Apostle Erastus Snow writes that he "could not conscientiously, and in justice to the cause we are engaged in, refuse to Brother [Orson] Pratt [Jr.] the liberty to withdraw from the [High] Council as Brother Pratt's statements of his views, doubting as he does, the divinity of the calling of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the consequent building up of the Church" Orson Pratt Jr. had asked to be released but Erastus Snow had been trying to talk him out of it.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
180 years ago today - May 8, 1844
Joseph Smith states: "The only sin I ever committed was in exercising sympathy and covering up their [John C. Bennett and others] iniquities, on their solemn promise to reform, and of this I am ashamed, and will never do so again.
[Hales, Brian C., Joseph Smith's Polygamy: History and Theology, 3 vols., Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2013 (www.JosephSmithsPolygamy.com)]
[Hales, Brian C., Joseph Smith's Polygamy: History and Theology, 3 vols., Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2013 (www.JosephSmithsPolygamy.com)]
180 years ago today - May 8, 1844
Forty-two-year-old Brigham Young takes sixteen-year-old Clarissa Caroline Decker as his fourth wife. Young had already taken Clarissa's sister Lucy as his second wife two years previously.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
180 years ago today - May 8, 1844
Joseph is tried before the municipal court on Higbee's charge. He is acquitted, and Higbee pays the court costs.
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
190 years ago today - 1834 8 May.
Zion's Camp begins its armed march from Kirtland, Ohio, to Jackson County, Missouri, in obedience to a revelation of 24 Feb.: "the redemption of Zion must come by power...and ye shall avenge me of mine enemies."
[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]
15 years ago today - May 7, 2009
... "With the revelation that Obama's late mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, was baptized by proxy last year in the faith's Provo temple, a spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said it is "counter to church policy for a church member to submit names for baptism for persons to whom they are not related." ...
[The Salt Lake Tribune, Thomas Burr, "Obama's Momma Baptized", A chronicle of the Mormon-Jewish controversy; The LDS Agreement: A JewishGen InfoFile, http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/ldsagree.html]
[The Salt Lake Tribune, Thomas Burr, "Obama's Momma Baptized", A chronicle of the Mormon-Jewish controversy; The LDS Agreement: A JewishGen InfoFile, http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/ldsagree.html]
15 years ago today - May 7, 2009
The Salt Lake Tribune
by Thomas Burr (excerpt)
[Obama's Momma Baptized]
"With the revelation that Obama's late mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, was baptized by proxy last year in the faith's Provo temple, a spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said it is "counter to church policy for a church member to submit names for baptism for persons to whom they are not related." ...
[A chronicle of the Mormon-Jewish controversy; The LDS Agreement: A JewishGen InfoFile, http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/ldsagree.html]
by Thomas Burr (excerpt)
[Obama's Momma Baptized]
"With the revelation that Obama's late mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, was baptized by proxy last year in the faith's Provo temple, a spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said it is "counter to church policy for a church member to submit names for baptism for persons to whom they are not related." ...
[A chronicle of the Mormon-Jewish controversy; The LDS Agreement: A JewishGen InfoFile, http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/ldsagree.html]
140 years ago today - May 7, 1884
Pres[iden]t. W[illiam]. W. Cluffs [letter] was read wherein he tenders his resignation rather than to enter into plural marriage. refered to the 1st Presidency to decide.
[Franklin D. Richards, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
[Franklin D. Richards, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
150 years ago today - May 07, 1874
During general conference, President Brigham Young organizes the united order in the Salt Lake City wards. Over the course of the following months, the order is organized in dozens of towns throughout the territory.
180 years ago today - 1844 7 May.
[Joseph Smith]
William Law and associates receive the printing press on which they plan to publish the Nauvoo Expositor.
[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]
William Law and associates receive the printing press on which they plan to publish the Nauvoo Expositor.
[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 - May 7, 1834
"Once after returning from a mission, he [Zebedee Coltrin] met Bro. Joseph in Kirtland, who asked him if he did not wish to go with him to a conference at New Portage. The party consisted of Prests. Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Oliver Cowdery and myself. Next morning at New Portage, he noticed that Joseph seemed to have a far off look in his eyes, or was looking at a distance, and presently he, Joseph, stepped between Brothers Cowdery, and Coltrin and taking them by the arm, said, "lets take a walk." They went to a place where there was some beautiful grass, and grapevines and swampbeech interlaced. President Joseph Smith then said, "Let us pray." They all three prayed in turn--Joseph, Oliver and Zebedee. Bro. Joseph then said, "now brethren we will see some visions." Joseph lay down on the ground on his back and stretched out his arms and the two brethren lay on them. The heavens gradually opened, and they saw a golden throne, on a circular foundation, something like a light
house, and on the throne were two aged personages, having white hair, and clothed in white garments. They were the two most beautiful and perfect specimens of mankind he ever saw. Joseph said, They are our first parents, Adam and Eve. Adam was a large broad shouldered man, and Eve as a woman, was as large in proportion."
[Salt Lake School of the Prophet, Minutes, 1883, pp. 69-70; CHO CR/390/1/Box 1, Oct 11, 1883]
house, and on the throne were two aged personages, having white hair, and clothed in white garments. They were the two most beautiful and perfect specimens of mankind he ever saw. Joseph said, They are our first parents, Adam and Eve. Adam was a large broad shouldered man, and Eve as a woman, was as large in proportion."
[Salt Lake School of the Prophet, Minutes, 1883, pp. 69-70; CHO CR/390/1/Box 1, Oct 11, 1883]
170 years ago today - May 6, 1854
Patriarchal Blessing of Henry Augustus Martineau given by Elisha H. Groves ... Thou shalt be delivered by the Holy Angels like unto Moroni in the day of battle. The Angel of Venge[a]nce shall be with thee - shall strengthen and nurse thy sinews that thou mayest be able to avenge the blood of innocence upon those that dwell upon the earth. Wisdom shall be given unto thee, that thou mayest be able to fill any mission or station that shall be given unto thee in thy day. ...
Thou shalt behold the winding up scene - the coming of thy Redeemer - the reign of peace upon the Earth, delight thyself in the blessing of the fruit of the vine and the olive yard - receive receive thy enduement [endowment] and blessings in the temple in Zion, be anointed a king and a priest unto the most High God, receive thy crown, kingdom, power, dominion and eternal increase, be numbered with the hundred and forty-four thousand, reign with thy Redeemer upon the Earth. These blessings shall be sure unto thee. I seal them upon thy head in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, even so. Amen.
[Patriarchal Blessings]
Thou shalt behold the winding up scene - the coming of thy Redeemer - the reign of peace upon the Earth, delight thyself in the blessing of the fruit of the vine and the olive yard - receive receive thy enduement [endowment] and blessings in the temple in Zion, be anointed a king and a priest unto the most High God, receive thy crown, kingdom, power, dominion and eternal increase, be numbered with the hundred and forty-four thousand, reign with thy Redeemer upon the Earth. These blessings shall be sure unto thee. I seal them upon thy head in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, even so. Amen.
[Patriarchal Blessings]
170 years ago today - May 6, 1854
[Brigham Young]
If the Lord should open the visions of the minds of the people that have gone to Calafornia so that they could see things as they are they would as soon cut their throats as to have done it but they dont see it. ...
We are approaching very swiftly the time when Jesus will come to see if we are of one heart & mind which the Prophet Joseph said would be in this generation & will manifest himself to the Saints & take up his abode with him. This was said 2 [.] years ago & in 26 years more if we are not prepared to meet Jesus [-] angels we shall be wiped out & sent to hell. We are fast approaching the time.
... What if the people in Jackson Co. had been good & been sanctified? What would have been the situation of the people? Why, the liars & goats would have had their heads cut off....
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
If the Lord should open the visions of the minds of the people that have gone to Calafornia so that they could see things as they are they would as soon cut their throats as to have done it but they dont see it. ...
We are approaching very swiftly the time when Jesus will come to see if we are of one heart & mind which the Prophet Joseph said would be in this generation & will manifest himself to the Saints & take up his abode with him. This was said 2 [.] years ago & in 26 years more if we are not prepared to meet Jesus [-] angels we shall be wiped out & sent to hell. We are fast approaching the time.
... What if the people in Jackson Co. had been good & been sanctified? What would have been the situation of the people? Why, the liars & goats would have had their heads cut off....
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
175 years ago today - May 6, 1849
6 o'clock p.m. Presidents Young & Richards, Elders J. Taylor, C. C. Rich, L. Snow, E. Snow & F. D. Richards, Thos Bullock met at br[other] L. Youngs little room & spent the evening in conversation upon many little incidents connected with finding the Plates, preserving them from the hand of the wicked, & returning them again to Cumorah, who did it &c, also about the gift of seeing & how Joseph obtained his first seer stone. Treasures known to exist in the earth of money & records, Josephs death pace of burial President said he felt it would not be long till we would have him with us again.
[Record of the Twelve Apostles, 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]
[Record of the Twelve Apostles, 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]
175 years ago today - May 6, 1849 (Afternoon)
[Brigham Young Sermon]
The President prophesied that we would have an abundant crop this year. Also that this was the only place on earth for the saints to gather and if we were driven from here there would be no place for us.
[The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
The President prophesied that we would have an abundant crop this year. Also that this was the only place on earth for the saints to gather and if we were driven from here there would be no place for us.
[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 - May 6, 1844
[Joseph Smith]
10 [A.M.] to 12 in council [with the Council of Fifty]. 2 to 4 1/2 P.M. in council. Voted Almon W. Babbit go on a [diplomatic] mission to France. L[ucien] Woodworth on a [diplomatic] mission to Texas and Sidney Rigdon be candidate for the Vice Presidency of the U[nited] States.
Had a warrant served on me from Circuit Court on complaint of F[rancis] M. Higbee. Dam[ag]e[s] $5,000. Petition for writ of Habeus Corpus. Writ issued by clerk of Municipal Court.
[Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1844, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
10 [A.M.] to 12 in council [with the Council of Fifty]. 2 to 4 1/2 P.M. in council. Voted Almon W. Babbit go on a [diplomatic] mission to France. L[ucien] Woodworth on a [diplomatic] mission to Texas and Sidney Rigdon be candidate for the Vice Presidency of the U[nited] States.
Had a warrant served on me from Circuit Court on complaint of F[rancis] M. Higbee. Dam[ag]e[s] $5,000. Petition for writ of Habeus Corpus. Writ issued by clerk of Municipal Court.
[Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1844, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
180 years ago today - Monday, May 6, 1844
[George Miller]
In this council it was agreed upon that we would run Joseph Smith for President of the U.S. which we would certainly do, and also Sidney Rigdon for Vice President; and in case they were elected we would at once establish dominion in the United States, and in view of a failure we would send a minister to the then Republic of Texas to make a treaty with the Cabinet of Texas for all that country north of a west line from the falls of the Colorado River to the Nueces [River]; thence down the same to the Gulf of Mexico, and along the same to Rio Grand, and up the same to the U.S. territory, and get them to acknowledge us as a nation; and on the part of the church we would help them defend themselves against Mexico, standing as a go- between [for] the belligerent powers. And if successful in this matter we would have dominion in spite of the United States, and we would send the Black River lumber company to take possession of the newly acquired territory.-Lucien Woodworth was chosen
minister to Texas.
[George Miller letter, Northern Islander, Michigan, 1855, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
In this council it was agreed upon that we would run Joseph Smith for President of the U.S. which we would certainly do, and also Sidney Rigdon for Vice President; and in case they were elected we would at once establish dominion in the United States, and in view of a failure we would send a minister to the then Republic of Texas to make a treaty with the Cabinet of Texas for all that country north of a west line from the falls of the Colorado River to the Nueces [River]; thence down the same to the Gulf of Mexico, and along the same to Rio Grand, and up the same to the U.S. territory, and get them to acknowledge us as a nation; and on the part of the church we would help them defend themselves against Mexico, standing as a go- between [for] the belligerent powers. And if successful in this matter we would have dominion in spite of the United States, and we would send the Black River lumber company to take possession of the newly acquired territory.-Lucien Woodworth was chosen
minister to Texas.
[George Miller letter, Northern Islander, Michigan, 1855, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
185 years ago today - May 6, 1839
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal]
Several of the Brethren attended this conference that was wounded by the Missouri mob one of which I will mention which was Brother ISAAC LEANY who was in company with about twenty others at Hawns mill in upper Missouri when a large armed mob fell upon them with loaded rifles & other weapons & shot down Seventeen of the Saints & murdered them in cool blood.
Brother Leany flead from the midst of this seanery & while fleeing the mob poured forth a shower of balls upon him which pierced his body through and through. He showed me eleven ball holes in his body. Their was 27 in his shirt, 7 in his pantaloons, & his coat literally cut to rags. One ball entered his body at one armpit & came out at the other. Another entered the back & came out at the breast. A ball passed through each hip through each leg & each arm. All this was while he was running for life & as strange as it may appear all those wounds with one broken rib did not lessen his speed in the least but he entirely out run his enemies & saved his life. We can ownly acknowledge it to be by the power & mercy of God.
Brother Joseph Young was among the number. He also fled & although the balls flew around him like hailstones yet he was not wounded. How marvelous are the ways of the Lord.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Several of the Brethren attended this conference that was wounded by the Missouri mob one of which I will mention which was Brother ISAAC LEANY who was in company with about twenty others at Hawns mill in upper Missouri when a large armed mob fell upon them with loaded rifles & other weapons & shot down Seventeen of the Saints & murdered them in cool blood.
Brother Leany flead from the midst of this seanery & while fleeing the mob poured forth a shower of balls upon him which pierced his body through and through. He showed me eleven ball holes in his body. Their was 27 in his shirt, 7 in his pantaloons, & his coat literally cut to rags. One ball entered his body at one armpit & came out at the other. Another entered the back & came out at the breast. A ball passed through each hip through each leg & each arm. All this was while he was running for life & as strange as it may appear all those wounds with one broken rib did not lessen his speed in the least but he entirely out run his enemies & saved his life. We can ownly acknowledge it to be by the power & mercy of God.
Brother Joseph Young was among the number. He also fled & although the balls flew around him like hailstones yet he was not wounded. How marvelous are the ways of the Lord.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
190 years ago today - May 6, 1834
Oliver Cowdery: -Within that house, God shall pour out his Spirit in great majesty and glory and encircle his people with fire more gloriously and marvelously than at Pentecost
[Letter of Oliver Cowdery to John F. Boynton at Saca, Maine, written May 6, 1834, at Kirtland Timeline - Kirtland Safety Society, the Bank of Monroe, Temple Dedication, Consecration, and significant historical events related, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/kirtland-timeline-kirtland-safety-society-the-bank-of-monroe-temple-dedication-consecration-and-significant-historical-events-related/]
[Letter of Oliver Cowdery to John F. Boynton at Saca, Maine, written May 6, 1834, at Kirtland Timeline - Kirtland Safety Society, the Bank of Monroe, Temple Dedication, Consecration, and significant historical events related, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/kirtland-timeline-kirtland-safety-society-the-bank-of-monroe-temple-dedication-consecration-and-significant-historical-events-related/]
190 years ago today - May 6, 1834
[Heber C. Kimball diary, Zion's Camp]
We were now reorganized in the following order: Joseph was acknowledged commander in chief; Lyman Wight was chosen general of the camp; then Brother Joseph chose twenty men for his life guard, I being one of the number; Brother George A. Smith was Joseph's armor bearer; Hyrum Smith was chosen captain of the life guard ...
[Whitney, Helen Mar, Jeni Broberg Holzapfel, and Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, A Woman's View: Helen Mar Whitney's Reminiscences of Early Church History, Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1997]
We were now reorganized in the following order: Joseph was acknowledged commander in chief; Lyman Wight was chosen general of the camp; then Brother Joseph chose twenty men for his life guard, I being one of the number; Brother George A. Smith was Joseph's armor bearer; Hyrum Smith was chosen captain of the life guard ...
[Whitney, Helen Mar, Jeni Broberg Holzapfel, and Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, A Woman's View: Helen Mar Whitney's Reminiscences of Early Church History, Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1997]
90 years ago today - May 5, 1934
By authorization of President Heber J. Grant, all former priesthood and temple blessings are restored to William A. Hickman. He was excommunicated in 1868 for reasons not completely clear. Official Church records cite "apostasy," but Hickman declared it was because he left the territory "without permission." Hickman testified under oath that Brigham Young had "ordered" him to commit murder. In 1872 Brigham Young was indicted for murder based on Hickman's testimony. The charges were later dropped.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
120 years ago today - Thursday, May 5, 1904
[Rudger Clawson Diary]
.... The bishop of the 2nd Ward informed him [Elder Hyrum Smith], just as he stopped on the train to return home, that there is a patriarch [Rasmus Rasmussen] in the Cache Stake in Logan, who visits the saloon and who is guilty of stealing whiskey in small bottles from the saloon. The empty bottles had ben found in his home, and yet he is sustained in his position as patriarch. ...
[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]
.... The bishop of the 2nd Ward informed him [Elder Hyrum Smith], just as he stopped on the train to return home, that there is a patriarch [Rasmus Rasmussen] in the Cache Stake in Logan, who visits the saloon and who is guilty of stealing whiskey in small bottles from the saloon. The empty bottles had ben found in his home, and yet he is sustained in his position as patriarch. ...
[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]
120 years ago today - Thursday, May 5, 1904
[Apostle Rudger Clawson Diary]
.... The bishop of the 2nd Ward informed him [Elder Hyrum Smith] , just as he stopped on the train to return home, that there is a patriarch [Rasmus Rasmussen] in the Cache Stake in Logan, who visits the saloon and who is guilty of stealing whiskey in small bottles from the saloon. The empty bottles had ben found in his home, and yet he is sustained in his position as patriarch. ...
[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]
.... The bishop of the 2nd Ward informed him [Elder Hyrum Smith] , just as he stopped on the train to return home, that there is a patriarch [Rasmus Rasmussen] in the Cache Stake in Logan, who visits the saloon and who is guilty of stealing whiskey in small bottles from the saloon. The empty bottles had ben found in his home, and yet he is sustained in his position as patriarch. ...
[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]
120 years ago today - May 5, 1904; Thursday
[Abraham O. Woodruff]
I occupy a very delicate position in relation to Brother [Senator Elect, Apostle Reed] Smoot's case in view of the stand I took in regard to this matter when it came before our Council, which stand I do not believe he has ever quite excused. On account of this fact I should very much dislike to be called as a witness and be forced to say anthing detrimental to his cause. I gave my views honestly and because I feared his candidacy would bring trouble to the Cause and because I never have believed it a proper thing to sacrifice principle to the policies of ambitions of men, if Brother Smoot feels badly toward me for giving an honest expression of my views when I was invited to do so all I can say is that I am sorry that he feels so.
[Abraham Owen Woodruff, letter to Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder, and Anthon H. Lund, LDS Archives]
I occupy a very delicate position in relation to Brother [Senator Elect, Apostle Reed] Smoot's case in view of the stand I took in regard to this matter when it came before our Council, which stand I do not believe he has ever quite excused. On account of this fact I should very much dislike to be called as a witness and be forced to say anthing detrimental to his cause. I gave my views honestly and because I feared his candidacy would bring trouble to the Cause and because I never have believed it a proper thing to sacrifice principle to the policies of ambitions of men, if Brother Smoot feels badly toward me for giving an honest expression of my views when I was invited to do so all I can say is that I am sorry that he feels so.
[Abraham Owen Woodruff, letter to Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder, and Anthon H. Lund, LDS Archives]
165 years ago today - May 5-6, 1859
[Mountain Meadows]
The army and Judge Cradlebaugh inspect the massacre scene. Skulls, bones, masses of women's hair, and bits of clothing still litter the scene. Remains of the victims are buried by troops. Cradlebaugh follows up his visit with a letter to President Buchanan outlining his conclusion that the murders were committed "by order of council."
[Linder, Douglas, The Mountain Meadows Massacre Trials, http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTRIALS/mountainmeadows/leechrono.html]
The army and Judge Cradlebaugh inspect the massacre scene. Skulls, bones, masses of women's hair, and bits of clothing still litter the scene. Remains of the victims are buried by troops. Cradlebaugh follows up his visit with a letter to President Buchanan outlining his conclusion that the murders were committed "by order of council."
[Linder, Douglas, The Mountain Meadows Massacre Trials, http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTRIALS/mountainmeadows/leechrono.html]
170 years ago today - May 5, 1854
[Brigham Young]
.... The traditions of the people were so strong that they could not bear the Idea of having a Prophet dictate their temporal affairs.... Judge ye then why should it be thought a thing incredible or unjust for a profit [prophet] of God who is called to guide & controll us in all the weighty matters that consern us should also counsel us in those lesser matters of every day life? Now go to & build your wall around your City as you have been Commanded to do & the blessings of God will rest upon you. But if you refuse to follow the counsel given there is a rod preparing for you & it will be but a short time before you will see the law of God visible in the counsel that has been given to this people ...
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
.... The traditions of the people were so strong that they could not bear the Idea of having a Prophet dictate their temporal affairs.... Judge ye then why should it be thought a thing incredible or unjust for a profit [prophet] of God who is called to guide & controll us in all the weighty matters that consern us should also counsel us in those lesser matters of every day life? Now go to & build your wall around your City as you have been Commanded to do & the blessings of God will rest upon you. But if you refuse to follow the counsel given there is a rod preparing for you & it will be but a short time before you will see the law of God visible in the counsel that has been given to this people ...
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
170 years ago today - May 5, 1854
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal]
[quoting Brigham Young] ... The traditions of the people were so strong that they could not bear the Idea of having a Prophet dictate their temporal affairs.... Judge ye then why should it be thought a thing incredible or unjust for a profit [prophet] of God who is called to guide & controll us in all the weighty matters that consern us should also counsel us in those lesser matters of every day life? Now go to & build your wall around your City as you have been Commanded to do & the blessings of God will rest upon you. But if you refuse to follow the counsel given there is a rod preparing for you & it will be but a short time before you will see the law of God visible in the counsel that has been given to this people ...
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[quoting Brigham Young] ... The traditions of the people were so strong that they could not bear the Idea of having a Prophet dictate their temporal affairs.... Judge ye then why should it be thought a thing incredible or unjust for a profit [prophet] of God who is called to guide & controll us in all the weighty matters that consern us should also counsel us in those lesser matters of every day life? Now go to & build your wall around your City as you have been Commanded to do & the blessings of God will rest upon you. But if you refuse to follow the counsel given there is a rod preparing for you & it will be but a short time before you will see the law of God visible in the counsel that has been given to this people ...
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
190 years ago today - May 5, 1834
[Heber C. Kimball diary - Zion's camp leaves Kirtland]
We started on the 5th of May, and truly this was a solemn morning to me. I took leave of my wife and children and friends, not expecting ever to see them again, as myself and brethren were threatened both in that country and in Missouri by the enemies, that they would destroy us and exterminate us from the land.
There were about one hundred brethren in our company who started for Zion. These brethren were all young men and nearly all elders, Priests, Teachers and Deacons.
[Kimball, Stanley B. ed, On the Potter's Wheel: The Diaries of Heber C. Kimball]
We started on the 5th of May, and truly this was a solemn morning to me. I took leave of my wife and children and friends, not expecting ever to see them again, as myself and brethren were threatened both in that country and in Missouri by the enemies, that they would destroy us and exterminate us from the land.
There were about one hundred brethren in our company who started for Zion. These brethren were all young men and nearly all elders, Priests, Teachers and Deacons.
[Kimball, Stanley B. ed, On the Potter's Wheel: The Diaries of Heber C. Kimball]
190 years ago today - May 5-Jul 3, 1834
The march of Zion's Camp from Kirtland to Missouri: This group of Saints marches about nine hundred miles in three weeks to protect the Saints in Missouri from the other Missourians if and when Gov. Dunklin restores them to their Jackson County lands. Beginning with about 100 men, the numbers eventually swell to 204 men, 11 women, and 8 children. Joseph divides them into companies of 12 men each, and each company has 2 cooks, 2 firemen, 2 tentmen, 2 watermen, 2 wagoneers and horsemen, 1 runner, and 1 commissarian. A man marches in front of the group carrying a white flag with the red letters PEACE on it. They take whatever old weapons they can get. Joseph has the best weapons of all, including a good sword, rifle, a very aggressive bulldog, and a fine pair of silver-mounted pistols with brass barrels, which were captured in the War of 1812. Joseph travels incognito, calling himself Squire Cook. Every morning at four o'clock and every evening a trumpet blast signals for the men
tokneel for their prayers.
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
tokneel for their prayers.
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
75 years ago today - May 4, 1949
[David O. McKay]
(9:30 a.m.) Brother Alexander Schreiner came in very much upset because Brother Asper had accused him of claiming to be 'head Tabernacle organist,' and Brother Asper said that if it ever happened again there would be 'fire works.' It has happened again, and Brother Schreiner says it is through no wish or action of his, but some magazine has referred to him as 'chief organist' in the Tabernacle. Others have referred to Brother Schreiner as 'Head organist.' Brother Schreiner said, 'I don't want to hurt Brother Asper and I do not know what to do.' I said 'Don't do anything, and when the 'fire works' come we shall see if we can distinguish the flame with some pacifying element.'
[David O. McKay 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]
(9:30 a.m.) Brother Alexander Schreiner came in very much upset because Brother Asper had accused him of claiming to be 'head Tabernacle organist,' and Brother Asper said that if it ever happened again there would be 'fire works.' It has happened again, and Brother Schreiner says it is through no wish or action of his, but some magazine has referred to him as 'chief organist' in the Tabernacle. Others have referred to Brother Schreiner as 'Head organist.' Brother Schreiner said, 'I don't want to hurt Brother Asper and I do not know what to do.' I said 'Don't do anything, and when the 'fire works' come we shall see if we can distinguish the flame with some pacifying element.'
[David O. McKay 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]
120 years ago today - May 4, 1904
President Joseph F. Smith allows Francis M. Lyman, president of the Quorum of the Twelve, to send a letter on First Presidency stationery urging the apostles "in your private conversations and counsels" to avoid any "infractions of the law in regard to plural marriage." This is couched in the language of "advice" similar to the 1890 "manifesto" of Wilford Woodruff and does not specify that plural marriages are forbidden under any circumstance anywhere in the world.
120 years ago today - May 4, 1904
[Francis M. Lyman]
.... I occupy a very delicate position in relation to Brother [Reed] Smoot's case in view of the stand I took in regard to this matter when it came before our Council, which stand I do not believe he has ever quite excused. On account of this fact I should very much dislike to be called as a witness and be forced to say anything detrimental to his cause. I gave my views honestly and because I feared his candidacy would bring trouble to the Cause and because I never have believed it a proper thing to sacrifice principle to the policies of ambitions of men, if Brother Smoot feels badly toward me for giving an honest expression of my views when I was invited to do so all I can say is that I am sorry that he feels so. Pres[iden]t Jos[eph] F Smith called in Bro[ther] [Charles] Wilcken & myself & stated he wished to call all our underground friends together at a Social to be held in the Bee Hive House next Thursday May 12th at 4 oclock p.m.
[Francis M. Lyman, Letter to 'Dear Brother', 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 occupy a very delicate position in relation to Brother [Reed] Smoot's case in view of the stand I took in regard to this matter when it came before our Council, which stand I do not believe he has ever quite excused. On account of this fact I should very much dislike to be called as a witness and be forced to say anything detrimental to his cause. I gave my views honestly and because I feared his candidacy would bring trouble to the Cause and because I never have believed it a proper thing to sacrifice principle to the policies of ambitions of men, if Brother Smoot feels badly toward me for giving an honest expression of my views when I was invited to do so all I can say is that I am sorry that he feels so. Pres[iden]t Jos[eph] F Smith called in Bro[ther] [Charles] Wilcken & myself & stated he wished to call all our underground friends together at a Social to be held in the Bee Hive House next Thursday May 12th at 4 oclock p.m.
[Francis M. Lyman, Letter to 'Dear Brother', 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 - May 4, 1884
[George Q. Cannon]
My brethren and sisters, it is a glorious truth that has been taught to us, that we are literally the children of God, that we are his literal descendants, as Jesus was literally descended from Him, and that He is our Father as much as our earthly parent is our father, and we can go to Him with a feeling of nearness, knowing this, understanding it by the revelations which God has given to us.
[J. D. 25:155; George Q. Cannon; Delivered in Salt Lake Tabernacle, Salt Lake Stake Quarterly Conference; Sunday Evening, May 4, 1884; Quotations Dealing with the Relationship of Our First Earthly Parents to Our Heavenly Parents (1830-1978)]
My brethren and sisters, it is a glorious truth that has been taught to us, that we are literally the children of God, that we are his literal descendants, as Jesus was literally descended from Him, and that He is our Father as much as our earthly parent is our father, and we can go to Him with a feeling of nearness, knowing this, understanding it by the revelations which God has given to us.
[J. D. 25:155; George Q. Cannon; Delivered in Salt Lake Tabernacle, Salt Lake Stake Quarterly Conference; Sunday Evening, May 4, 1884; Quotations Dealing with the Relationship of Our First Earthly Parents to Our Heavenly Parents (1830-1978)]
140 years ago today - May 4, 1884
Future apostle James E. Talmadge writes, "Have just returned tonight from service at the Westminster Presbyterian Church. The minister spoke against belief in Darwinism and like most ministers whose remarks I have heard or read upon this subject-showed his ignorance. He spoke much as an ordinary person would-"Darwin. Oh yes-says we come from monkeys"-then condemns. I certainly think 'tis the ministers themselves who have bred the disgust with which most scientific people regard them-because they will dabble with matters from which their ignorance should keep them at a safe distance. The speaker tonight brought out many noble principles, but in spite of his eminence as a preacher-self contradiction and inconsistency were apparent."
185 years ago today - May 4, 1839
Orson Hyde and William Smith (Joseph's brother) are dropped from the Quorum of Twelve. Smith is reinstated later in the month and Hyde is reinstated on Jun 27.
40 years ago today - May 3, 1984
Dallin H. Oaks is ordained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles [replacing Mark E. Peterson].
[Wikipedia, 20th Century (Mormonism), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century_(Mormonism)]
[Wikipedia, 20th Century (Mormonism), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century_(Mormonism)]
45 years ago today - May 3, 1979-Thursday
[Leonard Arrington]
[USU professor] Hal [Harold W.] Bentley called to say that he had read through The Mormon Experience and that he thought it was a marvelous book. He doesn't understand how we were able to "get away with" all the things we did, considering the feelings of certain of the Brethren. ...
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
[USU professor] Hal [Harold W.] Bentley called to say that he had read through The Mormon Experience and that he thought it was a marvelous book. He doesn't understand how we were able to "get away with" all the things we did, considering the feelings of certain of the Brethren. ...
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
110 years ago today - May 3, 1914
[Apostle Heber J. Grant Diary]
President [Joseph F.] Smith endorsed every word that Sister Cannon had said regarding the divinity of the principle of plural marriage, but stated that no man on earth has the right today to enter into plural marriage, and that no man on earth had the right to perform such a plural marriage.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
President [Joseph F.] Smith endorsed every word that Sister Cannon had said regarding the divinity of the principle of plural marriage, but stated that no man on earth has the right today to enter into plural marriage, and that no man on earth had the right to perform such a plural marriage.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
150 years ago today - May 3, 1874 (Sunday)
Geo. D. Watt was excommunicated from the Church, at Kaysville, Davis Co., for apostasy.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
150 years ago today - May 3, 1874
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal]
We organized into the United Order of Zion [in Ogden] & Appointed a President 2 vice presidets 9 directors 3 Secretaries. Speeches were made By G. A. Smith D. H. Wells &c. ...
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
We organized into the United Order of Zion [in Ogden] & Appointed a President 2 vice presidets 9 directors 3 Secretaries. Speeches were made By G. A. Smith D. H. Wells &c. ...
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
170 years ago today - May 3, 1854
A month after Brigham Young publicly condemns and excommunicates lawyer Jesse T. Hartley, he starts for eastern states, apparently without Young's safe-conduct pass. William A. Hickman murders him during trip with Apostle Orson Hyde and Hosea Stout in the canyon. Stout's diary verifies Hìckman's later account of this.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
175 years ago today - May 3, 1849
On 3 May 1849 John M. Bernhisel left Great Salt Lake City with petitions asking Congress to create the Territory of Deseret, encompassing the Great Basin, the Colorado River drainage area, and a link to the Pacific Ocean around San Diego. Earlier, a slate of officers, all Mormon, had been endorsed in a mass meeting and the executive branch of Deseret had begun to function under "Governor" Brigham Young.
[Utah History Encyclopedia: Deseret, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
[Utah History Encyclopedia: Deseret, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
180 years ago today - Friday, May 3, 1844
I have attended the Grand Council as I will call it. Elder [Lucien] Woodworth has returned from Texas, the Prospect of our obtaining Room to form a Colony there is fair.
[Joseph Fielding journal, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
[Joseph Fielding journal, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
180 years ago today - Friday, May 3, 1844
George Miller refers to the Council of Fifty as the "council (of fifty princes of the kingdom)".
[George Miller letter, Northern Islander, Michigan, 1855, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
[George Miller letter, Northern Islander, Michigan, 1855, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
180 years ago today - Before May 3, 1844
Augustine Spencer writes a letter charging Joseph Smith with drinking, swearing, carousing, and keeping six or seven young females as wives.
[Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology, Rev 01 Volume 01" http://bit.ly/tiddchron]
[Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology, Rev 01 Volume 01" http://bit.ly/tiddchron]
180 years ago today - May 3, 1844 - Friday
[Council of Fifty]
Elder [Lucien] Woodworth having returned from his mission, reported that in course of his travels he had visited Galveston in the Texas, and had an interview with President [Sam] Houston. He made some propositions to Houston, but at first he thought nothing could be done. There are two parties in Texas, about equal in power. Houston goes out of office in December 'Tis thought he will be re-elected. There are many speculators who wish to have the Texas annexed to the United States to raise the price of land. ... There are many speculators in New Orleans &c who married [carried?] their slaves to Texas. ... The Texian government offered England certain principles for protection. I made a proposition to General Houston to give or sell us a tract of land on the Rio Grande. President thought it doubtful whether Congress would grant it. Next day he thought Congress might grant the Saints a tract for a settlement. ... Houston asked if I had any books on our religion and was sorry I
had not, so that he could read them. I told him I did not come to treat with him on religion. I told him if he did agree to give us a tract on which we might institute a government, we might try to get some other grant and assist them in their government. ...
The chairman [Joseph Smith] suggested to select 50 men aside from this council and organize them. Give each man his stint, to convert his equal in Texas at Galveston, and assist them in organizing a good government. ...
Er Hyrum Smith thought the first move ought to be to get a grant of land on which to colonize the poor of England &c. and the fame thereof will go abroad as a place of rest and safety, and the people may gather.
Dr. [John M.] Bernhisel approved of petitioning Congress of Texas for a grant of land. ...
[Joseph Smith Papers: Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844-January 1846]
Elder [Lucien] Woodworth having returned from his mission, reported that in course of his travels he had visited Galveston in the Texas, and had an interview with President [Sam] Houston. He made some propositions to Houston, but at first he thought nothing could be done. There are two parties in Texas, about equal in power. Houston goes out of office in December 'Tis thought he will be re-elected. There are many speculators who wish to have the Texas annexed to the United States to raise the price of land. ... There are many speculators in New Orleans &c who married [carried?] their slaves to Texas. ... The Texian government offered England certain principles for protection. I made a proposition to General Houston to give or sell us a tract of land on the Rio Grande. President thought it doubtful whether Congress would grant it. Next day he thought Congress might grant the Saints a tract for a settlement. ... Houston asked if I had any books on our religion and was sorry I
had not, so that he could read them. I told him I did not come to treat with him on religion. I told him if he did agree to give us a tract on which we might institute a government, we might try to get some other grant and assist them in their government. ...
The chairman [Joseph Smith] suggested to select 50 men aside from this council and organize them. Give each man his stint, to convert his equal in Texas at Galveston, and assist them in organizing a good government. ...
Er Hyrum Smith thought the first move ought to be to get a grant of land on which to colonize the poor of England &c. and the fame thereof will go abroad as a place of rest and safety, and the people may gather.
Dr. [John M.] Bernhisel approved of petitioning Congress of Texas for a grant of land. ...
[Joseph Smith Papers: Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844-January 1846]
180 years ago today - Friday, May 3, 1844
[Brigham Young to Reuben Hedlock]
All things are going on gloriously at Nauvoo. We shall make a great wake in the nation. Joseph [Smith] for President. Your family is well, and friends generally. We have already received several hundred volunteers to go out electioneering and preaching and more offering. We go for storming the nation. ... The Kingdom is organized; and although as yet no bigger than a grain of mustard seed ... Cousin Lemuel is very friendly, and cultivating the spirit of peace and union in his family very extensively. William and Wilson Law, R[obert] D. Foster, C[hauncey] L. & F[rancis] Higbee, father [Austin] Cowles &c., have organized a new church. (Laws and Fosters were first cut off.) William Law is prophet, James Blakesley and Cowels, counselors; Higbee and Foster of the twelve: ... 'Tis the same old story over again, "The doctrine is right, but Joseph is a fallen prophet." Your brethren in the New Covenant, Brigham Young, Willard Richards.
[Historian's Office history, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
All things are going on gloriously at Nauvoo. We shall make a great wake in the nation. Joseph [Smith] for President. Your family is well, and friends generally. We have already received several hundred volunteers to go out electioneering and preaching and more offering. We go for storming the nation. ... The Kingdom is organized; and although as yet no bigger than a grain of mustard seed ... Cousin Lemuel is very friendly, and cultivating the spirit of peace and union in his family very extensively. William and Wilson Law, R[obert] D. Foster, C[hauncey] L. & F[rancis] Higbee, father [Austin] Cowles &c., have organized a new church. (Laws and Fosters were first cut off.) William Law is prophet, James Blakesley and Cowels, counselors; Higbee and Foster of the twelve: ... 'Tis the same old story over again, "The doctrine is right, but Joseph is a fallen prophet." Your brethren in the New Covenant, Brigham Young, Willard Richards.
[Historian's Office history, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
180 years ago today - Friday, May 3, 1844
[Brigham Young to Reuben Hedlock]
All things are going on gloriously at Nauvoo. We shall make a great wake in the nation. Joseph [Smith] for President. Your family is well, and friends generally. We have already received several hundred volunteers to go out electioneering and preaching and more offering. We go for storming the nation. ... The Kingdom is organized; and although as yet no bigger than a grain of mustard seed ... Cousin Lemuel is very friendly, and cultivating the spirit of peace and union in his family very extensively. William and Wilson Law, R[obert] D. Foster, C[hauncey] L. & F[rancis] Higbee, father [Austin] Cowles &c., have organized a new church. (Laws and Fosters were first cut off.) William Law is prophet, James Blakesley and Cowels, counselors; Higbee and Foster of the twelve: ... 'Tis the same old story over again, "The doctrine is right, but Joseph is a fallen prophet." Your brethren in the New Covenant, Brigham Young, Willard Richards.
[Historian's Office history, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
All things are going on gloriously at Nauvoo. We shall make a great wake in the nation. Joseph [Smith] for President. Your family is well, and friends generally. We have already received several hundred volunteers to go out electioneering and preaching and more offering. We go for storming the nation. ... The Kingdom is organized; and although as yet no bigger than a grain of mustard seed ... Cousin Lemuel is very friendly, and cultivating the spirit of peace and union in his family very extensively. William and Wilson Law, R[obert] D. Foster, C[hauncey] L. & F[rancis] Higbee, father [Austin] Cowles &c., have organized a new church. (Laws and Fosters were first cut off.) William Law is prophet, James Blakesley and Cowels, counselors; Higbee and Foster of the twelve: ... 'Tis the same old story over again, "The doctrine is right, but Joseph is a fallen prophet." Your brethren in the New Covenant, Brigham Young, Willard Richards.
[Historian's Office history, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
185 years ago today - May 3, 1839
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal]
We arived at his [Joseph Smith's] house & once more had the happy privilege of taking Brother Joseph by the hand. Two years had rolled away since I had seen his face. He greeted us with great Joy.
He had just received deliverance from prision & the hand of his enemies & returned to the bosom of his family & friends & also Hiram his brother & Lyman Wight & two other brethren. They had been confined in prison about six months & had been under the sentence of death three times. But yet there lives were in the hands of God & could not be taken by their enemies & they were now at home & we in their midst rejoicing together. Joseph was frank open & familiar as usual. Sister Emma was truly happy.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
We arived at his [Joseph Smith's] house & once more had the happy privilege of taking Brother Joseph by the hand. Two years had rolled away since I had seen his face. He greeted us with great Joy.
He had just received deliverance from prision & the hand of his enemies & returned to the bosom of his family & friends & also Hiram his brother & Lyman Wight & two other brethren. They had been confined in prison about six months & had been under the sentence of death three times. But yet there lives were in the hands of God & could not be taken by their enemies & they were now at home & we in their midst rejoicing together. Joseph was frank open & familiar as usual. Sister Emma was truly happy.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
190 years ago today - May 3, 1834
More than 100 men gather in Kirtland to form an organization known as "Zion's Camp." They confirm Joseph Smith as "President of the Church of Christ" and identify the organization as the "church of Latter Day Saints" in a conference of elders.
[Mark Lyman Staker, Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith's Ohio Revelations: A Selective Chronology of Significant Events in Ohio's LDS History]
[Mark Lyman Staker, Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith's Ohio Revelations: A Selective Chronology of Significant Events in Ohio's LDS History]
40 years ago today - May 3, 1984
Dallin H. Oaks is ordained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles [replacing Mark E. Peterson].
[Wikipedia, 20th Century (Mormonism), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century_(Mormonism)]
[Wikipedia, 20th Century (Mormonism), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century_(Mormonism)]
190 years ago today - May 3, 1834
A conference of elders renames the Church of Christ to the Church of the Latter Day Saints at Sidney's suggestion. Joseph calls volunteers in Kirtland together, speaks for a short time, and seals them up to eternal life: we ware all Sealed up to Eternal Life by Joseph and said they should come forth in the day of the Lord if they comited sins they would be delivereth over to the bufetings of Satan for the destruction of the flesh but they should come forth in of the day of the Lord Jesus.
[Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]
[Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]
45 years ago today - May 3, 1979-Thursday
[Leonard Arrington]
[USU professor] Hal [Harold W.] Bentley called to say that he had read through The Mormon Experience and that he thought it was a marvelous book. He doesn't understand how we were able to "get away with" all the things we did, considering the feelings of certain of the Brethren. ...
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
[USU professor] Hal [Harold W.] Bentley called to say that he had read through The Mormon Experience and that he thought it was a marvelous book. He doesn't understand how we were able to "get away with" all the things we did, considering the feelings of certain of the Brethren. ...
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
110 years ago today - May 3, 1914
[Apostle Heber J. Grant Diary]
President [Joseph F.] Smith endorsed every word that Sister Cannon had said regarding the divinity of the principle of plural marriage, but stated that no man on earth has the right today to enter into plural marriage, and that no man on earth had the right to perform such a plural marriage.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
President [Joseph F.] Smith endorsed every word that Sister Cannon had said regarding the divinity of the principle of plural marriage, but stated that no man on earth has the right today to enter into plural marriage, and that no man on earth had the right to perform such a plural marriage.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
150 years ago today - May 3, 1874 (Sunday)
Geo. D. Watt was excommunicated from the Church, at Kaysville, Davis Co., for apostasy.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
150 years ago today - May 3, 1874
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal]
We organized into the United Order of Zion [in Ogden] & Appointed a President 2 vice presidets 9 directors 3 Secretaries. Speeches were made By G. A. Smith D. H. Wells &c. ...
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
We organized into the United Order of Zion [in Ogden] & Appointed a President 2 vice presidets 9 directors 3 Secretaries. Speeches were made By G. A. Smith D. H. Wells &c. ...
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
170 years ago today - May 3, 1854
A month after Brigham Young publicly condemns and excommunicates lawyer Jesse T. Hartley, he starts for eastern states, apparently without Young's safe-conduct pass. William A. Hickman murders him during trip with Apostle Orson Hyde and Hosea Stout in the canyon. Stout's diary verifies Hìckman's later account of this.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
175 years ago today - May 3, 1849
On 3 May 1849 John M. Bernhisel left Great Salt Lake City with petitions asking Congress to create the Territory of Deseret, encompassing the Great Basin, the Colorado River drainage area, and a link to the Pacific Ocean around San Diego. Earlier, a slate of officers, all Mormon, had been endorsed in a mass meeting and the executive branch of Deseret had begun to function under "Governor" Brigham Young.
[Utah History Encyclopedia: Deseret, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
[Utah History Encyclopedia: Deseret, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
180 years ago today - Friday, May 3, 1844
I have attended the Grand Council as I will call it. Elder [Lucien] Woodworth has returned from Texas, the Prospect of our obtaining Room to form a Colony there is fair.
[Joseph Fielding journal, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
[Joseph Fielding journal, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
180 years ago today - Friday, May 3, 1844
George Miller refers to the Council of Fifty as the "council (of fifty princes of the kingdom)".
[George Miller letter, Northern Islander, Michigan, 1855, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
[George Miller letter, Northern Islander, Michigan, 1855, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
180 years ago today - Before May 3, 1844
Augustine Spencer writes a letter charging Joseph Smith with drinking, swearing, carousing, and keeping six or seven young females as wives.
[Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology, Rev 01 Volume 01" http://bit.ly/tiddchron]
[Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology, Rev 01 Volume 01" http://bit.ly/tiddchron]
180 years ago today - May 3, 1844 - Friday
[Council of Fifty]
Elder [Lucien] Woodworth having returned from his mission, reported that in course of his travels he had visited Galveston in the Texas, and had an interview with President [Sam] Houston. He made some propositions to Houston, but at first he thought nothing could be done. There are two parties in Texas, about equal in power. Houston goes out of office in December 'Tis thought he will be re-elected. There are many speculators who wish to have the Texas annexed to the United States to raise the price of land. ... There are many speculators in New Orleans &c who married [carried?] their slaves to Texas. ... The Texian government offered England certain principles for protection. I made a proposition to General Houston to give or sell us a tract of land on the Rio Grande. President thought it doubtful whether Congress would grant it. Next day he thought Congress might grant the Saints a tract for a settlement. ... Houston asked if I had any books on our religion and was sorry I
had not, so that he could read them. I told him I did not come to treat with him on religion. I told him if he did agree to give us a tract on which we might institute a government, we might try to get some other grant and assist them in their government. ...
The chairman [Joseph Smith] suggested to select 50 men aside from this council and organize them. Give each man his stint, to convert his equal in Texas at Galveston, and assist them in organizing a good government. ...
Er Hyrum Smith thought the first move ought to be to get a grant of land on which to colonize the poor of England &c. and the fame thereof will go abroad as a place of rest and safety, and the people may gather.
Dr. [John M.] Bernhisel approved of petitioning Congress of Texas for a grant of land. ...
[Joseph Smith Papers: Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844-January 1846]
Elder [Lucien] Woodworth having returned from his mission, reported that in course of his travels he had visited Galveston in the Texas, and had an interview with President [Sam] Houston. He made some propositions to Houston, but at first he thought nothing could be done. There are two parties in Texas, about equal in power. Houston goes out of office in December 'Tis thought he will be re-elected. There are many speculators who wish to have the Texas annexed to the United States to raise the price of land. ... There are many speculators in New Orleans &c who married [carried?] their slaves to Texas. ... The Texian government offered England certain principles for protection. I made a proposition to General Houston to give or sell us a tract of land on the Rio Grande. President thought it doubtful whether Congress would grant it. Next day he thought Congress might grant the Saints a tract for a settlement. ... Houston asked if I had any books on our religion and was sorry I
had not, so that he could read them. I told him I did not come to treat with him on religion. I told him if he did agree to give us a tract on which we might institute a government, we might try to get some other grant and assist them in their government. ...
The chairman [Joseph Smith] suggested to select 50 men aside from this council and organize them. Give each man his stint, to convert his equal in Texas at Galveston, and assist them in organizing a good government. ...
Er Hyrum Smith thought the first move ought to be to get a grant of land on which to colonize the poor of England &c. and the fame thereof will go abroad as a place of rest and safety, and the people may gather.
Dr. [John M.] Bernhisel approved of petitioning Congress of Texas for a grant of land. ...
[Joseph Smith Papers: Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844-January 1846]
180 years ago today - Friday, May 3, 1844
[Brigham Young to Reuben Hedlock]
All things are going on gloriously at Nauvoo. We shall make a great wake in the nation. Joseph [Smith] for President. Your family is well, and friends generally. We have already received several hundred volunteers to go out electioneering and preaching and more offering. We go for storming the nation. ... The Kingdom is organized; and although as yet no bigger than a grain of mustard seed ... Cousin Lemuel is very friendly, and cultivating the spirit of peace and union in his family very extensively. William and Wilson Law, R[obert] D. Foster, C[hauncey] L. & F[rancis] Higbee, father [Austin] Cowles &c., have organized a new church. (Laws and Fosters were first cut off.) William Law is prophet, James Blakesley and Cowels, counselors; Higbee and Foster of the twelve: ... 'Tis the same old story over again, "The doctrine is right, but Joseph is a fallen prophet." Your brethren in the New Covenant, Brigham Young, Willard Richards.
[Historian's Office history, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
All things are going on gloriously at Nauvoo. We shall make a great wake in the nation. Joseph [Smith] for President. Your family is well, and friends generally. We have already received several hundred volunteers to go out electioneering and preaching and more offering. We go for storming the nation. ... The Kingdom is organized; and although as yet no bigger than a grain of mustard seed ... Cousin Lemuel is very friendly, and cultivating the spirit of peace and union in his family very extensively. William and Wilson Law, R[obert] D. Foster, C[hauncey] L. & F[rancis] Higbee, father [Austin] Cowles &c., have organized a new church. (Laws and Fosters were first cut off.) William Law is prophet, James Blakesley and Cowels, counselors; Higbee and Foster of the twelve: ... 'Tis the same old story over again, "The doctrine is right, but Joseph is a fallen prophet." Your brethren in the New Covenant, Brigham Young, Willard Richards.
[Historian's Office history, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
180 years ago today - Friday, May 3, 1844
[Brigham Young to Reuben Hedlock]
All things are going on gloriously at Nauvoo. We shall make a great wake in the nation. Joseph [Smith] for President. Your family is well, and friends generally. We have already received several hundred volunteers to go out electioneering and preaching and more offering. We go for storming the nation. ... The Kingdom is organized; and although as yet no bigger than a grain of mustard seed ... Cousin Lemuel is very friendly, and cultivating the spirit of peace and union in his family very extensively. William and Wilson Law, R[obert] D. Foster, C[hauncey] L. & F[rancis] Higbee, father [Austin] Cowles &c., have organized a new church. (Laws and Fosters were first cut off.) William Law is prophet, James Blakesley and Cowels, counselors; Higbee and Foster of the twelve: ... 'Tis the same old story over again, "The doctrine is right, but Joseph is a fallen prophet." Your brethren in the New Covenant, Brigham Young, Willard Richards.
[Historian's Office history, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
All things are going on gloriously at Nauvoo. We shall make a great wake in the nation. Joseph [Smith] for President. Your family is well, and friends generally. We have already received several hundred volunteers to go out electioneering and preaching and more offering. We go for storming the nation. ... The Kingdom is organized; and although as yet no bigger than a grain of mustard seed ... Cousin Lemuel is very friendly, and cultivating the spirit of peace and union in his family very extensively. William and Wilson Law, R[obert] D. Foster, C[hauncey] L. & F[rancis] Higbee, father [Austin] Cowles &c., have organized a new church. (Laws and Fosters were first cut off.) William Law is prophet, James Blakesley and Cowels, counselors; Higbee and Foster of the twelve: ... 'Tis the same old story over again, "The doctrine is right, but Joseph is a fallen prophet." Your brethren in the New Covenant, Brigham Young, Willard Richards.
[Historian's Office history, as quoted in Jedediah S. Rogers (editor), The Council of Fifty: A Documentary History, Signature Books (2014)]
185 years ago today - May 3, 1839
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal]
We arived at his [Joseph Smith's] house & once more had the happy privilege of taking Brother Joseph by the hand. Two years had rolled away since I had seen his face. He greeted us with great Joy.
He had just received deliverance from prision & the hand of his enemies & returned to the bosom of his family & friends & also Hiram his brother & Lyman Wight & two other brethren. They had been confined in prison about six months & had been under the sentence of death three times. But yet there lives were in the hands of God & could not be taken by their enemies & they were now at home & we in their midst rejoicing together. Joseph was frank open & familiar as usual. Sister Emma was truly happy.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
We arived at his [Joseph Smith's] house & once more had the happy privilege of taking Brother Joseph by the hand. Two years had rolled away since I had seen his face. He greeted us with great Joy.
He had just received deliverance from prision & the hand of his enemies & returned to the bosom of his family & friends & also Hiram his brother & Lyman Wight & two other brethren. They had been confined in prison about six months & had been under the sentence of death three times. But yet there lives were in the hands of God & could not be taken by their enemies & they were now at home & we in their midst rejoicing together. Joseph was frank open & familiar as usual. Sister Emma was truly happy.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
190 years ago today - May 3, 1834
More than 100 men gather in Kirtland to form an organization known as "Zion's Camp." They confirm Joseph Smith as "President of the Church of Christ" and identify the organization as the "church of Latter Day Saints" in a conference of elders.
[Mark Lyman Staker, Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith's Ohio Revelations: A Selective Chronology of Significant Events in Ohio's LDS History]
[Mark Lyman Staker, Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith's Ohio Revelations: A Selective Chronology of Significant Events in Ohio's LDS History]
190 years ago today - May 3, 1834
A conference of elders renames the Church of Christ to the Church of the Latter Day Saints at Sidney's suggestion. Joseph calls volunteers in Kirtland together, speaks for a short time, and seals them up to eternal life: we ware all Sealed up to Eternal Life by Joseph and said they should come forth in the day of the Lord if they comited sins they would be delivereth over to the bufetings of Satan for the destruction of the flesh but they should come forth in of the day of the Lord Jesus.
[Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]
[Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]
75 years ago today - May 2, 1949
[Joseph Fielding Smith]
Today I had an interview with Dr. Heber C. Snell, who is a teacher in the institute in Logan. He has not been sound in his faith and has been called in question repeatedly because of his doctrine. Elder John W. Widtsoe, I invited to be present and also Elder A. William Lund. I was convinced that Dr. Snell ... had been guilty of following, and believeing, the doctrines of the un-inspired teachers of the school of divinity at the Chicago University ... I showed him wherein his doctrines contradicted the teachings in the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants. He has written a book on the Old Testament, which, in my judgment, is destructive of faith... He professes to believe in the Book of Mormon and the mission of the Prophet, but he does not accept the miracles ... [that] the Bible has been a progressive development from a belief in a blood- thirsty tribal god to the loving and kindly Savior of the New Testament. In other words, that God, or the belief in God has been a
progressive development. The ancient prophets, in fact, thought they received revelations to kill people and create war, etc. ...
[Joseph Fielding Smith Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
Today I had an interview with Dr. Heber C. Snell, who is a teacher in the institute in Logan. He has not been sound in his faith and has been called in question repeatedly because of his doctrine. Elder John W. Widtsoe, I invited to be present and also Elder A. William Lund. I was convinced that Dr. Snell ... had been guilty of following, and believeing, the doctrines of the un-inspired teachers of the school of divinity at the Chicago University ... I showed him wherein his doctrines contradicted the teachings in the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants. He has written a book on the Old Testament, which, in my judgment, is destructive of faith... He professes to believe in the Book of Mormon and the mission of the Prophet, but he does not accept the miracles ... [that] the Bible has been a progressive development from a belief in a blood- thirsty tribal god to the loving and kindly Savior of the New Testament. In other words, that God, or the belief in God has been a
progressive development. The ancient prophets, in fact, thought they received revelations to kill people and create war, etc. ...
[Joseph Fielding Smith Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
85 years ago today - May 2, 1939
[J. Reuben Clark]
I checked with the brethren and found that they were following up the new "polygamists," and were taking up the matter with the bishops in whose wards the "polygamists" reside. ...
[During a meeting of the First Presidency regarding the Deseret News:] President Grant was very emphatic here, as he had been at the meeting with x against Hafen's paintings, and standing for the modern art. ...
Annie Wells Cannon: Annie Wells Cannon came in to see me regarding the effort of th publishers of "Truth," the new "polygamists" journal, to get the library to buy a subscription at $2 a year. She said she told Miss Sprague she would like to look into it and make a report to Miss Sprague. Sister Cannon said she did not wish to have the journal in the library.
I told her that I thought she had a perfect support for her position in the fact that it is published by a group who are violating the laws of the State and the Constitution of the State, and by a group who are publicly advocating the violation of the laws of the State and of the Constitution.
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
I checked with the brethren and found that they were following up the new "polygamists," and were taking up the matter with the bishops in whose wards the "polygamists" reside. ...
[During a meeting of the First Presidency regarding the Deseret News:] President Grant was very emphatic here, as he had been at the meeting with x against Hafen's paintings, and standing for the modern art. ...
Annie Wells Cannon: Annie Wells Cannon came in to see me regarding the effort of th publishers of "Truth," the new "polygamists" journal, to get the library to buy a subscription at $2 a year. She said she told Miss Sprague she would like to look into it and make a report to Miss Sprague. Sister Cannon said she did not wish to have the journal in the library.
I told her that I thought she had a perfect support for her position in the fact that it is published by a group who are violating the laws of the State and the Constitution of the State, and by a group who are publicly advocating the violation of the laws of the State and of the Constitution.
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
105 years ago today - May 2, 1919
[Apostle George Albert Smith Journal]
departs SLC on May 2, 1919 for England [Mission].
[Journals of George Albert Smith]
departs SLC on May 2, 1919 for England [Mission].
[Journals of George Albert Smith]
125 years ago today - May 2, 1899; Tuesday
Brother Talmage suggested the idea of his preparing the manuscript for a book on the subject of evolution, with the understanding that he was not to show the manuscript to any person until he had first submitted it to the Presidency. President Snow acquiesced in the suggestion.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
145 years ago today - May 2, 1879
I, Abel D. Chase ... was well acquainted with the Smith family, frequently visiting the Smith boys and they me. I was a youth at the time from twelve to thirteen years old ... tales were circulated that young Joe had found or dug from the earth a BOOK OF PLATES which the Smiths called the GOLDEN BIBLE. I don't think Smith had any such plates. He was mysterious in his actions. The PEEPSTONE, in which he was accustomed to look, he got of my elder brother Willard while at work for us digging a well. It was a singular looking stone and young Joe pretended he could discover hidden things in it.
[Wilhelm Ritter von Wymetal, Joseph Smith, the Prophet, His Family and His Friends (Salt Lake City: Tribune Printing and Publishing Co., 1886), 230-31., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Abel D. Chase Statement]
[Wilhelm Ritter von Wymetal, Joseph Smith, the Prophet, His Family and His Friends (Salt Lake City: Tribune Printing and Publishing Co., 1886), 230-31., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Abel D. Chase Statement]
180 years ago today - May 2, 1844
Joseph Smith preaches, "I calculate to be one of the instruments in setting up the kingdom of Daniel by the word of the Lord, and I intend to lay a foundation that will revolutionize the whole world. . . .It will not be by sword or by gun that this kingdom will roll on. The power of truth is such that all nations will be under the necessity of obeying the Gospel."
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
190 years ago today - 1834 2 May.
The U.S. Secretary of War informs Mormons in Jackson County, Missouri that the U.S. president has no constitutional authority to use federal troops to enforce local laws.
[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]
80 years ago today - May 1, 1944
Daniel DeLuce, war correspondent of Mormon parentage and heritage extending back to 1830's, receives Pulitzer Prize for international reporting. However, not until 1952 does self-acknowledged Mormon receive America's most prestigious publishing award. Two other Pulitzer recipients are non-LDS Utahns who often write about Mormons: Bernard Devoto in 1948 for ACROSS THE WIDE MISSOURI (history) and Wallace Stegner in 1972 for ANGLE OF REPOSE (fiction). In addition, Nobel Prize winner Haldor Laxness, non-Mormon, publishes novel PARADISE RECLAIMED in Iceland about LDS convert. Utah (specifically Spanish Fork) has largest number of Icelandic immigrants in United States.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
85 years ago today - May 1, 1939
[J. Reuben Clark]
Brother Farnsworth had a bundle of papers with him, and turned over pages which he said were extracts from the Talmud, which showed the attitude of the Jews towards the Gentiles. He also had lists of the Red organizations, some 350 in all. He said that these organizations were of great numbers in Utah; that professors at the University of Utah belonged to them, as also professors at the Brigham Young University. He said that at the meetings which he had attended of the Communist Party they had advocated mass assassinations such as had been practised by them in Russia, and they also advocated mass starvation. He said that they are organized, and had their men listed who were to be assassinated under this wholesale plan, and that high up among those who were to be first taken were the Church Authorities, all of whom were to be murdered.
Brother Farnsworth spoke of the teaching down at Brigham Young University of religion, and particularly referred to the teaching of Elder Guy C. Wilson, who had for a thesis: "Sacrifice Prophet, Priest, or King whenever you deem it necessary in order to maintain faith in God." Brother Farnsworth said that the Brigham Young University teaching was to the effect that every man must decide for himself what he would believe'should make his own religion, really'and he said that the teaching was destructive of all discipline and regularity in a religious belief. ...
Brother Farnsworth charged that all of the policies of the present administration in Washington were shaped by the Jews ...
I told Brother Farnsworth that I had heard all of the things that he was telling me before; that some of them I knew to be true; that I felt we were in a serious condition; that I had been preaching about it for four or five years. ...
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
Brother Farnsworth had a bundle of papers with him, and turned over pages which he said were extracts from the Talmud, which showed the attitude of the Jews towards the Gentiles. He also had lists of the Red organizations, some 350 in all. He said that these organizations were of great numbers in Utah; that professors at the University of Utah belonged to them, as also professors at the Brigham Young University. He said that at the meetings which he had attended of the Communist Party they had advocated mass assassinations such as had been practised by them in Russia, and they also advocated mass starvation. He said that they are organized, and had their men listed who were to be assassinated under this wholesale plan, and that high up among those who were to be first taken were the Church Authorities, all of whom were to be murdered.
Brother Farnsworth spoke of the teaching down at Brigham Young University of religion, and particularly referred to the teaching of Elder Guy C. Wilson, who had for a thesis: "Sacrifice Prophet, Priest, or King whenever you deem it necessary in order to maintain faith in God." Brother Farnsworth said that the Brigham Young University teaching was to the effect that every man must decide for himself what he would believe'should make his own religion, really'and he said that the teaching was destructive of all discipline and regularity in a religious belief. ...
Brother Farnsworth charged that all of the policies of the present administration in Washington were shaped by the Jews ...
I told Brother Farnsworth that I had heard all of the things that he was telling me before; that some of them I knew to be true; that I felt we were in a serious condition; that I had been preaching about it for four or five years. ...
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
85 years ago today - May 1, 1939
President Heber J. Grant writes in a letter: "Married couples who, by inheritance and proper living, have themselves been blessed with mental and physical vigor are recreant in their duty if they refuse to meet the natural and rightful responsibility of parenthood. Of course, in every ideal home the health of the mother, as well as the intelligence and health of the children should receive careful consideration"
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
120 years ago today - May 1, 1904
In Salt Lake City Hannah Grover Hegsted becomes the third wife (and second living wife) of Bishop Victor C. Hegsted fourteen years after the first Manifesto was issued, and a month after the so-called Second Manifesto. Their marriage had been approved by an apostle the year before. No disciplinary action is ever brought against them. However Hegsted is released as Bishop of the Salem, Idaho ward the next year and Hannah quits her position at Ricks Academy.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
130 years ago today - May 1, 1894
[President Wilford Woodruff Journal]
The Utah Armey went South last night to Murrey. The speeches of the Leaders was quite Warlike. These Armies of Men out of work gathering into larg Bodies and Marching to Washington I think is going to lay the foundation of Great Trouble for surely there is great trouble awaiting the Nations of the Earth including the United States. There is already begining to [be] Earthquak in Divers Places which are Destroying much property and lives Also Storms, Cyclones & the Sea Heaving itself beyound its bounds which are Causing great Destruction through out the world.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
The Utah Armey went South last night to Murrey. The speeches of the Leaders was quite Warlike. These Armies of Men out of work gathering into larg Bodies and Marching to Washington I think is going to lay the foundation of Great Trouble for surely there is great trouble awaiting the Nations of the Earth including the United States. There is already begining to [be] Earthquak in Divers Places which are Destroying much property and lives Also Storms, Cyclones & the Sea Heaving itself beyound its bounds which are Causing great Destruction through out the world.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
155 years ago today - May 1, 1869
The church begins obtaining sworn affidavits from persons who have personal knowledge of Joseph Smith instructing, performing, or entering into plural marriage. Unfortunately this is not a careful effort at an historical reconstruction of pre-1844 plural marriage but is a legalist response to the RLDS church's denials of the founding prophet's involvement in polygamy. The living witness who knows most details of Nauvoo polygamy, Brigham Young, does not add an affidavit of his own to this bound collection.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
190 years ago today - May 1, 1834
Levi Lewis allegedly quotes Martin Harris accusing Joseph Smith of attempting to seduce Eliza Winters, which is printed in the Susquehanna Register and Northern Pennsylvanian. The date of the reported seduction attempt is unknown, but would have been 1825 to 1829. The Lewis allegation is included in E. D. Howe's, Mormonism Unveiled printed later that year. It constitutes the only published accusation of sexual impropriety or polygamy against Joseph Smith in the 1830s.
[Hales, Brian C., Joseph Smith's Polygamy: History and Theology, 3 vols., Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2013 (www.JosephSmithsPolygamy.com)]
[Hales, Brian C., Joseph Smith's Polygamy: History and Theology, 3 vols., Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2013 (www.JosephSmithsPolygamy.com)]
190 years ago today - May 1, 1834
Zion's Camp begins.
[Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]
[Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]
190 years ago today - May 1, 1834
Zion's Camp begins, the 1,000 mile march from Kirtland, OH to retake Jackson County, MO. Only 207 men at peak, plus women/children.
[Chronology of Mormon History, http://followtheprophets.com/chronology-of-mormon-history/]
[Chronology of Mormon History, http://followtheprophets.com/chronology-of-mormon-history/]
210 years ago today - 1-May 11, 1814
Joseph Sr. is listed in the Lebanon (NH) assessment records as owing $2.00 invoice, an 86-cent town tax, 72-cent school tax, $1.16 highway tax, 32-cent state tax, and no "minister's tax" . Unlike the previous years, he apparently did not own enough property to qualify for voting, which is consistent with Lucy's statement that the family was very poor after their bout with typhoid.
[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]
30 years ago today - Apr 30, 1994
Tahiti issues postage stamp commemorating 150 years of Mormonism there.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
110 years ago today - Apr 30, 1914; Thursday
Bro[ther]. George Albert Smith ... said his health had been gradually improving all the time, and he hoped now to be able to fill regular appointments. ...
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
115 years ago today - Friday, Apr 30, 1909
[Apostle John Henry Smith Diary]
Ocean Park
It is a marvel to me how much I can sleep and how I want to tool about. I finished reading the life of the Empress Josephine.
[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]
Ocean Park
It is a marvel to me how much I can sleep and how I want to tool about. I finished reading the life of the Empress Josephine.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
145 years ago today - Apr 30, 1879
Emma Hale Smith Bidamon: Died at Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, 30 April 1879.
[Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith]
[Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith]
180 years ago today - Apr 30, 1844
Addison Pratt landed on Tubuai, the first missionary to begin work in the South Pacific.
[Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html]
[Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html]
30 years ago today - Apr 29, 1994
Salt Lake City hosts the fifty-ninth annual American Mothers National Convention under the leadership of Barbara B. Smith, a former general president of the Relief Society.
45 years ago today - Apr 29, 1979
Mark Hofmann writes to his mother, "During our Easter feast you gave it as your opinion that certain materials in the Church archives should not be made public because there exists [sic] certain faith-demoting facts that should not be known. While you may take comfort in knowing that this has been the traditional attitude of the leadership of the Church; you have expressed anxiety because I do not share this belief. . . . My conviction is that the truth is the most important thing." By this time Hofmann has already tried his hand at forgery.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
110 years ago today - Apr 29, 1914
[Apostle Heber J. Grant Diary]
Tried to get Utah State Natl Bk to make me loan. But they refused ...
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Tried to get Utah State Natl Bk to make me loan. But they refused ...
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
135 years ago today - Mon. April 29th, 1889
[Abraham H. Cannon Journal]
"B.H. Roberts delivered himself up this morning and plead guilty to a charge of unlawful cohabitation. He will receive sentence on Wednesday."
[Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
"B.H. Roberts delivered himself up this morning and plead guilty to a charge of unlawful cohabitation. He will receive sentence on Wednesday."
[Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
150 years ago today - Apr 29, 1874
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal]
I Called and laid hands upon him [Issac Whitehead] a few days since & Blessed him & Ordained him to the Office of a High Priest & Patriarch & was satisfyed that He had but a few days to live.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I Called and laid hands upon him [Issac Whitehead] a few days since & Blessed him & Ordained him to the Office of a High Priest & Patriarch & was satisfyed that He had but a few days to live.
[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 - Apr 29, 1849
First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve make following decisions concerning sex in marriage: "not to unite with a woman in view of imprenation till 7 days after the cessation of the menstrual discharge in order for the most healthy procreation. also that after childbirth if delivered of a son she should continue 40 days in her purification [without sexual intercourse with her husband]. If a daughter she [the new mother] should be 70 days separated as unclean for a man. As to sexual connexion during pregnancy[, do] just as they please about that [-] suit themselves." This is earliest known LDS discussion of what is appropriate in sexual relations of married couples. These rules are based on Book of Leviticus, rather than on current medical writings.
[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 - Apr 29, 1849
[Brigham Young Sermon]
I gave it as my opinion that the earth did not now dwell in the sphere in which it did when it was created, but that it was banished from its more glorious state or orbit of revolution for man's sake. Also that I did not think the tides were by the influence of the moon, but as the beating of a man's heart, the earth being a living body. Elder Parley P. Pratt inquired what was strictly right as to the association and connection of a man with his wife. I replied that if we had not been brought up in gentile superstition, it would have been right for us to associate equally with all our wives, or as we chose about it. But now it was wisdom to not forsake the wives of our youth, who dwelt in our bosoms while we and they knew not the things of God's more perfect law; for the others, who never enjoyed that constant society, could better endure the distant association than if they had enjoyed the greater familiarities, and better than the first wives could, to many of whom it would be
worse than death for their husbands to withdraw from them. As to connection with them, I thought to be strictly right would be to not unite with a woman, in view of impregnation, till seven days after the cessation of the menstrual discharge, in order for the most healthy procreation of our species. Also, that after childbirth, if delivered of a son, the woman should continue forty days in her purification, and if of a daughter, she should be seventy days separated as unclean for a man. As to sexual connection during pregnancy, just as they please about that, they could suit themselves. I also said there were things which I must teach the females, to prepare them for the presence of God, when I could get a place to do it in. ...
[Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1847- 1850. William S. Harwell, ed. Collier's Publishing, 1997.:196-197 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]
I gave it as my opinion that the earth did not now dwell in the sphere in which it did when it was created, but that it was banished from its more glorious state or orbit of revolution for man's sake. Also that I did not think the tides were by the influence of the moon, but as the beating of a man's heart, the earth being a living body. Elder Parley P. Pratt inquired what was strictly right as to the association and connection of a man with his wife. I replied that if we had not been brought up in gentile superstition, it would have been right for us to associate equally with all our wives, or as we chose about it. But now it was wisdom to not forsake the wives of our youth, who dwelt in our bosoms while we and they knew not the things of God's more perfect law; for the others, who never enjoyed that constant society, could better endure the distant association than if they had enjoyed the greater familiarities, and better than the first wives could, to many of whom it would be
worse than death for their husbands to withdraw from them. As to connection with them, I thought to be strictly right would be to not unite with a woman, in view of impregnation, till seven days after the cessation of the menstrual discharge, in order for the most healthy procreation of our species. Also, that after childbirth, if delivered of a son, the woman should continue forty days in her purification, and if of a daughter, she should be seventy days separated as unclean for a man. As to sexual connection during pregnancy, just as they please about that, they could suit themselves. I also said there were things which I must teach the females, to prepare them for the presence of God, when I could get a place to do it in. ...
[Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1847- 1850. William S. Harwell, ed. Collier's Publishing, 1997.:196-197 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]
25 years ago today - Apr 28, 1999
Some five thousand Latter-day Saint women gather at BYU in what is called the largest humanitarian event held by the Church in a single setting. Participants donate approximately 6,955 service hours by making hygiene kits and other items for needy families.
55 years ago today - Apr 28, 1969
The First Annual Mormon Festival of the Arts, held at BYU.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
75 years ago today - Apr 28, 1949
Presidency announces that "there is no truth whatever" in dispatches from Moscow's Tass news agency that "Latter-day Saint missionaries are acting as spies in Finland."
90 years ago today - Apr 28, 1934
A Deseret News Church Section report that general authorities have allowed the king of England's official representative to tour the temple in Canada from the baptistery to the celestial room.
[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jasvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0UcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3786%2C4742000 The Church News , [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jasvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0UcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3786%2C4742000 The Church News , [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
105 years ago today - Apr 28, 1919
Gordon B. Hinckley is Baptized at the age of 8. He does not know where he was Baptized ...
[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, United Kingdom, "On This Day," https://www.lds.org.uk/show_oda.php]
[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, United Kingdom, "On This Day," https://www.lds.org.uk/show_oda.php]
115 years ago today - Apr 28, 1909
A letter was read from Thomas E. McKay ... The letter also stated there was no change in what he terms the banishment situation, referring to the recent banishment of some of our elders. ... These missionaries are arrested and expelled generally on the charge of disorderly conduct, or for preaching emigration; both of which they strenuously disclaim, the proof for these charges, particularly the former, not being, so far as is publicly known, in evidence. The Lutheran and Catholic religions are largely state institutions in Germany, and as Mormonism appeals more especially to the orthodox mind, the converts are made in these circles. Whenever the effect of Mormon missionaries' activity noticeably touches the membership of these churches, more directly the Lutheran, the authorities of that church awaken and the police are instigated to make the arrests and expulsions. ...
[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]
[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]
150 years ago today - Apr 28, 1874
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal]
We rode to Lehi ... We then Organized that Branch into the United Order & appointed their Officers.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
We rode to Lehi ... We then Organized that Branch into the United Order & appointed their Officers.
[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 - Apr 28, 1849
[Hosea Stout]
This morning I understand that the Party of Indians who passed here on the 20th inst. Under the Little Chief attacted Wanships party somewhere on Ogdons Fork and killed some (& amongst the rest the lad which we took prisoner in the Utah Valley on the 5th of March. [crossed out]) They also killed some 40 horses and took the rest[.] The Little Chief and one of his men were also killed.
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
This morning I understand that the Party of Indians who passed here on the 20th inst. Under the Little Chief attacted Wanships party somewhere on Ogdons Fork and killed some (& amongst the rest the lad which we took prisoner in the Utah Valley on the 5th of March. [crossed out]) They also killed some 40 horses and took the rest[.] The Little Chief and one of his men were also killed.
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
180 years ago today - 1844 28 Apr.
[Joseph Smith]
Hyrum Smith preaches that "there were Prophets before Adam."
[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]
Hyrum Smith preaches that "there were Prophets before Adam."
[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 - Apr 28, 1844
... William and Wilson Law, Higbee, Foster, and others meet at Wilson Law's home to begin a new, "reformed" church. Calling Joseph a fallen prophet, they choose a replacement. William Law is made president of the new church, Austin Cowles and Wilson Law are made counselors, and a Council of the Twelve is called. They decide to order a press to publish their own views They have about 200 followers.
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
185 years ago today - late Apr 1839
Missouri Governor Boggs issues a bench warrant for the return to Missouri of Sidney Rigdon. Illinois Governor Thomas Carlin refuses to extradite Rigdon.
[Broadhurst, Dale R., Mormon Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/morchrn2.htm]
[Broadhurst, Dale R., Mormon Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/morchrn2.htm]
190 years ago today - Apr 28, 1834
Members of the Kirtland Firm met. Joseph Smith received a revelation which slightly altered the division plan, by entering a "claim" for $3,000, which was to be awarded from the Missouri Firm's assets. By this the men were "made free from the Firm in Zion, and the Firm in Zion is made free from the Firm in Kirtland". This effectively ended the existence of the United Firm.
[Lisle G Brown, "Chronology of the United Firm"]
[Lisle G Brown, "Chronology of the United Firm"]
30 years ago today - Apr 27, 1994
President Thomas S. Monson of the First Presidency represents the Church at the funeral of former U.S. President Richard M. Nixon in Yorba Linda, California.
40 years ago today - Apr 27, 1984
U.S. District Court Judge A. Sherman Christensen rules, "polygamy is not a fundamental right constitutionally protected by the free exercise clause of the First Amendment or any right of privacy or liberty." This is in response to a suit by Royston Potter over being fired from his position as a police officer for being a polygamist. The Supreme Court upholds Christensen's ruling.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
80 years ago today - Apr 27, 1944
[J. Reuben Clark]
D O M'I took up.' Mark Petersen's salary'We will see what he gets from News
Establishment of post graduate school in gospel at BYU. ...
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
D O M'I took up.' Mark Petersen's salary'We will see what he gets from News
Establishment of post graduate school in gospel at BYU. ...
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
125 years ago today - Thursday, Apr 27, 1899
[Apostle John Henry Smith Diary]
We adjourned to the President's office to consider and took into consideration the tender of President Geo. Q. Cannon of his share of the dedicated stock in the Beck and Bullion & Champion Mining Co. to President Lorenzo Snow to be held by him for the purpose designed in the Revelation.
President Joseph F. Smith moved that the President accept the tender. I seconded the motion. After some talk by several of the brethren, the motion carried.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
We adjourned to the President's office to consider and took into consideration the tender of President Geo. Q. Cannon of his share of the dedicated stock in the Beck and Bullion & Champion Mining Co. to President Lorenzo Snow to be held by him for the purpose designed in the Revelation.
President Joseph F. Smith moved that the President accept the tender. I seconded the motion. After some talk by several of the brethren, the motion carried.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
150 years ago today - Apr 27, 1874
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal]
We then Organized the People of that Branch [Pleasant Grove] into the United Order of Zion & Elected their Officers.
We then rode to American Fork & held a meeting at 7 oclok. ... We also Organized that Branch into the United Order.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
We then Organized the People of that Branch [Pleasant Grove] into the United Order of Zion & Elected their Officers.
We then rode to American Fork & held a meeting at 7 oclok. ... We also Organized that Branch into the United Order.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
180 years ago today - Apr 27, 1844
Joseph Smith's scribe records in Joseph's Journal, "9 A.M. R[obert] D. Foster come up for trial. After much conversation with the Mayor in which he charged Joseph with many crimes [like] Daniteism in Nauvoo, and a great variety of vile and false Epithets and charges. Court adjourned to Monday 9 A.M. Foster agreed to meet Joseph on 2d Monday of May at the stand and have a settlement. Foster then said he would publish it [in the] Warsaw paper. Joseph told him if he did not agree to be quiet [and] not attempt to raise a mob and [threaten violence] he would not meet him. If he would be quiet he would publish it in Neighbor. Foster would not agree to be quiet and Joseph said he was free from his (Foster) blood had made the last overtures of peace, [and] delivered him into the hand of God and shook his garments against him."
Nauvoo Police Chief Hosea Stout reports that Nauvoo's "Whistling and Whittling Brigade" harassed "old" Austin Cowles and drove the former high councilman out of the city.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
Nauvoo Police Chief Hosea Stout reports that Nauvoo's "Whistling and Whittling Brigade" harassed "old" Austin Cowles and drove the former high councilman out of the city.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
180 years ago today - Apr 27, 1844
Wilson Law and Robert D. Foster claim that Joseph Smith kept a gang of robbers and plunderers about his house, with Smith receiving half of the spoils. Foster says Smith tried to get him to kill Boggs [per 2-May, 1844 affidavit of Aaron Johnson].
[Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology, Rev 01 Volume 01" http://bit.ly/tiddchron]
[Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology, Rev 01 Volume 01" http://bit.ly/tiddchron]
65 years ago today - Apr 26, 1959
While ordaining a local patriarch in a windowless room, "a shaft of bright light came onto the back and top of Elder [Harold B.] Lee's head."
[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 )]]
65 years ago today - Apr 26, 1959
While ordaining local patriarch in windowless room, "a shaft of bright light came onto the back and top of Elder [Harold B.] Lee's head."
75 years ago today - Apr 26, 1949
First counselor J. Reuben Clark reports that Emily Smith Stewart is prompting her father and church president, George Albert Smith, in making administrative decisions. This is only known period in which a woman has such influence on LDS church administration.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
130 years ago today - Apr 26, 1894
Presidency and apostles decide that John D. Lee, Jr. ("a son of the Mountain Meadows murderer") can go on proselytizing mission but must "assume his mother's maiden name."
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
130 years ago today - Apr 26, 1894
The First Presidency and apostles decide that John D. Lee Jr. ("a son of the Mountain Meadows murderer") can go on a proselytizing mission but must "assume his mother's maiden name."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
135 years ago today - Apr 26, 1889
[Franklin D. Richards]
Met with Presidency at Gardo [House] ... Interesting interview about Negroes receiving or not receiving Priesthood.
[Franklin D. Richards Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
Met with Presidency at Gardo [House] ... Interesting interview about Negroes receiving or not receiving Priesthood.
[Franklin D. Richards Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
175 years ago today - Apr 26, 1849
[Brigham Young Sermon]
The President gave it as his opinion that the earth did not dwell in the sphere in which it did when it was created, but that it was banished from its more glorious state or orbit of revolution for man's sake. Also that he did not think the tides were by the influence of the moon, but as the beating of a man's heart, the earth being a living body.
[Quorum of the Twelve Minutes, Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, 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]
The President gave it as his opinion that the earth did not dwell in the sphere in which it did when it was created, but that it was banished from its more glorious state or orbit of revolution for man's sake. Also that he did not think the tides were by the influence of the moon, but as the beating of a man's heart, the earth being a living body.
[Quorum of the Twelve Minutes, Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, 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 - Apr 26, 1844
When Augustine Spencer assaults his brother Orson, Joseph, as mayor, orders Augustine arrested. Augustine refuses to go with Joseph, Orrin Porter Rockwell, and Marshal J. P. Greene. Joseph tells Greene to get some other citizens to help. Greene asks help from the first people he sees—Chauncey L. Higbee and Charles and Robert Foster. When they refuse, Joseph orders them arrested. A fight follows and Charles Foster pulls a gun on Joseph, swearing and threatening. Rockwell wrests the gun away, and several other policemen arrive to arrest the three. They are fined $100 each, which they appeal. Robert D. Foster accuses Willard Richards of trying to seduce his (Foster's) wife.
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
185 years ago today - Apr 26, 1839
At the Far West temple site, in jeopardy if detected by anti-Mormons, apostles Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, John Taylor, Orson Pratt, and John E. Page ordain Wilford Woodruff and George A. Smith as apostles to fulfill one of Joseph Smith's earlier revelations. The "thus saith the Lord" revelation stated that on this day they were to lay the cornerstone for the Far West temple. Shortly after midnight they roll a large stone to the corner of the temple lot to fulfill the revelation. Eighteen other Mormons, including four women, also brave the mobs by attending this ceremony.
Note: Wilford Woodruff recorded the following in his journal:
... The events of this day are worthy of record for a Revelation of God & commandment is this day fulfilled & that to under Circumstances which to all human appearance could not have been done. The Lord had given a Commandment to the Twelve to assemble upon the building spot of the house of the Lord in far west Caldwell Co Mo on the 26th day of April & there take the parting hand with the Saints to go to the nations of the earth. But persecution had arisen to such an highth that about ten thousand souls of the Saints had been driven from the State, & the city far west almost made desolate & lade waste while at the same time the Presidency Joseph & his council with other Elders were in prision & they had been under the sentance of death several times because of their religion & they would have been put to death had not the Lord saved them for their lives were in his hands & notwithstanding the lives of those men were preserved yet there were about thirty five souls
martered & put to death. David W. Patten one of the Twelve Apostles were among the marterd. And not ownly so but the Missourians had sworn that the revelation above alluded to should not be fulfilled.
It was in the midst of these imbaressments that we mooved forward to the building spot of the house of the Lord in the City of far west & held a Council & fulfilled the revelation & Commandment & took our leave of the Saints & rode 32 miles & Camped. 32 miles.
... Resolved that the following persons should be no more fellowshiped ...
The Council then proceded to the building spot of the Lords house ... Willford Woodruff & George A. Smith ... to the office of the Twelve to fill the place of those who had fallen. ...
Elder Alpheus Cutler then placed the stone before alluded to in its regular position after which in consequence of the peculiar situation of the Saints he thought it wisdom to adjourn untill some future time when the Lord should open the way expressing his determination then to procede with the building. ...
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
Note: Wilford Woodruff recorded the following in his journal:
... The events of this day are worthy of record for a Revelation of God & commandment is this day fulfilled & that to under Circumstances which to all human appearance could not have been done. The Lord had given a Commandment to the Twelve to assemble upon the building spot of the house of the Lord in far west Caldwell Co Mo on the 26th day of April & there take the parting hand with the Saints to go to the nations of the earth. But persecution had arisen to such an highth that about ten thousand souls of the Saints had been driven from the State, & the city far west almost made desolate & lade waste while at the same time the Presidency Joseph & his council with other Elders were in prision & they had been under the sentance of death several times because of their religion & they would have been put to death had not the Lord saved them for their lives were in his hands & notwithstanding the lives of those men were preserved yet there were about thirty five souls
martered & put to death. David W. Patten one of the Twelve Apostles were among the marterd. And not ownly so but the Missourians had sworn that the revelation above alluded to should not be fulfilled.
It was in the midst of these imbaressments that we mooved forward to the building spot of the house of the Lord in the City of far west & held a Council & fulfilled the revelation & Commandment & took our leave of the Saints & rode 32 miles & Camped. 32 miles.
... Resolved that the following persons should be no more fellowshiped ...
The Council then proceded to the building spot of the Lords house ... Willford Woodruff & George A. Smith ... to the office of the Twelve to fill the place of those who had fallen. ...
Elder Alpheus Cutler then placed the stone before alluded to in its regular position after which in consequence of the peculiar situation of the Saints he thought it wisdom to adjourn untill some future time when the Lord should open the way expressing his determination then to procede with the building. ...
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
125 years ago today - Apr 25, 1899; Tuesday
Brother Franklin S. Richards, one of the Church attorneys, had an interview with the First Presidency regarding the corporations existing in the various Stakes and Wards for the purpose of holding the properties thereof. The object of the interview was to ascertain the mind of the Presidency upon the multiplying of these corporations as new Stakes and Wards might be organized. Brother Richards represented how burdensome they appeared to many of the brethren, not only from the expense attending their creation, but from the keeping of them up in order to maintain their legal status; and he suggested a much cheaper and easier form of organization, namely, a trusteeship for the holding of the properties. After fully considering both sides of the question, and conceding the merit of Brother Richards' suggestion, the Presidency deemed it best, as a matter of precaution and in view of the hostile sentiment that was again rising and which might culminate in the passage of an anti-Mormon
amendment to the Constitution, to keep up the corporations already organized and form new ones as they might be required. Brother L. John Nuttall, whose business it is to see that these corporations are kept up, was called in and informed of this decision and given appropriate instructions.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
amendment to the Constitution, to keep up the corporations already organized and form new ones as they might be required. Brother L. John Nuttall, whose business it is to see that these corporations are kept up, was called in and informed of this decision and given appropriate instructions.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
140 years ago today - Apr 25, 1884
[E. C. Briggs report to Joseph Smith III of interview with David Whitmer]
.... [Emma] remarked of her husband Joseph's limited education while he was translating the Book of Mormon, and she was scribe at the time, "He could not pronounce the word Sariah." And one time while translating, where it speaks of the walls of Jerusalem, he stopped and said, "Emma, did Jerusalem have walls surrounding it." When I informed him it had, he replied, "O, I thought I was deceived."
... "In June, 1829, I [David Whitmer] saw the angel by the power of God, Joseph, Oliver and I were alone, and a light from heaven shone round us, and solemnity pervaded our minds. The angel appeared in the light, as near as that young man. [Within five or six feet]. Between us and the angel there appeared a table, and there lay upon it the sword of Laban, the Ball of Directors, the Record, and Interpreters. The angel took the Record, and turned the leaves, and showed it to us by the power of God. They were taken away by the angel to a cave, which we saw by the power of God while we were yet in the Spirit. ...
"The boys, Joseph and Oliver, worked hard, early and late, while translating the plates. It was slow work, and they could write only a few pages a day."
Of Joseph he continued;
"He could not do a thing except he was humble, and just right before the Lord."
I said, "Why not?"
He replied:
"The Urim and Thummim would look dark; he could not see a thing in them."
"How did it appear in them?" we asked.
His answer was:
"The letters appeared on them in light, and would not go off until they were written correctly by Oliver. When Joseph could not pronounce the words he spelled them out letter by letter. ...
[E. C. Briggs to Joseph Smith III, 4 June 1884, Saints' Herald 31 (21 June 1884): 396-97., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: David Whitmer Interview With E. C. Briggs And R. Etzenhouser]
.... [Emma] remarked of her husband Joseph's limited education while he was translating the Book of Mormon, and she was scribe at the time, "He could not pronounce the word Sariah." And one time while translating, where it speaks of the walls of Jerusalem, he stopped and said, "Emma, did Jerusalem have walls surrounding it." When I informed him it had, he replied, "O, I thought I was deceived."
... "In June, 1829, I [David Whitmer] saw the angel by the power of God, Joseph, Oliver and I were alone, and a light from heaven shone round us, and solemnity pervaded our minds. The angel appeared in the light, as near as that young man. [Within five or six feet]. Between us and the angel there appeared a table, and there lay upon it the sword of Laban, the Ball of Directors, the Record, and Interpreters. The angel took the Record, and turned the leaves, and showed it to us by the power of God. They were taken away by the angel to a cave, which we saw by the power of God while we were yet in the Spirit. ...
"The boys, Joseph and Oliver, worked hard, early and late, while translating the plates. It was slow work, and they could write only a few pages a day."
Of Joseph he continued;
"He could not do a thing except he was humble, and just right before the Lord."
I said, "Why not?"
He replied:
"The Urim and Thummim would look dark; he could not see a thing in them."
"How did it appear in them?" we asked.
His answer was:
"The letters appeared on them in light, and would not go off until they were written correctly by Oliver. When Joseph could not pronounce the words he spelled them out letter by letter. ...
[E. C. Briggs to Joseph Smith III, 4 June 1884, Saints' Herald 31 (21 June 1884): 396-97., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: David Whitmer Interview With E. C. Briggs And R. Etzenhouser]
175 years ago today - Apr 25, 1849
[Wilford Woodruff Journal]
I spent the night with Br Druce. He has A good large House & garden. The House was Called Haunted by the Dead. His family was disturbed for A while, but after Dedicating the family & House unto God, & Rebuked all spirits which were not of God to depart out of the house they were not troubled any more.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I spent the night with Br Druce. He has A good large House & garden. The House was Called Haunted by the Dead. His family was disturbed for A while, but after Dedicating the family & House unto God, & Rebuked all spirits which were not of God to depart out of the house they were not troubled any more.
[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 - Apr 25, 1849
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal]
25th I wrote Mrs Woodruff A letter And Preached at night to a full House. Solemnity rested upon all. A number were believeing. I spent the night with Br Druce. He has A good large House & garden. The House was Called Haunted by the Dead. His family was disturbed for A while, but after Dedicating the family & House unto God, & Rebuked all spirits which were not of God to depart out of the house they were not troubled any more.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
25th I wrote Mrs Woodruff A letter And Preached at night to a full House. Solemnity rested upon all. A number were believeing. I spent the night with Br Druce. He has A good large House & garden. The House was Called Haunted by the Dead. His family was disturbed for A while, but after Dedicating the family & House unto God, & Rebuked all spirits which were not of God to depart out of the house they were not troubled any more.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
180 years ago today - Apr 25, 1844
Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith told a reporter from the St. Louis Gazette that he had gained his power by the principles of truth and virtue.
[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]
180 years ago today - Apr 25, 1844
The Council of Fifty adjourns to disperse throughout the United States to campaign for Joseph's presidency.
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
180 years ago today - Letters from Orson Hyde - 25 and Apr 26, 1844
[Council of Fifty]
On 4 April 1844 Orson Hyde left Nauvoo on assignment from the council to carry its petitions to the U.S. Congress and President John Tyler asking that JS be made a member of the U.S. Army and be allowed to raise one hundred thousand volunteers to protect national interests in the West. Hyde wrote five letters to JS reporting on his activities in Washington DC, dated 25 April, 26 April, 30 April, 9 June, and 11 June. JS received the first two letters on 13 May 1844, and the council met that day to review them. On behalf of the council, Willard Richards wrote a letter in response, which was carried to Hyde by Lyman Wight and Heber C. Kimball, who arrived in Washington on 2 June.
[Joseph Smith Papers: Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844-January 1846]
On 4 April 1844 Orson Hyde left Nauvoo on assignment from the council to carry its petitions to the U.S. Congress and President John Tyler asking that JS be made a member of the U.S. Army and be allowed to raise one hundred thousand volunteers to protect national interests in the West. Hyde wrote five letters to JS reporting on his activities in Washington DC, dated 25 April, 26 April, 30 April, 9 June, and 11 June. JS received the first two letters on 13 May 1844, and the council met that day to review them. On behalf of the council, Willard Richards wrote a letter in response, which was carried to Hyde by Lyman Wight and Heber C. Kimball, who arrived in Washington on 2 June.
[Joseph Smith Papers: Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844-January 1846]
180 years ago today - Apr 25, 1844 - Thursday
[Council of Fifty]
Although in the previous meeting JS had declared the council full, two more members were admitted. In the morning session, council members discussed a proposal before the U.S. House of Representatives related to Oregon. ... JS also proposed that, instead of meeting, council members should travel and campaign for JS's presidency. ...
On motion Er Wm. Smith and Jedidiah M. Grant were then received for time and for all eternity, by the unanimous vote of the council, and took their seats in order. ...
The chairman then made some further remarks and advised that we let the constitution alone. He would tell us the whole matter about the constitution as follows—
Verily thus saith the Lord, yea are my constitution, and I am your God, and ye are my spokesmen. From henceforth do as I shall command you.
Saith the Lord.
Er Rigdon motioned that the constitution be received and the vote was unanimous, whereupon the council adjourned "sine die"
[Joseph Smith Papers: Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844-January 1846]
Although in the previous meeting JS had declared the council full, two more members were admitted. In the morning session, council members discussed a proposal before the U.S. House of Representatives related to Oregon. ... JS also proposed that, instead of meeting, council members should travel and campaign for JS's presidency. ...
On motion Er Wm. Smith and Jedidiah M. Grant were then received for time and for all eternity, by the unanimous vote of the council, and took their seats in order. ...
The chairman then made some further remarks and advised that we let the constitution alone. He would tell us the whole matter about the constitution as follows—
Verily thus saith the Lord, yea are my constitution, and I am your God, and ye are my spokesmen. From henceforth do as I shall command you.
Saith the Lord.
Er Rigdon motioned that the constitution be received and the vote was unanimous, whereupon the council adjourned "sine die"
[Joseph Smith Papers: Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844-January 1846]
185 years ago today - Apr 25, 1839
Joseph travels toward the head of the Des Moines River rapids, where he determines that the land on both sides of the Mississippi—Commerce on the east and Montrose on the west—will be the future gathering sites for the Saints.
[He purchases two ajoining farms for $5,000 and $9,000]
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[He purchases two ajoining farms for $5,000 and $9,000]
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
85 years ago today - Apr 24, 1939
First Counselor J. Reuben Clark requests U.S. department of State to assist immigration of two Mormons: "She and her husband are Aryan natives and nationals of Switzerland." In contrast, Clark privately urges State Department not to help Jewish children to leave Nazi Germany if their parents are trying to send them to United States.
130 years ago today - Apr 24, 1894
[Franklin D. Richards]
Heard Sister Julia Samson's application to Pres[iden]t W[ilford]. W[oodruff]. to have her mother's marriage to Apostle Orson Pratt canceled & to have her sealed to her former husband also that herself & sisters be sealed to their parents'granted. Pres[iden]t. Woodruff granted her request & gave her a letter authorizing Pres[iden]t. [Lorenzo] Snow to do it.
[Franklin D. Richards, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
Heard Sister Julia Samson's application to Pres[iden]t W[ilford]. W[oodruff]. to have her mother's marriage to Apostle Orson Pratt canceled & to have her sealed to her former husband also that herself & sisters be sealed to their parents'granted. Pres[iden]t. Woodruff granted her request & gave her a letter authorizing Pres[iden]t. [Lorenzo] Snow to do it.
[Franklin D. Richards, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
160 years ago today - Apr 24, 1864
... President Young said I have ordained my son Brigham unto all the Priesthood & Power that I hold myself and appointed him one of my Counsellors & now Brother Kimball you Bless him if you feel like it. Than Brother Kimball gave him a good Blessing.
[Brigham Young Jr. had been ordained an apostle two months earlier by his father but was not admitted to the Quorum of Twelve until four years later.]
[Wilford Woodruff, Historian's Private 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]
[Brigham Young Jr. had been ordained an apostle two months earlier by his father but was not admitted to the Quorum of Twelve until four years later.]
[Wilford Woodruff, Historian's Private Journal, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
180 years ago today - Apr 24, 1844
To help pay Joseph Smith's debts, apostles Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, George A. Smith, and Lyman Johnson star in the play PIZZARO OR THE DEATH OF ROLLA at the Nauvoo Masonic Hall. The play tells the tragic fate of the Incas (led by Rolla) in defending their king, country, religion, and lives against the rapacious Spanish Conquistador, Pizarro. Kimball's sixteen-year-old daughter Helen, a secret plural wife of Joseph Smith, plays one of the chorus of virgins in the production.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
190 years ago today - Apr 24, 1834 (Thursday)
On this and the following six days the mob burned about one hundred and fifty houses belonging to the Saints in Jackson County, Mo.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
25 years ago today - Apr 23, 1999
The First Presidency announced that the Church would accept donations for the construction of the Nauvoo Temple. Members could use the "Other" line on the donation receipt and enter the amount and the "Nauvoo Temple."
[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]
110 years ago today - Apr 23, 1914; Thursday
Telegram sent to President Joseph F. Smith regarding volitility in Mexico affecting Mormon colonies:
"El Paso, Texas, April 23rd, 1914. Pres[iden]t. Joseph F. Smith. Local situation has changed to a marked degree within the last twelve hours. Mexicans who until this morning have been very friendly are now outspoken in their threats towards Americans. Under the present conditions our colonists are in grave danger, threats having been made that certain families would be exterminated. Having been robbed of a great many of their teams and wagons and the railroad not being in operation, their condition is very serious. An overland trip would be dangerous as the country is infested with filibusterers. Have asked Senator Smoot if it would be possible to have troops give protection tot he colonists in case of hostilities. What steps can be taken? Advise at once.
(Signed) A. L. Pierce, Presiding Elder."
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
"El Paso, Texas, April 23rd, 1914. Pres[iden]t. Joseph F. Smith. Local situation has changed to a marked degree within the last twelve hours. Mexicans who until this morning have been very friendly are now outspoken in their threats towards Americans. Under the present conditions our colonists are in grave danger, threats having been made that certain families would be exterminated. Having been robbed of a great many of their teams and wagons and the railroad not being in operation, their condition is very serious. An overland trip would be dangerous as the country is infested with filibusterers. Have asked Senator Smoot if it would be possible to have troops give protection tot he colonists in case of hostilities. What steps can be taken? Advise at once.
(Signed) A. L. Pierce, Presiding Elder."
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
115 years ago today - Apr 23, 1909; Friday
Dr. James E. Talmage had had some conversation with the Presidency about making an effort to regain possession of the dies from which our Deseret gold coins are struck, he having learned some time ago that they were not in possession of Alfales Young, a son of President Brigham Young. It appears that these dies were among the personal belongings of President Brigham Young which were sold at auction to his heirs, no one else having been allowed to bid on his personal property, and Alfales bought them with some other things at a very low figure.
Dr. Talmage now represented to the Presidency in the presence of Brothers Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, Heber J. Grant and George F. Richards that he had waited on Alfales Young with the following result: Alfales claims that he could legally hold these dies, he having come rightfully by them, but offered to let the museum have them for five hundred dollars. Bro[ther]. Talmage now produced the dies, which he had procured from Alfales Young on certain binding conditions. They consisted of seven sets which covered all the coins issued. It was decided to regain possession of them for the Museum by paying Alfales Young his price, namely, five hundred dollars, although it is understood by the Presidency that he could be compelled to part with them as they were not personal property of President Brigham Young, but really belonged to the Church.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
Dr. Talmage now represented to the Presidency in the presence of Brothers Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, Heber J. Grant and George F. Richards that he had waited on Alfales Young with the following result: Alfales claims that he could legally hold these dies, he having come rightfully by them, but offered to let the museum have them for five hundred dollars. Bro[ther]. Talmage now produced the dies, which he had procured from Alfales Young on certain binding conditions. They consisted of seven sets which covered all the coins issued. It was decided to regain possession of them for the Museum by paying Alfales Young his price, namely, five hundred dollars, although it is understood by the Presidency that he could be compelled to part with them as they were not personal property of President Brigham Young, but really belonged to the Church.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
145 years ago today - Apr 23, 1879
[Joseph and Hiel Lewis]
[Joseph Smith's] so-called "money digging," of which so little is said in his histories, was in Susquehanna Co. Pa. Smith declared that vast treasures were hidden on this spot, and interested men of money sufficiently to procure funds to bear the expense of searching for it. Mr. Ira Stevens of East Grove Township [Illinois], lately deceased, was in his employ as head workman, and had charge of the excavation. The project was abandoned only when the prophet declared the enchantment was so great he could see no farther, and to dispel it, a snow white dog must be slain and its warm blood sprinkled in the hole. His adherents sought far and wide for a white dog, but none were to be found. Smith then thought a white sheep would do--one was brought, its fleece thoroughly cleaned, the sheep was slain and its blood administered as directed; but the enchantment was as great as ever, and the pursuit of wealth in those diggings had to be abandoned.
["The Histories of Mormonism," Amboy (IL) Journal, 23 April 1879., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Amboy (Il) Journal]
[Joseph Smith's] so-called "money digging," of which so little is said in his histories, was in Susquehanna Co. Pa. Smith declared that vast treasures were hidden on this spot, and interested men of money sufficiently to procure funds to bear the expense of searching for it. Mr. Ira Stevens of East Grove Township [Illinois], lately deceased, was in his employ as head workman, and had charge of the excavation. The project was abandoned only when the prophet declared the enchantment was so great he could see no farther, and to dispel it, a snow white dog must be slain and its warm blood sprinkled in the hole. His adherents sought far and wide for a white dog, but none were to be found. Smith then thought a white sheep would do--one was brought, its fleece thoroughly cleaned, the sheep was slain and its blood administered as directed; but the enchantment was as great as ever, and the pursuit of wealth in those diggings had to be abandoned.
["The Histories of Mormonism," Amboy (IL) Journal, 23 April 1879., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Amboy (Il) Journal]
190 years ago today - Apr 23, 1834
A revelation ends the Kirtland United Order and distributes its real estate assets among Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, Frederick G. Williams, Martin Harris, Newel K. Whitney, and John Johnson. Although the revelation says, "it is my will that you shall pay all your debts," Smith requires Whitney to absorb the $1,121.31 Whitney had loaned to him personally as well as $2.484.22 of other men's debts to Whitney. Ten days later the name of the church is officially changed from "The Church of Jesus Christ" to "The Church of the Latter Day Saints" possibly to avoid law suits.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
190 years ago today - Apr 23, 1834
The United Order would be "everlasting", and "immutable and unchangeable" to benefit the church until Jesus comes. D&C 104:1 -- Critics claim this prophecy was not fulfilled. Members of the LDS Church claim that the adjectives "everlasting ... immutable and unchageable" may refer to the divine source of the United Order rather than a prophecy that it will always be practiced. They also argue that the United Order is part of the eternal gospel and that its practice is simply in abeyance pending other events.
[Wikipedia, Prophesies of Joseph Smith, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecies_of_Joseph_Smith,_Jr.]
[Wikipedia, Prophesies of Joseph Smith, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecies_of_Joseph_Smith,_Jr.]
190 years ago today - Apr 23, 1834
The United Order would be "everlasting", and "immutable and unchangeable" to benefit the church until Jesus comes. D&C 104:1
[D&C 104]
[D&C 104]
190 years ago today - Apr 23, 1834
Joseph Smith is referred to as "Enoch" in a revelation. [D&C 104]
[Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology, Rev 01 Volume 01" http://bit.ly/tiddchron]
[Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology, Rev 01 Volume 01" http://bit.ly/tiddchron]
60 years ago today - Apr 22, 1964
Opening of New York World's Fair which LDS church's first major exhibit hall at world's fair, the "Mormon Pavilion." Continues through 1965 season.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com, based on Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy vols 1 & 2]
125 years ago today - Apr 22, 1899
[Patriarchal Blessing of Apostle John Henry Smith Diary]
.... thou shalt see the Riches of the Earth uncovered for thy good ...
[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]
.... thou shalt see the Riches of the Earth uncovered for thy good ...
[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 - Monday, Apr 22, 1889
[Apostle John Henry Smith Diary]
I was subpoenaed to go before the grand jury. Upon going to the jury room I was wanted in the Joseph F. Smith case. I gave my testimony in the case as follows:
Jos. F. Smith is my cousin. He had three wives to my knowledge. I did not know whether they had babies or not. I told them he had not taken any wives inside of three years.
[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 was subpoenaed to go before the grand jury. Upon going to the jury room I was wanted in the Joseph F. Smith case. I gave my testimony in the case as follows:
Jos. F. Smith is my cousin. He had three wives to my knowledge. I did not know whether they had babies or not. I told them he had not taken any wives inside of three years.
[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 - Apr 22, 1884
[Franklin D. Richards]
At Pres[iden]ts office read a letter from President W[illiam]. W. Cluff [politician / Stake President] feeling unable safely to carry out the counsel of the Lord through Presidency in regard to plural marriage, he offers his resignation to the President if he thinks it best to accept it in time to fill the vacancy at their next Quarterly conference. This seems a sad step'-must it be taken.
[Franklin D. Richards Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
At Pres[iden]ts office read a letter from President W[illiam]. W. Cluff [politician / Stake President] feeling unable safely to carry out the counsel of the Lord through Presidency in regard to plural marriage, he offers his resignation to the President if he thinks it best to accept it in time to fill the vacancy at their next Quarterly conference. This seems a sad step'-must it be taken.
[Franklin D. Richards Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
160 years ago today - Apr 22, 1864
[Brigham Young Sermon]
.... don't after you get through preaching go to the theatre, to the dram shop, or hug a sister because she wants hugging; don't do it, for you will tarnish your soul through all eternity; if you do it, the memory of it will always haunt you; ...
[The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
.... don't after you get through preaching go to the theatre, to the dram shop, or hug a sister because she wants hugging; don't do it, for you will tarnish your soul through all eternity; if you do it, the memory of it will always haunt you; ...
[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 - Apr 22, 1844
[Joseph Smith]
This morning a man who had put up at my house told me he wanted to see me alone. I went into my room with him and he told me he was a prophet of God that he come from Vermont and he prophesied that this government was about to be overthrown and the Kingdom which Daniel spoke of was about to be established some where in the west and he thought in Illinois.
[Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1844, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
This morning a man who had put up at my house told me he wanted to see me alone. I went into my room with him and he told me he was a prophet of God that he come from Vermont and he prophesied that this government was about to be overthrown and the Kingdom which Daniel spoke of was about to be established some where in the west and he thought in Illinois.
[Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1844, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
185 years ago today - 1839 22 Apr.
Joseph Smith returns to his family (now in Illinois) and reportedly indicates his intention for his son Joseph III to be his successor as church president.
[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]
15 years ago today - 4/21/2009
Orson Scott Card officially named as replacement for Matthew Holland on the board of the National Organization for Marriage. Holland stepped down from the board to become president of Utah Valley University. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints deserves credit, [Princeton professor and NOM leader, Robert] George said, for being "a leading force in the nation in defense of the institution of marriage and the family" despite efforts at intimidation. The LDS Church is not helping to fund the National Organization for Marriage, George said, but is represented on the board by author and Mormon Times columnist Orson Scott Card.
[Mormons for Marriage: A Prop 8 Timeline, http://mormonsformarriage.com/?page_id=68]
[Mormons for Marriage: A Prop 8 Timeline, http://mormonsformarriage.com/?page_id=68]