Apr 9, 1932 - Elder Stephen L. Richards' Conference address asserts that the Church's emphatic intolerance of people who do not live up to the standards of the Word of Wisdom may be "out of proportion with the real seriousness of the offense." "I believe," Richards continues, "there are some good people in the church to whom the use of tobacco is so repugnant and who are so offended by those who use it that they may actually develop a feeling akin to hatred toward the smoker. This state of mind, to my thinking, is regrettable and dangerous." President Heber J. Grant disallows the speech to be published in Conference Reports.
Apr 11, 1932 - [President Heber J. Grant Diary] Met a number of mission presidents and stake presidents. They were disturbed about Brother Stephen L. Richards' talk.
-- Apr 8, 1932 [President Heber J. Grant Diary] This afternoon, after the afternoon meeting, the Presidency and Apostles met at the Church Office and we discussed Elder Stephen L. Richards' remarks, whether or not we should permit them to be published in the Tribune tomorrow morning, as they have asked permission to do so. It was decided to wait until after our Council meeting next Thursday. There was a feeling that perhaps Brother Richards' remarks might be misconstrued. (1)
-- Apr 9, 1932 Elder Stephen L. Richards' Conference address asserts that the Church's emphatic intolerance of people who do not live up to the standards of the Word of Wisdom may be "out of proportion with the real seriousness of the offense." "I believe," Richards continues, "there are some good people in the church to whom the use of tobacco is so repugnant and who are so offended by those who use it that they may actually develop a feeling akin to hatred toward the smoker. This state of mind, to my thinking, is regrettable and dangerous." President Heber J. Grant disallows the speech to be published in Conference Reports. (2)
-- Apr 11, 1932 [President Heber J. Grant Diary] Met a number of mission presidents and stake presidents. They were disturbed about Brother Stephen L. Richards' talk. (1)
-- Apr 18, 1932 [David O. McKay Office Journal] 2:30 p.m.--With Joseph Fielding and Stephen L. on the latter's sermon, making modifications before it is published. (3)
-- Apr 21, 1932 [President Heber J. Grant Diary] Before getting out of bed I read Brother Stephen L. Richards' conference sermon. I am more strongly impressed than ever that Stephen made a very serious mistake in delivering such a talk. (1)
-- May 5, 1932 [David O. McKay Office Journal] A very important and serious matter arose in Council meeting today, with Stehpen L. the principle [sic] actor. Later in the day, commenting upon what had happened, President Grant said to me, in the presence of President Ivins: "Well, he (Stephen L.) made a mistake when he delivered that address, but today, he made a fool of himself." Elder Richards starts out: "I want to say something to promote better understanding in the Church. In so doing, my chief fear is that I myself may be misunderstood." (3)
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] At ten o'clock attended the regular weekly meeting of the Presidency and Apostles. We considered Elder Stephen L. Richards' address at the General Conference. There was a long discussion but no action was taken, as to the wisdom of publishing this sermon in the Conference pamphlet. Personally, I feel that it would be a mistake to publish it. (1)
-- May 5,1932 [Utah] Apostle Stephen L. Richards tells First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve that he will resign as apostle rather than apologize for his general conference talk which says church is putting too much emphasis on Word of Wisdom. He later confesses his error to Heber J. Grant on 26 may and retains his position. (4)
-- May 26, 1932 [President Heber J. Grant Diary] Brother Stephen L. Richards called on me after the meeting and said he expected me to bring up his sermon delivered at the recent General Conference. He wanted me to know that he felt he had made a mistake by preaching it and it was all right with him whatever action we saw fit to take regarding it. I felt very happy to have him make this confession. I have worried a great deal during my absence in the East about the position he had taken regarding this talk. (1)
Footnotes: 1 - Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies 2 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com 3 - McKay, David O., Office Journal 4 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-1996, http://amzn.to/extensions-power
Apr 9, 1932 - Elder Stephen L. Richards' Conference address asserts that the Church's emphatic intolerance of people who do not live up to the standards of the Word of Wisdom may be "out of proportion with the real seriousness of the offense." "I believe," Richards continues, "there are some good people in the church to whom the use of tobacco is so repugnant and who are so offended by those who use it that they may actually develop a feeling akin to hatred toward the smoker. This state of mind, to my thinking, is regrettable and dangerous." President Heber J. Grant disallows the speech to be published in Conference Reports.
ReplyDeleteApr 11, 1932 - [President Heber J. Grant Diary] Met a number of mission presidents and stake presidents. They were disturbed about Brother Stephen L. Richards' talk.
ReplyDeleteHere is a more complete timeline of this story.
ReplyDelete-- Apr 8, 1932
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] This afternoon, after the afternoon meeting, the Presidency and Apostles met at the Church Office and we discussed Elder Stephen L. Richards' remarks, whether or not we should permit them to be published in the Tribune tomorrow morning, as they have asked permission to do so. It was decided to wait until after our Council meeting next Thursday. There was a feeling that perhaps Brother Richards' remarks might be misconstrued. (1)
-- Apr 9, 1932
Elder Stephen L. Richards' Conference address asserts that the Church's emphatic intolerance of people who do not live up to the standards of the Word of Wisdom may be "out of proportion with the real seriousness of the offense." "I believe," Richards continues, "there are some good people in the church to whom the use of tobacco is so repugnant and who are so offended by those who use it that they may actually develop a feeling akin to hatred toward the smoker. This state of mind, to my thinking, is regrettable and dangerous." President Heber J. Grant disallows the speech to be published in Conference Reports. (2)
-- Apr 11, 1932
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] Met a number of mission presidents and stake presidents. They were disturbed about Brother Stephen L. Richards' talk. (1)
-- Apr 18, 1932
[David O. McKay Office Journal] 2:30 p.m.--With Joseph Fielding and Stephen L. on the latter's sermon, making modifications before it is published. (3)
-- Apr 21, 1932
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] Before getting out of bed I read Brother Stephen L. Richards' conference sermon. I am more strongly impressed than ever that Stephen made a very serious mistake in delivering such a talk. (1)
-- May 5, 1932
[David O. McKay Office Journal] A very important and serious matter arose in Council meeting today, with Stehpen L. the principle [sic] actor. Later in the day, commenting upon what had happened, President Grant said to me, in the presence of President Ivins: "Well, he (Stephen L.) made a mistake when he delivered that address, but today, he made a fool of himself."
Elder Richards starts out: "I want to say something to promote better understanding in the Church. In so doing, my chief fear is that I myself may be misunderstood." (3)
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] At ten o'clock attended the regular weekly meeting of the Presidency and Apostles. We considered Elder Stephen L. Richards' address at the General Conference. There was a long discussion but no action was taken, as to the wisdom of publishing this sermon in the Conference pamphlet. Personally, I feel that it would be a mistake to publish it. (1)
-- May 5,1932
[Utah] Apostle Stephen L. Richards tells First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve that he will resign as apostle rather than apologize for his general conference talk which says church is putting too much emphasis on Word of Wisdom. He later confesses his error to Heber J. Grant on 26 may and retains his position. (4)
-- May 26, 1932
[President Heber J. Grant Diary] Brother Stephen L. Richards called on me after the meeting and said he expected me to bring up his sermon delivered at the recent General Conference. He wanted me to know that he felt he had made a mistake by preaching it and it was all right with him whatever action we saw fit to take regarding it. I felt very happy to have him make this confession. I have worried a great deal during my absence in the East about the position he had taken regarding this talk. (1)
Footnotes:
1 - Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
2 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
3 - McKay, David O., Office Journal
4 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-1996, http://amzn.to/extensions-power