A First Presidency letter to the director of seminaries and institutes, with a copy to Bruce R. McConkie, that "we know of no justification for claiming that 'man was placed on the earth on the seventh day.'"
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
90 years ago today - Dec 9, 1934
The New York Stake is the first stake east of the inter-mountain states since the termination of the St. Louis Stake in 1858.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
120 years ago today - Dec 9, 1904; Friday
[Rudger Clawson]
On Friday, I was in meeting with the Presidency and Twelve all day on a matter that it would not be wise to name in my journal. [Probably related to the Smoot hearings]
[Rudger Clawson, Diary]
On Friday, I was in meeting with the Presidency and Twelve all day on a matter that it would not be wise to name in my journal. [Probably related to the Smoot hearings]
[Rudger Clawson, Diary]
125 years ago today - Saturday, Dec 9, 1899
[Apostle Rudger Clawson]
Brigham City. Clear and cool, with snow during the night. Upon taking up the morning paper, I read a notice of the death of President Franklin D. Richards, president of the Twelve Apostles. He died at 12 o'clock last night. He was a great and good man and will be deeply mourned by Israel.
[Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
Brigham City. Clear and cool, with snow during the night. Upon taking up the morning paper, I read a notice of the death of President Franklin D. Richards, president of the Twelve Apostles. He died at 12 o'clock last night. He was a great and good man and will be deeply mourned by Israel.
[Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
140 years ago today - Dec 9, 1884
LDS political newspaper, the Salt Lake Herald, reports another Mormon's assault and battery on a reporter of the Salt Lake Tribune, "A BLISSFUL LOT. Another of the 'Tribune' Crew Rewarded. A TROUNCING WELL MERITED."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
140 years ago today - Tuesday, Dec 9, 1884
[Apostle John Henry Smith]
I mailed the Sheffield Daily Telegraph to all of Utah papers and my wives. I weighed on one pair of scales tonight 222 lbs., on another pair 229 lbs.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
I mailed the Sheffield Daily Telegraph to all of Utah papers and my wives. I weighed on one pair of scales tonight 222 lbs., on another pair 229 lbs.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
155 years ago today - Dec 9, 1869
ZCMI Drug Store advertises that it has just opened on Main Street with "Liquors, Draught and [by the] Case." William Godbe is leading economic and political dissenters.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
165 years ago today - Dec 9, 1859
G A. Smith related a Circumstance of a Mr Woodson who has got possession of the Land upon which the Temple Block stands in Jackson Co Missouri. In 1857 Ferrymore Little was in Jackson Co & Mr Woodson said to him I have heard that your people expected to return to this Country and Build a Temple on the Temple Block on my farm. Brother Little Answered to be sure they do. Woodson said you are a Hell of a set. G.A.S. also said He got a Statement from Lewis Bidemon that the people of the towns of Warsaw Carthage p[untoosee?] & Appanoose made up a subscription of $500 & paid it to Joseph Agnoe for Burning the Temple and He went & burnt it for that sum of money.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
175 years ago today - Dec 9, 1849
Richard Ballentyne begins teaching Sunday school as own activity in Salt Lake City. In 1867 Deseret Sunday School Union becomes churchwide, centrally directed program with George Q. Cannon as general superintendent. In 1934 LDS headquarters adopts junior Sunday school program which was independently established in local wards. Like Sunday schools, churchwide progrmns for young men, primary children, high school seminary, adult Aaronic priesthood, Welfare Plan, and Indian Placement begin as local innovations without central church direction. All LDS auxiliaries, except Religion Classes in 1890, are modeled on pre-existing programs of Protestant denominations. Only Relief Society, young women's program, and Religion Classes have direction of headquarters at outset.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
175 years ago today - Dec 9, 1849
Sunday School organized by Richard Ballantyne.
[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Chronology of Church History, http://scriptures../ldsorg.org/chchrono/contents]
[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Chronology of Church History, http://scriptures../ldsorg.org/chchrono/contents]
180 years ago today - Dec 9, 1844
[William Clayton]
Helen M[ar] Kimball and Diantha Farr came to see my folks and being the first who came to see my child I gave them the privilege of naming her which they did namely "Helen Diantha Clayton" but my folks did not like it. I named it Vilate Ruth. I had some conversation with Diantha and she seems to feel right but like many others has many sectarian temptations &c.
[The Nauvoo Diaries of William Clayton, 1842-1846, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
Helen M[ar] Kimball and Diantha Farr came to see my folks and being the first who came to see my child I gave them the privilege of naming her which they did namely "Helen Diantha Clayton" but my folks did not like it. I named it Vilate Ruth. I had some conversation with Diantha and she seems to feel right but like many others has many sectarian temptations &c.
[The Nauvoo Diaries of William Clayton, 1842-1846, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
190 years ago today - 1834: 9 December
[Patriarchal Blessing]
Emma Smith. (Given by Joseph Smith, Sen.)
"... Thou shalt see many days; yea, the Lord will spare thee till thou are satisfied, for thou shalt see thy redeemer. Thy heart shall rejoice in the great work of the Lord, and no one shall take thy rejoicing from thee. Thou shalt ever remember the great condescension of thy God in permitting thee to accompany my son when the angel delivered the record of the Nephites to his care. Thou hast seen much sorrow because the Lord has taken from thee three of thy children: in this thou art not to be blamed, for he knows thy pure desires to raise up a family, that the name of my son might be blessed. And now, behold, I say unto thee, that thus saith the Lord, if thou will believe, thou shalt yet be blessed in this thing and thou shalt bring forth other children...
[Selected LDS Patriarchal Blessings, New Mormon Studies CD ROM, Signature Book, 2009, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Emma Smith. (Given by Joseph Smith, Sen.)
"... Thou shalt see many days; yea, the Lord will spare thee till thou are satisfied, for thou shalt see thy redeemer. Thy heart shall rejoice in the great work of the Lord, and no one shall take thy rejoicing from thee. Thou shalt ever remember the great condescension of thy God in permitting thee to accompany my son when the angel delivered the record of the Nephites to his care. Thou hast seen much sorrow because the Lord has taken from thee three of thy children: in this thou art not to be blamed, for he knows thy pure desires to raise up a family, that the name of my son might be blessed. And now, behold, I say unto thee, that thus saith the Lord, if thou will believe, thou shalt yet be blessed in this thing and thou shalt bring forth other children...
[Selected LDS Patriarchal Blessings, New Mormon Studies CD ROM, Signature Book, 2009, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
190 years ago today - Dec 9, 1834
"Joseph Smith, Senior, a Patriarch, and President of the high Priesthood" gives his first patriarchal blessings as an ordained patriarch to his adult children.
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
190 years ago today - Dec 9, 1834
Patriarchal Blessing of Joseph Smith Jr. given by Joseph Smith Sr. on December 9, 1834
Joseph Smith, junior was born in Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont, December 23, 1805.
Joseph, my son, I lay my hands upon thy head in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to confirm upon thee a father's blessing. The Lord thy God has called thee by name out of the heavens: Thou hast heard his voice from on high from time to time, even in thy youth. The hand of the angel of his presence has been extended toward thee by which thou hast been lifted up and sustained; yea, the Lord has delivered thee from the hands of thine enemies and thou hast been made to rejoice in his salvation: thou hast sought to know his ways, and from thy childhood thou hast meditated much upon the great things of his law. Thou hast suffered much in thy youth, and the poverty and afflictions of thy father's family have been a grief to thy soul. Thou hast desired to see them delivered from bondage, for thou hast loved them with a perfect love. Thou hast stood by thy father, and like Shem, would have covered his nakedness, rather than see him exposed to shame: when the daughters of the
Gentiles laughed, thy heart has been moved with a just anger to avenge thy kindred.
Thou hast been an obedient Son: the commands of thy father and the reproofs of thy mother, thou hast respected and obeyed - for all these things the Lord my God will bless thee. Thou hast been called, even in thy youth to the great work of the Lord: to do a work in this generation which no other man would do as thyself, in all things according to the will of the Lord. A marvelous work and a wonder has the Lord wrought by thy hand, even that which shall prepare the way for the remnants of his people to come in among the Gentiles, with their fulness, as the tribes of Israel are restored.
I bless thee with the blessings of thy fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and even the blessings of thy father Joseph, the son of Jacob. Behold, he looked after his posterity in the last days, when they should be scattered and driven by the Gentiles, and wept before the Lord: he sought diligently to know from whence the Son should come who should bring forth the word of the Lord, by which they might be enlightened, and brought back to the true fold, and his eyes beheld thee, my son: his heart rejoiced and his soul was satisfied, and he said.
As my blessings are to extend to the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills; as my father's blessing prevailed above the blessings of his progen[i]tors, and as my branches are to run over the wall, and my seed are to inherit the choice land whereon the Zion of God shall stand in the last days, from among my seed, scattered with the Gentiles, shall a choice Seer arise whose bowels shall be as a fountain of truth, whose loins shall be girded with the girdle of righteousness, whose hands shall be lifted with acceptance before the God of Jacob to turn away his anger from his annointed, whose heart shall meditate great wisdom, whose intelligence shall circumscribe and comprehend the deep things of God, and whose mouth shall utter the law of the just: His feet shall stand upon the neck of his enemies, and he shall walk upon the ashes of those who seek his destruction: with wine and oil shall he be sustained, and he shall feed upon the heritage of Jacob his father: the just shall
desire his society, and the upright in heart shall be his companions: No weapon formed against him shall prosper, and though the wicked mar him for a little season, he shall be like one rising up in the heat of wine - he shall roar in his strength, and the Lord shall put to flight his persecutors: he shall be blessed like the fruitful olive, and his memory shall be as sweet as the choice cluster of the first ripe grapes. Like a shief [sheaf] fully ripe, gathered into the garner, so shall he stand before the Lord, having produced a hundred fold. Thus spake my father Joseph.
Therefore, my son, I know for a surety that those things will be fulfilled, and I confirm upon thee all these blessings. Thou shalt like to do the work which the Lord shall command thee: thou shalt hold the Keys of this ministry, even the presidency of this church, both in time and in eternity. Thy heart shall be enlarged, and thou shalt be able to fill up the measure of thy days according to the will of the Lord. Thou shalt speak the word of the Lord and the earth shall tremble; the mountains shall move and the rivers shall turn out of their course. Thou shalt escape the edge of the sword, and put to flight the armies of the wicked. At thy word the lame shall walk, the deaf shall hear and the blind shall see. Thou shalt be gathered to Zion and in the goodly land thou shalt enjoy thine inheritance; thy children and thy children's children to the latest generation; for thy name and the names of thy posterity shall be recorded in the book of the Lord, even in the book of
blessings and genealogies, for their joy and benefit forever.
And now, my son, what more shall I say? Thou art as a fruitful olive and a choice vine: thou shalt be laden with precious fruit. Thousands and tens of thousands shall come to a knowledge of the truth through thy ministry, and thou shalt rejoice with them in the Celestial Kingdom: Thou shalt stand upon the earth when it shall reel to and fro as a drunken man, and be removed out of its place: thou shalt stand when the mighty judgments go forth to the destruction of the wicked: thou shalt stand on mount Zion when the tribes of Jacob come shouting from the north, and with thy brethren, the Sons of Ephraim, crown them in the name of Jesus Christ: Thou shalt see thy Redeemer Come in the clouds of heaven, and with the just receive the hallowed throng with shouts of hallalujahs, praise the Lord. Amen [Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:3-4]
[Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]
Joseph Smith, junior was born in Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont, December 23, 1805.
Joseph, my son, I lay my hands upon thy head in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to confirm upon thee a father's blessing. The Lord thy God has called thee by name out of the heavens: Thou hast heard his voice from on high from time to time, even in thy youth. The hand of the angel of his presence has been extended toward thee by which thou hast been lifted up and sustained; yea, the Lord has delivered thee from the hands of thine enemies and thou hast been made to rejoice in his salvation: thou hast sought to know his ways, and from thy childhood thou hast meditated much upon the great things of his law. Thou hast suffered much in thy youth, and the poverty and afflictions of thy father's family have been a grief to thy soul. Thou hast desired to see them delivered from bondage, for thou hast loved them with a perfect love. Thou hast stood by thy father, and like Shem, would have covered his nakedness, rather than see him exposed to shame: when the daughters of the
Gentiles laughed, thy heart has been moved with a just anger to avenge thy kindred.
Thou hast been an obedient Son: the commands of thy father and the reproofs of thy mother, thou hast respected and obeyed - for all these things the Lord my God will bless thee. Thou hast been called, even in thy youth to the great work of the Lord: to do a work in this generation which no other man would do as thyself, in all things according to the will of the Lord. A marvelous work and a wonder has the Lord wrought by thy hand, even that which shall prepare the way for the remnants of his people to come in among the Gentiles, with their fulness, as the tribes of Israel are restored.
I bless thee with the blessings of thy fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and even the blessings of thy father Joseph, the son of Jacob. Behold, he looked after his posterity in the last days, when they should be scattered and driven by the Gentiles, and wept before the Lord: he sought diligently to know from whence the Son should come who should bring forth the word of the Lord, by which they might be enlightened, and brought back to the true fold, and his eyes beheld thee, my son: his heart rejoiced and his soul was satisfied, and he said.
As my blessings are to extend to the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills; as my father's blessing prevailed above the blessings of his progen[i]tors, and as my branches are to run over the wall, and my seed are to inherit the choice land whereon the Zion of God shall stand in the last days, from among my seed, scattered with the Gentiles, shall a choice Seer arise whose bowels shall be as a fountain of truth, whose loins shall be girded with the girdle of righteousness, whose hands shall be lifted with acceptance before the God of Jacob to turn away his anger from his annointed, whose heart shall meditate great wisdom, whose intelligence shall circumscribe and comprehend the deep things of God, and whose mouth shall utter the law of the just: His feet shall stand upon the neck of his enemies, and he shall walk upon the ashes of those who seek his destruction: with wine and oil shall he be sustained, and he shall feed upon the heritage of Jacob his father: the just shall
desire his society, and the upright in heart shall be his companions: No weapon formed against him shall prosper, and though the wicked mar him for a little season, he shall be like one rising up in the heat of wine - he shall roar in his strength, and the Lord shall put to flight his persecutors: he shall be blessed like the fruitful olive, and his memory shall be as sweet as the choice cluster of the first ripe grapes. Like a shief [sheaf] fully ripe, gathered into the garner, so shall he stand before the Lord, having produced a hundred fold. Thus spake my father Joseph.
Therefore, my son, I know for a surety that those things will be fulfilled, and I confirm upon thee all these blessings. Thou shalt like to do the work which the Lord shall command thee: thou shalt hold the Keys of this ministry, even the presidency of this church, both in time and in eternity. Thy heart shall be enlarged, and thou shalt be able to fill up the measure of thy days according to the will of the Lord. Thou shalt speak the word of the Lord and the earth shall tremble; the mountains shall move and the rivers shall turn out of their course. Thou shalt escape the edge of the sword, and put to flight the armies of the wicked. At thy word the lame shall walk, the deaf shall hear and the blind shall see. Thou shalt be gathered to Zion and in the goodly land thou shalt enjoy thine inheritance; thy children and thy children's children to the latest generation; for thy name and the names of thy posterity shall be recorded in the book of the Lord, even in the book of
blessings and genealogies, for their joy and benefit forever.
And now, my son, what more shall I say? Thou art as a fruitful olive and a choice vine: thou shalt be laden with precious fruit. Thousands and tens of thousands shall come to a knowledge of the truth through thy ministry, and thou shalt rejoice with them in the Celestial Kingdom: Thou shalt stand upon the earth when it shall reel to and fro as a drunken man, and be removed out of its place: thou shalt stand when the mighty judgments go forth to the destruction of the wicked: thou shalt stand on mount Zion when the tribes of Jacob come shouting from the north, and with thy brethren, the Sons of Ephraim, crown them in the name of Jesus Christ: Thou shalt see thy Redeemer Come in the clouds of heaven, and with the just receive the hallowed throng with shouts of hallalujahs, praise the Lord. Amen [Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:3-4]
[Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]
190 years ago today - Dec 9, 1834
Patriarchal Blessing of Joseph Smith, Jr., given by Joseph Smith, Sr. stated "thou shalt stand on Mount Zion when the tribes of Jacob come shouting from the north, and with thy brethren, the sons of Ephraim, crown them in the name of Jesus Christ: Thou shalt see thy Redeemer come in the clouds of heaven
[Marquardt, H. Michael, "Excerpts from a few Patriarchal Blessings given by Joseph Smith, Sr." http://www.xmission.com/~research/about/patb2.htm]
[Marquardt, H. Michael, "Excerpts from a few Patriarchal Blessings given by Joseph Smith, Sr." http://www.xmission.com/~research/about/patb2.htm]
190 years ago today - Dec 9, 1834
At a family blessing meeting, Joseph Sr. refers to his and Lucy's firstborn dead son (Lucy later remembered this child as a daughter) and at least one occasion when he had been intoxicated. He pronounces patriarchal blessings on members of the family, recorded by Oliver Cowdery.
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books, http://bit.ly/lucys-book]
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books, http://bit.ly/lucys-book]
195 years ago today - Dec 9, 1829
Abner Cole's Palmyra Reflector announces that it will publish selections from the Book of Mormon in future editions . The Reflector was an anonymously published paper that made fun of local issues. Its debut edition appeared on 2 September 1829.
[Vogel, Dan, Early Mormon Documents, Appendix B: Chronology, 1771-1831, http://amzn.to/T5nY8w]
[Vogel, Dan, Early Mormon Documents, Appendix B: Chronology, 1771-1831, http://amzn.to/T5nY8w]
25 years ago today - Dec 8, 1999
Commemorating the sesquicentennial of the organization of the Sunday School, President Gordon B. Hinckley presides over the sealing of a time capsule to be opened in 2049.
[LDS Daily, www.ldsdaily.com]
[LDS Daily, www.ldsdaily.com]
115 years ago today - Dec 8, 1909; Wednesday
[George F. Gibbs]
Word has come to this office, from quite a reliable source, to the effect that your counselor, Brother Borkman, has the idea that plural marriages are still being solemnized by and with the sanction of the authorities of the Church, and that in this understanding he is paying his addresses to a young woman with a view to marriage, provided he can get a competent person to perform the marriage ceremony. It is also being told that you are encouraging Brother Borkman in the idea ... You are reported to have said other things as well along this line, going to convey the idea that you knew personally of such things, and could enumerate a very large number of such marriages since President [Wilford] Woodruff's Manifesto.
I am instructed to say to you that no plural marriage can be entered into by and with the sanction of Church authority, and that any person found doing so will be dealt with on his fellowship in the Church. This applies also to the party solemnizing a plural marriage, and you are requested by the presidency to so inform Brother Borkman, and his wife as well.
[George F. Gibbs, letter to Bishop Lorin A. Merrill, Kenney Papers, original in LDS Archives]
Word has come to this office, from quite a reliable source, to the effect that your counselor, Brother Borkman, has the idea that plural marriages are still being solemnized by and with the sanction of the authorities of the Church, and that in this understanding he is paying his addresses to a young woman with a view to marriage, provided he can get a competent person to perform the marriage ceremony. It is also being told that you are encouraging Brother Borkman in the idea ... You are reported to have said other things as well along this line, going to convey the idea that you knew personally of such things, and could enumerate a very large number of such marriages since President [Wilford] Woodruff's Manifesto.
I am instructed to say to you that no plural marriage can be entered into by and with the sanction of Church authority, and that any person found doing so will be dealt with on his fellowship in the Church. This applies also to the party solemnizing a plural marriage, and you are requested by the presidency to so inform Brother Borkman, and his wife as well.
[George F. Gibbs, letter to Bishop Lorin A. Merrill, Kenney Papers, original in LDS Archives]
120 years ago today - Dec 8, 1904
Those conducting the Smoot hearing sought to have the L.D.S. Church produce temple records and even records of the temple ceremonies. [In a First Presidency letter] John Nicholson, Temple recorder, is permitted to take the records of temple marriage with him to Washington, but with instructions to produce them only if failure to do so would place him in contempt before the Senate Committee.
Temple President Marriner Merrill records: "I went to Logan [Utah] to see about Temple affairs as I was Summoned to Washington [D.C.] on Tues[day] Morninging [sic] at 7.30 AM Dec[ember] 6th by US Marshal Donehue to go to the above City and take with Me all Temple Records. of course I am not well enough to go but sent three (3) Doctors Certificates in stead of going &c."
[Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes);Marriner Wood Merrill, Diary]
Temple President Marriner Merrill records: "I went to Logan [Utah] to see about Temple affairs as I was Summoned to Washington [D.C.] on Tues[day] Morninging [sic] at 7.30 AM Dec[ember] 6th by US Marshal Donehue to go to the above City and take with Me all Temple Records. of course I am not well enough to go but sent three (3) Doctors Certificates in stead of going &c."
[Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes);Marriner Wood Merrill, Diary]
120 years ago today - Dec 8, 1904; Thursday
[Apostle Marriner Merrill]
I went to Logan [Utah] to see about Temple affairs as I was Summoned to Washington [D.C.] on Tues[day] Morninging [sic] at 7.30 AM Dec[ember] 6th by US Marshal Donehue to go to the above City and take with Me all Temple Records. of course I am not well enough to go but sent three (3) Doctors Certificates in stead of going &c.
[Marriner Wood Merrill, Diary]
I went to Logan [Utah] to see about Temple affairs as I was Summoned to Washington [D.C.] on Tues[day] Morninging [sic] at 7.30 AM Dec[ember] 6th by US Marshal Donehue to go to the above City and take with Me all Temple Records. of course I am not well enough to go but sent three (3) Doctors Certificates in stead of going &c.
[Marriner Wood Merrill, Diary]
125 years ago today - Dec 8, 1899; Friday
Brother [Thomas] Taylor complained now, as he has complaind before, and that bitterly, that he had on two former occasions arranged to sell this property, but had been defeated by the Church, to whom the property was mortgaged. In answer to this he was told that there was no desire to hamper him or prevent him from disposing of his property, and in order to show this President Snow now offered to extend the mortgage long enough to enable him to sell...
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
135 years ago today - Dec 8, 1889
[President Wilford Woodruff]
We are passing through a strange portion of our History. The whole Nation seems to be united against me us. Judge Anderson has decided not to receive any Mormons to Citizenship. The whole Country is stired up against us.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
We are passing through a strange portion of our History. The whole Nation seems to be united against me us. Judge Anderson has decided not to receive any Mormons to Citizenship. The whole Country is stired up against us.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
135 years ago today - Dec 8, 1889
[Apostle Abraham H. Cannon]
Father briefly mentioned two cases with which he was familiar where men were killed in a violent way for the reason, as he believed, that they took the name of God in vain and were very profane.
[Diary of Apostle Abraham H. Cannon, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
Father briefly mentioned two cases with which he was familiar where men were killed in a violent way for the reason, as he believed, that they took the name of God in vain and were very profane.
[Diary of Apostle Abraham H. Cannon, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
185 years ago today - Dec 8, 1839
.... We have heard it rumored about, that some at least, and probably many, are making their calculations to remove back to Kirtland next season.
Now brethren, this being the case, we advise you to abandon such an idea; yea, we warn you, in the name of the Lord, not to remove back there, unless you are counseled so to do by the First Presidency, and the High Council of Nauvoo.
[Times and Seasons. Vol. 1, p. 29., 1839-December 8-DHC 4:45 as quoted in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
Now brethren, this being the case, we advise you to abandon such an idea; yea, we warn you, in the name of the Lord, not to remove back there, unless you are counseled so to do by the First Presidency, and the High Council of Nauvoo.
[Times and Seasons. Vol. 1, p. 29., 1839-December 8-DHC 4:45 as quoted in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
70 years ago today - Dec 7, 1954
Mark William Hofmann born in Salt Lake City, Utah.
[Whittaker, David J., The Hofmann Maze, A Book Review Essay with a Chronology and Bibliography of the Hofmann Case, BYU Studies Vol. 29, No. 1, pg.80,]
[Whittaker, David J., The Hofmann Maze, A Book Review Essay with a Chronology and Bibliography of the Hofmann Case, BYU Studies Vol. 29, No. 1, pg.80,]
75 years ago today - Dec 7, 1949
[George F. Richards diary, Dec. 7, 1949] I went to the temple at 11:00 a.m. and assisted Elder Jos[eph] Fielding Smith, administered Seconds [second anointings] to Preston D. Richards and wife Barbara, and the members of [the] Emigration Stake Presidency and their wives.
[Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
[Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
80 years ago today - Dec 7, 1944
President McKay at my desk 4:00 to 4:15 p.m. discussing contract with Preston Nibley regarding writing and compensation to Brother Nibley for 'Joseph Smith the Prophet.' We are to accept Brother Nibley's checks covering authors royalty of 10% until $5,775 is paid, said amount having been advanced.
[Frank Evans Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
[Frank Evans Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
125 years ago today - Dec 7, 1899
[Apostle Heber J. Grant]
[At meeting of Presidency and Apostles] The question had been presented whether it was the proper thing for [unruly apostle] Moses Thatcher to speak at conjoint meetings of the Mutual Improvement Associations President Joseph F. Smith answered "No". This answer was approved.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[At meeting of Presidency and Apostles] The question had been presented whether it was the proper thing for [unruly apostle] Moses Thatcher to speak at conjoint meetings of the Mutual Improvement Associations President Joseph F. Smith answered "No". This answer was approved.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
140 years ago today - Sunday, Dec 7, 1884
[Apostle John Henry Smith]
Sheffield, Yorkshire
At 10 a.m. we held meeting in the Temperance Hall, Brightside.
At 12 noon we closed our services. We went to the Conference house and had dinner, and at two p.m. returned to the Hall. At the front door were about three hundred people. We passed in at a side door and shortly after the door was opened in front and the crowd rushed in, the Apostate William Jarman in the lead. There were about one hundred of the Saints and their friends and about three hundred of the others. We sang and prayed and Bro. Collett spoke on the first principles of the Gospel for 25 minutes. I took the stand to speak when a "gentleman" in the hall arose and asked me to let him speak. I told him no person would be allowed to speak only those on the platform. At this a rush was made for us and two Policemen who we had hired came to the platform and we beat back the enemy and held them at bay. I and Bro. Collett threw some men off the platform, which was about four feet high. Two old Sisters got on to the platform with us and one of these pulled out some of
Jarman's beard
and kicked him several times. Bro. Favel got a severe blow on the head. Jarman's own friends nearly killed him by crowding him against the platform. Jarman then drew to the center of the Hall and made a most vile speach, while his followers yelled like demons. We then passed into a room at the back and the crowd thinking we were going to try to get away they rushed out at the front just as Inspector Smith and several more Policemen were coming to clear the hall. The door was locked and we finished up our meeting, while the rowdy demons were harrangued in the street by Jarman. After our Services we returned to Peter [?] street. On going out the crowd hooted and hissed at me, and some of them told us they would give me a thrashing at night. A friend came in about 5 p.m. and told us that a very large crowd was gathering in front of the Hall. Bro. S. R. Bennion went and saw the Proprietor of the Hall and told him that we wanted to hold our meeting but was unable to pay any
damage that might be done.
He said he should close the door for the building would certainly be wrecked. The Saints and some friends were instructed to go to the Conference House where we held our evening meeting, and while packed in close we had a good time. Elders Bennion, Biggs, Brown, Winward and myself were the speakers. The rowdy element to the tune of about two thousand strong gathered in front of the Temperance Hall and finding that [we] were gone they went to the Wicker [?] where the Saints had formerly occupied a room, and broke the windows, and not finding us they made some speeches and dispersed. There is no doubt but what if they had known where the Saints were holding their meeting the house would have been torn down. An Atheist came in to see us late in the evening, saying that the mob had run him off because he had said that we were kind of decent fellows.
I asked the police to arrest Jarman but they said they could not without a warrant.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
Sheffield, Yorkshire
At 10 a.m. we held meeting in the Temperance Hall, Brightside.
At 12 noon we closed our services. We went to the Conference house and had dinner, and at two p.m. returned to the Hall. At the front door were about three hundred people. We passed in at a side door and shortly after the door was opened in front and the crowd rushed in, the Apostate William Jarman in the lead. There were about one hundred of the Saints and their friends and about three hundred of the others. We sang and prayed and Bro. Collett spoke on the first principles of the Gospel for 25 minutes. I took the stand to speak when a "gentleman" in the hall arose and asked me to let him speak. I told him no person would be allowed to speak only those on the platform. At this a rush was made for us and two Policemen who we had hired came to the platform and we beat back the enemy and held them at bay. I and Bro. Collett threw some men off the platform, which was about four feet high. Two old Sisters got on to the platform with us and one of these pulled out some of
Jarman's beard
and kicked him several times. Bro. Favel got a severe blow on the head. Jarman's own friends nearly killed him by crowding him against the platform. Jarman then drew to the center of the Hall and made a most vile speach, while his followers yelled like demons. We then passed into a room at the back and the crowd thinking we were going to try to get away they rushed out at the front just as Inspector Smith and several more Policemen were coming to clear the hall. The door was locked and we finished up our meeting, while the rowdy demons were harrangued in the street by Jarman. After our Services we returned to Peter [?] street. On going out the crowd hooted and hissed at me, and some of them told us they would give me a thrashing at night. A friend came in about 5 p.m. and told us that a very large crowd was gathering in front of the Hall. Bro. S. R. Bennion went and saw the Proprietor of the Hall and told him that we wanted to hold our meeting but was unable to pay any
damage that might be done.
He said he should close the door for the building would certainly be wrecked. The Saints and some friends were instructed to go to the Conference House where we held our evening meeting, and while packed in close we had a good time. Elders Bennion, Biggs, Brown, Winward and myself were the speakers. The rowdy element to the tune of about two thousand strong gathered in front of the Temperance Hall and finding that [we] were gone they went to the Wicker [?] where the Saints had formerly occupied a room, and broke the windows, and not finding us they made some speeches and dispersed. There is no doubt but what if they had known where the Saints were holding their meeting the house would have been torn down. An Atheist came in to see us late in the evening, saying that the mob had run him off because he had said that we were kind of decent fellows.
I asked the police to arrest Jarman but they said they could not without a warrant.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
165 years ago today - Dec 7, 1859
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff]
President Young said in speaking of the Temple I herd a man say to day we would go back to Jackson County in 7 years. I said Amen but if we go back in that time we shall have to hasten to get our temple Built. I think we must Commence it next spring, uncuver the foundation.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
President Young said in speaking of the Temple I herd a man say to day we would go back to Jackson County in 7 years. I said Amen but if we go back in that time we shall have to hasten to get our temple Built. I think we must Commence it next spring, uncuver the foundation.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
185 years ago today - Dec 7, 1839
Washington, D.C. Joseph Smith consulted with the Illinois delegation about how to get the Church's petition for redress brought before Congress.
[BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]
[BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]
135 years ago today - Dec 6, 1889
[Apostle Heber J. Grant]
This afternoon attended a meeting of the Presidency and Apostles at the Gardo there were also present a number of the leading men in political matters. Most of the city central committee. The subject under discussion as what would be the best thing to do under the circumstances to counteract the effect of the recent decision of Judge Anderson. After a long chat and the expressions of all that felt as if they wished to say anything, the matter was left for the Presidency and Apostles to decide on. I was positive in my feelings that the best thing was for the leading officials of the Church to deny the charges that were contained in the decision of Anderson ...
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
This afternoon attended a meeting of the Presidency and Apostles at the Gardo there were also present a number of the leading men in political matters. Most of the city central committee. The subject under discussion as what would be the best thing to do under the circumstances to counteract the effect of the recent decision of Judge Anderson. After a long chat and the expressions of all that felt as if they wished to say anything, the matter was left for the Presidency and Apostles to decide on. I was positive in my feelings that the best thing was for the leading officials of the Church to deny the charges that were contained in the decision of Anderson ...
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
135 years ago today - Friday, Dec. 6th, 1889
[Apostle Abraham H. Cannon]
In speaking of the recent examination before Judge Anderson, Father said that he understood when he had his endowments in Nauvoo that he took an oath against the murderers of the Prophet Joseph as well as other prophets, and if he had ever met any of those who had taken a hand in that massacre he would undoubtedly have attempted to avenge the blood of the martyrs. The Prophet charged Stephen Markham to avenge his blood should he be slain; after the Prophet's death, Bro. Markham attempted to tell this to an assembly of the Saints, but Willard Richards pulled him down from the stand, as he feared the effect on the enraged people. Bro. Joseph F. Smith was traveling some years ago near Carthage, when he met a man who said he had just arrived five minutes too late to see the Smiths killed. Instantly a dark cloud seemed to overshadow Bro. Smith and he asked how this man looked upon the deed. Bro. S. was oppressed by a most horrible feeling as he waited for a reply. After a brief pause
the man answered, "Just as I have always looked upon it that it was a d . . . d cold blooded murder." The cloud immediately lifted from Bro. Smith and he found that he had his open pocket knife grasped in his hand in his pocket, and he believes that had this man given his approval to that murder of the prophets, he would have immediately struck him to the heart.
[Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
In speaking of the recent examination before Judge Anderson, Father said that he understood when he had his endowments in Nauvoo that he took an oath against the murderers of the Prophet Joseph as well as other prophets, and if he had ever met any of those who had taken a hand in that massacre he would undoubtedly have attempted to avenge the blood of the martyrs. The Prophet charged Stephen Markham to avenge his blood should he be slain; after the Prophet's death, Bro. Markham attempted to tell this to an assembly of the Saints, but Willard Richards pulled him down from the stand, as he feared the effect on the enraged people. Bro. Joseph F. Smith was traveling some years ago near Carthage, when he met a man who said he had just arrived five minutes too late to see the Smiths killed. Instantly a dark cloud seemed to overshadow Bro. Smith and he asked how this man looked upon the deed. Bro. S. was oppressed by a most horrible feeling as he waited for a reply. After a brief pause
the man answered, "Just as I have always looked upon it that it was a d . . . d cold blooded murder." The cloud immediately lifted from Bro. Smith and he found that he had his open pocket knife grasped in his hand in his pocket, and he believes that had this man given his approval to that murder of the prophets, he would have immediately struck him to the heart.
[Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
180 years ago today - Dec 6, 1844
The last of the capital sunstones were placed on the [Nauvoo] temple walls. There were problems in raising the stone, causing a delay of an hour and a half, when it was finally placed at 10:30 a.m., which closed the construction season for 1844. The last stone had been cut by Harvey Stanley. Twelve of the capitals were still lacking their trumpet stones, which would not be placed until the following spring. The Saints viewed the late arrival of winter as divine assistance in their labors; the season's first snow storm commenced just two hours after the last sunstone was placed. By morning there was four inches of snow on the ground.
[Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple]
[Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple]
185 years ago today - Dec 6, 1839
[Brigham Young]
I found the Saints in confusion; they had the gift of tongues among them, and the interpretation, and they were so ignorant of the nature of these gifts that they supposed that everything which was spoken in tongues was immediate revelation from God; a false spirit had therefore crept in, and division was the result. I taught them that when they spoke in tongues the language might be from the Lord, but with that tongue they spoke the things which were in their hearts, whether they were good or evil; the gift of tongues was given for a blessing to the Saints, but not to govern them, nor to control the elders, or dictate the affairs of the Church. God had placed in the Church different gifts; among which were apostles, prophets, helps and governments, and wisdom was profitable to direct. Before leaving, the Saints came to an understanding on these matters.
[Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844, ed. Elden Jay Watson (Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968).]
I found the Saints in confusion; they had the gift of tongues among them, and the interpretation, and they were so ignorant of the nature of these gifts that they supposed that everything which was spoken in tongues was immediate revelation from God; a false spirit had therefore crept in, and division was the result. I taught them that when they spoke in tongues the language might be from the Lord, but with that tongue they spoke the things which were in their hearts, whether they were good or evil; the gift of tongues was given for a blessing to the Saints, but not to govern them, nor to control the elders, or dictate the affairs of the Church. God had placed in the Church different gifts; among which were apostles, prophets, helps and governments, and wisdom was profitable to direct. Before leaving, the Saints came to an understanding on these matters.
[Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844, ed. Elden Jay Watson (Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968).]
190 years ago today - 1834 6 Dec.
Joseph Smith, Sr., and son Hyrum are the first Freemasons to become general authorities, although they had not been active since the 1826 murder of anti-Masonic crusader William Morgan. Before his own death Joseph Smith would marry the anti-Masonic martyr's widow Lucinda. First Presidency ordains Hyrum Smith as an additional assistant president (counselor) and Joseph Sr. as assistant president and Presiding Patriarch. Joseph Jr. had ordained Brigham Young's father John Young as patriarch to his family a few weeks earlier.
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
45 years ago today - Dec 5, 1979
Feminist Sonia Johnson was formally excommunicated by the Mormon Church because of her outspoken support for the proposed Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution.
[Ratnikas, Algis, TimelinesDb, http://www.timelinesdb.com/listevents.php?subjid=201title=Utah]
[Ratnikas, Algis, TimelinesDb, http://www.timelinesdb.com/listevents.php?subjid=201title=Utah]
45 years ago today - Dec 5, 1979
The announcement of the excommunication of Sonia Johnson, president of the Mormons for the ERA. Charged with apostasy she unsuccessfully appeals the decision to the First Presidency (which already authorized this "local action"). Johnson's case becomes the top story in the New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, Washington Post, Time, Newsweek, and on network television news. The resulting non-Mormon criticism of the church and Johnson's own subsequent radicalization drive many LDS moderates away from their prior support of the proposed Equal Rights Amendment and into acceptance of the church's anti-ERA position.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
60 years ago today - Dec 5, 1964
It is deemed necessary that the following instructions should be imparted to the brethren and sisters of the Salt Lake Temple District who intend entering the House of the Lord to attend to ordinance work for themselves or their dead.
(1) The Saints who enter the sacred building should be properly prepared. Their bodies should be scrupulously clean; ...
(4) In the performance of work for the dead the rights of heirship (blood relationship) should be sacredly regarded, when practicable. When an heir empowers another person to do the work in his or her stead, he or she should give the acting proxy a written authorization to that effect.
...(6) Those who do ordinance work have not the right to make matches between people who are deceased, except in cases of persons who were married in life. In all other instances the President of the Temple must be consulted. He should be appealed to in all matters involving doubt or complications.
(7) The Temple is open on all working days at 7:30 a.m. Monday is devoted to taking the record of Baptisms for the Dead, which are performed on Tuesdays. Baptismal records are not taken after twelve o'clock on Mondays. On Tuesdays all ought to be in the building by 8 a.m. (8) The higher ordinances are attended to on Wednesdays, Thurs days, and Fridays. The record of this work is taken between the hours of 7:30 and 9 a.m., of the day it is performed. After the last named hour none will be admitted, as the doors will then be permanently closed for the day. The earlier the Saints come to [turn] in record[s] the better. ...
[Lorenzo Snow, President of the Salt Lake Temple, "To Whom it may Concern," June 23, 1893, reprinted in the Church News, Dec. 5, 1964 as quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship. I've added line feeds for readability]
(1) The Saints who enter the sacred building should be properly prepared. Their bodies should be scrupulously clean; ...
(4) In the performance of work for the dead the rights of heirship (blood relationship) should be sacredly regarded, when practicable. When an heir empowers another person to do the work in his or her stead, he or she should give the acting proxy a written authorization to that effect.
...(6) Those who do ordinance work have not the right to make matches between people who are deceased, except in cases of persons who were married in life. In all other instances the President of the Temple must be consulted. He should be appealed to in all matters involving doubt or complications.
(7) The Temple is open on all working days at 7:30 a.m. Monday is devoted to taking the record of Baptisms for the Dead, which are performed on Tuesdays. Baptismal records are not taken after twelve o'clock on Mondays. On Tuesdays all ought to be in the building by 8 a.m. (8) The higher ordinances are attended to on Wednesdays, Thurs days, and Fridays. The record of this work is taken between the hours of 7:30 and 9 a.m., of the day it is performed. After the last named hour none will be admitted, as the doors will then be permanently closed for the day. The earlier the Saints come to [turn] in record[s] the better. ...
[Lorenzo Snow, President of the Salt Lake Temple, "To Whom it may Concern," June 23, 1893, reprinted in the Church News, Dec. 5, 1964 as quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship. I've added line feeds for readability]
65 years ago today - 1959. December 5
(Amy Brown Lyman) : Died at her daughter's home at the age of eighty-seven while recovering from a fall. Her husband, who had been rebaptized in 1954, died in 1963. Both were buried in Wasatch Lawn Memorial Gardens in Salt Lake City.
[Van Wagoner, Richard and Walker, Steven C., A Book of Mormons, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Van Wagoner, Richard and Walker, Steven C., A Book of Mormons, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
165 years ago today - Dec 5, 1859
[Brigham Young]
Read part of one of Orson Hyde's sermons delivered in the Tabernacle. President Young suggested an alteration. Orson Hyde said we had come here unwilling to receive our tabernacles. The Pres. said most spirits eagerly desired to receive tabernacles, for they understood they could not receive power or glory without taking such a course. -- Salt Lake City
[Brigham Young Office Journals, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.; Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.; New Mormon Studies CD-ROM as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
Read part of one of Orson Hyde's sermons delivered in the Tabernacle. President Young suggested an alteration. Orson Hyde said we had come here unwilling to receive our tabernacles. The Pres. said most spirits eagerly desired to receive tabernacles, for they understood they could not receive power or glory without taking such a course. -- Salt Lake City
[Brigham Young Office Journals, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.; Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.; New Mormon Studies CD-ROM as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
180 years ago today - Dec 5, 1844. Thursday.
[William Clayton]
Brother Kimball asked President Young concerning D[iantha] Farr. He gave full consent [to plurally marry her] and ordered Brother K[imball] to attend to it. I feel humbly grateful for this grant. And feel to ask the father in the name of Jesus to give me favor in her eyes and the eyes of her parents that I may receive the gift in full.
[George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton]
Brother Kimball asked President Young concerning D[iantha] Farr. He gave full consent [to plurally marry her] and ordered Brother K[imball] to attend to it. I feel humbly grateful for this grant. And feel to ask the father in the name of Jesus to give me favor in her eyes and the eyes of her parents that I may receive the gift in full.
[George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton]
180 years ago today - 1844 5 Dec.
Young signs a letter as "Prest of the Church of L.D.S."
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
190 years ago today - Dec 5, 1834
Joseph, Sidney, Frederick G. Williams, and Oliver Cowdery meet to discuss "the welfare of the Church." Joseph ordains Oliver Assistant President:. My brother, in the name of Jesus Christ who died was crucified for the sins of the world, I lay my hands upon thee, and ordain thee an assistant President of the high and holy priesthood in the Church of the Latter Day Saints
[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]
65 years ago today - Dec 4,1959
Budget Committee reports that church spent $8 million more than its revenues that year. As result, church permanently stops releasing annual reports of expenditures.
[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]
[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]
90 years ago today - Dec 4, 1934
[Heber J. Grant letter]
.... I will say in answer to your inquiry about your little son, that it will not be necessary for him to be baptized again because of the fact that at the time of his baptism two or three of his toes were not under water. You need not worry any more about this matter, for if he was baptized by proper authority the ordinance was efficacious.
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Mrs. J. M. Aime, 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 will say in answer to your inquiry about your little son, that it will not be necessary for him to be baptized again because of the fact that at the time of his baptism two or three of his toes were not under water. You need not worry any more about this matter, for if he was baptized by proper authority the ordinance was efficacious.
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Mrs. J. M. Aime, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
90 years ago today - Dec 4, 1934
[Heber J. Grant letter]
In the providences of the Lord, the United Order will never be established'and there is no need for you or anyone else quoting from the Prophet Joseph Smith in regard to it'until the Lord sees fit to inspire the leaders of his Church to do so. The Prophet was unable to establish this order in his day on account of the lack of faith on the part of the people.
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Joseph J. Cannon, 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]
In the providences of the Lord, the United Order will never be established'and there is no need for you or anyone else quoting from the Prophet Joseph Smith in regard to it'until the Lord sees fit to inspire the leaders of his Church to do so. The Prophet was unable to establish this order in his day on account of the lack of faith on the part of the people.
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Joseph J. Cannon, 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 - Monday, Dec 4, 1899
The [United States] House of Representatives refused to permit Brigham H. Roberts to be sworn in.
[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]
[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]
125 years ago today - Monday, Dec 4, 1899
[Apostle Rudger Clawson]
.... spent the afternoon at the President's office, getting out a report of the Box Elder Stake Fund, a fund which I have managed for a number of years as president of the Box Elder Stake. I now feel it my duty to turn it over to Brother Chas. Kelly, my successor in office. A good opportunity for investing a little money in sheep with my brother-in-law, Samuel G. Spencer, having presented itself, I borrowed $267.50 from the Box Elder Stake Fund under the approval of Chas. Kelly, president of the stake, giving my note for 3 years at 5% per annum, being the same rate of interest as the bank is paying.
[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]
.... spent the afternoon at the President's office, getting out a report of the Box Elder Stake Fund, a fund which I have managed for a number of years as president of the Box Elder Stake. I now feel it my duty to turn it over to Brother Chas. Kelly, my successor in office. A good opportunity for investing a little money in sheep with my brother-in-law, Samuel G. Spencer, having presented itself, I borrowed $267.50 from the Box Elder Stake Fund under the approval of Chas. Kelly, president of the stake, giving my note for 3 years at 5% per annum, being the same rate of interest as the bank is paying.
[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]
130 years ago today - Dec 4, 1894
[Wilford Woodruff]
It looks now like a Bloody Indian war against our People In San wan Country urged on by the people of Colorado.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
It looks now like a Bloody Indian war against our People In San wan Country urged on by the people of Colorado.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
145 years ago today - Dec 4, 1879
William Clayton Dies, leaving four wives and thirty-three children.
[Smith, George D., An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, p.lxiii, A William Clayton Chronology, http://amzn.to/william-clayton]
[Smith, George D., An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, p.lxiii, A William Clayton Chronology, http://amzn.to/william-clayton]
25 years ago today - Dec 03, 1999
The First Presidency announces that Craig D. Jessop has been appointed music director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, replacing Jerold D. Ottley, who later retires after leading the choir for twenty-five years.
45 years ago today - Dec 3, 1979-Monday
[Leonard Arrington]
There are many articles in the newspapers, much discussion over the radio and some TV stories that relate to the Church trial of Sonia Johnson. I thought it might be helpful to some future historian for me to record some personal impressions. Nearly all of the articles in the papers and interviews over the radio and TV have been initiated by Sonia and not by the Church, and it would seem appropriate to give a more balanced perspective.
It is my understanding that Elder Gordon Hinckley is chairman of a Church political action committee [Special Affairs Committee] which has been interested in several projects:
1. A drive against pornography in Salt Lake City and elsewhere.
2. A campaign against abortion and birth control.
3. A series of movements designed to prevent the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.
... It is my understanding that this central Church committee assists with literature, pins, buttons, etc., state groups attempting to influence the legislature against ratification or in favor of rescinding the ERA. Groups of LDS women, in advance of legislative action, are organized and are instructed specifically not to reveal that they are LDS women but simply that they are residents of the state opposed to ERA. They get hundreds of Relief Society women involved and some of their husbands as well. Regional Representatives have given them counsel and support, as have area executive administrators. This has been true in Virginia, Washington, Maine, Nevada, Illinois, and Florida, and possibly in other states as well that I am not aware of. All those participating understand that they are doing what the Church wants them to do. To some extent the General Authorities have been mobilized; Elder [Boyd K.] Packer gave a talk in Idaho and another in California on the ERA;
Elder Neal Maxwell has also talked in at least two locations with the same theme. And of course the theme is carried out in many of the talks delivered by Elder [Ezra Taft] Benson, Elder [Mark E.] Petersen, and others.
Not every Latter-day Saint man or woman accepts the Church stand on ERA. I am sure they're a small minority; I would guess perhaps one-tenth of the U.S. adult members of the Church-something like 100,000 persons, maybe. Because of the First Presidency's letter on the subject and following-up letters in the Ensign and other publications, this group has not been vocal. It is made up of "liberals" and perhaps in a number of instances people who are never very responsive to Church counsel.
Sonia Johnson, however, made a personal decision to establish a small organization, "Mormons for ERA." She was able to raise some money, probably from non-Mormon sources and organizations, and has carried out an active campaign. She has made it a policy to follow the Mormons against ERA into a state and has held news [conferences and issued news] releases, appeared on TV and radio, and given talks designed to demonstrate to everybody that there are Mormons for ERA, and she has gotten a good deal of mileage out of this publicity. When LDS people have questioned her she has insisted that ERA is a political matter, not a religious matter, and that she has a right to disagree with the Church and its officials on this political matter, also that she has a right to actively campaign against it [the church]. Occasionally in talks she has gotten a little carried away and has said that the Brethren are badly informed and not inspired in adopting the anti-ERA position. She has
urged Church members and others to campaign for ERA and by inference campaign against a stand taken by the First Presidency. Her remarks about the Brethren have not been complimentary. She has insisted that she strives to be a loyal Latter-day Saint on religious matters, and that she is free to depart from the Church's political position on this one matter. Non-LDS people have cheered her on and have made of her a sort of heroine for her courage and determination.
Sonia's activities have not only included campaigning against the Mormon political action group in several states, but also flying pro-ERA banners over the [Salt Lake] Tabernacle during [general] conference, and news releases and interviews in newspapers in New York, Washington, and elsewhere. ...
LDS officials have been irritated by her activities, which has tended to counter the effectiveness of the Church's campaign against ERA. Complaints have been made to her bishop, Bp. Jeffrey Hinckley Willis, of Oakton, VA. One wonders whether he is a relative of Elder Gordon Hinckley and if so, how close the relationship is. One speculates whether Elder Hinckley advised the bishop to put her on trial for her membership, or perhaps President Benson; or perhaps the bishop received complaints from people about her behavior and asked the counsel of Elder Hinckley or President Benson or someone else about placing her on trial. It is our information that a woman who is active in the John Birch Society in Utah Valley heard her speak in Provo and was so infuriated that she telephoned Bp. Willis, made a complaint, and said she would like the opportunity of testifying against Sonia at a trial held for her membership. Bp. Willis, incidentally, is said to be the personnel director
of the CIA.
Sonia has declared that the decision to try her for her membership was made on Tuesday, November 13. She said a written notice to her to appear at a [ward] bishop's court was received by her on Thursday, November 15. She said the notice did not mention any specific charges nor any specific complaints. Sonia, immediately upon receiving the letter that she was to appear Saturday, telephoned a number of her friends and supporters and released statements to newspapers in Washington, D.C., New York, and Utah, telling about the trial and indicating how unfair it was to conduct the trial before she had an opportunity of preparing her defense. As she thought about it, she felt she needed people to testify in her behalf and needed to prepare argumentation. She telephoned the bishop and asked him for a postponement. The bishop finally agreed to postpone it for two weeks. The trial was therefore rescheduled for December 1.
Several groups of friends, supporters, and other persons in Utah interested in a "fair trial" met in Salt Lake City and Provo to discuss aspects of the case. Some telephoned her and offered their help and assistance. They talked with her about Church trial procedures, they raised money to send a delegate back to testify for her-a person who was at the same meeting that the John Birch women had attended. I do not know the names of all of these persons, but it is my understanding that they raised money enough to send Jan Tyler back to testify. It is my understanding that they also made contact with Esther Peterson, who volunteered to testify. At the same time Sonia's mother agreed to testify on her daughter's behalf. Reba Keele [[Reba L. Keele (1941-) was a Utah native who graduated from BYU, served a church mission to France, and received a PhD in educational psychology from Purdue. She returned to Utah and became director for the Center for Women's Health at a local
hospital, and was hired to teach organizational behavior at BYU from 1978, becoming in 1991 dean of undergraduate education at the University of Utah.]] of BYU faculty and Kathryn MacKay, of the University of Utah, also testified in the trial on December 1. One group, in which J. D. Williams was vocal, sponsored a large ad in the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune of Tuesday, November 27, asking the First Presidency to intervene to prevent an action against Sonia for what they called "exercising her free agency and free speech." The letter was signed by about a hundred persons of whom a large number were not LDS. Probably more than half were non-LDS. ... The ad was signed by the "Supporters of Sonia (SOS) committee"; but that title has been popularized generally with "Save Our Sonia (SOS)." Among the names were some of our own friends...
(I learned after dictating the above that Bishop Willis did go to her home on the Thursday before the first hearing. There were fireworks and her husband finally invited the bishop to leave. ... The bishop refused to allow the use of the word Equal Rights Amendment in the trial. He acted correctly in not allowing the trial to become a forum for arguing the merits of ERA. ... I'm told that a group of thoughtful Latter-day Saints, meeting the Sunday before Sonia Johnson's December 1 hearing, listened to her talk (taped) from the University of Utah's women's conference in October. There she had, rather than voice her own opinions in her own voice, read excerpts from letters received from other Mormon women. Her delivery was much like that of a political candidate, eliciting applause in all the "right" places. With a combination of humor and sincerity, she moved her audience to warm friendship. All, that is, but a row of some four or five BYU women, among them some
administrative heads, who neither smiled nor applauded. ...
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
There are many articles in the newspapers, much discussion over the radio and some TV stories that relate to the Church trial of Sonia Johnson. I thought it might be helpful to some future historian for me to record some personal impressions. Nearly all of the articles in the papers and interviews over the radio and TV have been initiated by Sonia and not by the Church, and it would seem appropriate to give a more balanced perspective.
It is my understanding that Elder Gordon Hinckley is chairman of a Church political action committee [Special Affairs Committee] which has been interested in several projects:
1. A drive against pornography in Salt Lake City and elsewhere.
2. A campaign against abortion and birth control.
3. A series of movements designed to prevent the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.
... It is my understanding that this central Church committee assists with literature, pins, buttons, etc., state groups attempting to influence the legislature against ratification or in favor of rescinding the ERA. Groups of LDS women, in advance of legislative action, are organized and are instructed specifically not to reveal that they are LDS women but simply that they are residents of the state opposed to ERA. They get hundreds of Relief Society women involved and some of their husbands as well. Regional Representatives have given them counsel and support, as have area executive administrators. This has been true in Virginia, Washington, Maine, Nevada, Illinois, and Florida, and possibly in other states as well that I am not aware of. All those participating understand that they are doing what the Church wants them to do. To some extent the General Authorities have been mobilized; Elder [Boyd K.] Packer gave a talk in Idaho and another in California on the ERA;
Elder Neal Maxwell has also talked in at least two locations with the same theme. And of course the theme is carried out in many of the talks delivered by Elder [Ezra Taft] Benson, Elder [Mark E.] Petersen, and others.
Not every Latter-day Saint man or woman accepts the Church stand on ERA. I am sure they're a small minority; I would guess perhaps one-tenth of the U.S. adult members of the Church-something like 100,000 persons, maybe. Because of the First Presidency's letter on the subject and following-up letters in the Ensign and other publications, this group has not been vocal. It is made up of "liberals" and perhaps in a number of instances people who are never very responsive to Church counsel.
Sonia Johnson, however, made a personal decision to establish a small organization, "Mormons for ERA." She was able to raise some money, probably from non-Mormon sources and organizations, and has carried out an active campaign. She has made it a policy to follow the Mormons against ERA into a state and has held news [conferences and issued news] releases, appeared on TV and radio, and given talks designed to demonstrate to everybody that there are Mormons for ERA, and she has gotten a good deal of mileage out of this publicity. When LDS people have questioned her she has insisted that ERA is a political matter, not a religious matter, and that she has a right to disagree with the Church and its officials on this political matter, also that she has a right to actively campaign against it [the church]. Occasionally in talks she has gotten a little carried away and has said that the Brethren are badly informed and not inspired in adopting the anti-ERA position. She has
urged Church members and others to campaign for ERA and by inference campaign against a stand taken by the First Presidency. Her remarks about the Brethren have not been complimentary. She has insisted that she strives to be a loyal Latter-day Saint on religious matters, and that she is free to depart from the Church's political position on this one matter. Non-LDS people have cheered her on and have made of her a sort of heroine for her courage and determination.
Sonia's activities have not only included campaigning against the Mormon political action group in several states, but also flying pro-ERA banners over the [Salt Lake] Tabernacle during [general] conference, and news releases and interviews in newspapers in New York, Washington, and elsewhere. ...
LDS officials have been irritated by her activities, which has tended to counter the effectiveness of the Church's campaign against ERA. Complaints have been made to her bishop, Bp. Jeffrey Hinckley Willis, of Oakton, VA. One wonders whether he is a relative of Elder Gordon Hinckley and if so, how close the relationship is. One speculates whether Elder Hinckley advised the bishop to put her on trial for her membership, or perhaps President Benson; or perhaps the bishop received complaints from people about her behavior and asked the counsel of Elder Hinckley or President Benson or someone else about placing her on trial. It is our information that a woman who is active in the John Birch Society in Utah Valley heard her speak in Provo and was so infuriated that she telephoned Bp. Willis, made a complaint, and said she would like the opportunity of testifying against Sonia at a trial held for her membership. Bp. Willis, incidentally, is said to be the personnel director
of the CIA.
Sonia has declared that the decision to try her for her membership was made on Tuesday, November 13. She said a written notice to her to appear at a [ward] bishop's court was received by her on Thursday, November 15. She said the notice did not mention any specific charges nor any specific complaints. Sonia, immediately upon receiving the letter that she was to appear Saturday, telephoned a number of her friends and supporters and released statements to newspapers in Washington, D.C., New York, and Utah, telling about the trial and indicating how unfair it was to conduct the trial before she had an opportunity of preparing her defense. As she thought about it, she felt she needed people to testify in her behalf and needed to prepare argumentation. She telephoned the bishop and asked him for a postponement. The bishop finally agreed to postpone it for two weeks. The trial was therefore rescheduled for December 1.
Several groups of friends, supporters, and other persons in Utah interested in a "fair trial" met in Salt Lake City and Provo to discuss aspects of the case. Some telephoned her and offered their help and assistance. They talked with her about Church trial procedures, they raised money to send a delegate back to testify for her-a person who was at the same meeting that the John Birch women had attended. I do not know the names of all of these persons, but it is my understanding that they raised money enough to send Jan Tyler back to testify. It is my understanding that they also made contact with Esther Peterson, who volunteered to testify. At the same time Sonia's mother agreed to testify on her daughter's behalf. Reba Keele [[Reba L. Keele (1941-) was a Utah native who graduated from BYU, served a church mission to France, and received a PhD in educational psychology from Purdue. She returned to Utah and became director for the Center for Women's Health at a local
hospital, and was hired to teach organizational behavior at BYU from 1978, becoming in 1991 dean of undergraduate education at the University of Utah.]] of BYU faculty and Kathryn MacKay, of the University of Utah, also testified in the trial on December 1. One group, in which J. D. Williams was vocal, sponsored a large ad in the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune of Tuesday, November 27, asking the First Presidency to intervene to prevent an action against Sonia for what they called "exercising her free agency and free speech." The letter was signed by about a hundred persons of whom a large number were not LDS. Probably more than half were non-LDS. ... The ad was signed by the "Supporters of Sonia (SOS) committee"; but that title has been popularized generally with "Save Our Sonia (SOS)." Among the names were some of our own friends...
(I learned after dictating the above that Bishop Willis did go to her home on the Thursday before the first hearing. There were fireworks and her husband finally invited the bishop to leave. ... The bishop refused to allow the use of the word Equal Rights Amendment in the trial. He acted correctly in not allowing the trial to become a forum for arguing the merits of ERA. ... I'm told that a group of thoughtful Latter-day Saints, meeting the Sunday before Sonia Johnson's December 1 hearing, listened to her talk (taped) from the University of Utah's women's conference in October. There she had, rather than voice her own opinions in her own voice, read excerpts from letters received from other Mormon women. Her delivery was much like that of a political candidate, eliciting applause in all the "right" places. With a combination of humor and sincerity, she moved her audience to warm friendship. All, that is, but a row of some four or five BYU women, among them some
administrative heads, who neither smiled nor applauded. ...
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
50 years ago today - Dec 3, 1974-Tuesday
[Leonard Arrington]
Today we held the meeting of our executives ... The last item discussed was the letter of Elder Boyd Packer...
Brother Anderson then volunteered, not for the record but for our information, his own comments. His comments were made at extenso [[That is, at length.]] and Earl has agreed to save the tape of our meeting together to preserve these. First of all, Brother Anderson said he could hardly accept the two criticisms of Elder Packer, one criticizing Jack Adamson for using the term Brigham to refer to President Brigham Young. He said he had often referred to him as Brigham or Brother Brigham and the prophets and General Authorities he was associated with had done the same. The same with the Prophet Joseph [Smith]. In the second place the criticism of our inclusion of Brigham Young's advice to Brigham, Jr. to cease the use of tobacco while on his mission. Brother Anderson said he didn't see anything wrong with people knowing that and with Brigham Young, Jr.'s posterity knowing about that. People should understand that our emphasis on the Word of Wisdom today has not always
applied. It is true that the Prophet Joseph Smith drank wine after he received the Word of Wisdom revelation. It is also true that Brigham Young used wine, even fermented wine, both at his table and in the Sacrament. I added that was true as late as Lorenzo Snow, who administered the Sacrament in the Salt Lake Temple with wine-and Brother Anderson added not just with a little glass cup but with large goblets so that the authorities drank more than just a swallow. Brother Anderson in regard to this pointed out a number of General Authorities who as late as his day were not as strict on the Word of Wisdom as we are today. He mentioned President [Charles W.] Penrose, one of the most beloved persons in Church history, who being English loved his ale and continued to use it more or less regularly to the end of his life and as I recall he died about 1923 or '24. He mentioned Patriarch John Smith, who continued to use tobacco and liquor and had certain problems with both to the end of his
days, and yet he was patriarch to the Church. Brother Anderson mentioned President [Anthony W.] Ivins who used wine, having grown up with its use in Mexico and continued to use it at least many of the years in the 1920s.
Brother Anderson mentioned that the Word of Wisdom was not the only thing that we have changed our emphasis upon-other things as well. An example is birth control and contraceptives. As a secretary of the First Presidency he had been designated to respond to many of the questions that came into the First Presidency. On the matter of the use of birth control devices he had always responded that the Church had been opposed to the use of these devices except when the health of the mother was involved. That included both the physical health and mental health, and he always added a sentence at the end which said in the last analysis this is a matter for individual decision by the family involved. That is the way President [David O.] McKay had wanted the letter to read, but after his death, he was advised to leave out that last sentence by Joseph Fielding Smith, who tended to be the most strict-the most strict of all the brethren-and by President Harold B. Lee. In recent years
there has been a tendency to announce the Church's opposition to birth control devices without adding the phrase "[with] the health of the mother" being a consideration. Brother Anderson said we have to use good judgment on these matters and if it comes down to an individual case, the authorities will almost always say this. ...
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
Today we held the meeting of our executives ... The last item discussed was the letter of Elder Boyd Packer...
Brother Anderson then volunteered, not for the record but for our information, his own comments. His comments were made at extenso [[That is, at length.]] and Earl has agreed to save the tape of our meeting together to preserve these. First of all, Brother Anderson said he could hardly accept the two criticisms of Elder Packer, one criticizing Jack Adamson for using the term Brigham to refer to President Brigham Young. He said he had often referred to him as Brigham or Brother Brigham and the prophets and General Authorities he was associated with had done the same. The same with the Prophet Joseph [Smith]. In the second place the criticism of our inclusion of Brigham Young's advice to Brigham, Jr. to cease the use of tobacco while on his mission. Brother Anderson said he didn't see anything wrong with people knowing that and with Brigham Young, Jr.'s posterity knowing about that. People should understand that our emphasis on the Word of Wisdom today has not always
applied. It is true that the Prophet Joseph Smith drank wine after he received the Word of Wisdom revelation. It is also true that Brigham Young used wine, even fermented wine, both at his table and in the Sacrament. I added that was true as late as Lorenzo Snow, who administered the Sacrament in the Salt Lake Temple with wine-and Brother Anderson added not just with a little glass cup but with large goblets so that the authorities drank more than just a swallow. Brother Anderson in regard to this pointed out a number of General Authorities who as late as his day were not as strict on the Word of Wisdom as we are today. He mentioned President [Charles W.] Penrose, one of the most beloved persons in Church history, who being English loved his ale and continued to use it more or less regularly to the end of his life and as I recall he died about 1923 or '24. He mentioned Patriarch John Smith, who continued to use tobacco and liquor and had certain problems with both to the end of his
days, and yet he was patriarch to the Church. Brother Anderson mentioned President [Anthony W.] Ivins who used wine, having grown up with its use in Mexico and continued to use it at least many of the years in the 1920s.
Brother Anderson mentioned that the Word of Wisdom was not the only thing that we have changed our emphasis upon-other things as well. An example is birth control and contraceptives. As a secretary of the First Presidency he had been designated to respond to many of the questions that came into the First Presidency. On the matter of the use of birth control devices he had always responded that the Church had been opposed to the use of these devices except when the health of the mother was involved. That included both the physical health and mental health, and he always added a sentence at the end which said in the last analysis this is a matter for individual decision by the family involved. That is the way President [David O.] McKay had wanted the letter to read, but after his death, he was advised to leave out that last sentence by Joseph Fielding Smith, who tended to be the most strict-the most strict of all the brethren-and by President Harold B. Lee. In recent years
there has been a tendency to announce the Church's opposition to birth control devices without adding the phrase "[with] the health of the mother" being a consideration. Brother Anderson said we have to use good judgment on these matters and if it comes down to an individual case, the authorities will almost always say this. ...
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
135 years ago today - Dec 3, 1889
[Apostle Heber J. Grant]
I see from the papers rec[eive]d today that there is to be a large hotel built on the corner of Third South and First East Streets. I am sorry that there were not some steps taken by our folks to build a large hotel before those not of our people should occupy the field. It seems to me that we always wait until the field is occupied and then have a hard fight on our hands to regain the ground that we have lost ... I cannot help feeling that we should lead in all things and that under no circumstances should we allow those that are bitterly opposed to us to occupy the ground in any direction that we are capable of occupying. ...
Bro. S.S. Smith this morning brought from La Jara a copy of the Denver News from which we learn that Judge Anderson has decided against naturalizing of any more of our people. He claims that all that have been through the Endowment House have taken on themselves oaths that are not in keeping with a proper feeling towards the Government and that such oaths are treasonable in their nature. His decision is an outrage as there is no oath in the Endowments that is in the slightest degree inconsistent with good citizenship.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I see from the papers rec[eive]d today that there is to be a large hotel built on the corner of Third South and First East Streets. I am sorry that there were not some steps taken by our folks to build a large hotel before those not of our people should occupy the field. It seems to me that we always wait until the field is occupied and then have a hard fight on our hands to regain the ground that we have lost ... I cannot help feeling that we should lead in all things and that under no circumstances should we allow those that are bitterly opposed to us to occupy the ground in any direction that we are capable of occupying. ...
Bro. S.S. Smith this morning brought from La Jara a copy of the Denver News from which we learn that Judge Anderson has decided against naturalizing of any more of our people. He claims that all that have been through the Endowment House have taken on themselves oaths that are not in keeping with a proper feeling towards the Government and that such oaths are treasonable in their nature. His decision is an outrage as there is no oath in the Endowments that is in the slightest degree inconsistent with good citizenship.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
165 years ago today - Dec 3, 1859
[Brigham Young regarding the Utah War]
President Young said that He heard that General Black told Presidet Buchannan that if He permitted the Judges in Utah or in any other portion of the United States to use the military to the injury of the Citizens he would resign his office as a member of the Cabinet.
"It has been said that Buchanan was in his dotage & feeble in mind which was the Cause of his Course towards Utah & many other acts of his Administration but this is not the Case. He is just as much of a man now as he ever was in his life and it was the first time He ever was in a situation to fully Carry out the evil designs of his heart, and his acts are Carrying out his principles.
E R Young said that the Judges in this Territory would not have taken the course they did if they had not Believed the Presidet would have sustained them in it. President Young He did not think they would do much more But they may try to get up a fuss and do sumthing.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
President Young said that He heard that General Black told Presidet Buchannan that if He permitted the Judges in Utah or in any other portion of the United States to use the military to the injury of the Citizens he would resign his office as a member of the Cabinet.
"It has been said that Buchanan was in his dotage & feeble in mind which was the Cause of his Course towards Utah & many other acts of his Administration but this is not the Case. He is just as much of a man now as he ever was in his life and it was the first time He ever was in a situation to fully Carry out the evil designs of his heart, and his acts are Carrying out his principles.
E R Young said that the Judges in this Territory would not have taken the course they did if they had not Believed the Presidet would have sustained them in it. President Young He did not think they would do much more But they may try to get up a fuss and do sumthing.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
35 years ago today - Dec 2, 1989
[Nauvoo Temple]
The Smithsonian Institute paid $100,000 for the sunstone, owned by the Historical Society of Quincy and Adams Counties, Illinois. The only other sunstone was displayed in the Nauvoo City Park.
[Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple]
The Smithsonian Institute paid $100,000 for the sunstone, owned by the Historical Society of Quincy and Adams Counties, Illinois. The only other sunstone was displayed in the Nauvoo City Park.
[Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple]
85 years ago today - Dec 02, 1939
Harry Reid, a Nevada representative in the U.S. Congress (1983-87) and a U.S. senator (1987-), is born in Searchlight, Nevada.
130 years ago today - Early December, 1894
[James E. Talmage]
Talmage receives word that he has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. In his journal Talmage writes:
[The honor is] a recognition of Utah and the ‘Mormon’ Church, in which I see the hand of God plainly manifest. May the prestige thus bestowed be used in the service of God.
[Chronology of the Life and Work of James E. Talmage, J. Trevor Antley, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MJsHY83JZL_n6CjWq11y1trT_CVXMMXAx2uYOWAwn0c/edit#heading=h.2zfdaoa]
Talmage receives word that he has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. In his journal Talmage writes:
[The honor is] a recognition of Utah and the ‘Mormon’ Church, in which I see the hand of God plainly manifest. May the prestige thus bestowed be used in the service of God.
[Chronology of the Life and Work of James E. Talmage, J. Trevor Antley, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MJsHY83JZL_n6CjWq11y1trT_CVXMMXAx2uYOWAwn0c/edit#heading=h.2zfdaoa]
130 years ago today - Dec 2, 1894
[Apostle Francis M. Lyman]
Bro[ther] Richards ... said if any of the Saints felt that they could not live without a little tea they could use it a little and it would be all right. This came so in conflict with the late instructions upon the Word of Wisdom that it made a visible sensation among the people. I then spoke 30 minutes and held that none of the Saints would die if they left off their tea. They would not only live without it but would be healthier and happier. I held if excuses were made it should be in favor of the young and not the old. The longer we live the better we should be.
[Excerpts of Apostle Francis M. Lyman Diaries, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Bro[ther] Richards ... said if any of the Saints felt that they could not live without a little tea they could use it a little and it would be all right. This came so in conflict with the late instructions upon the Word of Wisdom that it made a visible sensation among the people. I then spoke 30 minutes and held that none of the Saints would die if they left off their tea. They would not only live without it but would be healthier and happier. I held if excuses were made it should be in favor of the young and not the old. The longer we live the better we should be.
[Excerpts of Apostle Francis M. Lyman Diaries, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
135 years ago today - Dec 2, 1889
[First Presidency letter]
Special Fast Day-- ...
The reference in this letter to a pending decision of the Supreme Court of the United States presumably was relative to the validity of the Idaho Test Oath Law which was upheld as constitutional February 3, 1890 in a decision in the case of Davis vs. Beason.
The list of things for which the Saints should pray during their special fast might be classified as the Mormon "Bill of Rights" of 1889.
...There never was a time probably in our history when the Latter-day Saints needed more than they do at present the assistance which God has promised to render to us. ... And that we may do this in a proper manner we have felt led to set apart the next anniversary of the birthday of the Prophet Joseph Smith-December 23rd-as a day of fasting and of solemn prayer unto the Lord.
We think the fast should be from sundown on Sunday, the 22nd, to sundown on Monday, the 23rd, covering a period of twenty-four hours. ...
All labor that can be dispensed with should be suspended on that day...
We should pray for the plots and the schemes which are being framed for the purpose of robbing us of our civil and political rights and of obtaining control of our cities, counties and Territory, to be confounded, and their authors to be thwarted in their evil designs.
We should pray for all who conspire, in any manner, to injure or destroy the work of God, or to take from the people their rights and liberties, to be defeated in their wicked purposes.
We should pray for the unfavorable action of courts and of officials to be overruled in such a manner that no injury will be done to Zion....
We remain, your Brethren, WILFORD WOODRUFF, GEORGE Q CANNON, JOSEPH F. SMITH, First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
[1889-December 2-Original circular letter, Church Historian's Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. See also Deseret News Weekly as quoted in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
Special Fast Day-- ...
The reference in this letter to a pending decision of the Supreme Court of the United States presumably was relative to the validity of the Idaho Test Oath Law which was upheld as constitutional February 3, 1890 in a decision in the case of Davis vs. Beason.
The list of things for which the Saints should pray during their special fast might be classified as the Mormon "Bill of Rights" of 1889.
...There never was a time probably in our history when the Latter-day Saints needed more than they do at present the assistance which God has promised to render to us. ... And that we may do this in a proper manner we have felt led to set apart the next anniversary of the birthday of the Prophet Joseph Smith-December 23rd-as a day of fasting and of solemn prayer unto the Lord.
We think the fast should be from sundown on Sunday, the 22nd, to sundown on Monday, the 23rd, covering a period of twenty-four hours. ...
All labor that can be dispensed with should be suspended on that day...
We should pray for the plots and the schemes which are being framed for the purpose of robbing us of our civil and political rights and of obtaining control of our cities, counties and Territory, to be confounded, and their authors to be thwarted in their evil designs.
We should pray for all who conspire, in any manner, to injure or destroy the work of God, or to take from the people their rights and liberties, to be defeated in their wicked purposes.
We should pray for the unfavorable action of courts and of officials to be overruled in such a manner that no injury will be done to Zion....
We remain, your Brethren, WILFORD WOODRUFF, GEORGE Q CANNON, JOSEPH F. SMITH, First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
[1889-December 2-Original circular letter, Church Historian's Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. See also Deseret News Weekly as quoted in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
180 years ago today - Dec 2, 1844
[Nauvoo Temple]
The Temple Committee reported that all of the capitals were in place, except one which would be placed within the week.
[Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple]
The Temple Committee reported that all of the capitals were in place, except one which would be placed within the week.
[Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple]
120 years ago today - Dec 1, 1904
A letter was read from Elders B. H. Roberts, stating in effect that he had quite accidentally run across a clause in the Constitution of the State of Utah which he thought affected a question now being discussed in the anti-Mormon press, that no property should be applied (used) to any religious worship, exercise or instruction. And Brother Roberts thought it quite possible that this provision may yet be invoked against our efforts to use the school houses throughout the state, which are public property, for religion class instruction. Brother Roberts goes on to state that he had been watching with some degree of interest the rising tide of public feeling among the Gentile citizens against the use of public school property, and in the presence of our many institutions for the instruction of our youth, it seemed to him we were needlessly irritating people not of our faith by the use of school buildings for imparting religious instruction. After discussing the matter quite freely,
the sentiments of most of the brethren being those of Brother Roberts, the letter was referred, on motion of President John R. Winder, to the Religion Class Board. ...
[Journal History, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
the sentiments of most of the brethren being those of Brother Roberts, the letter was referred, on motion of President John R. Winder, to the Religion Class Board. ...
[Journal History, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
125 years ago today - Friday, Dec 1, 1899
[Apostle Rudger Clawson]
Said I believed the hand of the Lord was in [B. H. Roberts election to the House of Representatives], and whether or not he obtained his seat in Congress, felt that the gospel was being preached by and through the prominence given to him.
[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]
Said I believed the hand of the Lord was in [B. H. Roberts election to the House of Representatives], and whether or not he obtained his seat in Congress, felt that the gospel was being preached by and through the prominence given to him.
[Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
140 years ago today - Dec 1, 1884
[President John Taylor]
In regard to the enquiries made by you in your letter as to the propriety of your sister officiating in the Logan temple in the ordinances for the dead, I have to say that under the circumstances stated by you it would not be proper for her to do so; and being married to a gentile, it is not proper for her to wear her garments.
[John Taylor to Joseph Hunter, Dec. 1, 1884 as quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
In regard to the enquiries made by you in your letter as to the propriety of your sister officiating in the Logan temple in the ordinances for the dead, I have to say that under the circumstances stated by you it would not be proper for her to do so; and being married to a gentile, it is not proper for her to wear her garments.
[John Taylor to Joseph Hunter, Dec. 1, 1884 as quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
175 years ago today - Dec 1, 1849
[Hosea Stout]
another Company came in from the States. They left their waggons a few miles beyond the Weber & their cattle over the second mountain and wallowed through the snow sometimes over their hips and came in to day.
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
another Company came in from the States. They left their waggons a few miles beyond the Weber & their cattle over the second mountain and wallowed through the snow sometimes over their hips and came in to day.
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
175 years ago today - Dec 1, 1849
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff]
I called upon Col Kane & saw A sleigh robe presented to him by Dr Bernhisel as A present from President Young. It contained 7 wolf skins & 10 Fox skins got up with great taste & splendor. It was worth $40.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I called upon Col Kane & saw A sleigh robe presented to him by Dr Bernhisel as A present from President Young. It contained 7 wolf skins & 10 Fox skins got up with great taste & splendor. It was worth $40.
[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 - about Dec 1, 1834
Kirtland, Ohio. The School of the Prophets was established and well attended, and Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon gave regular lectures on theology that later became known as the -"Lectures on Faith."
[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]
90 years ago today - Nov 30, 1934
[Joseph Fielding Smith]
Your letter addressed to the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was referred to me as the historian for answer.
You desire to know what the Urim and Thummim were, how they were used, and what became of them after the translation of the Book of Mormon.
The Urim and Thummim obtained from Moroni were two transparent stones set in silver bows and these stones fastened to a breastplate constituted what is called the Urim and Thummim. It was by the aid of these and by the power of the Lord that Joseph Smith was able to translate the ancient characters from the record and give to the world the Book of Mormon. In making the translation the breastplate was adjusted over the breast with the two stones attached in such a way that they could be held before the eyes. Jut how the characters appeared or how the translation was received by aid of these stones the Prophet Joseph Smith has not told us. All that we have on record that he did say is that he translated the ancient record by the aid of the Urim and Thummim and by the gift and power of God. When he finished the translation it is understood that he returned the Urim and Thummim with the plats to the angel who placed them in his hands.
The Urim and Thummim and breastplate were in the possession of Aaron, who was called to act as the presiding high priest of the order of Aaron, before the congregations of Israel. These stones with the breastplate were handed down from generation to generation in the lineage of the priests, successors to Aaron, until the time came when, through in and apostasy, they were lost to the people of Israel. For references see Exodus 28:30, Leviticus 8:8, Numbers 27:21; Deuteronomy 33:8, I Samuel 28:5, Ezra 2:63 and Nehemiah 7:65. Revelations were frequently received through the Urim and Thummim in those ancient times.
It was revealed to Joseph Smith, while he was translating the Book of Abraham, that Abraham had the Urim and Thummim by which the heavens were opened to his view and many things were made known in prophetic vision concerning Gospel truth and the destiny of his posterity.
The Urim and Thummim give to Joseph Smith were those which were received by the brother of Jared from the Lord the account of which is recorded in the third chapter of the Book of Ether in the Book of Mormon. After the destruction of the people of Jared these stones, called 'interpreters,' were preserved in the hands of the Nephites, finally being placed in the tone box with the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated. It was Moroni who hid up these plates and the Urim and Thummim, about 420 A.D., and as the custodian of these sacred things, was sent, after he had received his resurrection from the dead, to Joseph Smith the Prophet and revealed to him where the plates were buried and gave him instruction in relation to the coming forth of the history of the ancient peoples of this western hemisphere.
[Joseph Fielding Smith, Letter to Ellsworth McCarthy, 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]
Your letter addressed to the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was referred to me as the historian for answer.
You desire to know what the Urim and Thummim were, how they were used, and what became of them after the translation of the Book of Mormon.
The Urim and Thummim obtained from Moroni were two transparent stones set in silver bows and these stones fastened to a breastplate constituted what is called the Urim and Thummim. It was by the aid of these and by the power of the Lord that Joseph Smith was able to translate the ancient characters from the record and give to the world the Book of Mormon. In making the translation the breastplate was adjusted over the breast with the two stones attached in such a way that they could be held before the eyes. Jut how the characters appeared or how the translation was received by aid of these stones the Prophet Joseph Smith has not told us. All that we have on record that he did say is that he translated the ancient record by the aid of the Urim and Thummim and by the gift and power of God. When he finished the translation it is understood that he returned the Urim and Thummim with the plats to the angel who placed them in his hands.
The Urim and Thummim and breastplate were in the possession of Aaron, who was called to act as the presiding high priest of the order of Aaron, before the congregations of Israel. These stones with the breastplate were handed down from generation to generation in the lineage of the priests, successors to Aaron, until the time came when, through in and apostasy, they were lost to the people of Israel. For references see Exodus 28:30, Leviticus 8:8, Numbers 27:21; Deuteronomy 33:8, I Samuel 28:5, Ezra 2:63 and Nehemiah 7:65. Revelations were frequently received through the Urim and Thummim in those ancient times.
It was revealed to Joseph Smith, while he was translating the Book of Abraham, that Abraham had the Urim and Thummim by which the heavens were opened to his view and many things were made known in prophetic vision concerning Gospel truth and the destiny of his posterity.
The Urim and Thummim give to Joseph Smith were those which were received by the brother of Jared from the Lord the account of which is recorded in the third chapter of the Book of Ether in the Book of Mormon. After the destruction of the people of Jared these stones, called 'interpreters,' were preserved in the hands of the Nephites, finally being placed in the tone box with the plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated. It was Moroni who hid up these plates and the Urim and Thummim, about 420 A.D., and as the custodian of these sacred things, was sent, after he had received his resurrection from the dead, to Joseph Smith the Prophet and revealed to him where the plates were buried and gave him instruction in relation to the coming forth of the history of the ancient peoples of this western hemisphere.
[Joseph Fielding Smith, Letter to Ellsworth McCarthy, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
115 years ago today - Nov 30, 1909; Tuesday
[George F. Richards]
Had a good heart to heart talk about the action taken by the Church relative to the discontinuance of plural marriages and the disregard given to that action by some. I warned her [his mother, or sister] against her daughters being inviegaled [sic] into the meshes, stating that all such were liable to be dealt with and to be excommunicated.
I spent about an hour with Pres[ident]. F[rancis]. M. Lyman at his home in the evening in considering the matter spoken of above.
[George F. Richards, Diary]
Had a good heart to heart talk about the action taken by the Church relative to the discontinuance of plural marriages and the disregard given to that action by some. I warned her [his mother, or sister] against her daughters being inviegaled [sic] into the meshes, stating that all such were liable to be dealt with and to be excommunicated.
I spent about an hour with Pres[ident]. F[rancis]. M. Lyman at his home in the evening in considering the matter spoken of above.
[George F. Richards, Diary]
135 years ago today - Nov 30, 1889
[Apostle Brigham Young Jr.]
[Judge Anderson decides] no [emmigrating] Mormon can be naturalized in consequence of taking oaths and obligations in the ... endowments.
[Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Judge Anderson decides] no [emmigrating] Mormon can be naturalized in consequence of taking oaths and obligations in the ... endowments.
[Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
190 years ago today - 30 November 1834 - Sunday
[Joseph Smith]
Sabbath evening, No vember 30, 1834. While reflecting upon the goodness and mercy of the Lord, this evening, a prophecy was put into our hearts, that in a short time the Lord would arrange his providen ces in a merciful man ner and send us assist ance to deliver us from debt and bon dage. [[In January, donations of Latter-day Saint John Tanner materially improved their situation. Tanner's son Nathan recalled that his father donated over three thousand dollars and saved the mortgage on the temple block from being foreclosed.]]
[Joseph Smith, "Joseph Smith Jrs Book for Record," Journal, Nov. 1832-Dec. 1834]
Sabbath evening, No vember 30, 1834. While reflecting upon the goodness and mercy of the Lord, this evening, a prophecy was put into our hearts, that in a short time the Lord would arrange his providen ces in a merciful man ner and send us assist ance to deliver us from debt and bon dage. [[In January, donations of Latter-day Saint John Tanner materially improved their situation. Tanner's son Nathan recalled that his father donated over three thousand dollars and saved the mortgage on the temple block from being foreclosed.]]
[Joseph Smith, "Joseph Smith Jrs Book for Record," Journal, Nov. 1832-Dec. 1834]
190 years ago today - Nov 30, 1834
[Joseph Smith]
30th Sabbath evening, November 30th 1834 While reflecting upon the goodness and mercy of the Lord, this evening, a prophecy was put into our hearts, that in a short time the Lord would arrange his providences in a merciful manner and send us assistance to deliver us from debt and bondage.
[Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1832-34, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
30th Sabbath evening, November 30th 1834 While reflecting upon the goodness and mercy of the Lord, this evening, a prophecy was put into our hearts, that in a short time the Lord would arrange his providences in a merciful manner and send us assistance to deliver us from debt and bondage.
[Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1832-34, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
65 years ago today - Nov 29, 1959
The Tabernacle Choir received a Grammy award for its recording of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" at the first television awards show of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles, Calif.
[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]
75 years ago today - Nov 29, 1949
[J. Reuben Clark]
Bro. Lee spoke about the Hotel Utah refusing to take a ball team because it had a negro on it; he had had a letter or some inquiry from a bishop. Pres. Clark suggested he tell the bishop that is the practice of the hotel. Pres. Clark read to him the letter he wrote to Mrs. Rose in New York about the negro question.
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
Bro. Lee spoke about the Hotel Utah refusing to take a ball team because it had a negro on it; he had had a letter or some inquiry from a bishop. Pres. Clark suggested he tell the bishop that is the practice of the hotel. Pres. Clark read to him the letter he wrote to Mrs. Rose in New York about the negro question.
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
90 years ago today - Nov 29, 1934
[First Presidency Letter]
We hereby approve the Twelve's recommendation in letter of September 29, that a definite time be fixed for the ordaining of Priests to the office of Elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood, and that this age of 19, thus affording Elders the privilege of two years of training and experience before they become eligible for ordination to the office of Seventy.
We also authorize the adoption of the following schedule, as submitted in your letter above referred to, for advancement in the Aaronic Priesthood:
Three years experience and training for the Deacons'12, 13, 14;
Two years experience and training for the Teachers'15 and 16;
Two years experience and training for the Priests'17 and 18.
[First Presidency, Letter to Rudger Clawson, 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]
We hereby approve the Twelve's recommendation in letter of September 29, that a definite time be fixed for the ordaining of Priests to the office of Elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood, and that this age of 19, thus affording Elders the privilege of two years of training and experience before they become eligible for ordination to the office of Seventy.
We also authorize the adoption of the following schedule, as submitted in your letter above referred to, for advancement in the Aaronic Priesthood:
Three years experience and training for the Deacons'12, 13, 14;
Two years experience and training for the Teachers'15 and 16;
Two years experience and training for the Priests'17 and 18.
[First Presidency, Letter to Rudger Clawson, 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]
105 years ago today - Nov 29, 1910
[Fanny Algers Custer death]
"Fanny W. Custer, wife of the late Solomon Custer, was born in northern Ohio, near Cleveland, on September 30, 1817, and passed from this life at her son's home in Indianapolis, on the evening of November 29th, at the age of 72 years, 1 month, and 29 days.
Aunt Fanny, as all her long time friends and acquaintances of Dublin called her, was one of the earliest settlers of this locality, ... The deceased was united in holy wedlock to Solomon Franklin Custer, in this place, at the old tavern stand, that used to occupy the site of the late Benjamin Cruil's residence in the east part of town, on Nov. 16th, 1838. As the result of this union, she had born to her nine children, two of whom survive her. With the exception of a very short period at two different times, aunt Fannie had made "Dublin her home, since first coming to the settlement; then just forming, away back in the 20's. ...
She joined the Universalist church on the evening of the 10th of Octrober, 1874, and until her last, held to that belief. ...
[Fanny Algers W. Custer obituary found in the Adolphus Barnes Family Bible (also known as the Stephen Barnes Family Bible), http://www.algerclan.org/getperson.php?personID=I135&tree=alger]
"Fanny W. Custer, wife of the late Solomon Custer, was born in northern Ohio, near Cleveland, on September 30, 1817, and passed from this life at her son's home in Indianapolis, on the evening of November 29th, at the age of 72 years, 1 month, and 29 days.
Aunt Fanny, as all her long time friends and acquaintances of Dublin called her, was one of the earliest settlers of this locality, ... The deceased was united in holy wedlock to Solomon Franklin Custer, in this place, at the old tavern stand, that used to occupy the site of the late Benjamin Cruil's residence in the east part of town, on Nov. 16th, 1838. As the result of this union, she had born to her nine children, two of whom survive her. With the exception of a very short period at two different times, aunt Fannie had made "Dublin her home, since first coming to the settlement; then just forming, away back in the 20's. ...
She joined the Universalist church on the evening of the 10th of Octrober, 1874, and until her last, held to that belief. ...
[Fanny Algers W. Custer obituary found in the Adolphus Barnes Family Bible (also known as the Stephen Barnes Family Bible), http://www.algerclan.org/getperson.php?personID=I135&tree=alger]
135 years ago today - Nov 29, 1889 (Friday)
[Church Historian Andrew Jensen]
The second grand parade of the Liberals occurred in Salt Lake City; it was the greatest affair of the kind ever witnessed in Utah.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
The second grand parade of the Liberals occurred in Salt Lake City; it was the greatest affair of the kind ever witnessed in Utah.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
180 years ago today - 1844: 29 November
[Patriarchal Blessing of Lucy M. Smith]
....Thou art ... a lawful heir to the priesthood which was sealed upon the head of Ephraim. ... The number of thy years shall be according to thy faith, even to behold all the glory and beauty of Zion, see the coming of the Saviour, the gathering of Israel, and if you desire it with your whole heart, shall not taste of death, but shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye and caught up to meet the Lord. Now dear sister be comforted, endure in faith to the end, and not one word which has been spoken shall fail.
[Selected LDS Patriarchal Blessings, New Mormon Studies CD ROM, Signature Book, 2009, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
....Thou art ... a lawful heir to the priesthood which was sealed upon the head of Ephraim. ... The number of thy years shall be according to thy faith, even to behold all the glory and beauty of Zion, see the coming of the Saviour, the gathering of Israel, and if you desire it with your whole heart, shall not taste of death, but shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye and caught up to meet the Lord. Now dear sister be comforted, endure in faith to the end, and not one word which has been spoken shall fail.
[Selected LDS Patriarchal Blessings, New Mormon Studies CD ROM, Signature Book, 2009, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
185 years ago today - 1839 29 Nov.
U.S. president Martin Van Buren tells Joseph Smith in a personal meeting that the federal government cannot intervene to protect Mormon property or civil rights in Missouri. In 1833 the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled in the Barrow case that the Bill of Rights restrained only the federal government. Until the Civil War and the 14th Amendment the constitutional separation between the federal government and the rights of sovereign states prohibited such intervention. This is also the first meeting between a U.S. president and an LDS 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]
190 years ago today - Nov 29, 1834
Joseph and Oliver give thanks for a loan of $430 from brethren in the East. They covenant with the Lord that if he will prosper us in our business and open the way before <us> ... to pay our debts ... that of all he shall give us we will give a tenth, to bestowed upon the poor in his Church, or as he shall command ... and that our children after us shall remember to observe this sacred and holy covenant ... And that our children and our children's [children] may know of the same we here subscribe our names with our own hands before the Lord: [signed].
[Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1832-34, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
[Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1832-34, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
60 years ago today - Nov 28, 1964
The Church News headlines, "Inauguration Steps In Home Evening Plan For December," which describes detailed instructions to stake presidents and subsequently to ward bishops for implementing the weekly family home evening program for all Mormons. LDS leaders stress this repeatedly from the pulpit and church headquarters eventually enforces it with Monday evening closing of such LDS enterprises in Salt Lake City as the Deseret Gymnasium and the genealogical library and of temples worldwide. This finally succeeds in achieving widespread compliance of Mormon families in holding home evenings which had not occurred after official announcements in 1915, 1946, and 1961.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
90 years ago today - Nov 28, 1934
Elder Charles A. Callis of the Council of the Twelve recently received a letter from Patriarch James H. Wallis, relative to a family residing in your mission, who are desirous of receiving their patriarchal blessings, but Brother Wallis says that the woman has colored blood in her veins, although neither she nor her husband is aware of this fact.
In Elder Callis' reply, which we fully endorse, he suggested that Brother Wallis excuse himself from giving these people blessing, but that under no circumstances should he intimate to them or any one else that the woman has colored blood. The consequences of s doing might be very serious, and it is almost an impossibility to prove a thing of this kind.
No doubt Brother Wallis has shown you Elder Callis' letter or informed you of its contents, but in case he has not done so we are desirous that you too should be informed of our attitude regarding such cases.
[First Presidency, Letter to John V. Bluth, 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]
In Elder Callis' reply, which we fully endorse, he suggested that Brother Wallis excuse himself from giving these people blessing, but that under no circumstances should he intimate to them or any one else that the woman has colored blood. The consequences of s doing might be very serious, and it is almost an impossibility to prove a thing of this kind.
No doubt Brother Wallis has shown you Elder Callis' letter or informed you of its contents, but in case he has not done so we are desirous that you too should be informed of our attitude regarding such cases.
[First Presidency, Letter to John V. Bluth, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
90 years ago today - Nov 28, 1934
Your letter of November 21 was received by us a day or two ago.
Patriarchs should not give blessings to people other than those residing within the Stake where they have been properly sustained, unless special authorization be obtained from the Presidency of the Church.
[First Presidency, Letter to Don B. Colton, 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]
Patriarchs should not give blessings to people other than those residing within the Stake where they have been properly sustained, unless special authorization be obtained from the Presidency of the Church.
[First Presidency, Letter to Don B. Colton, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
90 years ago today - Nov 28, 1934
[First Presidency to LeGrand Richards]
In order to safeguard the patriarchs throughout the Church from imposition on the part of unworthy people it has been decided that in the future people desiring patriarchal blessings whether from patriarchs in the Stake or the Patriarch of the Church, should secure from their local authorities and present to the patriarch a certificate of recommendation vouching for their worthiness as members of the Church.
[First Presidency, Letter to LeGrand Richards, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
In order to safeguard the patriarchs throughout the Church from imposition on the part of unworthy people it has been decided that in the future people desiring patriarchal blessings whether from patriarchs in the Stake or the Patriarch of the Church, should secure from their local authorities and present to the patriarch a certificate of recommendation vouching for their worthiness as members of the Church.
[First Presidency, Letter to LeGrand Richards, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
110 years ago today - Nov 28, 1914; Saturday
[Apostle Anthony Ivins]
Rigby Idaho. Levi E. Young & I at Rigby Stake Conference. Stake Presidency present. At the morning services there were 120 present [plus] 5-5-9-8-3=185. Bro. [William] Selck said that there had been but one conference since the stake was organized when some of the general authorities of the Church have not been present. Elder Clark returned from California mission. Good remarks. Elder Selck returned from Texas where he had been on mission. Was sent home because he married a girl while in the field. Good remarks. Chas. McClellan. Juarez Stake. I, 15 minutes. 2 P.M. Bishop. 332 present. Prests. S. S., H. C. Bps. Song. Bro Young.
[Anderson, Elizabeth Oberdick, editor, Cowboy Apostle: The Diaries of Anthony W. Ivins: 1875-1932, Signature Books, Salt Lake City in association with the Smith-Pettit Foundation (2013) - http://bit.ly/AnthonyIvins]
Rigby Idaho. Levi E. Young & I at Rigby Stake Conference. Stake Presidency present. At the morning services there were 120 present [plus] 5-5-9-8-3=185. Bro. [William] Selck said that there had been but one conference since the stake was organized when some of the general authorities of the Church have not been present. Elder Clark returned from California mission. Good remarks. Elder Selck returned from Texas where he had been on mission. Was sent home because he married a girl while in the field. Good remarks. Chas. McClellan. Juarez Stake. I, 15 minutes. 2 P.M. Bishop. 332 present. Prests. S. S., H. C. Bps. Song. Bro Young.
[Anderson, Elizabeth Oberdick, editor, Cowboy Apostle: The Diaries of Anthony W. Ivins: 1875-1932, Signature Books, Salt Lake City in association with the Smith-Pettit Foundation (2013) - http://bit.ly/AnthonyIvins]
155 years ago today - Nov 28, 1869
President Brigham Young organizes the Young Ladies' Department of the Cooperative Retrenchment Association, which paves the way for the later creation of the Young Women's Mutual Improvement Association in the 1870s.
155 years ago today - Nov 28, 1869
Brigham Young organizes the Young Ladies' Retrenchment Association among his daughters at the Lion House. Aside from the Relief Society, this is the only other church auxiliary organized by the church president at its outset. Renamed the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association, its first president is Elmina Shepherd Taylor in 1880. Renamed the Young Women's MIA, it is now known simply as Young Women.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
165 years ago today - Nov 28, 1859
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff]
I then Called upon President B Young. He asked me what news I had from the spirit world. I told him I had none.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I then Called upon President B Young. He asked me what news I had from the spirit world. I told him I had none.
[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 - Nov 28, 1834
E. D. Howe's Mormonism Unvailed is released.
[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]
90 years ago today - Nov 27, 1934
[Heber J. Grant]
The Authorities of the Church have always advised the people against card games, that is, cards of the kind that are used by gamblers and others, with ace, king, jack, queen, etc. Your relief society president is undoubtedly mistaken when she says that branches of the Church have given card parties for the purpose of raising funds, provided she refers to cards of this kind. Certainly such parties have not been held with our knowledge or consent. We do not disfellowship people who indulge in such games for having done so, but we feel that it is a waste of valuable time which might be used to better advantage, and often it leads to quarreling, heating, etc.
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Leolin N. Dickey, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
The Authorities of the Church have always advised the people against card games, that is, cards of the kind that are used by gamblers and others, with ace, king, jack, queen, etc. Your relief society president is undoubtedly mistaken when she says that branches of the Church have given card parties for the purpose of raising funds, provided she refers to cards of this kind. Certainly such parties have not been held with our knowledge or consent. We do not disfellowship people who indulge in such games for having done so, but we feel that it is a waste of valuable time which might be used to better advantage, and often it leads to quarreling, heating, etc.
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Leolin N. Dickey, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
90 years ago today - Nov 27, 1934
During a gun battle between FBI agents and gangster George "Baby Face" Nelson, Inspector Samuel P. Cowley, the first LDS agent in the FBI and the head of the antigangster unit, is mortally wounded. Cowley continues firing his weapon as he falls to the ground and kills Nelson. Cowley died the following day.
90 years ago today - Nov 27, 1934
The gangster George ("Baby Face") Nelson kills Samuel P. Cowley, a special agent with the recently formed Federal Bureau of Investigation. Cowley, the first Mormon FBI agent, is the son of the former apostle, Matthias F. Cowley. Samuel Cowley helps track down gangster John Dillinger during the summer, and is briefly (wrongly) credited with killing Dillinger. Another Mormon FBI agent, J. Robert Porter, is killed in 1979.
[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 )]]
125 years ago today - Nov 27, 1899
[Post-Manifesto plural marriage]
William Coon, born in Green County, Illinois, December 4, 1840
Elizabeth Braithwaite, born at Yorkshire, England, June 15, 1858
Married at Colonia Juarez, November 27, 1899
[Stanley Ivins typewritten copy of Anthony Ivins "Record Book of Marriages" [Plural] performed in Mexican colonies, Anderson, Elizabeth Oberdick, editor, Cowboy Apostle: The Diaries of Anthony W. Ivins: 1875-1932, Signature Books, Salt Lake City in association with the Smith-Pettit Foundation (2013), Appendix A]
William Coon, born in Green County, Illinois, December 4, 1840
Elizabeth Braithwaite, born at Yorkshire, England, June 15, 1858
Married at Colonia Juarez, November 27, 1899
[Stanley Ivins typewritten copy of Anthony Ivins "Record Book of Marriages" [Plural] performed in Mexican colonies, Anderson, Elizabeth Oberdick, editor, Cowboy Apostle: The Diaries of Anthony W. Ivins: 1875-1932, Signature Books, Salt Lake City in association with the Smith-Pettit Foundation (2013), Appendix A]
125 years ago today - Nov 27, 1899
"One of his followers had a nice black, fat, pet sheep. He told them it was revealed to him that they should dig a trench around a certain spot'[and] cut the artery in the sheep's neck, walk him around the trench and form a circle of blood" to keep the evil spirit out of the circle "then commence digging; but if any one spoke a word the treasure would surely vanish."
[Sara Melissa Ingersoll, "Mormonism Unveiled," copy in letter to Hellen Miller Gould, 27 November 1899, as quoted in A Topical Guide of Treasure-Seeking Rituals From the American Northeast during the 18th and 19th Centuries, Compiled by Joseph T. Antley (2010)]
[Sara Melissa Ingersoll, "Mormonism Unveiled," copy in letter to Hellen Miller Gould, 27 November 1899, as quoted in A Topical Guide of Treasure-Seeking Rituals From the American Northeast during the 18th and 19th Centuries, Compiled by Joseph T. Antley (2010)]
135 years ago today - Nov. 27th, 1889
[Apostle Abraham H. Cannon]
(At Fillmore) Two young unmarried people have committed fornication. "Bro. Kelly (1st Counselor in stake pres.) was told that on asking forgiveness they should be permitted to receive re baptism and not be cut off; but where persons thus sin who have received their endowments, they must be excommunicated."
[Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
(At Fillmore) Two young unmarried people have committed fornication. "Bro. Kelly (1st Counselor in stake pres.) was told that on asking forgiveness they should be permitted to receive re baptism and not be cut off; but where persons thus sin who have received their endowments, they must be excommunicated."
[Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
185 years ago today - Nov 27, 1839
En route to Washington, D.C. Just before arriving in Washington, D.C. the horses on the stagecoach ran off at full speed while the coachman was getting a drink. Joseph Smith climbed outside the door of the coach and regained control of the horses after a two to three mile run, saving the passengers from injury.
[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]
35 years ago today - Nov 25, 1989
A major change in policy for financing local Church units in the United States and Canada was announced by the First Presidency. Ward members would no longer have stake and ward budget assessments.
[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]
50 years ago today - Nov 25, 1974
In 1974 there was a reversal of the policy against allowing BYU's Daily Universe to give any mention of the Birch Society. On 25 November the Universe published a favorable article about the Birch Society. The Smith-Lee administrations had continued the policy established by McKay in 1964 against "allowing" articles in the BYU newspaper about the Birch Society. In 1974 the student newspaper's content was still monitored by BYU's administration, but ultra-conservative partisanship no longer met the kind of First Presidency opposition that existed from [Hugh B.] Brown's appointment as counselor in 1961 to [Harold B.] Lee's death in 1973.
[David O. McKay to Earl C. Crockett, 4 June 1964, and Crockett memorandum, 11 Dec. 1965, Wilkinson Papers; LaVarr G. Webb, "In John Birch Society[,] Fanatics Are Hard to Find," Brigham Young University Daily Universe "Monday Magazine,"25 Nov. 1974,4-6,10; Bergera and Priddis, Brigham Young University, 196,262-63. 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.]
[David O. McKay to Earl C. Crockett, 4 June 1964, and Crockett memorandum, 11 Dec. 1965, Wilkinson Papers; LaVarr G. Webb, "In John Birch Society[,] Fanatics Are Hard to Find," Brigham Young University Daily Universe "Monday Magazine,"25 Nov. 1974,4-6,10; Bergera and Priddis, Brigham Young University, 196,262-63. 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.]
50 years ago today - Nov 25, 1974
On November 25, 1974 the Universe published a favorable article about the Birch Society.
[Quinn, D. Michael; Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought]
[Quinn, D. Michael; Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought]
135 years ago today - Nov 25, 1889
[Wilford Woodruff Presidency]
.... Every young man in the Church should refrain from the use of hot drinks, as well as tobacco and liquor, and from the use of meat except in the way that the Lord has directed. But you can see what the result would be if we were to enforce a rigid rule of this character. we should be reluctant to give recommends to young men who would refuse to abstain from the use of tobacco. There might be some cases, however where to[o] strict an application of this might not be wisdom. ...
[Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon, and Joseph F. Smith to O. G. Larsen and counselors, Nov. 25, 1889 as quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
.... Every young man in the Church should refrain from the use of hot drinks, as well as tobacco and liquor, and from the use of meat except in the way that the Lord has directed. But you can see what the result would be if we were to enforce a rigid rule of this character. we should be reluctant to give recommends to young men who would refuse to abstain from the use of tobacco. There might be some cases, however where to[o] strict an application of this might not be wisdom. ...
[Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon, and Joseph F. Smith to O. G. Larsen and counselors, Nov. 25, 1889 as quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
135 years ago today - Nov 25, 1889
[Revelation]
When I [George Q. Cannon] reached the Gardo House this morning President [Wilford] Woodruff showed me a revelation that he had received upon the question of which we were speaking yesterday. He said that he had prayed about it and the Lord had given him his word. I copy it herein: Sunday night, November 24, 1889 Thus saith the Lord to my servant Wilford, I, the Lord, have heard thyprayers and thyrequest and will answer thee by the voice of my spirit. Thus saith the Lord unto my servants the Presidency of my Church, who hold the keys of the kingdom of God upon the earth. I, the Lord, hold the destiny of the courts in your midst, and the destiny of this nation and all the nations of the earth, in mine own hands. And all that I have revealed and promised and decreed concerning the generation in which you live shall come to pass, and no power shall stay my hand. Let not my servants who are called to the presidency of my Church deny mu word or my law which concerns the salvation of the
children of men Let them pray for the Holy Spirit, which shall be given them to guide them in their acts. Place not yourselves in jeopardy to your enemies by promise. Your enemies seek you destruction and the destruction of my people. If the saints will hearken unto my voice and the counsel of my servants, the wicked shall not prevail. Let my servants who officiate as your counselors before the courts, make their pleading as they are moved upon by the Holy Spirit, without any further pledges from the priesthood, and they shall be justified. I, the Lord, will hold the courts, with the officers of the government, and the nation, responsible for their acts towards the inhabitants of Zion. I, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, am in your midst. I am your advocate with the Father. Fear not, little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Fear not the wicked and ungodly Search the scriptures, for they are they that testify of me, and the revelations which I
have given to my servant Joseph, and to all my servants since the world began, which are revealed in the records of divine truth. These revelations contain the judgments of God which are to be poured out upon all nations under heaven, which includes Great Babylon. These judgments are at the door. They will be fulfilled, as God lives. Leave judgment with me; it is mine, saith the Lord. Watch the signs of the times, they will show the fulfilment of the word of the Lord. Let me servants call upon the Lord in mighty prayer. Obtain the Holy Ghost as thy constant companion, and act as you are moved upon by that spirit and all will be well with you. The wicked are fast ripening in iniquity, and they will be cut off by the judgments of God. Great events await you in this generation, and are nigh at your door. Awake, O Israel, and have faith in God and His promises, and he will not forsake you. But I, the Lord, will deliver my saints from the dominion of the wicked in mine own due time and
way. I cannot deny my word, neither in blessing nor judgment. Therefore, let mine anointed gird up their loins, watch and be sober, and keep my commandments. Pray always and faint not. Exercise faith in the Lord and in the promises of God. Be valiant in the testimony of Jesus Christ. The eyes of the Lord and the heavenly hosts are watching 522 over you and over your acts. Therefore be faithful until I come. I come quickly, to reward every man according to the deeds done in the body. Even so, Amen.
[George Q. Cannon 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]
When I [George Q. Cannon] reached the Gardo House this morning President [Wilford] Woodruff showed me a revelation that he had received upon the question of which we were speaking yesterday. He said that he had prayed about it and the Lord had given him his word. I copy it herein: Sunday night, November 24, 1889 Thus saith the Lord to my servant Wilford, I, the Lord, have heard thyprayers and thyrequest and will answer thee by the voice of my spirit. Thus saith the Lord unto my servants the Presidency of my Church, who hold the keys of the kingdom of God upon the earth. I, the Lord, hold the destiny of the courts in your midst, and the destiny of this nation and all the nations of the earth, in mine own hands. And all that I have revealed and promised and decreed concerning the generation in which you live shall come to pass, and no power shall stay my hand. Let not my servants who are called to the presidency of my Church deny mu word or my law which concerns the salvation of the
children of men Let them pray for the Holy Spirit, which shall be given them to guide them in their acts. Place not yourselves in jeopardy to your enemies by promise. Your enemies seek you destruction and the destruction of my people. If the saints will hearken unto my voice and the counsel of my servants, the wicked shall not prevail. Let my servants who officiate as your counselors before the courts, make their pleading as they are moved upon by the Holy Spirit, without any further pledges from the priesthood, and they shall be justified. I, the Lord, will hold the courts, with the officers of the government, and the nation, responsible for their acts towards the inhabitants of Zion. I, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, am in your midst. I am your advocate with the Father. Fear not, little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Fear not the wicked and ungodly Search the scriptures, for they are they that testify of me, and the revelations which I
have given to my servant Joseph, and to all my servants since the world began, which are revealed in the records of divine truth. These revelations contain the judgments of God which are to be poured out upon all nations under heaven, which includes Great Babylon. These judgments are at the door. They will be fulfilled, as God lives. Leave judgment with me; it is mine, saith the Lord. Watch the signs of the times, they will show the fulfilment of the word of the Lord. Let me servants call upon the Lord in mighty prayer. Obtain the Holy Ghost as thy constant companion, and act as you are moved upon by that spirit and all will be well with you. The wicked are fast ripening in iniquity, and they will be cut off by the judgments of God. Great events await you in this generation, and are nigh at your door. Awake, O Israel, and have faith in God and His promises, and he will not forsake you. But I, the Lord, will deliver my saints from the dominion of the wicked in mine own due time and
way. I cannot deny my word, neither in blessing nor judgment. Therefore, let mine anointed gird up their loins, watch and be sober, and keep my commandments. Pray always and faint not. Exercise faith in the Lord and in the promises of God. Be valiant in the testimony of Jesus Christ. The eyes of the Lord and the heavenly hosts are watching 522 over you and over your acts. Therefore be faithful until I come. I come quickly, to reward every man according to the deeds done in the body. Even so, Amen.
[George Q. Cannon 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]
165 years ago today - Nov 25, 1859
Pres. Young said I would like an article written referring to Haun's Mill Massacre, noticing instances when Indians had massacred the whites. Pres. said it will be in the States and then other countries, that if a man lived a truthful, honest, virtuous life, he will be accused of being a Mormon, and he will have to leave their society if he will not enter into their wickedness. -- Salt Lake City
[Brigham Young Office Journals, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.; Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.; New Mormon Studies CD-ROM as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
[Brigham Young Office Journals, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.; Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.; New Mormon Studies CD-ROM as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
190 years ago today - Nov 25, 1834
Section 106, Place: Kirtland, Geauga County, Ohio.
Historical Note: During the month of November 1834, Joseph Smith was occupied in making preparations for the School of the Elders. "No month," he said, "ever found me more busily engaged than November; but as my life consisted of activity and unyielding exertions, I made this my rule: When the Lord commands, do it.".
Section 106 directed Warren A. Cowdery to preside over the branch of the Church in Freedom, Cattaraugus County, New York.
Publication Note. Section 106 was first published as section 99 in the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants.
[Cook, Lyndon, Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith]
Historical Note: During the month of November 1834, Joseph Smith was occupied in making preparations for the School of the Elders. "No month," he said, "ever found me more busily engaged than November; but as my life consisted of activity and unyielding exertions, I made this my rule: When the Lord commands, do it.".
Section 106 directed Warren A. Cowdery to preside over the branch of the Church in Freedom, Cattaraugus County, New York.
Publication Note. Section 106 was first published as section 99 in the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants.
[Cook, Lyndon, Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith]
125 years ago today - Thursday, Nov 23, 1899
[Apostle Rudger Clawson]
.... The following is a copy of a letter addressed to S. A. Hunsaker, in answer to one he wrote to me:
Salt Lake City,
Nov. 23rd, 1899
Simeon A. Hunsaker,
Payson, Utah.
Dear Brother:
In answer to your letter of the 1st inst., would say that the reply you received from Pres. Woodruff, as quoted by yourself, would not in any sense justify you in taking another wife. You certainly did wrong in this matter. Why did you not seek counsel from the president of the stake ....
[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 following is a copy of a letter addressed to S. A. Hunsaker, in answer to one he wrote to me:
Salt Lake City,
Nov. 23rd, 1899
Simeon A. Hunsaker,
Payson, Utah.
Dear Brother:
In answer to your letter of the 1st inst., would say that the reply you received from Pres. Woodruff, as quoted by yourself, would not in any sense justify you in taking another wife. You certainly did wrong in this matter. Why did you not seek counsel from the president of the stake ....
[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]
135 years ago today - Nov 23, 1889
[L. John Nuttall]
The Church attorneys and John W. Young met at the office with Prests. Cannon and Smith to consider the property [sic] of putting further testimony in Court more fully explaining the instructions to pray for the avenging the blood of the prophets in the Endowments, also in regard to Anointing the arm.
[L. John Nuttall diary, as quoted in Sources on the Oath of Vengeance or Law of Retribution, Christopher C. Smith, privately circulated]
The Church attorneys and John W. Young met at the office with Prests. Cannon and Smith to consider the property [sic] of putting further testimony in Court more fully explaining the instructions to pray for the avenging the blood of the prophets in the Endowments, also in regard to Anointing the arm.
[L. John Nuttall diary, as quoted in Sources on the Oath of Vengeance or Law of Retribution, Christopher C. Smith, privately circulated]
135 years ago today - Nov 23, 1889
[George Q. Cannon]
Brother Joseph F. Smith and myself were there. We had interviews with the attorneys concerning the case and gave such counsel as was necessary. A list of names of suitable persons to testify was selected, and the points which it was thought they could substantiate were assigned them, and the brethren were instructed to notify them and get them together, so that theymight understand. Brother John W. Young and some of the attorneys were quite anxious to have the testimony given concerning some features of the endowment. It was proposed to have Brother John W. Young go on the stand and testify. Another point was, whether he could not tell that plural marriage was entirelydiscontinued in the territory, and that it had been decided that none should take place. We were pressed for our views upon this subject and I gave mine freely and said that I could not answer this question for President Woodruff. He was the man and would have to answer it. ...
[George Q. Cannon 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]
Brother Joseph F. Smith and myself were there. We had interviews with the attorneys concerning the case and gave such counsel as was necessary. A list of names of suitable persons to testify was selected, and the points which it was thought they could substantiate were assigned them, and the brethren were instructed to notify them and get them together, so that theymight understand. Brother John W. Young and some of the attorneys were quite anxious to have the testimony given concerning some features of the endowment. It was proposed to have Brother John W. Young go on the stand and testify. Another point was, whether he could not tell that plural marriage was entirelydiscontinued in the territory, and that it had been decided that none should take place. We were pressed for our views upon this subject and I gave mine freely and said that I could not answer this question for President Woodruff. He was the man and would have to answer it. ...
[George Q. Cannon Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
135 years ago today - Nov 23, 1889
[Apostle Heber J. Grant]
This evening I had a chat with Bro. Thatcher and I learned that his ideas as to the resurrection of the Prophet Joseph and his leading the people back to redeem the Center Stake of Zion were not as I had supposed they were. I was glad to have the chat as I had been misjudging him.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
This evening I had a chat with Bro. Thatcher and I learned that his ideas as to the resurrection of the Prophet Joseph and his leading the people back to redeem the Center Stake of Zion were not as I had supposed they were. I was glad to have the chat as I had been misjudging him.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
135 years ago today - Nov 23, 1889
[Apostle Brigham Young Jr.]
Much business done by Presidency. Lawyers are seeking instruction to guide them before the Courts. Judge Anderson is determined to disfranchise the church.
[Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Much business done by Presidency. Lawyers are seeking instruction to guide them before the Courts. Judge Anderson is determined to disfranchise the church.
[Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
175 years ago today - Nov 23, 1849
Parley P. Pratt and fifty other men leave the Salt Lake Valley to explore southern Utah. By the first of the year, they reach the site of St. George and collect a wealth of information about central and southern Utah's settlement potential.
90 years ago today - Nov 22, 1934
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Mrs. John F. Reaney]
Some years ago I suffered with insomnia, but now when I wake up at three or four o'clock in the morning I sit up and talk to my dictaphone for an hour or two and then manage as a Rule to get a good nap afterwards, and almost every day I take a nap of a full hour at my office. It is my seventy- seventh birthday today, and I am in better health, both in vigor of min and body
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Mrs. John F. Reaney, 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]
Some years ago I suffered with insomnia, but now when I wake up at three or four o'clock in the morning I sit up and talk to my dictaphone for an hour or two and then manage as a Rule to get a good nap afterwards, and almost every day I take a nap of a full hour at my office. It is my seventy- seventh birthday today, and I am in better health, both in vigor of min and body
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Mrs. John F. Reaney, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
110 years ago today - Nov 22, 1914; Sunday
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
Between the morning and the afternoon meetings President Joseph F. Smith, accompanied by his wife and daughter Bishop Nibley and wife and Elders George Albert and Joseph F[ielding]. Smith Jr., called on Joseph Smith [III], president of the Reorganized Church. They found him feeble, tho apparently in his usual health. He has been nearly blind for some time and also deaf. He received us kindly as did also his wife, who appears to be a very excellent woman, and his son Israel who informed the visitors that he held no official position in the Reorganized church. There are three boys belonging to the present wife who appear to be of some promise, if they can kept from the bitterness of Reorganiteism and brought to see the truth. The visit was but brief and apparently effected Joseph Smith whose feelings have softened considerably in latter years. Formerly he manifested a very bitter spirit towards his cousin President Joseph F. Smith of whom he had said and written many unfavorable
things.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
Between the morning and the afternoon meetings President Joseph F. Smith, accompanied by his wife and daughter Bishop Nibley and wife and Elders George Albert and Joseph F[ielding]. Smith Jr., called on Joseph Smith [III], president of the Reorganized Church. They found him feeble, tho apparently in his usual health. He has been nearly blind for some time and also deaf. He received us kindly as did also his wife, who appears to be a very excellent woman, and his son Israel who informed the visitors that he held no official position in the Reorganized church. There are three boys belonging to the present wife who appear to be of some promise, if they can kept from the bitterness of Reorganiteism and brought to see the truth. The visit was but brief and apparently effected Joseph Smith whose feelings have softened considerably in latter years. Formerly he manifested a very bitter spirit towards his cousin President Joseph F. Smith of whom he had said and written many unfavorable
things.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
125 years ago today - Nov 22, 1899; Wednesday
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
Attorney F[ranklin]. S. Richards called. He had just come from court, where he had appeared in the case of Elder Joseph E. Taylor, charged with unlawful cohabitation. The defendant had been asked as to his future intentions, that is whether or not he proposed to obey the law. Brother Richards, holding this to be a new phase of the case, had asked that it be not pressed, but the prosecuting attorney had insisted on an answer to the question. The court then informed Brother Richards that he should deal with this class of cases as with all others, and that this question would therefore be asked of the defendants.
Now arose the consideration, what course ought to be taken by the brethren who might be made to answer to this charge. In view of the evident determination of our enemies to work up public opinion against us for the purpose of securing a constitutional amendment forbidding polygamy, it was thought advisable for the brethren who may hereafter be placed in the position of defendants, to promise to obey the law.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
Attorney F[ranklin]. S. Richards called. He had just come from court, where he had appeared in the case of Elder Joseph E. Taylor, charged with unlawful cohabitation. The defendant had been asked as to his future intentions, that is whether or not he proposed to obey the law. Brother Richards, holding this to be a new phase of the case, had asked that it be not pressed, but the prosecuting attorney had insisted on an answer to the question. The court then informed Brother Richards that he should deal with this class of cases as with all others, and that this question would therefore be asked of the defendants.
Now arose the consideration, what course ought to be taken by the brethren who might be made to answer to this charge. In view of the evident determination of our enemies to work up public opinion against us for the purpose of securing a constitutional amendment forbidding polygamy, it was thought advisable for the brethren who may hereafter be placed in the position of defendants, to promise to obey the law.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
135 years ago today - Nov 22, 1889
Henry Lawrence, who had administered sacraments in the Endowment House from 1865 to 1869 before joining the Godbeite protest movement testified that the "substance" of the oath of vengence was: "You each and all agree to avenge the blood of the prophets, Joseph and Hyrum, who have sealed their testimony with their blood, this you will teach this to your children and your children's children to the third and fourth generations."
[Salt Lake Tribune, 22 November 1889 as quoted in Aird, Nichols, Bagley, "Voices of Dissent in the Mormon West"]
[Salt Lake Tribune, 22 November 1889 as quoted in Aird, Nichols, Bagley, "Voices of Dissent in the Mormon West"]
145 years ago today - Nov 22, 1879
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff]
I went to bed slept untill 12 oclok and I awoke and my Monitor guide or spirit of the Lord Call it by what name you will said to me arise, tarry not, go to Sunset Council A M Tenney to Close the bargin buy St John and send the missionaries to take possession of the Colorado Meadows for much depends upon your action in this matter.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I went to bed slept untill 12 oclok and I awoke and my Monitor guide or spirit of the Lord Call it by what name you will said to me arise, tarry not, go to Sunset Council A M Tenney to Close the bargin buy St John and send the missionaries to take possession of the Colorado Meadows for much depends upon your action in this matter.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
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