. It made us all dreadful sick. The sea was vary rough & piled up like hills. The gale increased untill about 9 oclock in the evening it appeared as though it must tear the yards from the mast. We kneeled before the Lord & Prayed unitedly that the Lord would cause the gale to seease & the wind to change that we might go forward & not backward & in a little time after the wind instantly seeased & finally changed into the South West which gave us fair wind.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
11th Wednesday Wind changed to the east. Commenced blowing a gale. It was head wind. We were drove under bare poles through the day & evening. It made us all dreadful sick. The sea was vary rough & piled up like hills. The gale increased untill about 9 oclock in the evening it appeared as though it must tear the yards from the mast. We kneeled before the Lord & Prayed unitedly that the Lord would cause the gale to seease & the wind to change that we might go forward & not backward & in a little time after the wind instantly seeased & finally changed into the South West which gave us fair wind.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
120 years ago today - Dec 10, 1904
The First Presidency conveyed a request from President William H. Smart that the Senator from Utah [Apostle Smoot] assist the people of his Stake with information relative to the opening for white settlement of the Uintah Indian Reservation in eastern Utah.
[Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
[Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
135 years ago today - Dec 10, 1889 (Tuesday)
The Idaho test oath case was argued before the U.S. Supreme Court.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
140 years ago today - Dec 10, 1884
[L. John Nuttall to John D. T. McAllister]
In reply to your letter of Dec. 5th pertaining to telegrams and the payment thereof, I am directed by President [John] Taylor to say that in all cases such as Bishop Jones and widow Thomas, it is his understanding, and wishes you to so understand it, that no matter what may be stated in recommends as to what is desired, his initials, "J. T.," thereon is all that is meant. If he places "J. T. 2nd [anointing]" on, then he approves it in that manner. Hence the recommends of Jones and Thomas only having his "J. T."[,] that was all he intended for them. So that in future it will not be necessary for you to inquire by telegram or otherwise as to what is meant when you see his endorsement.
[Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
In reply to your letter of Dec. 5th pertaining to telegrams and the payment thereof, I am directed by President [John] Taylor to say that in all cases such as Bishop Jones and widow Thomas, it is his understanding, and wishes you to so understand it, that no matter what may be stated in recommends as to what is desired, his initials, "J. T.," thereon is all that is meant. If he places "J. T. 2nd [anointing]" on, then he approves it in that manner. Hence the recommends of Jones and Thomas only having his "J. T."[,] that was all he intended for them. So that in future it will not be necessary for you to inquire by telegram or otherwise as to what is meant when you see his endorsement.
[Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
165 years ago today - Dec 10, 1859
The Pres. [Young] ordered some tobacco to be given to them [Indians], and they sat down and smoked a pipe'- Pres. also observed there are men of so many different temperaments who appear to have the Spirit of the Lord, and some of them would take away your coat or your axe. -- Salt Lake City
[Brigham Young Office Journals, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.; Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.; New Mormon Studies CD-ROM 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]
[Brigham Young Office Journals, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.; Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.; New Mormon Studies CD-ROM 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]
55 years ago today - Dec 9, 1969
A First Presidency letter to the director of seminaries and institutes, with a copy to Bruce R. McConkie, that "we know of no justification for claiming that 'man was placed on the earth on the seventh day.'"
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
90 years ago today - Dec 9, 1934
The New York Stake is the first stake east of the inter-mountain states since the termination of the St. Louis Stake in 1858.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
120 years ago today - Dec 9, 1904; Friday
[Rudger Clawson]
On Friday, I was in meeting with the Presidency and Twelve all day on a matter that it would not be wise to name in my journal. [Probably related to the Smoot hearings]
[Rudger Clawson, Diary]
On Friday, I was in meeting with the Presidency and Twelve all day on a matter that it would not be wise to name in my journal. [Probably related to the Smoot hearings]
[Rudger Clawson, Diary]
125 years ago today - Saturday, Dec 9, 1899
[Apostle Rudger Clawson]
Brigham City. Clear and cool, with snow during the night. Upon taking up the morning paper, I read a notice of the death of President Franklin D. Richards, president of the Twelve Apostles. He died at 12 o'clock last night. He was a great and good man and will be deeply mourned by Israel.
[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]
Brigham City. Clear and cool, with snow during the night. Upon taking up the morning paper, I read a notice of the death of President Franklin D. Richards, president of the Twelve Apostles. He died at 12 o'clock last night. He was a great and good man and will be deeply mourned by Israel.
[Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
140 years ago today - Dec 9, 1884
LDS political newspaper, the Salt Lake Herald, reports another Mormon's assault and battery on a reporter of the Salt Lake Tribune, "A BLISSFUL LOT. Another of the 'Tribune' Crew Rewarded. A TROUNCING WELL MERITED."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
140 years ago today - Tuesday, Dec 9, 1884
[Apostle John Henry Smith]
I mailed the Sheffield Daily Telegraph to all of Utah papers and my wives. I weighed on one pair of scales tonight 222 lbs., on another pair 229 lbs.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
I mailed the Sheffield Daily Telegraph to all of Utah papers and my wives. I weighed on one pair of scales tonight 222 lbs., on another pair 229 lbs.
[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]
155 years ago today - Dec 9, 1869
ZCMI Drug Store advertises that it has just opened on Main Street with "Liquors, Draught and [by the] Case." William Godbe is leading economic and political dissenters.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
165 years ago today - Dec 9, 1859
G A. Smith related a Circumstance of a Mr Woodson who has got possession of the Land upon which the Temple Block stands in Jackson Co Missouri. In 1857 Ferrymore Little was in Jackson Co & Mr Woodson said to him I have heard that your people expected to return to this Country and Build a Temple on the Temple Block on my farm. Brother Little Answered to be sure they do. Woodson said you are a Hell of a set. G.A.S. also said He got a Statement from Lewis Bidemon that the people of the towns of Warsaw Carthage p[untoosee?] & Appanoose made up a subscription of $500 & paid it to Joseph Agnoe for Burning the Temple and He went & burnt it for that sum of money.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
175 years ago today - Dec 9, 1849
Richard Ballentyne begins teaching Sunday school as own activity in Salt Lake City. In 1867 Deseret Sunday School Union becomes churchwide, centrally directed program with George Q. Cannon as general superintendent. In 1934 LDS headquarters adopts junior Sunday school program which was independently established in local wards. Like Sunday schools, churchwide progrmns for young men, primary children, high school seminary, adult Aaronic priesthood, Welfare Plan, and Indian Placement begin as local innovations without central church direction. All LDS auxiliaries, except Religion Classes in 1890, are modeled on pre-existing programs of Protestant denominations. Only Relief Society, young women's program, and Religion Classes have direction of headquarters at outset.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
175 years ago today - Dec 9, 1849
Sunday School organized by Richard Ballantyne.
[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Chronology of Church History, http://scriptures../ldsorg.org/chchrono/contents]
[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Chronology of Church History, http://scriptures../ldsorg.org/chchrono/contents]
180 years ago today - Dec 9, 1844
[William Clayton]
Helen M[ar] Kimball and Diantha Farr came to see my folks and being the first who came to see my child I gave them the privilege of naming her which they did namely "Helen Diantha Clayton" but my folks did not like it. I named it Vilate Ruth. I had some conversation with Diantha and she seems to feel right but like many others has many sectarian temptations &c.
[The Nauvoo Diaries of William Clayton, 1842-1846, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
Helen M[ar] Kimball and Diantha Farr came to see my folks and being the first who came to see my child I gave them the privilege of naming her which they did namely "Helen Diantha Clayton" but my folks did not like it. I named it Vilate Ruth. I had some conversation with Diantha and she seems to feel right but like many others has many sectarian temptations &c.
[The Nauvoo Diaries of William Clayton, 1842-1846, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
190 years ago today - 1834: 9 December
[Patriarchal Blessing]
Emma Smith. (Given by Joseph Smith, Sen.)
"... Thou shalt see many days; yea, the Lord will spare thee till thou are satisfied, for thou shalt see thy redeemer. Thy heart shall rejoice in the great work of the Lord, and no one shall take thy rejoicing from thee. Thou shalt ever remember the great condescension of thy God in permitting thee to accompany my son when the angel delivered the record of the Nephites to his care. Thou hast seen much sorrow because the Lord has taken from thee three of thy children: in this thou art not to be blamed, for he knows thy pure desires to raise up a family, that the name of my son might be blessed. And now, behold, I say unto thee, that thus saith the Lord, if thou will believe, thou shalt yet be blessed in this thing and thou shalt bring forth other children...
[Selected LDS Patriarchal Blessings, New Mormon Studies CD ROM, Signature Book, 2009, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Emma Smith. (Given by Joseph Smith, Sen.)
"... Thou shalt see many days; yea, the Lord will spare thee till thou are satisfied, for thou shalt see thy redeemer. Thy heart shall rejoice in the great work of the Lord, and no one shall take thy rejoicing from thee. Thou shalt ever remember the great condescension of thy God in permitting thee to accompany my son when the angel delivered the record of the Nephites to his care. Thou hast seen much sorrow because the Lord has taken from thee three of thy children: in this thou art not to be blamed, for he knows thy pure desires to raise up a family, that the name of my son might be blessed. And now, behold, I say unto thee, that thus saith the Lord, if thou will believe, thou shalt yet be blessed in this thing and thou shalt bring forth other children...
[Selected LDS Patriarchal Blessings, New Mormon Studies CD ROM, Signature Book, 2009, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
190 years ago today - Dec 9, 1834
"Joseph Smith, Senior, a Patriarch, and President of the high Priesthood" gives his first patriarchal blessings as an ordained patriarch to his adult children.
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
190 years ago today - Dec 9, 1834
Patriarchal Blessing of Joseph Smith Jr. given by Joseph Smith Sr. on December 9, 1834
Joseph Smith, junior was born in Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont, December 23, 1805.
Joseph, my son, I lay my hands upon thy head in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to confirm upon thee a father's blessing. The Lord thy God has called thee by name out of the heavens: Thou hast heard his voice from on high from time to time, even in thy youth. The hand of the angel of his presence has been extended toward thee by which thou hast been lifted up and sustained; yea, the Lord has delivered thee from the hands of thine enemies and thou hast been made to rejoice in his salvation: thou hast sought to know his ways, and from thy childhood thou hast meditated much upon the great things of his law. Thou hast suffered much in thy youth, and the poverty and afflictions of thy father's family have been a grief to thy soul. Thou hast desired to see them delivered from bondage, for thou hast loved them with a perfect love. Thou hast stood by thy father, and like Shem, would have covered his nakedness, rather than see him exposed to shame: when the daughters of the
Gentiles laughed, thy heart has been moved with a just anger to avenge thy kindred.
Thou hast been an obedient Son: the commands of thy father and the reproofs of thy mother, thou hast respected and obeyed - for all these things the Lord my God will bless thee. Thou hast been called, even in thy youth to the great work of the Lord: to do a work in this generation which no other man would do as thyself, in all things according to the will of the Lord. A marvelous work and a wonder has the Lord wrought by thy hand, even that which shall prepare the way for the remnants of his people to come in among the Gentiles, with their fulness, as the tribes of Israel are restored.
I bless thee with the blessings of thy fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and even the blessings of thy father Joseph, the son of Jacob. Behold, he looked after his posterity in the last days, when they should be scattered and driven by the Gentiles, and wept before the Lord: he sought diligently to know from whence the Son should come who should bring forth the word of the Lord, by which they might be enlightened, and brought back to the true fold, and his eyes beheld thee, my son: his heart rejoiced and his soul was satisfied, and he said.
As my blessings are to extend to the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills; as my father's blessing prevailed above the blessings of his progen[i]tors, and as my branches are to run over the wall, and my seed are to inherit the choice land whereon the Zion of God shall stand in the last days, from among my seed, scattered with the Gentiles, shall a choice Seer arise whose bowels shall be as a fountain of truth, whose loins shall be girded with the girdle of righteousness, whose hands shall be lifted with acceptance before the God of Jacob to turn away his anger from his annointed, whose heart shall meditate great wisdom, whose intelligence shall circumscribe and comprehend the deep things of God, and whose mouth shall utter the law of the just: His feet shall stand upon the neck of his enemies, and he shall walk upon the ashes of those who seek his destruction: with wine and oil shall he be sustained, and he shall feed upon the heritage of Jacob his father: the just shall
desire his society, and the upright in heart shall be his companions: No weapon formed against him shall prosper, and though the wicked mar him for a little season, he shall be like one rising up in the heat of wine - he shall roar in his strength, and the Lord shall put to flight his persecutors: he shall be blessed like the fruitful olive, and his memory shall be as sweet as the choice cluster of the first ripe grapes. Like a shief [sheaf] fully ripe, gathered into the garner, so shall he stand before the Lord, having produced a hundred fold. Thus spake my father Joseph.
Therefore, my son, I know for a surety that those things will be fulfilled, and I confirm upon thee all these blessings. Thou shalt like to do the work which the Lord shall command thee: thou shalt hold the Keys of this ministry, even the presidency of this church, both in time and in eternity. Thy heart shall be enlarged, and thou shalt be able to fill up the measure of thy days according to the will of the Lord. Thou shalt speak the word of the Lord and the earth shall tremble; the mountains shall move and the rivers shall turn out of their course. Thou shalt escape the edge of the sword, and put to flight the armies of the wicked. At thy word the lame shall walk, the deaf shall hear and the blind shall see. Thou shalt be gathered to Zion and in the goodly land thou shalt enjoy thine inheritance; thy children and thy children's children to the latest generation; for thy name and the names of thy posterity shall be recorded in the book of the Lord, even in the book of
blessings and genealogies, for their joy and benefit forever.
And now, my son, what more shall I say? Thou art as a fruitful olive and a choice vine: thou shalt be laden with precious fruit. Thousands and tens of thousands shall come to a knowledge of the truth through thy ministry, and thou shalt rejoice with them in the Celestial Kingdom: Thou shalt stand upon the earth when it shall reel to and fro as a drunken man, and be removed out of its place: thou shalt stand when the mighty judgments go forth to the destruction of the wicked: thou shalt stand on mount Zion when the tribes of Jacob come shouting from the north, and with thy brethren, the Sons of Ephraim, crown them in the name of Jesus Christ: Thou shalt see thy Redeemer Come in the clouds of heaven, and with the just receive the hallowed throng with shouts of hallalujahs, praise the Lord. Amen [Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:3-4]
[Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]
Joseph Smith, junior was born in Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont, December 23, 1805.
Joseph, my son, I lay my hands upon thy head in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to confirm upon thee a father's blessing. The Lord thy God has called thee by name out of the heavens: Thou hast heard his voice from on high from time to time, even in thy youth. The hand of the angel of his presence has been extended toward thee by which thou hast been lifted up and sustained; yea, the Lord has delivered thee from the hands of thine enemies and thou hast been made to rejoice in his salvation: thou hast sought to know his ways, and from thy childhood thou hast meditated much upon the great things of his law. Thou hast suffered much in thy youth, and the poverty and afflictions of thy father's family have been a grief to thy soul. Thou hast desired to see them delivered from bondage, for thou hast loved them with a perfect love. Thou hast stood by thy father, and like Shem, would have covered his nakedness, rather than see him exposed to shame: when the daughters of the
Gentiles laughed, thy heart has been moved with a just anger to avenge thy kindred.
Thou hast been an obedient Son: the commands of thy father and the reproofs of thy mother, thou hast respected and obeyed - for all these things the Lord my God will bless thee. Thou hast been called, even in thy youth to the great work of the Lord: to do a work in this generation which no other man would do as thyself, in all things according to the will of the Lord. A marvelous work and a wonder has the Lord wrought by thy hand, even that which shall prepare the way for the remnants of his people to come in among the Gentiles, with their fulness, as the tribes of Israel are restored.
I bless thee with the blessings of thy fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and even the blessings of thy father Joseph, the son of Jacob. Behold, he looked after his posterity in the last days, when they should be scattered and driven by the Gentiles, and wept before the Lord: he sought diligently to know from whence the Son should come who should bring forth the word of the Lord, by which they might be enlightened, and brought back to the true fold, and his eyes beheld thee, my son: his heart rejoiced and his soul was satisfied, and he said.
As my blessings are to extend to the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills; as my father's blessing prevailed above the blessings of his progen[i]tors, and as my branches are to run over the wall, and my seed are to inherit the choice land whereon the Zion of God shall stand in the last days, from among my seed, scattered with the Gentiles, shall a choice Seer arise whose bowels shall be as a fountain of truth, whose loins shall be girded with the girdle of righteousness, whose hands shall be lifted with acceptance before the God of Jacob to turn away his anger from his annointed, whose heart shall meditate great wisdom, whose intelligence shall circumscribe and comprehend the deep things of God, and whose mouth shall utter the law of the just: His feet shall stand upon the neck of his enemies, and he shall walk upon the ashes of those who seek his destruction: with wine and oil shall he be sustained, and he shall feed upon the heritage of Jacob his father: the just shall
desire his society, and the upright in heart shall be his companions: No weapon formed against him shall prosper, and though the wicked mar him for a little season, he shall be like one rising up in the heat of wine - he shall roar in his strength, and the Lord shall put to flight his persecutors: he shall be blessed like the fruitful olive, and his memory shall be as sweet as the choice cluster of the first ripe grapes. Like a shief [sheaf] fully ripe, gathered into the garner, so shall he stand before the Lord, having produced a hundred fold. Thus spake my father Joseph.
Therefore, my son, I know for a surety that those things will be fulfilled, and I confirm upon thee all these blessings. Thou shalt like to do the work which the Lord shall command thee: thou shalt hold the Keys of this ministry, even the presidency of this church, both in time and in eternity. Thy heart shall be enlarged, and thou shalt be able to fill up the measure of thy days according to the will of the Lord. Thou shalt speak the word of the Lord and the earth shall tremble; the mountains shall move and the rivers shall turn out of their course. Thou shalt escape the edge of the sword, and put to flight the armies of the wicked. At thy word the lame shall walk, the deaf shall hear and the blind shall see. Thou shalt be gathered to Zion and in the goodly land thou shalt enjoy thine inheritance; thy children and thy children's children to the latest generation; for thy name and the names of thy posterity shall be recorded in the book of the Lord, even in the book of
blessings and genealogies, for their joy and benefit forever.
And now, my son, what more shall I say? Thou art as a fruitful olive and a choice vine: thou shalt be laden with precious fruit. Thousands and tens of thousands shall come to a knowledge of the truth through thy ministry, and thou shalt rejoice with them in the Celestial Kingdom: Thou shalt stand upon the earth when it shall reel to and fro as a drunken man, and be removed out of its place: thou shalt stand when the mighty judgments go forth to the destruction of the wicked: thou shalt stand on mount Zion when the tribes of Jacob come shouting from the north, and with thy brethren, the Sons of Ephraim, crown them in the name of Jesus Christ: Thou shalt see thy Redeemer Come in the clouds of heaven, and with the just receive the hallowed throng with shouts of hallalujahs, praise the Lord. Amen [Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:3-4]
[Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]
190 years ago today - Dec 9, 1834
Patriarchal Blessing of Joseph Smith, Jr., given by Joseph Smith, Sr. stated "thou shalt stand on Mount Zion when the tribes of Jacob come shouting from the north, and with thy brethren, the sons of Ephraim, crown them in the name of Jesus Christ: Thou shalt see thy Redeemer come in the clouds of heaven
[Marquardt, H. Michael, "Excerpts from a few Patriarchal Blessings given by Joseph Smith, Sr." http://www.xmission.com/~research/about/patb2.htm]
[Marquardt, H. Michael, "Excerpts from a few Patriarchal Blessings given by Joseph Smith, Sr." http://www.xmission.com/~research/about/patb2.htm]
190 years ago today - Dec 9, 1834
At a family blessing meeting, Joseph Sr. refers to his and Lucy's firstborn dead son (Lucy later remembered this child as a daughter) and at least one occasion when he had been intoxicated. He pronounces patriarchal blessings on members of the family, recorded by Oliver Cowdery.
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books, http://bit.ly/lucys-book]
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books, http://bit.ly/lucys-book]
195 years ago today - Dec 9, 1829
Abner Cole's Palmyra Reflector announces that it will publish selections from the Book of Mormon in future editions . The Reflector was an anonymously published paper that made fun of local issues. Its debut edition appeared on 2 September 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]
25 years ago today - Dec 8, 1999
Commemorating the sesquicentennial of the organization of the Sunday School, President Gordon B. Hinckley presides over the sealing of a time capsule to be opened in 2049.
[LDS Daily, www.ldsdaily.com]
[LDS Daily, www.ldsdaily.com]
115 years ago today - Dec 8, 1909; Wednesday
[George F. Gibbs]
Word has come to this office, from quite a reliable source, to the effect that your counselor, Brother Borkman, has the idea that plural marriages are still being solemnized by and with the sanction of the authorities of the Church, and that in this understanding he is paying his addresses to a young woman with a view to marriage, provided he can get a competent person to perform the marriage ceremony. It is also being told that you are encouraging Brother Borkman in the idea ... You are reported to have said other things as well along this line, going to convey the idea that you knew personally of such things, and could enumerate a very large number of such marriages since President [Wilford] Woodruff's Manifesto.
I am instructed to say to you that no plural marriage can be entered into by and with the sanction of Church authority, and that any person found doing so will be dealt with on his fellowship in the Church. This applies also to the party solemnizing a plural marriage, and you are requested by the presidency to so inform Brother Borkman, and his wife as well.
[George F. Gibbs, letter to Bishop Lorin A. Merrill, Kenney Papers, original in LDS Archives]
Word has come to this office, from quite a reliable source, to the effect that your counselor, Brother Borkman, has the idea that plural marriages are still being solemnized by and with the sanction of the authorities of the Church, and that in this understanding he is paying his addresses to a young woman with a view to marriage, provided he can get a competent person to perform the marriage ceremony. It is also being told that you are encouraging Brother Borkman in the idea ... You are reported to have said other things as well along this line, going to convey the idea that you knew personally of such things, and could enumerate a very large number of such marriages since President [Wilford] Woodruff's Manifesto.
I am instructed to say to you that no plural marriage can be entered into by and with the sanction of Church authority, and that any person found doing so will be dealt with on his fellowship in the Church. This applies also to the party solemnizing a plural marriage, and you are requested by the presidency to so inform Brother Borkman, and his wife as well.
[George F. Gibbs, letter to Bishop Lorin A. Merrill, Kenney Papers, original in LDS Archives]
120 years ago today - Dec 8, 1904
Those conducting the Smoot hearing sought to have the L.D.S. Church produce temple records and even records of the temple ceremonies. [In a First Presidency letter] John Nicholson, Temple recorder, is permitted to take the records of temple marriage with him to Washington, but with instructions to produce them only if failure to do so would place him in contempt before the Senate Committee.
Temple President Marriner Merrill records: "I went to Logan [Utah] to see about Temple affairs as I was Summoned to Washington [D.C.] on Tues[day] Morninging [sic] at 7.30 AM Dec[ember] 6th by US Marshal Donehue to go to the above City and take with Me all Temple Records. of course I am not well enough to go but sent three (3) Doctors Certificates in stead of going &c."
[Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes);Marriner Wood Merrill, Diary]
Temple President Marriner Merrill records: "I went to Logan [Utah] to see about Temple affairs as I was Summoned to Washington [D.C.] on Tues[day] Morninging [sic] at 7.30 AM Dec[ember] 6th by US Marshal Donehue to go to the above City and take with Me all Temple Records. of course I am not well enough to go but sent three (3) Doctors Certificates in stead of going &c."
[Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes);Marriner Wood Merrill, Diary]
120 years ago today - Dec 8, 1904; Thursday
[Apostle Marriner Merrill]
I went to Logan [Utah] to see about Temple affairs as I was Summoned to Washington [D.C.] on Tues[day] Morninging [sic] at 7.30 AM Dec[ember] 6th by US Marshal Donehue to go to the above City and take with Me all Temple Records. of course I am not well enough to go but sent three (3) Doctors Certificates in stead of going &c.
[Marriner Wood Merrill, Diary]
I went to Logan [Utah] to see about Temple affairs as I was Summoned to Washington [D.C.] on Tues[day] Morninging [sic] at 7.30 AM Dec[ember] 6th by US Marshal Donehue to go to the above City and take with Me all Temple Records. of course I am not well enough to go but sent three (3) Doctors Certificates in stead of going &c.
[Marriner Wood Merrill, Diary]
125 years ago today - Dec 8, 1899; Friday
Brother [Thomas] Taylor complained now, as he has complaind before, and that bitterly, that he had on two former occasions arranged to sell this property, but had been defeated by the Church, to whom the property was mortgaged. In answer to this he was told that there was no desire to hamper him or prevent him from disposing of his property, and in order to show this President Snow now offered to extend the mortgage long enough to enable him to sell...
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
135 years ago today - Dec 8, 1889
[President Wilford Woodruff]
We are passing through a strange portion of our History. The whole Nation seems to be united against me us. Judge Anderson has decided not to receive any Mormons to Citizenship. The whole Country is stired up against us.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
We are passing through a strange portion of our History. The whole Nation seems to be united against me us. Judge Anderson has decided not to receive any Mormons to Citizenship. The whole Country is stired up against us.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
135 years ago today - Dec 8, 1889
[Apostle Abraham H. Cannon]
Father briefly mentioned two cases with which he was familiar where men were killed in a violent way for the reason, as he believed, that they took the name of God in vain and were very profane.
[Diary of Apostle Abraham H. Cannon, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
Father briefly mentioned two cases with which he was familiar where men were killed in a violent way for the reason, as he believed, that they took the name of God in vain and were very profane.
[Diary of Apostle Abraham H. Cannon, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
185 years ago today - Dec 8, 1839
... We have heard it rumored about, that some at least, and probably many, are making their calculations to remove back to Kirtland next season.
Now brethren, this being the case, we advise you to abandon such an idea; yea, we warn you, in the name of the Lord, not to remove back there, unless you are counseled so to do by the First Presidency, and the High Council of Nauvoo.
[Times and Seasons. Vol. 1, p. 29., 1839-December 8-DHC 4:45 as quoted in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
Now brethren, this being the case, we advise you to abandon such an idea; yea, we warn you, in the name of the Lord, not to remove back there, unless you are counseled so to do by the First Presidency, and the High Council of Nauvoo.
[Times and Seasons. Vol. 1, p. 29., 1839-December 8-DHC 4:45 as quoted in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
70 years ago today - Dec 7, 1954
Mark William Hofmann born in Salt Lake City, Utah.
[Whittaker, David J., The Hofmann Maze, A Book Review Essay with a Chronology and Bibliography of the Hofmann Case, BYU Studies Vol. 29, No. 1, pg.80,]
[Whittaker, David J., The Hofmann Maze, A Book Review Essay with a Chronology and Bibliography of the Hofmann Case, BYU Studies Vol. 29, No. 1, pg.80,]
75 years ago today - Dec 7, 1949
[George F. Richards diary, Dec. 7, 1949] I went to the temple at 11:00 a.m. and assisted Elder Jos[eph] Fielding Smith, administered Seconds [second anointings] to Preston D. Richards and wife Barbara, and the members of [the] Emigration Stake Presidency and their wives.
[Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
[Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
80 years ago today - Dec 7, 1944
President McKay at my desk 4:00 to 4:15 p.m. discussing contract with Preston Nibley regarding writing and compensation to Brother Nibley for 'Joseph Smith the Prophet.' We are to accept Brother Nibley's checks covering authors royalty of 10% until $5,775 is paid, said amount having been advanced.
[Frank Evans 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]
[Frank Evans 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]
125 years ago today - Dec 7, 1899
[Apostle Heber J. Grant]
[At meeting of Presidency and Apostles] The question had been presented whether it was the proper thing for [unruly apostle] Moses Thatcher to speak at conjoint meetings of the Mutual Improvement Associations President Joseph F. Smith answered "No". This answer was approved.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[At meeting of Presidency and Apostles] The question had been presented whether it was the proper thing for [unruly apostle] Moses Thatcher to speak at conjoint meetings of the Mutual Improvement Associations President Joseph F. Smith answered "No". This answer was approved.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
140 years ago today - Sunday, Dec 7, 1884
[Apostle John Henry Smith]
Sheffield, Yorkshire
At 10 a.m. we held meeting in the Temperance Hall, Brightside.
At 12 noon we closed our services. We went to the Conference house and had dinner, and at two p.m. returned to the Hall. At the front door were about three hundred people. We passed in at a side door and shortly after the door was opened in front and the crowd rushed in, the Apostate William Jarman in the lead. There were about one hundred of the Saints and their friends and about three hundred of the others. We sang and prayed and Bro. Collett spoke on the first principles of the Gospel for 25 minutes. I took the stand to speak when a "gentleman" in the hall arose and asked me to let him speak. I told him no person would be allowed to speak only those on the platform. At this a rush was made for us and two Policemen who we had hired came to the platform and we beat back the enemy and held them at bay. I and Bro. Collett threw some men off the platform, which was about four feet high. Two old Sisters got on to the platform with us and one of these pulled out some of
Jarman's beard
and kicked him several times. Bro. Favel got a severe blow on the head. Jarman's own friends nearly killed him by crowding him against the platform. Jarman then drew to the center of the Hall and made a most vile speach, while his followers yelled like demons. We then passed into a room at the back and the crowd thinking we were going to try to get away they rushed out at the front just as Inspector Smith and several more Policemen were coming to clear the hall. The door was locked and we finished up our meeting, while the rowdy demons were harrangued in the street by Jarman. After our Services we returned to Peter [?] street. On going out the crowd hooted and hissed at me, and some of them told us they would give me a thrashing at night. A friend came in about 5 p.m. and told us that a very large crowd was gathering in front of the Hall. Bro. S. R. Bennion went and saw the Proprietor of the Hall and told him that we wanted to hold our meeting but was unable to pay any
damage that might be done.
He said he should close the door for the building would certainly be wrecked. The Saints and some friends were instructed to go to the Conference House where we held our evening meeting, and while packed in close we had a good time. Elders Bennion, Biggs, Brown, Winward and myself were the speakers. The rowdy element to the tune of about two thousand strong gathered in front of the Temperance Hall and finding that [we] were gone they went to the Wicker [?] where the Saints had formerly occupied a room, and broke the windows, and not finding us they made some speeches and dispersed. There is no doubt but what if they had known where the Saints were holding their meeting the house would have been torn down. An Atheist came in to see us late in the evening, saying that the mob had run him off because he had said that we were kind of decent fellows.
I asked the police to arrest Jarman but they said they could not without a warrant.
[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]
Sheffield, Yorkshire
At 10 a.m. we held meeting in the Temperance Hall, Brightside.
At 12 noon we closed our services. We went to the Conference house and had dinner, and at two p.m. returned to the Hall. At the front door were about three hundred people. We passed in at a side door and shortly after the door was opened in front and the crowd rushed in, the Apostate William Jarman in the lead. There were about one hundred of the Saints and their friends and about three hundred of the others. We sang and prayed and Bro. Collett spoke on the first principles of the Gospel for 25 minutes. I took the stand to speak when a "gentleman" in the hall arose and asked me to let him speak. I told him no person would be allowed to speak only those on the platform. At this a rush was made for us and two Policemen who we had hired came to the platform and we beat back the enemy and held them at bay. I and Bro. Collett threw some men off the platform, which was about four feet high. Two old Sisters got on to the platform with us and one of these pulled out some of
Jarman's beard
and kicked him several times. Bro. Favel got a severe blow on the head. Jarman's own friends nearly killed him by crowding him against the platform. Jarman then drew to the center of the Hall and made a most vile speach, while his followers yelled like demons. We then passed into a room at the back and the crowd thinking we were going to try to get away they rushed out at the front just as Inspector Smith and several more Policemen were coming to clear the hall. The door was locked and we finished up our meeting, while the rowdy demons were harrangued in the street by Jarman. After our Services we returned to Peter [?] street. On going out the crowd hooted and hissed at me, and some of them told us they would give me a thrashing at night. A friend came in about 5 p.m. and told us that a very large crowd was gathering in front of the Hall. Bro. S. R. Bennion went and saw the Proprietor of the Hall and told him that we wanted to hold our meeting but was unable to pay any
damage that might be done.
He said he should close the door for the building would certainly be wrecked. The Saints and some friends were instructed to go to the Conference House where we held our evening meeting, and while packed in close we had a good time. Elders Bennion, Biggs, Brown, Winward and myself were the speakers. The rowdy element to the tune of about two thousand strong gathered in front of the Temperance Hall and finding that [we] were gone they went to the Wicker [?] where the Saints had formerly occupied a room, and broke the windows, and not finding us they made some speeches and dispersed. There is no doubt but what if they had known where the Saints were holding their meeting the house would have been torn down. An Atheist came in to see us late in the evening, saying that the mob had run him off because he had said that we were kind of decent fellows.
I asked the police to arrest Jarman but they said they could not without a warrant.
[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]
165 years ago today - Dec 7, 1859
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff]
President Young said in speaking of the Temple I herd a man say to day we would go back to Jackson County in 7 years. I said Amen but if we go back in that time we shall have to hasten to get our temple Built. I think we must Commence it next spring, uncuver the foundation.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
President Young said in speaking of the Temple I herd a man say to day we would go back to Jackson County in 7 years. I said Amen but if we go back in that time we shall have to hasten to get our temple Built. I think we must Commence it next spring, uncuver the foundation.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
185 years ago today - Dec 7, 1839
Washington, D.C. Joseph Smith consulted with the Illinois delegation about how to get the Church's petition for redress brought before Congress.
[BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]
[BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]
135 years ago today - Dec 6, 1889
[Apostle Heber J. Grant]
This afternoon attended a meeting of the Presidency and Apostles at the Gardo there were also present a number of the leading men in political matters. Most of the city central committee. The subject under discussion as what would be the best thing to do under the circumstances to counteract the effect of the recent decision of Judge Anderson. After a long chat and the expressions of all that felt as if they wished to say anything, the matter was left for the Presidency and Apostles to decide on. I was positive in my feelings that the best thing was for the leading officials of the Church to deny the charges that were contained in the decision of Anderson ...
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
This afternoon attended a meeting of the Presidency and Apostles at the Gardo there were also present a number of the leading men in political matters. Most of the city central committee. The subject under discussion as what would be the best thing to do under the circumstances to counteract the effect of the recent decision of Judge Anderson. After a long chat and the expressions of all that felt as if they wished to say anything, the matter was left for the Presidency and Apostles to decide on. I was positive in my feelings that the best thing was for the leading officials of the Church to deny the charges that were contained in the decision of Anderson ...
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
135 years ago today - Friday, Dec. 6th, 1889
[Apostle Abraham H. Cannon]
In speaking of the recent examination before Judge Anderson, Father said that he understood when he had his endowments in Nauvoo that he took an oath against the murderers of the Prophet Joseph as well as other prophets, and if he had ever met any of those who had taken a hand in that massacre he would undoubtedly have attempted to avenge the blood of the martyrs. The Prophet charged Stephen Markham to avenge his blood should he be slain; after the Prophet's death, Bro. Markham attempted to tell this to an assembly of the Saints, but Willard Richards pulled him down from the stand, as he feared the effect on the enraged people. Bro. Joseph F. Smith was traveling some years ago near Carthage, when he met a man who said he had just arrived five minutes too late to see the Smiths killed. Instantly a dark cloud seemed to overshadow Bro. Smith and he asked how this man looked upon the deed. Bro. S. was oppressed by a most horrible feeling as he waited for a reply. After a brief pause
the man answered, "Just as I have always looked upon it that it was a d . . . d cold blooded murder." The cloud immediately lifted from Bro. Smith and he found that he had his open pocket knife grasped in his hand in his pocket, and he believes that had this man given his approval to that murder of the prophets, he would have immediately struck him to the heart.
[Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
In speaking of the recent examination before Judge Anderson, Father said that he understood when he had his endowments in Nauvoo that he took an oath against the murderers of the Prophet Joseph as well as other prophets, and if he had ever met any of those who had taken a hand in that massacre he would undoubtedly have attempted to avenge the blood of the martyrs. The Prophet charged Stephen Markham to avenge his blood should he be slain; after the Prophet's death, Bro. Markham attempted to tell this to an assembly of the Saints, but Willard Richards pulled him down from the stand, as he feared the effect on the enraged people. Bro. Joseph F. Smith was traveling some years ago near Carthage, when he met a man who said he had just arrived five minutes too late to see the Smiths killed. Instantly a dark cloud seemed to overshadow Bro. Smith and he asked how this man looked upon the deed. Bro. S. was oppressed by a most horrible feeling as he waited for a reply. After a brief pause
the man answered, "Just as I have always looked upon it that it was a d . . . d cold blooded murder." The cloud immediately lifted from Bro. Smith and he found that he had his open pocket knife grasped in his hand in his pocket, and he believes that had this man given his approval to that murder of the prophets, he would have immediately struck him to the heart.
[Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
180 years ago today - Dec 6, 1844
The last of the capital sunstones were placed on the [Nauvoo] temple walls. There were problems in raising the stone, causing a delay of an hour and a half, when it was finally placed at 10:30 a.m., which closed the construction season for 1844. The last stone had been cut by Harvey Stanley. Twelve of the capitals were still lacking their trumpet stones, which would not be placed until the following spring. The Saints viewed the late arrival of winter as divine assistance in their labors; the season's first snow storm commenced just two hours after the last sunstone was placed. By morning there was four inches of snow on the ground.
[Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple]
[Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple]
185 years ago today - Dec 6, 1839
[Brigham Young]
I found the Saints in confusion; they had the gift of tongues among them, and the interpretation, and they were so ignorant of the nature of these gifts that they supposed that everything which was spoken in tongues was immediate revelation from God; a false spirit had therefore crept in, and division was the result. I taught them that when they spoke in tongues the language might be from the Lord, but with that tongue they spoke the things which were in their hearts, whether they were good or evil; the gift of tongues was given for a blessing to the Saints, but not to govern them, nor to control the elders, or dictate the affairs of the Church. God had placed in the Church different gifts; among which were apostles, prophets, helps and governments, and wisdom was profitable to direct. Before leaving, the Saints came to an understanding on these matters.
[Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844, ed. Elden Jay Watson (Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968).]
I found the Saints in confusion; they had the gift of tongues among them, and the interpretation, and they were so ignorant of the nature of these gifts that they supposed that everything which was spoken in tongues was immediate revelation from God; a false spirit had therefore crept in, and division was the result. I taught them that when they spoke in tongues the language might be from the Lord, but with that tongue they spoke the things which were in their hearts, whether they were good or evil; the gift of tongues was given for a blessing to the Saints, but not to govern them, nor to control the elders, or dictate the affairs of the Church. God had placed in the Church different gifts; among which were apostles, prophets, helps and governments, and wisdom was profitable to direct. Before leaving, the Saints came to an understanding on these matters.
[Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844, ed. Elden Jay Watson (Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968).]
190 years ago today - 1834 6 Dec.
Joseph Smith, Sr., and son Hyrum are the first Freemasons to become general authorities, although they had not been active since the 1826 murder of anti-Masonic crusader William Morgan. Before his own death Joseph Smith would marry the anti-Masonic martyr's widow Lucinda. First Presidency ordains Hyrum Smith as an additional assistant president (counselor) and Joseph Sr. as assistant president and Presiding Patriarch. Joseph Jr. had ordained Brigham Young's father John Young as patriarch to his family a few weeks earlier.
[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]
45 years ago today - Dec 5, 1979
Feminist Sonia Johnson was formally excommunicated by the Mormon Church because of her outspoken support for the proposed Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution.
[Ratnikas, Algis, TimelinesDb, http://www.timelinesdb.com/listevents.php?subjid=201title=Utah]
[Ratnikas, Algis, TimelinesDb, http://www.timelinesdb.com/listevents.php?subjid=201title=Utah]
45 years ago today - Dec 5, 1979
The announcement of the excommunication of Sonia Johnson, president of the Mormons for the ERA. Charged with apostasy she unsuccessfully appeals the decision to the First Presidency (which already authorized this "local action"). Johnson's case becomes the top story in the New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, Washington Post, Time, Newsweek, and on network television news. The resulting non-Mormon criticism of the church and Johnson's own subsequent radicalization drive many LDS moderates away from their prior support of the proposed Equal Rights Amendment and into acceptance of the church's anti-ERA position.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
60 years ago today - Dec 5, 1964
It is deemed necessary that the following instructions should be imparted to the brethren and sisters of the Salt Lake Temple District who intend entering the House of the Lord to attend to ordinance work for themselves or their dead.
(1) The Saints who enter the sacred building should be properly prepared. Their bodies should be scrupulously clean; ...
(4) In the performance of work for the dead the rights of heirship (blood relationship) should be sacredly regarded, when practicable. When an heir empowers another person to do the work in his or her stead, he or she should give the acting proxy a written authorization to that effect.
...(6) Those who do ordinance work have not the right to make matches between people who are deceased, except in cases of persons who were married in life. In all other instances the President of the Temple must be consulted. He should be appealed to in all matters involving doubt or complications.
(7) The Temple is open on all working days at 7:30 a.m. Monday is devoted to taking the record of Baptisms for the Dead, which are performed on Tuesdays. Baptismal records are not taken after twelve o'clock on Mondays. On Tuesdays all ought to be in the building by 8 a.m. (8) The higher ordinances are attended to on Wednesdays, Thurs days, and Fridays. The record of this work is taken between the hours of 7:30 and 9 a.m., of the day it is performed. After the last named hour none will be admitted, as the doors will then be permanently closed for the day. The earlier the Saints come to [turn] in record[s] the better. ...
[Lorenzo Snow, President of the Salt Lake Temple, "To Whom it may Concern," June 23, 1893, reprinted in the Church News, Dec. 5, 1964 as quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship. I've added line feeds for readability]
(1) The Saints who enter the sacred building should be properly prepared. Their bodies should be scrupulously clean; ...
(4) In the performance of work for the dead the rights of heirship (blood relationship) should be sacredly regarded, when practicable. When an heir empowers another person to do the work in his or her stead, he or she should give the acting proxy a written authorization to that effect.
...(6) Those who do ordinance work have not the right to make matches between people who are deceased, except in cases of persons who were married in life. In all other instances the President of the Temple must be consulted. He should be appealed to in all matters involving doubt or complications.
(7) The Temple is open on all working days at 7:30 a.m. Monday is devoted to taking the record of Baptisms for the Dead, which are performed on Tuesdays. Baptismal records are not taken after twelve o'clock on Mondays. On Tuesdays all ought to be in the building by 8 a.m. (8) The higher ordinances are attended to on Wednesdays, Thurs days, and Fridays. The record of this work is taken between the hours of 7:30 and 9 a.m., of the day it is performed. After the last named hour none will be admitted, as the doors will then be permanently closed for the day. The earlier the Saints come to [turn] in record[s] the better. ...
[Lorenzo Snow, President of the Salt Lake Temple, "To Whom it may Concern," June 23, 1893, reprinted in the Church News, Dec. 5, 1964 as quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship. I've added line feeds for readability]
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