Today in Mormon History - Dec 31

Church Membership at end of year: 680

New Converts : 400

Percent Change from previous year: 142.86% (1)
-- 180 years ago today - 1831

[Hinckley] Spoke to the youth in a New Years Eve meeting in the Conference Center (2)
-- 5 years ago today - Dec 31, 2006

Administration of Second Anointings to December 31, 1941

Temple Living Dead Total

Nauvoo and other sites (1843-46) 591 0 5911

Endowment House (ded. 1866) 694 0 694

St. George (ded. 1877) 1,814 1,615 3,429

Logan (ded. 1884) 3,040 1,243 4,283

Manti (ded. 1888) 2,412 1,134 3,546

Salt Lake City (ded. 1893) 6,368 2,211 8,579

Laie (ded. 1920) 0 0 0

Alberta (ded. 1923) 13 14

Mesa (ded. 1927) 0 0 0 2

TOTAL 14,932 6,204 21,1262

[from "Temple Ordinance Statistics," Books A, B, C ] (3)
-- 70 years ago today - Dec 31, 1941

1 - Wikipedia, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Membership History, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints_membership_history
2 - LDS Newsroom, Time line of Significant Events as President, http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/time-line-of-significant-events-as-president
3 - Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship

70 years ago today - Dec 31, 1941

Administration of Second Anointings to December 31, 1941

Temple Living Dead Total

Nauvoo and other sites (1843-46) 591 0 5911

Endowment House (ded. 1866) 694 0 694

St. George (ded. 1877) 1,814 1,615 3,429

Logan (ded. 1884) 3,040 1,243 4,283

Manti (ded. 1888) 2,412 1,134 3,546

Salt Lake City (ded. 1893) 6,368 2,211 8,579

Laie (ded. 1920) 0 0 0

Alberta (ded. 1923) 13 14

Mesa (ded. 1927) 0 0 0 2

TOTAL 14,932 6,204 21,1262

[from "Temple Ordinance Statistics," Books A, B, C ]

[Source: Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

5 years ago today - Dec 31, 2006

[Hinckley] Spoke to the youth in a New Years Eve meeting in the Conference Center

[Source: LDS Newsroom, Time line of Significant Events as President, http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/time-line-of-significant-events-as-president]

180 years ago today - 1831

Church Membership at end of year: 680

New Converts : 400

Percent Change from previous year: 142.86%

[Source: Wikipedia, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Membership History, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints_membership_history]

Today in Mormon History - Dec 30

Joseph prophesies in the name of the Lord "that the first thing toward building up Warsaw was to break it down." (History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (7 volumes) 4:486-87.) George Miller, having been granted an official dispensation by Grandmaster Jonas, on Oct. 15, to meet with other Masons in Nauvoo, holds the first Masonic gathering in Nauvoo on Dec. 29, at the office of Hyrum Smith. Temporary officers are elected and by-laws are drafted. On Dec. 30 the second meeting of the Nauvoo Lodge is held. By-laws are approved and a petition with a list of names applying for new membership is submitted. Included among the applicants are Joseph Smith, Willard Richards, Brigham Young, Sidney Rigdon, Wilford Woodruff, John Taylor, and many other prominent Church leaders. No new members are actually admitted until the next formal installation on March 15, 1842. ___ (1)
-- 170 years ago today - Dec 30, 1841

The Washington Post and Newsweek have launched a new religion blog entitled "On Faith." Fifty panelists representing different faiths are invited to respond to a question each week on a religious topic. Members of the public are then free to respond to the question or to any of the comments either under their own name or using a pseudonym. (2)
-- 5 years ago today - Dec 30, 2006

[Lucy Mack Smith] Ezra Booth (Methodist minister), John Johnson and Mary Musselman Johnson and family, visit Joseph. Joseph heals Mary's lame arm. (3)
-- 180 years ago today - Winter/Spring 1831

1 - Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology
2 - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, United Kingdom, "On This Day," https://www.lds.org.uk/show_oda.php
3 - 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

180 years ago today - Winter/Spring 1831

[Lucy Mack Smith] Ezra Booth (Methodist minister), John Johnson and Mary Musselman Johnson and family, visit Joseph. Joseph heals Mary's lame arm.

[Source: 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]

5 years ago today - Dec 30, 2006

[General] The Washington Post and Newsweek have launched a new religion blog entitled "On Faith." Fifty panelists representing different faiths are invited to respond to a question each week on a religious topic. Members of the public are then free to respond to the question or to any of the comments either under their own name or using a pseudonym.

[Source: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, United Kingdom, "On This Day," https://www.lds.org.uk/show_oda.php]

170 years ago today - Dec 30, 1841

Joseph prophesies in the name of the Lord "that the first thing toward building up Warsaw was to break it down." (History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (7 volumes) 4:486-87.) George Miller, having been granted an official dispensation by Grandmaster Jonas, on Oct. 15, to meet with other Masons in Nauvoo, holds the first Masonic gathering in Nauvoo on Dec. 29, at the office of Hyrum Smith. Temporary officers are elected and by-laws are drafted. On Dec. 30 the second meeting of the Nauvoo Lodge is held. By-laws are approved and a petition with a list of names applying for new membership is submitted. Included among the applicants are Joseph Smith, Willard Richards, Brigham Young, Sidney Rigdon, Wilford Woodruff, John Taylor, and many other prominent Church leaders. No new members are actually admitted until the next formal installation on March 15, 1842. ___

[Source: Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

Today in Mormon History - Dec 29

Ezra Booth, a Methodist minister; John Johnson, and Johnson's wife and family visit Joseph Smith out of curiosity. Joseph heals Mrs. Johnson's lame arm miraculously. They are all converted. (1)
-- 180 years ago today - Winter or Spring 1831

Erastus Snow: Returned 29 December 1836, having baptized fifty persons. (2)
-- 175 years ago today - Dec 29, 1836

[Masonry] Eighteen (2 X 09) Mormon Masons met in the office of Hyrum Smith to organize the Nauvoo Lodge. George D. Miller was elected Grand Master; John D. Parker, Grand Warden; and Lucius Scovill, Junior Warden. The following day Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon petitioned for membership in the Lodge. (3)
-- 170 years ago today - Dec 29, 1841

1 - Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology
2 - Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith
3 - Homer, Michael, 'Similarity of Priesthood in Masonry':The Relationship Between Freemasonry and Mormonism, Dialogue, Vol. 27, No. 3

170 years ago today - Dec 29, 1841

[Masonry] Eighteen (2 X 09) Mormon Masons met in the office of Hyrum Smith to organize the Nauvoo Lodge. George D. Miller was elected Grand Master; John D. Parker, Grand Warden; and Lucius Scovill, Junior Warden. The following day Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon petitioned for membership in the Lodge.

[Source: Homer, Michael, 'Similarity of Priesthood in Masonry':The Relationship Between Freemasonry and Mormonism, Dialogue, Vol. 27, No. 3]

175 years ago today - Dec 29, 1836

Erastus Snow: Returned 29 December 1836, having baptized fifty persons.

[Source: Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith]

180 years ago today - Winter or Spring 1831

Ezra Booth, a Methodist minister; John Johnson, and Johnson's wife and family visit Joseph Smith out of curiosity. Joseph heals Mrs. Johnson's lame arm miraculously. They are all converted.

[Source: Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

Today in Mormon History - Dec 28

[President Wilford Woodruff Journal] 28 I went to the Office to day. I wrote to Sarah. (1)
-- 120 years ago today - Dec 28, 1891

[Joseph Smith] Joseph baptizes Sidney Rigdon for his dead parents. (2)
-- 170 years ago today - Dec 28, 1841

The following is an account of the regular meeting of the First Presidency and the Council of Twelve Apostles held this morning at the temple at 10 o'clock:

There were present: Pres[iden]ts. Joseph F. Smith, Charles W. Penrose and Francis M. Lyman, Elders Hyrum M. Smith, George Albert Smith, George F. Richards, Orson F. Whitney, David O. McKay, Anthony W. Ivins, Joseph F[ielding]. Smith Jr. and James E. Talmage. ...

Defects in certain of our hymns was informally talked about, and Bro[ther]s. Penrose and Joseph F[ielding]. Smith Jr. had been asked to give attention to them, also to supply corrections.

Pres[iden]t. Penrose now referred to this matter, and suggested that a committee be appointed to do this work, and suggested that Brother Whitney be added.

President Smith now appointed Bro[ther]s. Charles W. Penrose, Orson F. Whitney and Joseph F[ielding]. Smith Jr. as that committee, remarking that he hoped the revision would consist of as few changes as possible. ... (3)
-- 100 years ago today - Dec 28, 1911; Thursday

1 - Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
2 - Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology
3 - First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes

100 years ago today - Dec 28, 1911; Thursday

[General] The following is an account of the regular meeting of the First Presidency and the Council of Twelve Apostles held this morning at the temple at 10 o'clock:

There were present: Pres[iden]ts. Joseph F. Smith, Charles W. Penrose and Francis M. Lyman, Elders Hyrum M. Smith, George Albert Smith, George F. Richards, Orson F. Whitney, David O. McKay, Anthony W. Ivins, Joseph F[ielding]. Smith Jr. and James E. Talmage. ...

Defects in certain of our hymns was informally talked about, and Bro[ther]s. Penrose and Joseph F[ielding]. Smith Jr. had been asked to give attention to them, also to supply corrections.

Pres[iden]t. Penrose now referred to this matter, and suggested that a committee be appointed to do this work, and suggested that Brother Whitney be added.

President Smith now appointed Bro[ther]s. Charles W. Penrose, Orson F. Whitney and Joseph F[ielding]. Smith Jr. as that committee, remarking that he hoped the revision would consist of as few changes as possible. ...

[Source: First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]

170 years ago today - Dec 28, 1841

[Joseph Smith] Joseph baptizes Sidney Rigdon for his dead parents.

[Source: Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

120 years ago today - Dec 28, 1891

[President Wilford Woodruff Journal] 28 I went to the Office to day. I wrote to Sarah.

[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

Today in Mormon History - Dec 27

[Apostle Franklin D. Richards Diary] Today a 2d article appeared in the Herald protesting against John Henry Smith preaching the pernicious principles of Republicanism while he officiates as an Apostle &c. (1)
-- 120 years ago today - Dec 27, 1891

[Lucy Mack Smith] Samuel and William McLellin return from their mission. (2)
-- 180 years ago today - Dec 27, 1831

Joseph Smith exhibits to the Twelve what Young calls the "seer stone" but what Woodruff calls the "Urim and Thummim." Young says that at Nauvoo Smith finds two more seer stones on the banks of the Mississippi River. (3)
-- 170 years ago today - Dec 27, 1841

1 - Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
2 - 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
3 - 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

170 years ago today - Dec 27, 1841

Joseph Smith exhibits to the Twelve what Young calls the "seer stone" but what Woodruff calls the "Urim and Thummim." Young says that at Nauvoo Smith finds two more seer stones on the banks of the Mississippi River.

[Source: Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]

180 years ago today - Dec 27, 1831

[Lucy Mack Smith] Samuel and William McLellin return from their mission.

[Source: 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]

120 years ago today - Dec 27, 1891

[Apostle Franklin D. Richards Diary] Today a 2d article appeared in the Herald protesting against John Henry Smith preaching the pernicious principles of Republicanism while he officiates as an Apostle &c.

[Source: Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]