[Heber J. Grant]
In answer I will say that in the resurrection there will be no physical defects; and inasmuch as you are the mother of two children, you may rest assured that in the resurrected state you will have the mother instinct and affections, and your bodily organs will be normal.
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Alice Halladay, 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 In Mormon History-fb
Several curious tidbits that happened on this day in Mormon History
90 years ago today - Sep 7, 1935
The first excommunication of many Mormon Fundamentalists who refuse to sign a loyalty oath that, among other things, denies "any intimation that any one of the Presidency or Apostles of the church is living a double life." Later these excommunicants learn of Apostle Richard R. Lyman's polygamous "double life" at this time.
[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)]]
110 years ago today - Sep 7, 1915; Tuesday
[James E. Talmage]
Today the First Presidency renewed an appointment originally made about five years ago and suspended because of press of work---that I prepare as soon as possible a work dealing with the Restoration of the Gospel, the book to be in the nature of a companion volume to "The Great Apostasy."
[James E. Talmage, Diary]
Today the First Presidency renewed an appointment originally made about five years ago and suspended because of press of work---that I prepare as soon as possible a work dealing with the Restoration of the Gospel, the book to be in the nature of a companion volume to "The Great Apostasy."
[James E. Talmage, Diary]
120 years ago today - Sep 07, 1905
Ivy Baker (Priest), later the treasurer of the United States, is born in Kimberly, Utah.
175 years ago today - Sep 7, 1850 (Morning, Conference)
President Young then addressed the people on the business of the Conference, and the experience that this people had passed through, and showed that Mormonism circumscribes all truth, whether in heaven, on earth, or in hell, and will continue to revolutionize this world, until all the kingdoms of the earth are subject to the kingdom of Jesus Christ; and testified that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and was as good a man as ever walked on the earth. -- Salt Lake City
[Millennial Star Supplement, Manchester- Liverpool, England, 1840-1970. 14:33, 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]
[Millennial Star Supplement, Manchester- Liverpool, England, 1840-1970. 14:33, 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]
45 years ago today - Sep 6, 1980
Latter-day Saint missionaries enter the African nation of Kenya for the first time.
[LDS Daily, www.ldsdaily.com]
[LDS Daily, www.ldsdaily.com]
60 years ago today - Sep 06, 1965
The U.S. government designates Nauvoo, Illinois, as a national historical landmark.
65 years ago today - Sep 6, 1960
Second Counselor Henry D. Moyle confides to BYU President Ernest Wilkinson that Apostles Joseph Fielding Smith and Harold B. Lee were in "real opposition" to his "accelerated missionary program." The program includes using baseball as a missionary tool to baptize teenage boys.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
90 years ago today - Sep 6, 1935
[Heber J. Grant]
A proper fast consists of refraining from eating two meals on Fast-day'breakfast and the noon-day meal. In practice the fat is usually broke after the Fast-meeting, which is generally held throughout the Church either at 1 or 2 p.m., on the first Sunday of the month.
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Emma Zella Deeter, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
A proper fast consists of refraining from eating two meals on Fast-day'breakfast and the noon-day meal. In practice the fat is usually broke after the Fast-meeting, which is generally held throughout the Church either at 1 or 2 p.m., on the first Sunday of the month.
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Emma Zella Deeter, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
125 years ago today - Thursday, Sep 6, 1900
Pres. Snow said that Apostle Merrill, president of the Logan Temple, had ruled that the baptism of a certain man who had been baptized a few days before he was 8 years of age was of no virtue. The effect of this decision would be to make null and void the ministrations in the priesthood of this brother in after life. Pres. Merrill had also ruled that he should be rebaptized and that his membership in the church should date from his second baptism. The matter was discussed and it was decided to set aside Pres. Merrill's ruling and to affirm the man's first baptism. To hold that a child in all cases must absolutely be eight years of age before administering the ordinance of baptism was regarded as rather too narrow and technical a view to take.
[Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
[Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
185 years ago today - Sep 6, 1840
[Vilate Kimball writes Heber C. Kimball]: "...Seymour Brunson is also dead, everything was done to save him that could be done, but the Lord had need of him. A short time before he died he told Joseph not to hold him any longer `for' said he, `I have seen David Patten and he wants me, and the Lord wants me, and I want to go.' They then gave him up; at one time as Joseph entered the room, he told him that there was a light encircled him above the brightness of the sun—he exclaimed, `The room is full of angels they have come to waft my spirit home.' He then bade his family and friends farewell and sweetly fell asleep in Jesus."
[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]
[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]
195 years ago today - September 1830 (before 26 September)
Sections 29 & 30, Place: Fayette, Seneca County, New York.
Historical Note: Section 30, given to David, Peter, Jr., and John Whitmer at Fayette, New York, was originally three separate revelations in the Book of Commandments. Among other matters, section 30 called Peter Whitmer, Jr., to accompany Oliver Cowdery on his mission to the Lamanites. Section 30 was first published as chapters 31, 32, and 33 in the Book of Commandments in 1833.
[Cook, Lyndon, Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith]
Historical Note: Section 30, given to David, Peter, Jr., and John Whitmer at Fayette, New York, was originally three separate revelations in the Book of Commandments. Among other matters, section 30 called Peter Whitmer, Jr., to accompany Oliver Cowdery on his mission to the Lamanites. Section 30 was first published as chapters 31, 32, and 33 in the Book of Commandments in 1833.
[Cook, Lyndon, Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith]
85 years ago today - Sep 5, 1940
[George F. Richards diary, Sept. 5, 1940] I had a meeting with the Temple Presidency of [the] Salt Lake Temple instructing them as counseled by the [First] Presidency & the Twelve this day to discontinue [the] ring service in sealing, i.e., marrying couples where such ring service, or ceremony is used; also to discontinue prayer rooms provided with altar &c for individual use.
[Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
[Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
100 years ago today - Sep 5, 1925
[Heber J. Grant]
Bishp Edward S. Rich of the East Mill Creek Ward called and gave us a copy of a blessing given by Patriarch Homer Brown to John T. Clark. Brother Clark is one of the men who has recently entered into so-called plural marriage. Brother Rich says that Brother Brown is making a specialty of blessing people who have entered into alleged plural marriage. He promised to furnish us some additional evidence of Brother Brown's improper methods. We cannot help but hope, on account of his life-long labors and having such a splendid son as the president of the Lethbridge Stake, that Brother Brown is not mixed up in giving comfort and consolation to people who are still insisting that plural marriage is the proper thing.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Bishp Edward S. Rich of the East Mill Creek Ward called and gave us a copy of a blessing given by Patriarch Homer Brown to John T. Clark. Brother Clark is one of the men who has recently entered into so-called plural marriage. Brother Rich says that Brother Brown is making a specialty of blessing people who have entered into alleged plural marriage. He promised to furnish us some additional evidence of Brother Brown's improper methods. We cannot help but hope, on account of his life-long labors and having such a splendid son as the president of the Lethbridge Stake, that Brother Brown is not mixed up in giving comfort and consolation to people who are still insisting that plural marriage is the proper thing.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
130 years ago today - Sep 5, 1895
[Heber J. Grant]
.... Several of the Delegates on the train assured me that I could have the nomination for Governor if I would accept it. The Utah Co. Delegates were solid for me. At Salt Lake I learned that all I needed to do was to say the word and I could have the nomination. I highly appreciate the compliment, and feel reasonably well assured that I could get the nomination were I to enter the fight, but I feel that it would be an unwise thing in view of the Church position which I hold. I called on Emily this AM and she was very much frightened for fear I was going to accept the nomination. I called at the office of the First Presidency and told them that I had been offered the nomination by a great many of the Delegates and that I had assured them that I would not accept. I intimated that I would do so if they desired it, and inasmuch as they said nothing to indicate that they would pleased to have me accept the nomination I wired to my cousin A. W. Ivins to use his influence to see that my
name did not come before the convention, I did not care to have a few votes cast for me seeing that I did not want and would not accept the offer of the nomination ...
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
.... Several of the Delegates on the train assured me that I could have the nomination for Governor if I would accept it. The Utah Co. Delegates were solid for me. At Salt Lake I learned that all I needed to do was to say the word and I could have the nomination. I highly appreciate the compliment, and feel reasonably well assured that I could get the nomination were I to enter the fight, but I feel that it would be an unwise thing in view of the Church position which I hold. I called on Emily this AM and she was very much frightened for fear I was going to accept the nomination. I called at the office of the First Presidency and told them that I had been offered the nomination by a great many of the Delegates and that I had assured them that I would not accept. I intimated that I would do so if they desired it, and inasmuch as they said nothing to indicate that they would pleased to have me accept the nomination I wired to my cousin A. W. Ivins to use his influence to see that my
name did not come before the convention, I did not care to have a few votes cast for me seeing that I did not want and would not accept the offer of the nomination ...
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
130 years ago today - Sep 5, 1895
[Francis M. Lyman]
[Orderville] Spoke of Statehood. I held that saints were a little thick headed and stupid who would not see that statehood is what the Lord has in store for us. I stated it as the will of the Lord that we should support statehood.
[Excerpts of Apostle Francis M. Lyman Diaries, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Orderville] Spoke of Statehood. I held that saints were a little thick headed and stupid who would not see that statehood is what the Lord has in store for us. I stated it as the will of the Lord that we should support statehood.
[Excerpts of Apostle Francis M. Lyman Diaries, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
155 years ago today - Sep 5, 1870
Sister Josephene Ursenbak had been baptized for European Ladies, & Princes, &c & she officiated to day with Joseph F Smith & I sealed 9 to the Prophet Joseph Smith, [4/5?] to the Patriarch Joseph Smith, 5 to the Patriarch Hiram Smith 3 to Samuel Harrison Smith, 3 to Don Carlos Smith, 3 to Joseph F Smith & 3 to Samuel H. B. Smith. He officiated for His Father & Don Carloss Smith. Total 30 sealed to the Smith Family.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
165 years ago today - Sept 5, 1860
Brigham Young's office journal records: "The President observed he was prejudiced against many of the Elders who had labored in England their course had been oppresive to the people for the sake of living like gentlemen, coming home in carriages, and bringing [or buying] home Merchandize to trade with; he should enquire of other Elders into particulars, and do all he could to stop this system of begging from the Saints. The President alluded to his former travels in England and how little he had done upon. H. C. Kimball alluded to the little he had ever received from the Saints."
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
185 years ago today - Sept 5, 1840
Joseph Smith brings charges against Almon W. Babbitt before the High Council. He charges Babbitt with "First . . . stating that Joseph Smith, Jun., had extravagantly purchased three suits of clothes while he was at Washington City, and that Sidney Rigdon had purchased four suits while at the same place, besides dresses in profusion for their families. Second. For having stated that Joseph Smith, Jun.: Sidney Rigdon and Elias Higbee had said that they were worth one hundred thousand dollars each, while they were at Washington, and that Joseph Smith, Jun., had repeated the same statement while in Philadelphia, and for saying that Oliver Granger had stated that he also was worth as much as they (that is, one hundred thousand dollars). Third. For holding secret councils in the Lord's House, in Kirtland, and for locking the doors of the house, for the purpose of prohibiting certain brethren in good standing in the Church, from being in the Council, thereby depriving them of the use of
the house. . . . The parties spoke at length, after which, Joseph Smith withdrew the charge."
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
the house. . . . The parties spoke at length, after which, Joseph Smith withdrew the charge."
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
30 years ago today - Sep 4, 1995-15
World Conference on Women, 1995 in Beijing, China. Elder Packer claims this was the impetus for writing The Proclamation: "Not too many years ago there came a movement in the world having to do with the family. The United Nations called a council on the family in Beijing, China. We sent delegations to that council on the family and to other councils that were held. And then it was announced that one of them would be held near our headquarters, and we thought, "Well, if they are coming here, we had better proclaim ourselves."
[History of The Proclamation on the Family, https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRDUS68wfgWtZqdNv67AqfYGGfHrJiZi-B6dlDhDClQOatExFZDFt73srGQoul3U4_iXiTuYIqW57gs/pubhtml]
[History of The Proclamation on the Family, https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRDUS68wfgWtZqdNv67AqfYGGfHrJiZi-B6dlDhDClQOatExFZDFt73srGQoul3U4_iXiTuYIqW57gs/pubhtml]
75 years ago today - Sep 04, 1950
The first early-morning seminary, with 198 students, is organized in Southern California under the direction of Ray L. Jones.
75 years ago today - Sep 04, 1950
Latter-day Saint car racer Ab Jenkins shatters twenty-six world and American records on the Bonneville Salt Flats in his Mormon Meteor III.
95 years ago today - Sep 4, 1930
First counselor Anthony W. Ivins computes that the church lost $6 million in stock investments and $900,000 in loans and business transactions with the Presiding Bishop Charles W. Nibley before his appointment as the second counselor in the First Presidency in 1925.
[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 - Sep 4, 1890 (Thursday)
The Agricultural College at Logan [today: Utah State University] was dedicated.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
155 years ago today - Sep 4, 1870
[Martin Harris testimony]
.... in the year 1818--52 years ago I was Inspired of the Lord & Tought of the Spirit that I Should not Join Eny Church although I Was anxiousley Sought for by meny of the Sectarians[.] ... Previous to my being baptised I became A Witness of the Plates of the Book of mormon in [June] 1829. ... Rogers unknown to me had agreed to give my wife 100 Dollars if it was not A Deseption & had Whet his Nife to cut the covering of the Plates as the Lord had forbid Joseph exhibiting them openley[.] Martins Wife had hefted them & felt them under cover as had Martin &
["Testimony of Martin Harris Written by my hand from the Mouth of Martin Harris," dictated to Edward Stevenson 4 September 1870, Edward Stevenson Collection, Miscellaneous Papers, LDS Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Martin Harris Testimony]
.... in the year 1818--52 years ago I was Inspired of the Lord & Tought of the Spirit that I Should not Join Eny Church although I Was anxiousley Sought for by meny of the Sectarians[.] ... Previous to my being baptised I became A Witness of the Plates of the Book of mormon in [June] 1829. ... Rogers unknown to me had agreed to give my wife 100 Dollars if it was not A Deseption & had Whet his Nife to cut the covering of the Plates as the Lord had forbid Joseph exhibiting them openley[.] Martins Wife had hefted them & felt them under cover as had Martin &
["Testimony of Martin Harris Written by my hand from the Mouth of Martin Harris," dictated to Edward Stevenson 4 September 1870, Edward Stevenson Collection, Miscellaneous Papers, LDS Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Martin Harris Testimony]
155 years ago today - Sep 4, 1870
Edward Stephenson had been to Kirtland & Brought up old Father Martin Harris one of the 3 witnesses of the Book of Mormon. ... Then Martin Harris arose & bore testimony to the truth of the Book of Mormon. He is 88 years old & has finally Come up to Zion to lay his Body down with the Saints. He has been from the Church 33 years in a state of Apostacy & he is far behind the times yet he bears a strong testimony to the truth of the Book of Mormon.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
165 years ago today - Sep 4, 1860
On sunday Evening while in Conversation at the Historians office a Brother Williams & another man Called to get Council of Presidet Young Concerning Brother Williams of Union Fort who is possessed of the Devil & has been in the mountains 60 days to try to starve himself to death but came home a living skeleton & finally Cut his throat & that did not kill him & he now wanted to drown himself. The men that Came for Counsel want the heads of the Church to unite to gether & Cast the Devil out of him. The President said if he wants to Cut his throat or drown himself let him do it. The devil is determined to destroy his body any how. If you want the devil Cast out you may go to work & Cast him out if you Can. I shall not go down there to do it. We have devils enough to deal with up here without going abroad after them. If the devils destroy his body they will get through with him. That will be the end of there work with his tabernacle.
Brother Cannon Said there was a learned Doctor [ ] that wanted to be baptized. Believed in this work but wanted to close up his business in New York City first. Said when he was baptized that He should lay aside his practice of medicine as he believed the Lord had provided means for the healing of his Saints without the practice of medicine. He is satisfied that the doctrin of the plurality of God and that Adam is our Father is a true doctrin Revealed from God to Joseph & Brigham. For this same Doctrin is taught in some of the old Jewish records which have never been in print and I know Joseph Smith nor Brigham Young have never had access to and the Lord has revealed this doctrin unto them or they Could not have taught it.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Brother Cannon Said there was a learned Doctor [ ] that wanted to be baptized. Believed in this work but wanted to close up his business in New York City first. Said when he was baptized that He should lay aside his practice of medicine as he believed the Lord had provided means for the healing of his Saints without the practice of medicine. He is satisfied that the doctrin of the plurality of God and that Adam is our Father is a true doctrin Revealed from God to Joseph & Brigham. For this same Doctrin is taught in some of the old Jewish records which have never been in print and I know Joseph Smith nor Brigham Young have never had access to and the Lord has revealed this doctrin unto them or they Could not have taught it.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
165 years ago today - Sep 4, 1860
President [Brigham] Young said... I think if the Lord wants any steeling done he would reveal it to me as soon as to Bill Hickman, Ormus Bates, or any other thieves Bates has been ingaged with that Clan in steeling for a long time but if He will go now and behave himself I will let all pass ...
[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]
[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]
195 years ago today - Sep 4, 1830
Newel Knight and his wife visit Joseph Smith, Jr., in Harmony (PA). Joseph Smith receives a revelation (D&C 27:1-4) concerning use of wine in the sacrament. Joseph and Emma Smith, Newel and Sally Knight, and John Whitmer hold a sacrament meeting, after which Emma and Sally are confirmed . ... The absence of D&C 27:5-18 from the Book of Commandments indicates that these verses were more likely composed in 1835 prior to publication in the Doctrine and Covenants.
[Vogel, Dan, Early Mormon Documents, Appendix B: Chronology, 1771-1831, http://amzn.to/T5nY8w]
[Vogel, Dan, Early Mormon Documents, Appendix B: Chronology, 1771-1831, http://amzn.to/T5nY8w]
195 years ago today - Sep 4, 1830
[D&C 27]
Use whatever you want for the sacrament. Do not purchase alcohol from enemies -drink only what you produce yourselves. Soon I will drink with you and Moroni , other prophets and patriarchs who hold keys of restoration.
[Kenney, Scott; Saints Without Halos, 'Doctrine and Covenants,' http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/s/_dc.phtml]
Use whatever you want for the sacrament. Do not purchase alcohol from enemies -drink only what you produce yourselves. Soon I will drink with you and Moroni , other prophets and patriarchs who hold keys of restoration.
[Kenney, Scott; Saints Without Halos, 'Doctrine and Covenants,' http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/s/_dc.phtml]
15 years ago today - 2010 September 3
Documentary 'Tabloid' (directed by Errol Morris) released, dealing with the notorious Mormon sex in chains case and British tabloid war.
[Wikipedia, 21st Century (Mormonism), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/21st_century_(Mormonism)]
[Wikipedia, 21st Century (Mormonism), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/21st_century_(Mormonism)]
50 years ago today - Sep 3, 1975-Wednesday
[Leonard Arrington]
Last night Grace and I were invited to the Sterling Sills for dinner... Also at the dinner were: Theodore and Minnie Burton, Franklin D. and Helen Richards, ElRay and Luella Christiansen, and Joseph and Norma Anderson. It was an interesting evening for us since all were General Authorities and Assistants to the Twelve but us. ...
Elder [Franklin D.] Richards reminded Elder [Sterling W.] Sill of the occasion when they were at the end of a conference session and he gave a marvelous [two-minute] talk. This apparently happened at least three times. At the first, he induced President [David O.] McKay to "skip him" by saying he got to talk anyway on the radio every Sunday. [[Sill delivered a Sunday evening radio program from Temple Square on church- owned KSL radio from 1960 to 1977.]] "Let someone else talk." The next time, October 1961, they were already over time. Before the meeting, he told President [N. Eldon] Tanner he had a 15-minute talk, a one-minute talk, but thought they ought to skip him entirely because he had these other opportunities of talking. But when it came time, President Tanner called on him anyway for a few remarks. He got up and gave the famous "nut" talk that Elder Richards remembered. (Maybe as late as 1965 conference; perhaps not the October 1961). About picking up a black
walnut, hard, hard shell. But has within it a power to split it open and from it a great tree grows. [[The talk given by Sill on September 29, 1967, in general conference consisted of only 321 words. Conference Report, Oct. 1967, GospeLink Digital Library.]] Took 2 minutes 10 seconds. President Tanner said he took 50 seconds too long! Then another one minute talk on occasion. Check the conference proceedings for these gems. Elder Sill is hearty at repartee, always has a funny little remark or story. I noted one of two "Jewish" jokes.
Apparently the Brethren have trouble hearing some of their number in their meetings in the temple-brethren who do not project their voices. Apparently they have particular trouble hearing Bishop Victor Brown and Elder Bernard Brockbank....
We learned that many, if not all, the General Authorities still do home teaching and have regular assignments from their quorums. Also that it was relatively recent, perhaps under President McKay, that church procedures provide for passing the Sacrament first to the presiding authority. Also that President Grant, in the meetings in the temple, upon being offered the Sacrament first, passed it first to his first counselor, then to his second, then partook himself. To show that they were "equals." Shows the progressive institutionalization of the position of Prophet.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
Last night Grace and I were invited to the Sterling Sills for dinner... Also at the dinner were: Theodore and Minnie Burton, Franklin D. and Helen Richards, ElRay and Luella Christiansen, and Joseph and Norma Anderson. It was an interesting evening for us since all were General Authorities and Assistants to the Twelve but us. ...
Elder [Franklin D.] Richards reminded Elder [Sterling W.] Sill of the occasion when they were at the end of a conference session and he gave a marvelous [two-minute] talk. This apparently happened at least three times. At the first, he induced President [David O.] McKay to "skip him" by saying he got to talk anyway on the radio every Sunday. [[Sill delivered a Sunday evening radio program from Temple Square on church- owned KSL radio from 1960 to 1977.]] "Let someone else talk." The next time, October 1961, they were already over time. Before the meeting, he told President [N. Eldon] Tanner he had a 15-minute talk, a one-minute talk, but thought they ought to skip him entirely because he had these other opportunities of talking. But when it came time, President Tanner called on him anyway for a few remarks. He got up and gave the famous "nut" talk that Elder Richards remembered. (Maybe as late as 1965 conference; perhaps not the October 1961). About picking up a black
walnut, hard, hard shell. But has within it a power to split it open and from it a great tree grows. [[The talk given by Sill on September 29, 1967, in general conference consisted of only 321 words. Conference Report, Oct. 1967, GospeLink Digital Library.]] Took 2 minutes 10 seconds. President Tanner said he took 50 seconds too long! Then another one minute talk on occasion. Check the conference proceedings for these gems. Elder Sill is hearty at repartee, always has a funny little remark or story. I noted one of two "Jewish" jokes.
Apparently the Brethren have trouble hearing some of their number in their meetings in the temple-brethren who do not project their voices. Apparently they have particular trouble hearing Bishop Victor Brown and Elder Bernard Brockbank....
We learned that many, if not all, the General Authorities still do home teaching and have regular assignments from their quorums. Also that it was relatively recent, perhaps under President McKay, that church procedures provide for passing the Sacrament first to the presiding authority. Also that President Grant, in the meetings in the temple, upon being offered the Sacrament first, passed it first to his first counselor, then to his second, then partook himself. To show that they were "equals." Shows the progressive institutionalization of the position of Prophet.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
130 years ago today - Sept 3: Tueaday. [1895]
[Abigail Cowley]
My husband took me to the Logan Temple where I was washed and anoited [sic] for my future health by Sisters Mary Richards and Sister Parry. Bro. Edlifsen administered to me.
[Abigail Cowley diary, Vol. 1, p. 220]
My husband took me to the Logan Temple where I was washed and anoited [sic] for my future health by Sisters Mary Richards and Sister Parry. Bro. Edlifsen administered to me.
[Abigail Cowley diary, Vol. 1, p. 220]
135 years ago today - Sep 3, 1890
The complete First Presidency left Utah so that they could not be subpoenaed to testify in a court case that would have meant the federal government would have taken the four Mormon temples either completed or nearly completed. They went to San Francisco to meet with Estee and make a deal.
[Tungate, Mel, Mormon Polygamy, http://www.tungate.com/polygamy.htm]
[Tungate, Mel, Mormon Polygamy, http://www.tungate.com/polygamy.htm]
145 years ago today - Sep 3, 1880
The Deseret News Company organized and incorporated with John Taylor as president. Entire LDS printing and publishing establishment purchased and transferred to the Deseret News Company.
[Sherry Baker: Mormon Media History Timeline: 1827-2007, http://byustudies.byu.edu/showTitle.aspx?title=7984]
[Sherry Baker: Mormon Media History Timeline: 1827-2007, http://byustudies.byu.edu/showTitle.aspx?title=7984]
165 years ago today - Sep 3, 1860
Brigham Young's office journal recoreds: "The President alluded to a joke between him and Dr Willard Richards. The Pres[ident] had [sic] once s[ai]d to him if you will make a gentleman of me I will make a real man of you."
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
180 years ago today - Mar 9, 1845
In discourses to priesthood quorums, Brigham Young, president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, expressed his opposition to further Relief Society meetings.
[Matthew J. Grow, Kate Holbrook, Carol Cornwall Madsen, Jill Mulvay Derr, The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women's History, Chronology. https://churchhistorianspress.org/the-first-fifty-years-of-relief-society/events]
[Matthew J. Grow, Kate Holbrook, Carol Cornwall Madsen, Jill Mulvay Derr, The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women's History, Chronology. https://churchhistorianspress.org/the-first-fifty-years-of-relief-society/events]
180 years ago today - 1845 3 Sept.
Nauvoo Neighbor reports the first suicide by a Mormon woman. She slit her throat with a straight-edged razor "in a state of mental aberration."
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
180 years ago today - Sep 3, 1845
Newel K. Whitney gave William Clayton a list of Anointed Quorum members from 1843 to Joseph Smith's death in 1844. The list is organized according to their entry before or after 9 Dec. 1843 (rearranged the list and inadvertently obscured the significance of its chronological scheme).
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Signature Books, 1994, Appendex: Meetings and Initiations of the Anointed Quorum, 1842-45, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Signature Books, 1994, Appendex: Meetings and Initiations of the Anointed Quorum, 1842-45, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
60 years ago today - Sep 2, 1965
Son of Ezra Taft Benson -- Reed Benson escalated both the Birch conflict and racial tensions in Mormonism with a memorandum to all Birch Society chapters in Utah on 2 September 1965:
It is common knowledge that the Civil Rights Movement is Communist controlled, influenced and dominated. . . . Our founder and guide, Mr. Robert Welch, has instructed us that when necessary we must adopt the communist technique in our ever present battle against Godless Communism. It is urged that in the coming weeks the Utah Chapters begin a whispering campaign and foster rumors that the Civil Rights groups are going to organize demonstrations in Salt Lake City in connection with the forthcoming LDS conference. . . . A few well placed comments will soon mushroom out of control and before the conference begins there will be such a feeling of unrest and distrust that the populace will hardly know who to believe. The news media will play it to the very hilt. No matter what the Civil Rights leaders may try to say to deny it the seed will have been sown and again the Civil Rights movement will suffer a telling blow.
[Reed A. Benson, "Memo to the Utah Chapters," 2 Sept. 1965, on letterhead of the John Birch Society, photocopy in Williams Papers; Quinn G. McKay to J. D. Williams, 20 May 1966, Williams Papers. From D. Michael Quinn, Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992), also in Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3.]
It is common knowledge that the Civil Rights Movement is Communist controlled, influenced and dominated. . . . Our founder and guide, Mr. Robert Welch, has instructed us that when necessary we must adopt the communist technique in our ever present battle against Godless Communism. It is urged that in the coming weeks the Utah Chapters begin a whispering campaign and foster rumors that the Civil Rights groups are going to organize demonstrations in Salt Lake City in connection with the forthcoming LDS conference. . . . A few well placed comments will soon mushroom out of control and before the conference begins there will be such a feeling of unrest and distrust that the populace will hardly know who to believe. The news media will play it to the very hilt. No matter what the Civil Rights leaders may try to say to deny it the seed will have been sown and again the Civil Rights movement will suffer a telling blow.
[Reed A. Benson, "Memo to the Utah Chapters," 2 Sept. 1965, on letterhead of the John Birch Society, photocopy in Williams Papers; Quinn G. McKay to J. D. Williams, 20 May 1966, Williams Papers. From D. Michael Quinn, Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992), also in Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3.]
150 years ago today - Sep 2, 1875
The day after his father (George A. Smith, First Counselor to Brigham Young) dies Apostle John Henry Smith writes, "Father still lays in the ice and is keeping very nicely."
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
170 years ago today - Sep 2, 1855 (Sunday)
The Ute and Shoshone Indians met in front of the Deseret News office, G.S.L. City, and entered into a treaty of peace.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
170 years ago today - Sep 2, 1855
P P Pratt[:] I told Sam Brannan's Mother in law, that Sam would never die, until he saw the time, that he wanted money to buy a piece of bread'- B Y[:] I sa[y] Amen to that'-H[eber] C K[imball]. Amen'- ... B Y[:] San Bernardino is the half way house this side of hell'-
[Minutes, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
[Minutes, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
175 years ago today - Sep 2, 1850
Joseph E. Johnson is on trial impregnating one of Apostle Lorenzo Snow's plural wives. A Church court in Kanesville, Iowa, had already decided that "his priesthood was required to be laid down [i.e., he was disfellowshipped] until he came here" to Salt Lake City. Johnson said "I never heard any conversation to say it was right to go to bed with a woman if not found out--I was aware the thing [with Mrs. Snow] was wrong." He told the court "He was familiar with the first frigging -- that was done in his house with his mother in law [Mary Heron Snyder (Snider)] -- by Joseph [Smith]." He added " I knew at the time I was doing wrong [with Mrs. Snow] -- I never av [have] taken any body as a[n] excuse -- I never plighted my faith on Joseph's transactions."
In 1850 Joseph E. Johnson was not an uninformed novice about Joseph Smith's polygamy a decade earlier. Two of his sisters (Delcena in 1842, then Almera in 1843) married the Prophet, who also performed the polygamous marriage for their brother Benjamin F. Johnson, after which Joseph Smith unsuccessfully asked to marry yet another of the Johnson family's daughters in the spring of 1843 (16-year-old Esther).
[Council meeting and trial of Joseph E. Johnson, 2 September 1850, Miscellaneous Minutes, Brigham Young Papers, referenced in "Evidence For The Sexual Side of Joseph Smith's Polygamy," Comments by D. Michael Quinn on Session #2A "Reconsidering Joseph Smith's Marital Practices," Mormon History Association's Annual Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 29 June 2012 (unabbreviated version, revised during July)]
In 1850 Joseph E. Johnson was not an uninformed novice about Joseph Smith's polygamy a decade earlier. Two of his sisters (Delcena in 1842, then Almera in 1843) married the Prophet, who also performed the polygamous marriage for their brother Benjamin F. Johnson, after which Joseph Smith unsuccessfully asked to marry yet another of the Johnson family's daughters in the spring of 1843 (16-year-old Esther).
[Council meeting and trial of Joseph E. Johnson, 2 September 1850, Miscellaneous Minutes, Brigham Young Papers, referenced in "Evidence For The Sexual Side of Joseph Smith's Polygamy," Comments by D. Michael Quinn on Session #2A "Reconsidering Joseph Smith's Marital Practices," Mormon History Association's Annual Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 29 June 2012 (unabbreviated version, revised during July)]
180 years ago today - Sep 2, 1845
Patriarchal Blessing of Polly Colten given by William Smith ... for of thy posterity shall spring up mighty men and they shall wield the sword in Zion[']s defence and go forth to avenge the blood of Prophets ...
[Marquardt Papers, U of U]
[Marquardt Papers, U of U]
30 years ago today - Sep 1, 1995
The Ensign magazine publishes the First Presidency message by second counselor James E. Faust which denounces "the false belief of inborn homosexual orientation." Next month's Ensign contains what appears as one apostle's direct challenge to the First Presidency's unequivical statement. In his October article "Same-Gender Attraction," Dallin H. Oaks writes: "There are also theories and some evidence that inheritance is a factor in susceptibilities to various behavior-related disorders like aggression, alcoholism, and obesity. It is easy to hypothesize that inheritance plays a role in sexual orientation."
[, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
[, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
60 years ago today - Sep 1, 1965
On 17 August the society's "Major Coordinators" sent instructions to all the Birch officers in California to take "immediate action" to "expose the so-called Civil Rights Movement." On 1 September 1965, the day before [apostle Ezra Taft Benson's son] Reed Benson's letter, a follow-up letter instructed Birch Society leaders in Los Angeles County to "take advantage of the current situation" as a means of repudiating civil rights activism.
[D. Richard Pine and Charles R. Armour to "All Coordinators, Section Leaders and Chapter Leaders in California," 17 Aug. 1965, and D. Richard Pine to "Coordinators, Section Leaders and Chapter Leaders—L.A. County," 1 Sept. 1965, in Harvey B. Schechter, How To Listen to a John Birch Society Speaker, 3d. ed. rev. (New York: Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, 1967), 25-26; Benjamin R. Epstein and Arnold Forster, The Radical Right: Report on the John Birch Society and Its Allies (New York: Random House, 1967), 12; Lipset and Raab, Politics of Unreason, 268. For the position of Major Coordinator, see Welch, The Blue Book of the John Birch Society, 152. From D.. Michael Quinn, Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992), also in Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3.]
[D. Richard Pine and Charles R. Armour to "All Coordinators, Section Leaders and Chapter Leaders in California," 17 Aug. 1965, and D. Richard Pine to "Coordinators, Section Leaders and Chapter Leaders—L.A. County," 1 Sept. 1965, in Harvey B. Schechter, How To Listen to a John Birch Society Speaker, 3d. ed. rev. (New York: Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, 1967), 25-26; Benjamin R. Epstein and Arnold Forster, The Radical Right: Report on the John Birch Society and Its Allies (New York: Random House, 1967), 12; Lipset and Raab, Politics of Unreason, 268. For the position of Major Coordinator, see Welch, The Blue Book of the John Birch Society, 152. From D.. Michael Quinn, Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992), also in Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3.]
115 years ago today - Sep 1, 1910
[Mormon Tabernacle Choir]
Under Evan Stephens, the first recording of the choir was made on 1 September 1910.
[Utah History Encyclopedia: Mormon Tabernacle Choir, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
Under Evan Stephens, the first recording of the choir was made on 1 September 1910.
[Utah History Encyclopedia: Mormon Tabernacle Choir, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
135 years ago today - Sep 1, 1890
Federal officials indicate that they intend to confiscate the LDS temples. Presidents Woodruff and Cannon soon leave for San Francisco to avoid a subpoena to testify.
[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)]]
155 years ago today - Sep 1, 1870
Salt Lake City's 9th Ward reports that only thirty-one of its 181 families attends Sunday services regularly and 50 percent of families are "perfectly indifferent."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
185 years ago today - Sep 1, 1840
John C. Bennett arrives in Nauvoo. Within eight months he joins the Church, helps secure a city charter, is cited by revelation to "help [Joseph Smith] in your labor in sending my word to the kings and people of the earth, and stand by . . . Joseph Smith, in the hour of affliction, and its reward shall not fail, if he should receive counsel," is elected mayor of Nauvoo, becomes chancellor of the University of the City of Nauvoo, is appointed Major-General of the Nauvoo Legion, and becomes assistant president in the First Presidency.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
190 years ago today - Sep 1, 1835
Joseph writes a letter to the elders of the Church ...[which] outlines the problems in Missouri. Joseph admits that some members may have caused some of the problems in Missouri because "many, having a zeal not according to knowledge, and not understanding the pure principles of the doctrine of the Church, have no doubt, in the heat of enthusiasm, taught and said many things which were derogatory to the genuine character and principles of the Church; and for these things we are heartily sorry, and would apologize, if apology would do any good."
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
195 years ago today - Sep 1, 1830
W. W. Phelps is the Canandaigua, N.Y. seller of the 'Anti Masonic Almanac, for the year 1831.' It includes details of Masonic signs, grips, penalties, the five points of fellowship, etc...
[Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source]
[Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source]
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