180 years ago today - Mar 13, 1836
Brigham Young writes: "I attended the solemn assembly, and with my brethren of the Twelve, received my washings and anointings, and was privileged to listen to the teachings and administrations of the Prophet of God. We also attended to the washing of feet, which ordinance was administered to me by the Prophet Joseph."
205 years ago today - Mar 13, 1811
William Smith is born at Royalton, Windsor County, Vermont, the eighth child and sixth living son of Joseph Sr. and Lucy Smith. Joseph Sr. reports the first of seven visions, five of which Lucy records.
[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]
[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]
55 years ago today - Mar 12, 1961
The first non-English-speaking stake is organized at The Hague in the Netherlands, which is also the first stake in continental Europe.
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
75 years ago today - Mar 12, 1941
President Heber J. Grant presents a copy of the Book of Mormon in braille to Helen Keller, a well-known advocate for the deaf and the blind.
90 years ago today - Mar 12, 1926
Provo's DAILY HERALD reports that in a poll of 3000 Provo residents, forty-eight percent favored either outright repeal major modification of prohibition, while fifty-two percent advocated keeping the law as it stood
130 years ago today - Mar 12, 1886
Lorenzo Snow begins serving his sentence, for polygamy, in the Utah Territorial Penitentiary. Two physicians write to the prison authorities, "in consideration of the advanced age of the bearer, Lorenzo Snow, and also of his unusually delicate condition, we the undersigned, take the liberty of stating that we fear his health would be seriously jeopardized by depriving him of his hair and beard, as he has worn the latter 16 years on this account." Snow is allowed to keep his hair and beard. He is released on February 8, 1887, having served eleven months.
135 years ago today - Mar 12, 1881
Sister Eliza R. Snow Smith and Zina had prayers at the Altar to day <[that?] against the enemies of the Church as a representative of the prophet of God>.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
165 years ago today - Mar 12, 1851
The Ship "George W. Bourne" arrives in New Orleans with a shipload of Mormon converts from England including two sisters who were excommunicated "for levity of behavior with some of the officers of the ship and continued disregard of the counsels of the President."
185 years ago today - Mar 12, 1831
Martin Harris arrives in Painesville from Palmyra and testifies in a hotel bar. "Every idea that he advanced, he knew to be absolutely true, as he said, by the spirit and power of God." Concludes "declaring, that all who believed the new bible would see Christ within fifteen years, and all who did not would absolutely be destroyed and dam'd."
[Source: Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]
[Source: Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]
185 years ago today - Mar 12, 1831
"... The first idea of a "Book," was doubtless suggested to the Smiths by one Walters, a juggling fortune-teller, who made the ignorant believe that an old book in his possession, in the Latin language, contained an account of the ante-deluvians, &c. and the word was given out that the book Smith was about to find, was a history of hidden treasures.
Smith and his father belonged to a gang of money-diggers, who had followed that business for many years, Jo pretending he could see the gold and silver by the aid of what they called a "peep stone."
The book is chiefly garbled from the Old and New Testaments, the Apocraphy having contributed its share: names and phrases have been altered, and in many instances copied upwards--A quarto Bible now in this village, was borrowed and nearly worn out and defaced by their dirty handling. Some seven or eight of them spent many months in copying, Cowdery being principal scribe....
The whole gang of these deluded mortals, except a few hypocrites, are profound believers in witchcraft, ghosts, goblins, &c. From the best information we can obtain, the work has entirely stopped in this country, and some who have been the most ardent are beginning to have misgivings on the subject. ..."
[Source: Unidentified Palmyra Residents to Editor, 12 March 1831, Painesville (Ohio) Telegraph 2 (22 March 1831): 2., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Palmyra Residents To Painesville (Oh) Telegraph]
Smith and his father belonged to a gang of money-diggers, who had followed that business for many years, Jo pretending he could see the gold and silver by the aid of what they called a "peep stone."
The book is chiefly garbled from the Old and New Testaments, the Apocraphy having contributed its share: names and phrases have been altered, and in many instances copied upwards--A quarto Bible now in this village, was borrowed and nearly worn out and defaced by their dirty handling. Some seven or eight of them spent many months in copying, Cowdery being principal scribe....
The whole gang of these deluded mortals, except a few hypocrites, are profound believers in witchcraft, ghosts, goblins, &c. From the best information we can obtain, the work has entirely stopped in this country, and some who have been the most ardent are beginning to have misgivings on the subject. ..."
[Source: Unidentified Palmyra Residents to Editor, 12 March 1831, Painesville (Ohio) Telegraph 2 (22 March 1831): 2., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Palmyra Residents To Painesville (Oh) Telegraph]
45 years ago today - Mar 11, 1971
In issuing these directives [letters dated Jan. 6, Mar. 9, 1971], we had not fully contemplated the extent of the sewing being done in some of the temples, nor of the quantity of fabrics on hand or the wide variety and differing costs of fabrics being used by the various temples. These matters posed an almost insurmountable problem for the (Beehive) Mills in immediately taking over stocks on hand and in standardizing and properly pricing clothing made from these fabrics. In light of these problems, we herewith authorize temples [to continue making garments for now and] to phase out their manufacturing on or before July 2, 1971.
[Source: Joseph Fielding Smith, Harold B. Lee, and N. Eldon Tanner to temple presidents, Mar. 11, 1971, copy in Buerger Papers, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
[Source: Joseph Fielding Smith, Harold B. Lee, and N. Eldon Tanner to temple presidents, Mar. 11, 1971, copy in Buerger Papers, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
100 years ago today - Mar 11, 1916
The rule of the temple is that a woman who marries outside of the Church cannot receive a recommend to go through the temple, because her husband would be very apt to ask her to reveal the temple ordinances and if she refused to do so it would cause contention between them. If she has married a man in the Church, and she desires to receive her endowments, we do not feel that it would be wise for her to receive her endowments before her husband, and hence bishops are told not to give recommendations to wives before their husbands go with them to the temple. If a wife received her endowments before she married[,] she showed her weakness in not keeping her covenants, but still if she afterwards proves herself a staunch Latterday Saint and tries to live as such and has not cast off her garments, we think the bishop may give her a recommend to do work in the temple. However, if she cast off her garments when she married, we do not feel that she should be entitled to receive a recommend to the House of the Lord.
[Source: Anthon H. Lund and Charles W. Penrose to Edward H. Snow, Mar. 11, 1916, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
[Source: Anthon H. Lund and Charles W. Penrose to Edward H. Snow, Mar. 11, 1916, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
120 years ago today - Mar 11, 1896
[Heber J. Grant] ... I really hope that the Lord will bless Bro. Talmage so that he will not have to do any smoking ...
[Source: The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
[Source: The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
120 years ago today - Mar 11, 1896
[James E. Talmage] They [the Brethern] had learned that my health has been jeopardized and, as they said, my sanity, and life threatened by insomnia and other evidences of nervous disorders. It is true, that overwork or rather worry over my work has affected me in the manner described, and other bodily weaknesses have developed at intervals. Pres[iden]t. George Q. Cannon, speaking in behalf of the First Presidency, told me that it had been reported to them that the moderate use of tobacco would have a good effect upon me. ... Today Pres[ident]. [Wilford] Woodruff, Pres[ident]. Geo[rge]. Q. Cannon, and Pres[ident]. Jos[eph]. F. Smith gave me combined counsel to try the effect of moderate smoking; indeed said Pres[ident]. Cannon, 'We give you this rather as an instruction than as counsel.' Apostle Heber J. Grant was present, and expressed his acquiescence. Bro[ther]. George F. Gibbs was also present. This was unusual counsel and to me very surprising. ... I have long known that tobacco produces an unusually strong effect upon me,'even the odor of tobacco smoke produces a soothing effect upon me... a good cigar produces a marvellous quietening of my over-wrought nerves. Of course the brethren, in counseling me as they did today, warned me against contracting the smoking habit to injurious degree. ...
[Source: James E. Talmage, Diary, March 12, 1896, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
[Source: James E. Talmage, Diary, March 12, 1896, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
130 years ago today - Mar 11, 1886
LDS political newspaper, the Salt Lake Herald, reports another Mormon's assault on a reporter for the anti-Mormon Salt Lake Tribune with this headline: "THRASHING A REORTER. Don Carlos Young Remodels the Phiz[sic] of C.T. Harte to Suit His Fancy." A Mormon judge fines Young $17.50 for this assault and battery.
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
145 years ago today - Mar 11, 1871
[Wilford Woodruff] 11 I met with the school of the Prophets. Presidet Young Called for Donations for Emigrating the poor. Subscribed $1,000 Himself. [$2,000 total was raised that day.]
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
150 years ago today - Mar 11, 1866
Presidet Young said as the Lamanites are Hosstile let us Exercise faith about them & learn what the will of the Lord is. At the Close of the prayers President Young said let us send out interpeters to them, make them presents & tell them they must stop fighting. It is Better to give them five thousand dollars than to have to fight them & kill them off for they are of the House of Israel.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
160 years ago today - Mar 11, 1856
A very serious conversation took place between President B. Young and Orson Pratt upon doctrine. O.P. was directly opposed to the President's views and freely expressed his entire disbelief in them after being told by the President that things were so and so in the name of the Lord. He was firm in the position that the President's word in the name of the Lord was not the word of the Lord to him. The President did not believe that Orson Pratt would ever be Adam, to learn by experience the facts discussed, but every person in the room would be if they lived faithful.
[Of this, Wilford Woodruff noted that "when any man crosses the track of a leader in Israel & tryes to lead the prophet He is no longer led by him but is in danger of falling." Brigham Young's Adam God doctrine would later be repudiated by the church.]
[Source: Journal of Samual W. Richards, p. 113, in Sermons and Writings of the Restoration. 4 Vols. Ogden Kraut, ed. Pioneer Press, 1994.R 113, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
[Of this, Wilford Woodruff noted that "when any man crosses the track of a leader in Israel & tryes to lead the prophet He is no longer led by him but is in danger of falling." Brigham Young's Adam God doctrine would later be repudiated by the church.]
[Source: Journal of Samual W. Richards, p. 113, in Sermons and Writings of the Restoration. 4 Vols. Ogden Kraut, ed. Pioneer Press, 1994.R 113, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
75 years ago today - Mar 10,1941
First Presidency orders Clayton Investment Company to get rid of its "whore-houses," no matter the financial loss, so that church affiliated company can merge with church-owned Zion's Securities Corp. Ends fifty years of church's leases to brothels.
[Source: 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]
[Source: 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]
130 years ago today - Mar 10, 1886
[Katharin Smith Salisbury] ... I am the only surviving sister of the martyrs Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and will soon be 73 years old. I can testify to the fact of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, and also to its truth...
I well remember the trials my brother had, before he obtained the records. After he had the vision, he went frequently to the hill, and upon returning would tell us, "I have seen the records, also the brass plates and the sword of Laban with the breast plate and interpreters." He would ask father why he could not get them? The time had not yet come, but when it did arrive he was commanded to go on the 22d day of September 1827 at 2 o'clock. We had supposed that when he should bring them home, the whole family would be allowed to see them, but he said it was forbidden of the Lord. They could be seen only by those who were chosen to bear their testimony to the world. We had therefore to be content until they were translated and we could have the book to read. ...
After the records were translated and the book printed, we often met together and held prayer meetings. Some of our neighbors would come to these meetings and ask us mockingly, if we expected with our little band to convert the world and make them to believe the golden bible? ... I was one of the number who met in the first conference held in these last days, when the church was first organized. We only numbered thirty, but we were a happy little band. It was a great day of rejoicing for us, and a number were added to the fold by baptism. ...
[Source: Katharine Smith Salisbury, Letter to "Dear Sisters," 10 March 1886, Saints' Herald 33 (1 May 1886): 260., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Katharine Smith Salisbury To Dear Sisters]
I well remember the trials my brother had, before he obtained the records. After he had the vision, he went frequently to the hill, and upon returning would tell us, "I have seen the records, also the brass plates and the sword of Laban with the breast plate and interpreters." He would ask father why he could not get them? The time had not yet come, but when it did arrive he was commanded to go on the 22d day of September 1827 at 2 o'clock. We had supposed that when he should bring them home, the whole family would be allowed to see them, but he said it was forbidden of the Lord. They could be seen only by those who were chosen to bear their testimony to the world. We had therefore to be content until they were translated and we could have the book to read. ...
After the records were translated and the book printed, we often met together and held prayer meetings. Some of our neighbors would come to these meetings and ask us mockingly, if we expected with our little band to convert the world and make them to believe the golden bible? ... I was one of the number who met in the first conference held in these last days, when the church was first organized. We only numbered thirty, but we were a happy little band. It was a great day of rejoicing for us, and a number were added to the fold by baptism. ...
[Source: Katharine Smith Salisbury, Letter to "Dear Sisters," 10 March 1886, Saints' Herald 33 (1 May 1886): 260., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Katharine Smith Salisbury To Dear Sisters]
135 years ago today - Mar 10, 1881
Eliza R. Snow says that her polygamous husband Joseph Smith told her "that they (10 tribes) were on an orb or planet by themselves."
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
155 years ago today - Mar 10, 1861
[George A. Smith] "Who is there that is prepared for this movement back to the center stake of Zion, and where are the architects amongst us that are qualified to erect this temple and the city that will surround it… And let me remind you that it is predicted that this generation shall not pass away till a temple shall be built, and the glory of the Lord rest upon it, according to the promises."
[Source: George A. Smith, March 10, 1861, Journal of Discourse, Vol. 9, p. 71 http://jod.mrm.org/9/6, as quoted in The Last Days and December 1890 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ, y George D. Speer Sr., privately circulated]
[Source: George A. Smith, March 10, 1861, Journal of Discourse, Vol. 9, p. 71 http://jod.mrm.org/9/6, as quoted in The Last Days and December 1890 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ, y George D. Speer Sr., privately circulated]
155 years ago today - Mar 10, 1861 (Morning)
President Young attended Tabernacle in the morning. subject about Tobacco exhorted the people if they did and must chew to put a little piece in their mouths quietly.
[Source: Brigham Young Office Journals, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
[Source: Brigham Young Office Journals, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
155 years ago today - Mar 10, 1861
President Young said He did not wish Utah mixed up with the secession movement. He said that when Buchanan sent the armey [to Utah] it was there intention to Hang the Leaders then send thousands of Gentiles here and they intended to rob all this people and take possession of our Houses & lands and they sent Gov Cummings to operate with them. But they got disappointed & it was upon that ground that Governor Cummings told the Forses not to go away that there would soon be Employ here but the Lord has controlled the gov[ernor?] & he has done putty well & I feel to bless him but He had Evil in his heart when he Come here.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
160 years ago today - Mar 10, 1856
[Hosea Stout] There is a great scarcity of bread now in all the valleys and nearly every body are living on rations who are lucky enough to have any meal or flour.
[Source: Diaries of Hosea Stout]
[Source: Diaries of Hosea Stout]
160 years ago today - Mar 10, 1856
[Brigham Young] Jesus will be seen with the natural eye and handled with the natural hand long before he appears at his second coming on Mount Zion.
[Source: The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
[Source: The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
175 years ago today - Mar 10, 1841
[Cyrus Smalling] "... In his [Joseph Smith's] youth, he and the whole family were money-diggers, and the first knowledge I have of him, is at Harmony, Susquehannah county, Pa. where he was translating the Book of Mormon. Soon after he was taken up and tried as an impostor ; but was cleared on account of the testimony that was given of the chests of money moving so that they could not get them. ..."
[Source: Cyrus Smalling to Dear Sir, 10 March 1841, in E. G. Lee, The Mormons; or, Knavery Exposed (Frankford, Pennsylvania: Published by E. G. Lee; Philadelphia: George Webber and William Fenimore, 1841), 12-15., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Cyrus Smalling To Dear Sir]
[Source: Cyrus Smalling to Dear Sir, 10 March 1841, in E. G. Lee, The Mormons; or, Knavery Exposed (Frankford, Pennsylvania: Published by E. G. Lee; Philadelphia: George Webber and William Fenimore, 1841), 12-15., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Cyrus Smalling To Dear Sir]
75 years ago today - Mar 9, 1941
[J. Reuben Clark] Late in afternoon went for ride with Pres Grant: suggested trying out paying for line to Los Angeles and perhaps Southern Idaho during Conference and broadcasting one full conference. I pointed out that increasingly few'proportionately'of our people came to Conference: that few saw one Conference pamphlet: that few sermons were printed in Deseret News our ordinary magazines: that few took the Deseret News: that the old time method of Presidents of Stakes and bishops returning and giving accounts was largely in discard and so few people really knew what went on at Conference. My suggestion was aimed to cure that. He approved. I said I would investigate costs.
[Source: The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
[Source: The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
95 years ago today - Mar 9, 1921
[Heber J. Grant] Played volley ball from after lunch until about three p.m., having nearly an hour of pleasure. I play this game almost as a matter of duty to keep myself in proper trim physically; at the same time I thoroughly enjoy it. ...
Had a long meeting at 4:15 with John M. Whitaker and a young lady who confided in me after Bro. Whitaker had left that she had been married by Patriarch Israel Barlow to John Burt, who is now on a mission in Great Britain. It is little less than wonderful to me that the people can be deceived the way they are to attempt to enter into plural marriage, and how on earth a Patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with any sense at all, after all the teachings that have been given in public and private, can persist in performing marriage ceremonies is beyond my comprehension.
[Source: The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
Had a long meeting at 4:15 with John M. Whitaker and a young lady who confided in me after Bro. Whitaker had left that she had been married by Patriarch Israel Barlow to John Burt, who is now on a mission in Great Britain. It is little less than wonderful to me that the people can be deceived the way they are to attempt to enter into plural marriage, and how on earth a Patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with any sense at all, after all the teachings that have been given in public and private, can persist in performing marriage ceremonies is beyond my comprehension.
[Source: The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
120 years ago today - Mar 9, 1896
Senator [George F.] Hoar reported from the United Senate Committee on the Judiciary a substitute for Senator [Frank J.] Cannon's Joint Resolution, respecting the property of the Church seized under the Edmunds Act. The substitute grants conveys the Church property held by the Receiver, to the Church after payment of the expense of the Receivership. Gov[enor]. [Heber M.] Wells today in approving an Act of the State Legislature entitling the issue of polygamous marriages, born previous to March 3, 1883, to inherit a distributed share of their father's estate, recommended the removal of whatever legal ban might exist against the issue of polygamous marriages up to one year succeeding the date of the Amnesty Proclamation of the President, or what would be better, up to the date of the admission of Utah into the Union.
[Source: Journal History, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
[Source: Journal History, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
130 years ago today - March 9 or 10, 1886
[Heber J. Grant] Prest Taylor put his arm on my shoulder just as I was leaving and blessed me said I should be prospered in my financial matters if I continued to labor desiring the advancement of God's Kingdom. Said he felt that I had been blessed in my labors in disposing of the Church's stock, in such a short time. He said many encouraging things to me. In fact his remarks were more encouraging than any I have ever had from him since I entered the Quorum. Many times I have wondered if he did not lack confidence in me he seemed generally so cold and distant in comparison to Bros Lyman, Jno Hy & Jos F Smith & some of my other brethren. I feel truly thankful to have such encouraging remarks from the President and with God's help I shall try to so order my life that my brethren presiding over me shall feel to approve of my labors.
[Source: The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
[Source: The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
170 years ago today - Mar 9, 1846
... It was also decided to light up the loads of the Artillery by burying up the ball & shot in the ground and getting them some other tim
[Source: Diaries of Hosea Stout]
[Source: Diaries of Hosea Stout]
175 years ago today - Mar 9, 1841 (Tuesday)
[Joseph Smith] ... However there is a prist-Hood with the Holy Ghost & Key—the Holy Ghost over shadows you & witness unto you of the authority & the Gifts of the Holly Ghost—he said was the provence of the Father to preside as the Chief or President—Jesus as the Mediator & Holy Ghost as the testator or witness—the Son Had a Tabernicle & so had the father But the Holly Ghost is a personage of spirit without tabernicle the Great God has a name By wich He will be Called which is Ahman—also in asking have Referance to a personage Like Adam for God made Adam Just in his own Image Now this a key for you to know how to ask & obtain. ...
[Source: McIntire Minute Book -Words of Joseph Smith, 64-65]
[Source: McIntire Minute Book -Words of Joseph Smith, 64-65]
50 years ago today - Mar 8, 1966
J. Reese Hunter, chair of the [Birch Society - Robert] Welch dinner meeting, mailed a "Dear Brethren" letter to stake presidents and bishops inviting them to attend "with your counselors and wives."
[Source: J. Reese Hunter to "Dear Brethren," 8 Mar. 1966, LDS archives, photocopy in Williams Papers; Utah Forum For the American Idea, "Program," 11 Feb. 1966, Williams Papers. From D. Michael Quinn, Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992), also in Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3.]
[Source: J. Reese Hunter to "Dear Brethren," 8 Mar. 1966, LDS archives, photocopy in Williams Papers; Utah Forum For the American Idea, "Program," 11 Feb. 1966, Williams Papers. From D. Michael Quinn, Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992), also in Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3.]
50 years ago today - Mar 8, 1966
Elders Peterson and Lee read to McKay the minutes of the First Presidency meeting of February 18, in which he had unambiguously ordered Petersen to stop the printing of his picture on the magazine. Without mentioning Benson by name, McKay replied, "They have resorted to everything they could to get me associated with that." Tanner said, "One reason we thought we should come this morning is if you thought it should be stopped we ought to get word to them immediately." McKay replied, "You get them by telephone. Tell them I do not want anything to do with it, that I do not want my name associated with [the] John Birch [Society]." Tanner then showed McKay the issue of American Opinion with Benson's picture on the front cover and said, "That is the way they would want to put your picture, and even if they have it printed they could put a new cover on without any trouble." McKay replied, "I do not want my picture on it. Stop it!"
At McKay's direction, his son Lawrence then phoned the editorial office of American Opinion and required that they stop the publication of McKay's picture "no matter what the cost."
[Source: David O. McKay diary; Gregory A. Prince and Wm. Robert Write, David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press (2005)]
At McKay's direction, his son Lawrence then phoned the editorial office of American Opinion and required that they stop the publication of McKay's picture "no matter what the cost."
[Source: David O. McKay diary; Gregory A. Prince and Wm. Robert Write, David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press (2005)]
105 years ago today - Mar 8, 1911
[Joseph F. Smith & Anthon Lund] "In answer to the first question we have no hesitance in saying that every member of the Church should endeavor to observe the Word of Wisdom as near as he and she can do so consistently; and inasmuch as a member does this and is otherwise worthy he should not be denied the blessings of the house of the Lord.
Answering the second question we will say that an adult male member of the Church who does not believe in the law of tithing is unworthy to bear the holy Melchizedek priesthood, and without that priesthood he is not qualified to enter the house of the Lord. A member of the Church who is an elder and a non-tithe-payer is not worthy [of] the fellowship of the quorum to which he belongs, and the quorum might consistently withdraw their fellowship from such a member. In this connection we perhaps ought to say that bishops can well afford to be lenient and merciful, especially to young men who may have been neglectful in obeying the law of tithing, who give promise of doing better and of keeping the law.
[Source: Joseph F. Smith and Anthon H. Lund to Robert D. Young, Mar. 8, 1911, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
Answering the second question we will say that an adult male member of the Church who does not believe in the law of tithing is unworthy to bear the holy Melchizedek priesthood, and without that priesthood he is not qualified to enter the house of the Lord. A member of the Church who is an elder and a non-tithe-payer is not worthy [of] the fellowship of the quorum to which he belongs, and the quorum might consistently withdraw their fellowship from such a member. In this connection we perhaps ought to say that bishops can well afford to be lenient and merciful, especially to young men who may have been neglectful in obeying the law of tithing, who give promise of doing better and of keeping the law.
[Source: Joseph F. Smith and Anthon H. Lund to Robert D. Young, Mar. 8, 1911, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
110 years ago today - Thursday, Mar 8, 1906
[Apostle John Henry Smith] The apostles met and had a long talk over the situation of John W. Taylor, M. F. Cowley and J. M. Tanner. We came to the conclusion to suspend the[m] or rather to accept their resignation.
[Source: 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]
[Source: 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 - Mar 8, 1891
John Morgan [spoke] on the danger of our young "politicians "losing their heads" in their political strifes.
[Source: Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
150 years ago today - Mar 8, 1866 (Thursday)
Carl Widerborg, president of the Scandinavian Mission, was arrested in Copenhagen, Denmark, on a trumped up charge of seduction. After five days' imprisonment he was released, and shortly after honorably acquitted.
[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
170 years ago today - Mar 8, 1846
Apostle William Smith: Returned to Nauvoo ... joined with mother [Lucy Mack Smith] in signing back-dated statement of Smith family supporting James J. Strang
[Source: Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 6, Biographical Sketches of General Officers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
[Source: Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 6, Biographical Sketches of General Officers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
180 years ago today - Mar 8, 1836
Patriarchal Blessing of Sarah Harmon given by Joseph Smith, Sr. ... thou shalt see much calamity come on this generation. & great things shall take place in thy day. Zion shall be built up a holy city. the glory of God rest on the land. & wickedness shall be destroyed from off the face of the earth, thou shalt see the desires of thy Soul & be Satisfeid if thou desire thou shalt tarry till the Redeamer [Redeemer] comes. and thou Shalt see him in the flesh. an[d] thy blessings shall be on the blessing of thy husband in this thing also. & thou Shalt triumph over the grave. ... an[d] I seal thee up unto eternal life in the nam[e] of Jesus. Amen.
[Source: Patriarchal Blessings]
[Source: Patriarchal Blessings]
180 years ago today - Mar 8, 1836
Patriarchal Blessing of Oliver Harmon given by Joseph Smith, Sr. ... thou Shalt have power over death & the grave & not sleep in the dust, but if thou wilt seek with all thy heart thou shalt be able to translate & be with Elijah in the Kingdom of heaven. & if not then God['s] will shall be done. thou shalt have power to save thy relatives & keep them by faith from all the power of satan so that he Shall have no dominion over them. these blessings I seal for thee. & I seal thee up unto eternal life in the name of Jesus Amen.
[Source: Patriarchal Blessings]
[Source: Patriarchal Blessings]
185 years ago today - Mar 8, 1831
Kirtland, Ohio. Joseph Smith stopped his Old Testament translation at Genesis 24 and began translating the Gospel of Matthew.
[Source: BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]
[Source: BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]
105 years ago today - Mar 7, 1911
Apostle Anthony W. Ivins writes to his son, Grant, "You can count on it[-]I have never performed a marriage seremony [sic] without proper authority" Apostle Ivins performed numerous post-manifesto plural marriages.
The First Presidency "visited the [Salt Lake] Temple and gave orders for the placing of more toilets in that building."
The First Presidency "visited the [Salt Lake] Temple and gave orders for the placing of more toilets in that building."
115 years ago today - Mar 7, 1901
[Abraham O. Woodruff] Attended the regular meeting of the Presidentcy and Apostles. ... We discussed at length the question. Does a Deacon hold all of the A[a]ronic Priesthood? Most of the Brethren took the view that a deacon does not hold but part of the Priesthood and that when a Deacon is ordained a Teacher or a Priest he gets more of the Priesthood. Pres[iden]t. Jos[eph]. F. Smith, Brigham Young [Jr.], John Henry Smith & I did not agree with this view but held that there are but two Priesthoods and that when a man is ordained a Deacon he receives the A[a]ronic Priesthood and when he ordained an elder he receives the Melchesedek Priesthood (and not a part of it). We hold that the offices such as Deacon, Teacher, Priest, Elder, Seventy, High Priest & Apostle are appendages to the priesthood and that any one who holds any one of these offices must needs hold the A[a]ronic or Melch[izedek]. Priesthood. Pres[iden]t. [Lorenzo] Snow did not make a ruling though will do no doubt at an early date.
[Source: Abraham Owen Woodruff, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
[Source: Abraham Owen Woodruff, Diary, 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 - Mar 7, 1891
[George Q. Cannon] "Do not, brethren, put your trust in man though he be a Bishop, an apostle or a president; if you do, they will fail you at some time or place; they will do wrong or seem to, and your support will be gone; but if we lean on God, He will NEVER fail us. When men and women depend upon GOD ALONE and trust in HIM ALONE, their faith will not be shaken if the highest in the Church should step aside"
[Source: George Q. Cannon, DW 43:322 [Mar 7, 1891]]
[Source: George Q. Cannon, DW 43:322 [Mar 7, 1891]]
175 years ago today - Mar 7, 1841
According to Zina Huntington, shortly after Apostle Brigham Young's return to Nauvoo in July 1841, he re-performed her polygamous sealing to the Prophet. - Thus, Zina Huntington was Joseph Smith's plural wife for ten months before her civil marriage to Henry Jacobs on 7 March 1841.
[Source: "HYMENIAL," Times and Seasons 2 (1 April 1841): 374; "Evidence For The Sexual Side of Joseph Smith's Polygamy," Comments by D. Michael Quinn on Session #2A "Reconsidering Joseph Smith's Marital Practices," Mormon History Association's Annual Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 29 June 2012 (unabbreviated version, revised during July)]
[Source: "HYMENIAL," Times and Seasons 2 (1 April 1841): 374; "Evidence For The Sexual Side of Joseph Smith's Polygamy," Comments by D. Michael Quinn on Session #2A "Reconsidering Joseph Smith's Marital Practices," Mormon History Association's Annual Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 29 June 2012 (unabbreviated version, revised during July)]
180 years ago today - Mar 7, 1836
In Professor Seixas' class, Joseph translates Genesis 17. Seixas agrees to teach three more weeks after a vacation of two weeks.
[Source: Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]
[Source: Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]
185 years ago today - Mar 7, 1831
"For a long time in the vicinity of Palmyra, there has existed an impression, especially among certain loose classes of society, that treasures of great amount were concealed near the surface of the earth, probably by the Indians, whom they were taught to consider the descendants of the ten lost Israelitish tribes, by the celebrated Jew who a few years since promised to gather Abraham's sons on Grand Island, thus to be made a Paradise. The ignorance and superstition of these fanatics soon conjured up a ghost, who they said was often seen and to whom was committed the care of the precious deposit. ... One Joseph Smith, a perfect ignoramus, is to be a great prophet of the Lord, the fabled ghost the angel of his presence, a few of the accomplices the apostles or witnesses of the imposition, and, to fill up the measure of their wickedness and the absurdity of their proceedings, the hidden golden treasure, is to be a golden bible and a new revelation. This golden bible consisted of metallic plates six or seven inches square, of the thickness of tin and resembling gold, the surface of which was covered with hieroglyphic characters, unintelligible to Smith, the finder, who could not read English. However the angel (ghost!) that discovered the plates to him, likewise informed him that he would be inspired to translate the inscriptions without looking at the plates while an amanuensis would record his infallible reading; all which was accordingly done. But now the book must be published, the translation of the inscriptions which Smith was authorized to show to no man save a few accomplices, who subscribe a certificate of these pretended facts at the end of the volume. Truly a wise arrangement!"
[Source: David S. Burnett account, 7 March 1831, in Larry E. Morris, I Should Have an Eye Single to the Glory of God: Joseph Smith's Account of the Angel and the Plates]
[Source: David S. Burnett account, 7 March 1831, in Larry E. Morris, I Should Have an Eye Single to the Glory of God: Joseph Smith's Account of the Angel and the Plates]
185 years ago today - Mar 7, 1831
[D&C 45] "v.16 concerning the signs of my coming… v.20 And this [Kirtland] Temple which ye now see shall be thrown down that there shall not be left one stone upon another. v.21 And it shall come to pass, that this generation of Jews shall not pass away until every desolation which I have told you concerning them shall come to pass. v.37 Ye look and behold the fig trees, and ye see them with your eyes, and ye say when they begin to shoot forth, and their leaves are yet tender, that summer is now nigh at hand; v.38 Even so it shall be in that day when they shall see all these things, then shall they know that the hour is nigh. v.39 And it shall come to pass that he that feareth me shall be looking forth for the great day of the Lord to come, even for the signs of the coming of the Son of Man."
[Source: D&C 45: 16-39, as quoted in The Last Days and December 1890 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ, y George D. Speer Sr., privately circulated]
[Source: D&C 45: 16-39, as quoted in The Last Days and December 1890 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ, y George D. Speer Sr., privately circulated]
185 years ago today - Mar 7, 1831
An important revelation concerning the salvation of man and the calamities of the last days was given through Joseph Smith, jun., at Kirtland. The Saints were also commanded to gather means wherewith to purchase a land of inheritance on which to build a New Jerusalem. (Doc. and Cov., Sec. 45.)
[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
40 years ago today - 40 years ago - Mar 6, 1976
Undoubtedly, Kimball's opposition was behind Benson's non-acceptance of the U.S. presidential nomination from the Concerned Citizens Party in 1976. Involving former members of the American Party (which Benson had publicly endorsed) and LDS members of the Birch Society, the "Concerned Citizens party will be dedicated to individual rights under the Constitution," and proposed to bring God "back into government."
[Source: "Party Qualifies For Utah Ballot," Salt Lake Tribune, 6 Mar. 1976, B-5; "LDS Official Says 'No' to Politics," Salt Lake Tribune, 25 Mar. 1976, B-4, and "Party Clarifies Stand on Benson Selection," Salt Lake Tribune, 29 Mar 1976, 38. 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.]
[Source: "Party Qualifies For Utah Ballot," Salt Lake Tribune, 6 Mar. 1976, B-5; "LDS Official Says 'No' to Politics," Salt Lake Tribune, 25 Mar. 1976, B-4, and "Party Clarifies Stand on Benson Selection," Salt Lake Tribune, 29 Mar 1976, 38. 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 - 50 years ago - Mar 6, 1966
BYU Religion professor Rodney Turner, in a speech during a six-stake fireside, quotes a poem: "Women are doormats and have been / The years those mats applaud,- / They keep their men from going in / With muddy feet to God.'" then comments, "I am afraid that is only too true, A man needs that kind of support so that he can go back home without muddy feet. A help meet to God, fulfilling the procreative power that you have; a sustainer of your husband; a homemaker; a rearer of children; and a husband-prodder-these are just a few things you can begin with." The speech, "Woman and the Priesthood" is published as a pamphlet by BYU.
120 years ago today - 120 years ago - Mar 6, 1896
President Wilford Woodruff asks Apostle Brigham Young Jr., "Woodruff asked me, "what is your opinion about bro[ther] B. H.] Roberts?" Young answers, "He has passed beyond our help the Lord must handle him." Young writes later, "I found the Presidency felt about the same way." Roberts had been temporarily dropped from the First Quorum of Seventy and suspended from exercising his priesthood and given three weeks to agree to sign the Political Manifesto which states that all church leaders must get permission from above before seeking political office.
130 years ago today - 130 years ago - Mar 6, 1886
2,000 LDS women gather at the Capitol Theater in Salt Lake City to address the reports that they were violating Christian marriage principles. Among other speakers, Ellis Shipp of Salt Lake City, a physician and the first of Milford Shipp's four wives, explains: "True we practice plural marriage, not, however, because we are compelled to, but because we are convinced that it is a divine revelation, and we find in this principle satisfaction, contentment, and more happiness than we could obtain in any other relationship"
135 years ago today - 135 years ago - Mar 6, 1881
{William H. and Edmund L. Kelley visited Palmyra and Manchester, New York, and interviewed Thomas H. Taylor, William and Mary Bryant, Danford Booth, Ezra Pierce, Orin Reed, Orlando Saunders, Abel Chase, John H. Gilbert, and Hiram Jackway. They also interviewed John Stafford in Rochester. Notes of these interviews were written in pencil in a small notebook, apparently in the handwriting of William Kelley.}
... Ezra Peirce. Says Joes[eph] [Smith] did not know any thing more about Hyglyerics [hieroglyphics][.] Lyman Cowdry was a Lawyer. O[liver]. Cowd[r]y [was a] School Teacher. Characters good. ["]I know that Joe Smith was ignorant." Has pulled sticks with Joes[eph] for a gallon of Brandy but never knew [him] to get drunk. ... Orlando Saunders. Say 78 year old in April[.] Smiths worked for him and they were good fellows to work[.] Hyram and the old man were coopers[.] very good people. Every bod[y] drank in those days and the Smith[s] drank also. but they never got drunk. They were the best family in the neighborhood in case of sickness. One was at my house nearly all the time when my father died. Martin Haris was [remainder of sentence written sideways on page] one of the first ones of the Town.
Able D. Chase. 67 years old. Old man Smith was a cooper[.] Alvin was the oldest [-] 6 boy[s] 2 girls--&c Alvin[,] Hyr[am]--Josep[h][,] [Samuel] Harrison[,] Wm & Carlos. Every one drank. I was young and dont remember only general character--poorly educated[,] ignorant and selfish--super=sticious Shif[t]less but do a good days work.... Jo[sep]h [Smith] got a [singular] looking stone which was dug up out of my fathers well[.] A sister that [had] a stone she could see in, but it was not the one that Smith had ...
Lorenzo Saunders says [Sidney] Rigdon was in the neighborhood befor[e] B[ook] of M[ormon] was published 18 months[.] Lorenzo Saunders lives in New Adrian[,] Mich. James T. Cob[b] of Salt Lake writes <<Corresponds>> with Colonel Gilbert He knew Lyman and Oliver [Cowdery][.] Lyman was a petifogger[.] Oliver was a school teacher--[Martin] Harris was a very honest farmer but very supersticious--He saw the Book with his spiritual eyes. 79 years of age.
Hyram Jackway 65-6 [year old][.] Saw Joe and his Father Drunk in a hay field[.] Knows nothing about them stealing. Stafford was a Sailor. Wm S=tafford He was the one that furnished the Black Sheep. [-] Smiths translated in the farm hous[e]. Maj Gilbert said they translated in a cave Hyrum and his Father owed Mr. Jaynes 150$ Martin Harris was an honest man[.]...
He [Joseph Smith] was a real clever jovial boy--What [Pomeroy] Tucker said about them was false absolutely--My father was never connected with them in any way--Smiths with others were hunting for money previous to obtaining plates[.] My father Wm S[tafford]. had stone which some thought they could look through--and Old Mrs. S[mith]. came there for it but never go it.--76 years old--... I lived a mile from them. My father is said to have furnished a sheep--but I dont think my father was there at [the] time they say [the] sheep was sacrificed-- Cousin Christopher Stafford [of] Aburn[,] Geauga Co. Ohio, Oliver Cowdry Taught school in house 3 1/2 miles from Palmyry--Cowdry good Character. [Martin] Harris not very religious before B[ook] of M[ormon]--was an Honorable farmer. Dont know whether he was skeptic=al or visionary--old Joe claimed he understood Geology and could tell all kinds of minerals--& they fixed up a dose for him. Joe was quite illit[erate]--until after they began to have school at their house--and they had school at at their house. ... Saw them dig 3 or 4 years before B[ook of Mormon] was found--Joe not there--The neighbors use to Claim Sally Chase Could look through stone she had & find money--Willard Chase use to dig when she found where the money was[.] Peaceable among themselves--<<old woman>> Had a great deal [of] faith [that] their Child[ren]. was going to do something great. ...
[Source: William Kelley, Notebook, No. 5, 1-16, William H. Kelley Papers, RLDS Church Library-Archives, Independence, Missouri., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Kelley Notes]
... Ezra Peirce. Says Joes[eph] [Smith] did not know any thing more about Hyglyerics [hieroglyphics][.] Lyman Cowdry was a Lawyer. O[liver]. Cowd[r]y [was a] School Teacher. Characters good. ["]I know that Joe Smith was ignorant." Has pulled sticks with Joes[eph] for a gallon of Brandy but never knew [him] to get drunk. ... Orlando Saunders. Say 78 year old in April[.] Smiths worked for him and they were good fellows to work[.] Hyram and the old man were coopers[.] very good people. Every bod[y] drank in those days and the Smith[s] drank also. but they never got drunk. They were the best family in the neighborhood in case of sickness. One was at my house nearly all the time when my father died. Martin Haris was [remainder of sentence written sideways on page] one of the first ones of the Town.
Able D. Chase. 67 years old. Old man Smith was a cooper[.] Alvin was the oldest [-] 6 boy[s] 2 girls--&c Alvin[,] Hyr[am]--Josep[h][,] [Samuel] Harrison[,] Wm & Carlos. Every one drank. I was young and dont remember only general character--poorly educated[,] ignorant and selfish--super=sticious Shif[t]less but do a good days work.... Jo[sep]h [Smith] got a [singular] looking stone which was dug up out of my fathers well[.] A sister that [had] a stone she could see in, but it was not the one that Smith had ...
Lorenzo Saunders says [Sidney] Rigdon was in the neighborhood befor[e] B[ook] of M[ormon] was published 18 months[.] Lorenzo Saunders lives in New Adrian[,] Mich. James T. Cob[b] of Salt Lake writes <<Corresponds>> with Colonel Gilbert He knew Lyman and Oliver [Cowdery][.] Lyman was a petifogger[.] Oliver was a school teacher--[Martin] Harris was a very honest farmer but very supersticious--He saw the Book with his spiritual eyes. 79 years of age.
Hyram Jackway 65-6 [year old][.] Saw Joe and his Father Drunk in a hay field[.] Knows nothing about them stealing. Stafford was a Sailor. Wm S=tafford He was the one that furnished the Black Sheep. [-] Smiths translated in the farm hous[e]. Maj Gilbert said they translated in a cave Hyrum and his Father owed Mr. Jaynes 150$ Martin Harris was an honest man[.]...
He [Joseph Smith] was a real clever jovial boy--What [Pomeroy] Tucker said about them was false absolutely--My father was never connected with them in any way--Smiths with others were hunting for money previous to obtaining plates[.] My father Wm S[tafford]. had stone which some thought they could look through--and Old Mrs. S[mith]. came there for it but never go it.--76 years old--... I lived a mile from them. My father is said to have furnished a sheep--but I dont think my father was there at [the] time they say [the] sheep was sacrificed-- Cousin Christopher Stafford [of] Aburn[,] Geauga Co. Ohio, Oliver Cowdry Taught school in house 3 1/2 miles from Palmyry--Cowdry good Character. [Martin] Harris not very religious before B[ook] of M[ormon]--was an Honorable farmer. Dont know whether he was skeptic=al or visionary--old Joe claimed he understood Geology and could tell all kinds of minerals--& they fixed up a dose for him. Joe was quite illit[erate]--until after they began to have school at their house--and they had school at at their house. ... Saw them dig 3 or 4 years before B[ook of Mormon] was found--Joe not there--The neighbors use to Claim Sally Chase Could look through stone she had & find money--Willard Chase use to dig when she found where the money was[.] Peaceable among themselves--<<old woman>> Had a great deal [of] faith [that] their Child[ren]. was going to do something great. ...
[Source: William Kelley, Notebook, No. 5, 1-16, William H. Kelley Papers, RLDS Church Library-Archives, Independence, Missouri., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Kelley Notes]
130 years ago today - Mar 6, 1886
2,000 LDS women gather at the Capitol Theater in Salt Lake City to address the reports that they were violating Christian marriage principles. Among other speakers, Ellis Shipp of Salt Lake City, a physician and the first of Milford Shipp's four wives, explains: "True we practice plural marriage, not, however, because we are compelled to, but because we are convinced that it is a divine revelation, and we find in this principle satisfaction, contentment, and more happiness than we could obtain in any other relationship"
135 years ago today - Mar 6, 1881
{William H. and Edmund L. Kelley visited Palmyra and Manchester, New York, and interviewed Thomas H. Taylor, William and Mary Bryant, Danford Booth, Ezra Pierce, Orin Reed, Orlando Saunders, Abel Chase, John H. Gilbert, and Hiram Jackway. They also interviewed John Stafford in Rochester. Notes of these interviews were written in pencil in a small notebook, apparently in the handwriting of William Kelley.}
... Ezra Peirce. Says Joes[eph] [Smith] did not know any thing more about Hyglyerics [hieroglyphics][.] Lyman Cowdry was a Lawyer. O[liver]. Cowd[r]y [was a] School Teacher. Characters good. ["]I know that Joe Smith was ignorant." Has pulled sticks with Joes[eph] for a gallon of Brandy but never knew [him] to get drunk. ... Orlando Saunders. Say 78 year old in April[.] Smiths worked for him and they were good fellows to work[.] Hyram and the old man were coopers[.] very good people. Every bod[y] drank in those days and the Smith[s] drank also. but they never got drunk. They were the best family in the neighborhood in case of sickness. One was at my house nearly all the time when my father died. Martin Haris was [remainder of sentence written sideways on page] one of the first ones of the Town.
Able D. Chase. 67 years old. Old man Smith was a cooper[.] Alvin was the oldest [-] 6 boy[s] 2 girls--&c Alvin[,] Hyr[am]--Josep[h][,] [Samuel] Harrison[,] Wm & Carlos. Every one drank. I was young and dont remember only general character--poorly educated[,] ignorant and selfish--super=sticious Shif[t]less but do a good days work.... Jo[sep]h [Smith] got a [singular] looking stone which was dug up out of my fathers well[.] A sister that [had] a stone she could see in, but it was not the one that Smith had ...
Lorenzo Saunders says [Sidney] Rigdon was in the neighborhood befor[e] B[ook] of M[ormon] was published 18 months[.] Lorenzo Saunders lives in New Adrian[,] Mich. James T. Cob[b] of Salt Lake writes <<Corresponds>> with Colonel Gilbert He knew Lyman and Oliver [Cowdery][.] Lyman was a petifogger[.] Oliver was a school teacher--[Martin] Harris was a very honest farmer but very supersticious--He saw the Book with his spiritual eyes. 79 years of age.
Hyram Jackway 65-6 [year old][.] Saw Joe and his Father Drunk in a hay field[.] Knows nothing about them stealing. Stafford was a Sailor. Wm S=tafford He was the one that furnished the Black Sheep. [-] Smiths translated in the farm hous[e]. Maj Gilbert said they translated in a cave Hyrum and his Father owed Mr. Jaynes 150$ Martin Harris was an honest man[.]...
He [Joseph Smith] was a real clever jovial boy--What [Pomeroy] Tucker said about them was false absolutely--My father was never connected with them in any way--Smiths with others were hunting for money previous to obtaining plates[.] My father Wm S[tafford]. had stone which some thought they could look through--and Old Mrs. S[mith]. came there for it but never go it.--76 years old--... I lived a mile from them. My father is said to have furnished a sheep--but I dont think my father was there at [the] time they say [the] sheep was sacrificed-- Cousin Christopher Stafford [of] Aburn[,] Geauga Co. Ohio, Oliver Cowdry Taught school in house 3 1/2 miles from Palmyry--Cowdry good Character. [Martin] Harris not very religious before B[ook] of M[ormon]--was an Honorable farmer. Dont know whether he was skeptic=al or visionary--old Joe claimed he understood Geology and could tell all kinds of minerals--& they fixed up a dose for him. Joe was quite illit[erate]--until after they began to have school at their house--and they had school at at their house. ... Saw them dig 3 or 4 years before B[ook of Mormon] was found--Joe not there--The neighbors use to Claim Sally Chase Could look through stone she had & find money--Willard Chase use to dig when she found where the money was[.] Peaceable among themselves--<<old woman>> Had a great deal [of] faith [that] their Child[ren]. was going to do something great. ...
[Source: William Kelley, Notebook, No. 5, 1-16, William H. Kelley Papers, RLDS Church Library-Archives, Independence, Missouri., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Kelley Notes]
... Ezra Peirce. Says Joes[eph] [Smith] did not know any thing more about Hyglyerics [hieroglyphics][.] Lyman Cowdry was a Lawyer. O[liver]. Cowd[r]y [was a] School Teacher. Characters good. ["]I know that Joe Smith was ignorant." Has pulled sticks with Joes[eph] for a gallon of Brandy but never knew [him] to get drunk. ... Orlando Saunders. Say 78 year old in April[.] Smiths worked for him and they were good fellows to work[.] Hyram and the old man were coopers[.] very good people. Every bod[y] drank in those days and the Smith[s] drank also. but they never got drunk. They were the best family in the neighborhood in case of sickness. One was at my house nearly all the time when my father died. Martin Haris was [remainder of sentence written sideways on page] one of the first ones of the Town.
Able D. Chase. 67 years old. Old man Smith was a cooper[.] Alvin was the oldest [-] 6 boy[s] 2 girls--&c Alvin[,] Hyr[am]--Josep[h][,] [Samuel] Harrison[,] Wm & Carlos. Every one drank. I was young and dont remember only general character--poorly educated[,] ignorant and selfish--super=sticious Shif[t]less but do a good days work.... Jo[sep]h [Smith] got a [singular] looking stone which was dug up out of my fathers well[.] A sister that [had] a stone she could see in, but it was not the one that Smith had ...
Lorenzo Saunders says [Sidney] Rigdon was in the neighborhood befor[e] B[ook] of M[ormon] was published 18 months[.] Lorenzo Saunders lives in New Adrian[,] Mich. James T. Cob[b] of Salt Lake writes <<Corresponds>> with Colonel Gilbert He knew Lyman and Oliver [Cowdery][.] Lyman was a petifogger[.] Oliver was a school teacher--[Martin] Harris was a very honest farmer but very supersticious--He saw the Book with his spiritual eyes. 79 years of age.
Hyram Jackway 65-6 [year old][.] Saw Joe and his Father Drunk in a hay field[.] Knows nothing about them stealing. Stafford was a Sailor. Wm S=tafford He was the one that furnished the Black Sheep. [-] Smiths translated in the farm hous[e]. Maj Gilbert said they translated in a cave Hyrum and his Father owed Mr. Jaynes 150$ Martin Harris was an honest man[.]...
He [Joseph Smith] was a real clever jovial boy--What [Pomeroy] Tucker said about them was false absolutely--My father was never connected with them in any way--Smiths with others were hunting for money previous to obtaining plates[.] My father Wm S[tafford]. had stone which some thought they could look through--and Old Mrs. S[mith]. came there for it but never go it.--76 years old--... I lived a mile from them. My father is said to have furnished a sheep--but I dont think my father was there at [the] time they say [the] sheep was sacrificed-- Cousin Christopher Stafford [of] Aburn[,] Geauga Co. Ohio, Oliver Cowdry Taught school in house 3 1/2 miles from Palmyry--Cowdry good Character. [Martin] Harris not very religious before B[ook] of M[ormon]--was an Honorable farmer. Dont know whether he was skeptic=al or visionary--old Joe claimed he understood Geology and could tell all kinds of minerals--& they fixed up a dose for him. Joe was quite illit[erate]--until after they began to have school at their house--and they had school at at their house. ... Saw them dig 3 or 4 years before B[ook of Mormon] was found--Joe not there--The neighbors use to Claim Sally Chase Could look through stone she had & find money--Willard Chase use to dig when she found where the money was[.] Peaceable among themselves--<<old woman>> Had a great deal [of] faith [that] their Child[ren]. was going to do something great. ...
[Source: William Kelley, Notebook, No. 5, 1-16, William H. Kelley Papers, RLDS Church Library-Archives, Independence, Missouri., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Kelley Notes]
175 years ago today - March 1841 (about 6 March)
Section 125 instructed the Saints to build up opposite Nauvoo a city to be named Zarahemla. In addition, the town of Nashville was to be built up.
[Source: Cook, Lyndon, Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith]
[Source: Cook, Lyndon, Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith]
180 years ago today - Mar 6, 1836
Joseph Smith goes to Hebrew teacher Joshua Seixas for private instruction. The next two days the "first class" (of which Joseph is a member) translates, from the Hebrew, chapters 17 and 22 of Genesis, both of which deal with Abraham.
185 years ago today - March 6 or 7, 1831
[Revelations] Kirtland, Ohio. Doctrine and Covenants 45. The Son reminds the Father of his blood and suffering. Believers become his sons, perform miracles. Reasons with followers. City of Enoch. Jews to gather to Jerusalem. Fulness of gospel revealed at beginning of the times of the Gentiles. Scourge and desolation at end of times of the Gentiles. Signs of second coming. Resurrection followed by destruction , conversion of the Jews, who weep for persecuting their king. Satan bound , Jesus' return. Wicked will be cast into the fire, righteous receive earthly reward. Joseph to translate the New Testament. Wars begin soon in America. Gather out of the east. Collect funds to purchase inheritance. New Jerusalem a land of peace, safety.
Manuscripts in the Church Archives, one in the hand of Edward Partridge and another in the hand of William E. McLellin, date the revelation March 6, 1831.
[Source: Kenney, Scott; Saints Without Halos, 'Doctrine and Covenants,' http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/s/_dc.phtml]
Manuscripts in the Church Archives, one in the hand of Edward Partridge and another in the hand of William E. McLellin, date the revelation March 6, 1831.
[Source: Kenney, Scott; Saints Without Halos, 'Doctrine and Covenants,' http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/s/_dc.phtml]
20 years ago today - Mar 5, 1996
Former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher accepts an honorary doctorate at Brigham Young University.
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
95 years ago today - Mar 5, 1921
[Heber J. Grant] Bishop Nibley remarked that he expected me to appoint my cousin Anthony W. Ivins as my counselor, that there was no doubt in his mind that people generally would expect it, as he considered Bro. Ivins the best informed and wisest man among the Apostles and that he would be the greatest help to me as a counselor. I incidentally remarked that the Presidency would be strictly Democratic, and he said, yes, but thought that would make no difference at all in my choosing my cousin as my counselor. Personally there is no man living who would please me more to have as a counselor than my own relative. However I desire to choose whoever the Lord wishes me to and certainly do not want to make a choice because of any personal preference.
[Source: The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
[Source: The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
115 years ago today - Mar 5, 1901
[David H. Cannon] gave instructions in regard to Adam offering signs at the altar. Adam does not offer signs at the altar in the Telestial Room. He did not want any innovations in the endowments. Spoke of Pres[iden]t [Brigham] Young coming to him in vision and giving him important information in relation to his duty; visiting him three times in one night.
[Source: Temple Minute Book, St. George, Mar. 5, 1901, typed excerpts in Buerger Papers, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
[Source: Temple Minute Book, St. George, Mar. 5, 1901, typed excerpts in Buerger Papers, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
120 years ago today - Mar 5, 1896
[J. Golden Kimball] At 10 AM agreeable with appointment met with the Presidency of the Church, Quorum of Apostles, and 1st Council of Seventies at the Temple in the large room occupied by Twelve Apostles. ... The object of the meeting being to consider Elder B. H. Roberts case. ... They agreed that they concurred with the apostles in not sustaining Elder Roberts unless he would humble himself and seek Council from the Pres[idency] of the Church ... Pres[idents]. Jos[eph]. F. Smith, Geo[rge]. Q. Cannon and Pres[ident] Willfo[r]d Woodruff spoke plainly upon the sustaining of the priesthood, and also regarding the position Bro[ther]. Roberts had taken in political matters viz. sep[a]ration of Church and State and Woman Suffrage. Elder Roberts then spoke explaining why he had taken such a course. Justified himself in accepting a nomination from the Democratic party without consulting with the Authorities. Presumed from conversations had with the bretheren that he had their permission, but in accepting a position in the Herald as Editor without their consent he believed he was wrong. He stated in answer to a question put to him by Pres[ident] Geo[rge] Q. Cannon that he considered it improper to ask council regarding political matters from men who were Republicans, and that it was ill becoming to an American citizen. ... The instance was called to his attention regarding the time he rebelled against the issuance of the Manifesto, You were wrong then, could it not be possible that you were wrong again. He manifested no change, notwithstanding the labors of all the brethren for 8 hours the first meeting and six hours at this meeting; There seemed to be no willingness to follow council. His mind was darkened and he desired the matter to be settled at once. Apostle [Brigham] Young [Jr.], after some talk from the brethren, motion[ed] that Brother Roberts be dropped from the Council of the Seventies, as one of its seven presidents, and be suspended from all action in the functions of the Priesthood. This meant that even if he repented at some future time he loses his place as one of the 1st council of the Seventies. The Brethren felt reluctant in crowding the matter and Apostle [Heber J.] Grant moved that three weeks from date of this meeting be given Bro[ther] Roberts before action be taken on Apostle Youngs motion. If at the expiration of that time Bro[ther] Roberts could not humble himself before the Quorum above mentioned action was to be taken agreeable with the resolution. It was a most solemn occasion and one that I will never forget...
[Source: J. Golden Kimball, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
[Source: J. Golden Kimball, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
130 years ago today - Mar 5, 1886
Joseph Smith III, president of the RLDS church writes: "You know that while I believe father was not the author of Utah polygamy I have not and am not now making the battle against the Utah church on that ground but upon the ground that plural marriage is not of God no matter whoever the revelation, so called, came through or who taught or practiced it."
135 years ago today - Mar 5, 1881
[J.D.T. McAllister] Bore testimony against wicked at Temple Sat.
At the Temple. Prayer circle. a Meeting of the Priesthood we went forth and washed our feet and bore testimony against the wicked, who have shed the blood of the Prophets and Saints. And those of the present day who desire to make war on the Saints.
[Source: Diary Excerpts of J.D.T. McAllister, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
At the Temple. Prayer circle. a Meeting of the Priesthood we went forth and washed our feet and bore testimony against the wicked, who have shed the blood of the Prophets and Saints. And those of the present day who desire to make war on the Saints.
[Source: Diary Excerpts of J.D.T. McAllister, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
135 years ago today - Mar 5, 1881
[Wilford Woodruff] March 5, 1881 This was an important day with me in several respects. I had invited 50 of my Brethren the leading men of this part of the vineyard to meet me in the Temple of the Lord to give them some instruction and to meet them in the Prayer Circle. But my sickness Pain & distress was so severe I was not able to attend although I got ready to go into the Prayer room. A Pain struck me through the Stomach as though a Dart was shot through me and I was in great distress untill the Prayer was Ended. The revelation that was given me in the wilderness was read and they washed their feet & bore Testimony unto God against those men who had Shed the Blood of the Prophets and Apostles and had persecuted the saints. They then went Before the Lord and offered up Prayers from the Altar upon this subject And the Devil seemed Determined that I should have no hand in it and I was kept in great pain untill the servises were over. I was administered to by the Brethren, and Br James Bleak administered to me the Medicine.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
125 years ago today - Mar 4, 1891
[Franklin D. Richards] B[isho]p Tho[ma]s Wallace called spent some 3 hours with us considering politics & the wisest means of presenting the same to the people for their education and enlightenment so that the younger inexperienced may understand & wisely choose which of the national parties to join affinity with I felt blest in enjoining moderation & respect for each others views. Great danger that contention will drive the Holy Spirit from the bosoms of the Elders who indulge in it.
[Source: Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
130 years ago today - Mar 4, 1886
President John Taylor, living underground to avoid prosecution for polygamy, answers a request from a member: "Your letter asking the priviledge of 2nd anointing for your parents John Perry and Grace Williams Perry who are deceased, has been received. You are at liberty to have them officiated for and receive their 2nd Anointings; but those who officiate for them must be those who have already had that sacred ordinance. By presenting this to Bro. M. W. Merrill he will have the Ordinance attended to. Very respectfully, John Taylor"
[Source: John Taylor to Eliza Perry Benson, Mar. 4, 1886]
[Source: John Taylor to Eliza Perry Benson, Mar. 4, 1886]
135 years ago today - Mar 4, 1881
President James A. Garfield in his inaugural address says, "The Mormon Church not only offends the moral sense of manhood by sanctioning polygamy, but prevents the administration of justice through ordinary instrumentalities of law" After Garfield's assassination, his successor, Chester A. Arthur, proclaims polygamy "this odious crime, so revolting to the moral and religious sense of Christendom."
155 years ago today - Mar 4, 1861
The President [Brigham Young] remarked that Joseph Smith Jun. had predicted 20 years ago that 70 years from that time not one stone would remain on another in the City of New York.
[Source: Brigham Young Office Journals, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
[Source: Brigham Young Office Journals, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
165 years ago today - Mar 4, 1851 (Tuesday)
The ship Olympus sailed from Liverpool, England, with 245 Saints, bound for Utah, under the direction of Wm. Howell. Some fifty non-Mormon passengers were converted and baptized on the voyage to New Orleans, where the company arrived about April 27th.
[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
15 years ago today - Mar 3, 2001
Church issued guidelines for the proper use of the church's name in media. The Church's should be referred to by its full name, and the use of "Mormon Church "was discouraged
[Source: Correlation Timeline, Compiled by Lisle Brown]
[Source: Correlation Timeline, Compiled by Lisle Brown]
45 years ago today - Mar 3, 1971
The demolition begins of the old tabernacle at Coalville, Utah, formerly on the national register. Mormons and non-Mormons (primarily non-residents of Coalville) waged a court battle and petitioned the First Presidency not to destroy this meeting house now regarded as obsolete by church authorities. The First Presidency publishes a statement in defense of the demolition, which attracts enough attention to merit a feature story in the New York Times.
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
50 years ago today - Mar 3, 1966
The entire First Presidency decided that "Elder Benson to be told not to mention Birch Society."
[Source: "Copy of First Presidency minutes digest 3-3-66," in "Hugh B. Brown's File on the John Birch Society." 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.]
[Source: "Copy of First Presidency minutes digest 3-3-66," in "Hugh B. Brown's File on the John Birch Society." 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 - Mar 3, 1966
Apostle Benson notified the Twelve's president that President McKay had approved the apostle's acceptance of all invitations to speak at testimonials for the Birch Society's president, Robert Welch. "I feel no compunction to make the Church popular with liberals, socialists, or communists. I do feel responsible to tell the truth," Benson wrote. Of the fact that Mormons were joining the Birch Society and Birchers were becoming Mormons, he added: "and those who love the truth will embrace it without compromise and that is exactly what is happening."
[Source: Ezra Taft Benson to Joseph Fielding Smith, 3 Mar. 1966, MS 4940, LDS archives. 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.]
[Source: Ezra Taft Benson to Joseph Fielding Smith, 3 Mar. 1966, MS 4940, LDS archives. 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.]
55 years ago today - Mar 3, 1961
BYU paper DAILY UNIVERSE article, "Archaeologists Explore Probable City Bountiful," claims that BYU expeditions into Central America from 1947 to 1956 have "discovered important evidence bearing on the location of the Book of Mormon city of Bountiful in the Xicalango jungle of western Campeche [as well as] the location of the major Book of Mormon city of Zarahemla in the middle Usumacinta valley"
115 years ago today - Mar 3,1901
Lorenzo Snow promises Salt Lake temple workers that "some of us would go back to Jackson County, Missouri."
[Source: 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]
[Source: 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]
155 years ago today - Mar 3, 1861
[Brigham Young] If Christ was to Come now to reign you would not like his dictation as well as you do mine for I am more like you than He is and he would be more strict in his dealings & dictation with you than I am. ... speaking of our government He said Our Nation will not Have a general war all at one & then be settled in a year or two but the spirit of war, madness & disunion will increase for a number of years. They will Commence to fight little by little & keep increase until they will have a general mash up & destruction throughout the Land.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
160 years ago today - Mar 3, 1856
[Wilford Woodruff] + Received a mission from President Young to day to prepare and go East in the spring to get the Deseret Alphabet type made & sore [some] books printed in it.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
170 years ago today - Tuesday, Mar 3, 1846.
After the encampment, Bishop Miller introduced Dr. Jewett to Dr. Richards in his tent, also President Young. Dr. Jewett gave a long history of experiments on animal magnetism and said it had nearly cured him of infidelity, and he thought the Mormons would understand the principle. President Young told him he did perfectly, that we believed in the Lord's magnetizing, that he magnetized Belthashazer so that he saw the handwriting on the wall.
[Source: Apostle Willard Richards Journal]
[Source: Apostle Willard Richards Journal]
180 years ago today - Mar 3, 1836
Joseph Smith authorizes the ordination of African-American Elijah Abel to the office of elder. On Dec. 20 Abel is ordained to the office of Seventy. A skilled carpenter, Abel worked on the Salt Lake Temple but was never allowed to receive his endowments or have his family sealed together because of his race.
45 years ago today - Mar 2, 1971
A First Presidency letter asking "ALL GENERAL AUTHORITIES" to stop "utilizing Church employees and equipment for personal purposes without reimbursement to the Church." The letter specifically refers to the maintenance of the hierarchy's homes.
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
50 years ago today - Mar 2, 1966
The First Presidency learned that the Birch Society's March Bulletin encouraged Birch members to write "Personal and Confidential" letters to President McKay and to his two new counselors, Joseph Fielding Smith and Thorpe B. Isaacson.
[Source: The John Birch Society Bulletin (Mar. 1966): 22-24; "CROSS REFERENCE SHEET," 2 Mar. 1966, in "Hugh B. Brown's File on the John Birch Society." 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.]
[Source: The John Birch Society Bulletin (Mar. 1966): 22-24; "CROSS REFERENCE SHEET," 2 Mar. 1966, in "Hugh B. Brown's File on the John Birch Society." 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.]
130 years ago today - Mar 2, 1886
Quorum of the Twelve accepts John Taylor's statement that it is "the mind of the Lord" for George Q. Cannon to forfeit the $25,000 bond and for that to be paid from the church mining revenues. This may be the date of the second revelation on Bullion, Beck, and Champion Mining Company, which George Q. Cannon describes to apostles on 27 Apr. 1899. Text is unavailable. Cannon skips his trial on 17 Mar. and forfeits bond.
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
[Source: The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
135 years ago today - Wednesday, Mar 2, 1881
[Apostle John Henry Smith] Kingston, Piute County
The people here live in the United Order but they are in an unpleasant situation, as some of their members are drawing off, and the best of feeling does not exist. We had a long talk with four of the King brothers in relation to the affairs of the order and found that they were in doubt in regard to the final wind up of matters.
[Source: 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]
The people here live in the United Order but they are in an unpleasant situation, as some of their members are drawing off, and the best of feeling does not exist. We had a long talk with four of the King brothers in relation to the affairs of the order and found that they were in doubt in regard to the final wind up of matters.
[Source: 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 - Mar 02, 1861
The U.S. Congress creates the territory of Nevada out of the western half of Utah Territory.
160 years ago today - Mar 2, 1856
First Presidency Counselor Jedediah M. Grant preaches: "I want the Gentiles to understand that we know all about their whoredoms and other abominations here. If we have not invariably killed such corrupt scoundrels, those who will seek to corrupt and pollute our community, I swear to you that we mean to, and to accomplish more in a few hours, towards clearing the atmosphere, than all your grand and traverse juries can in a year."
160 years ago today - Mar 2, 1856
[Brigham Young] There are men here, by the score, who do not know their right hands from their left, so far as the principle of justice is concerned. Does our High Council? No, for they will let men throw dust in their eyes, until you cannot find the hundredth millionth part of an ounce of common sense in them. You may go to the Bishops' courts, and what are they? A set of old grannies. They cannot judge a case pending between two old women, to say nothing of a case between man and man. We have already dropped many of them, and we are picking up young men. We will train them, and tell them to serve God or apostatize. The time is coming when justice will be laid to the line and righteousness to the plummet; when we shall take the old broad sword and ask, '"Are you for God?'" and if you are not heartily on the Lord's side, you will be hewn down.
[Source: Journal of Discourses. Liverpool, England, 1853-86. 3:221-22, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
[Source: Journal of Discourses. Liverpool, England, 1853-86. 3:221-22, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
160 years ago today - Mar 2, 1856
President Young ... reproved the people. He considered the people were not ownly asleep but working wickedness. He considered many of the people were like a company of Men rushing to a precipice on a dark night on horsback whare neither horse nor rider could see any thing but would soon be dashed to peaces. He wanted the Elders to put away their velvet lips & smooth things & preach sermons like pitch forks tines downwards that the people might wake up.
... President Grant ... rained down pitch forks & forked lighting figuratively speaking upon the Gentiles who were working wickedness upon this people & defiling the females. ...
The Indian war Continues. 3 more brethren have been killed. Squash one of the war Chiefs was put in prision & the report is that he cut his own throat. He is dead.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
... President Grant ... rained down pitch forks & forked lighting figuratively speaking upon the Gentiles who were working wickedness upon this people & defiling the females. ...
The Indian war Continues. 3 more brethren have been killed. Squash one of the war Chiefs was put in prision & the report is that he cut his own throat. He is dead.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
165 years ago today - Mar 2, 1851
The Assembly was addressed By P. P Pratt ... Those [sisters] who marry out of the Church marry those who are doomed to destruction & their posterity while those who are in the Church & are faithful will live & their Children to the last Generation....
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: 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 - Mar 2, 1841
At Joseph Smith's request, Bishop George Miller reported from John C. Bennett's former residence that "his wife left him under satisfactory evidence of his adulterous connections." In April, Bennett would be appointed Assistant President to Joseph Smith and becomes heavily involved "spiritual wifery" in Nauvoo.
5 years ago today - 2011-03-01
The "Book of Mormon" musical opens on Broadway
[Source: Mormon Women's History Timeline, http://www1.chapman.edu/~remy/MoFem/mormonwomen.html]
[Source: Mormon Women's History Timeline, http://www1.chapman.edu/~remy/MoFem/mormonwomen.html]
50 years ago today - Mar 1, 1966
[David O. McKay] In response to an inquiry from a brother as to whether his 34 year old son, who is suffering from cerebral palsy, might be permitted to refrain from wearing his garments after receiving his endowments in the Temple, it was decided to tell this brother that we think it inadvisable for his son to receive his endowments at this time under the circumstances.
[Source: David O. McKay diary, Mar. 1, 1966, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
[Source: David O. McKay diary, Mar. 1, 1966, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
125 years ago today - Mar 1, 1891
[President Wilford Woodruff] I did not know but I would be Called to die upon my Birth Day [due to severe illness that day].
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Source: 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 - Mar 1, 1881
[Wilford Woodruff] This is my birth day. I am this day 74 years of Age And I wish to bear my Testimony to all persons whomsoever may read this Journal that the God of Israel has sustained me and watched over me by his power or agency from the hour of my birth up to the present hour. I have spent my birthdays in this Temple of 1870, 71, 72, & 74. I spent my 73d birth day in Sunset Arizona.
This is one of the most glorious days of my life. This morning we had appeared at the Temple 239 for Endowments the greatest Number we Ever gave Endowments at any one day in this Temple since it was dedicated /Except one/ and 77 Male Members got Endowments for my Dead and 23 femals. Total 110 Endowments for my dead. Praise the Lord O my soul for this Blessing. What rejoicing in the spirit world. I sealed 1 Couple & adopted 1. We had a glorious day. The spirit of God was with us. I spent the Evening at an Entertainment in the City Hall.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
This is one of the most glorious days of my life. This morning we had appeared at the Temple 239 for Endowments the greatest Number we Ever gave Endowments at any one day in this Temple since it was dedicated /Except one/ and 77 Male Members got Endowments for my Dead and 23 femals. Total 110 Endowments for my dead. Praise the Lord O my soul for this Blessing. What rejoicing in the spirit world. I sealed 1 Couple & adopted 1. We had a glorious day. The spirit of God was with us. I spent the Evening at an Entertainment in the City Hall.
[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
170 years ago today - Sunday, Mar 1, 1846.
The first wagons leave the encampment at Sugar Creek in Iowa, headed for the Great Salt Lake Valley. Heber C. Kimball addressed the camp:
"no doubt many would be tried, but he would see the kingdom of God established and all the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of God and of his Christ. ... that we were not going out of the world, but out of his majesty's dominions. If Nauvoo has the most holy place, it will be the most wicked place. ... A plague came into our camp for disobedience when on our way to Missouri and our best men fell victims, and so it will be again under like circumstances. I want no man to touch any of my things without leave. If any man will come to me and say that he wants to steal, I will give him the amount. Cease all your loud laughter and light speeches, for the Lord is displeased with such things, and call upon the Lord with all your might.
About noon, the camp began to move ..."
[Source: Apostle Willard Richards Journal]
"no doubt many would be tried, but he would see the kingdom of God established and all the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of God and of his Christ. ... that we were not going out of the world, but out of his majesty's dominions. If Nauvoo has the most holy place, it will be the most wicked place. ... A plague came into our camp for disobedience when on our way to Missouri and our best men fell victims, and so it will be again under like circumstances. I want no man to touch any of my things without leave. If any man will come to me and say that he wants to steal, I will give him the amount. Cease all your loud laughter and light speeches, for the Lord is displeased with such things, and call upon the Lord with all your might.
About noon, the camp began to move ..."
[Source: Apostle Willard Richards Journal]
170 years ago today - Mar 1, 1846
Lucy Mack Smith signs a published statement in support of the succession claim of James J. Strang.
[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]
[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]
175 years ago today - Mar 1, 1841
Nauvoo city ordinance that "the Catholics, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Latter-day Saints, Quakers, Episcopals, Universalists, Unitarians, Mohammedans, and all other religious sects and denominations, whatever, shall have free toleration, and equal privileges." This law provided for a $300 fine and 6-month imprisonment for anyone convicted of ridiculing a person's religious beliefs. At this time, several states of the U.S.A. prohibited Jews and other non-Christians from voting or holding public office.
[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]
[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]
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