Uniform spelling of the proper name Melchizedek-- Our attention having been called to the different forms of spelling the proper name Melchizedek (as, for example: Melchisedek, Melchizedec, Melchisedec, etc.,), at our request Dr. James E. Talmage made a critical investigation of the subject with a view to learning the biblical and philosophical consensus of authority and opinion concerning it. In harmony with Elder Talmage's report, and expressing our own views, the Council of the Presidency and Apostles has decided that the proper noun, and the adjective as applied to the High Priesthood should be spelled MELCHIZEDEK (as it appears in the Old Testament and Book of Mormon) in all publications of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. JOSEPH F. SMITH, ANTHON H. LUND, CHARLES W. PENROSE, First Presidency.
[1915-June 17-MS 77:376 (June 17, 1915). OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT, quoted in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
120 years ago today - Jun 17, 1900
[Patriarchal Blessing of Samuel RosKelly by Henry Jackson]
... thou shalt live for many years upon the earth; yea, thou shalt live to the full age of man. Even until thou hast passed thy 85th birthday...
[Patriarchal Blessing of Samuel RosKelley by Henry C. Jackson on June 17, 1900]
... thou shalt live for many years upon the earth; yea, thou shalt live to the full age of man. Even until thou hast passed thy 85th birthday...
[Patriarchal Blessing of Samuel RosKelley by Henry C. Jackson on June 17, 1900]
165 years ago today - Jun 17, 1855
... if I should get mad in Washington, I would as soon fight the whole crowd as one individual, and they would use me up. There are but few spirited men who would endure the abuse and lies heaped upon this people. There is one statement which I have already made in this stand twice or thrice, but I will now make it again before our Delegate, for it has caused him much trouble. It has been reported in the United States that Brigham should have said that the President of the United States could not remove him from his office. I will repeat what I did say, as nearly as my memory will serve me. Exhorting the brethren and sisters, I said, '"Do not be alarmed, neither let your hearts sink within you, or be worried in the least with regard to a new Governor's coming to this Territory, for the Lord Almighty will preserve your present Governor unto you as long as He pleases, and no power can hinder. And if it is His will to remove the present Governor, know ye that it will be for the best.'" ... when Colonel Steptoe received the appointment; but the Lord operated upon the Colonel to continue his march to California.
[The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
[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 - Tuesday, June 17th, 1845
[John Taylor]
Went to Mother Lucy Smith's, by her request to read some of her history, to see if it was fit or ready for publication. I had an interesting conversation with the old lady; wherein she related many things concerning the family that pleased as well as instructed me; though now quite an aged woman, the power of her memory is surprising, she is able to relate circumstances connected with the family, with great distinctness and accuracy; she is an honor as well as an ornament to the family she belongs.
['The John Taylor Nauvoo journal, January 1845-September 1845,' BYU Studies 23:3 (1983) edited by Dean C. Jessee]
Went to Mother Lucy Smith's, by her request to read some of her history, to see if it was fit or ready for publication. I had an interesting conversation with the old lady; wherein she related many things concerning the family that pleased as well as instructed me; though now quite an aged woman, the power of her memory is surprising, she is able to relate circumstances connected with the family, with great distinctness and accuracy; she is an honor as well as an ornament to the family she belongs.
['The John Taylor Nauvoo journal, January 1845-September 1845,' BYU Studies 23:3 (1983) edited by Dean C. Jessee]
175 years ago today - Jun 17, 1845
The Twelve indicated they wanted to follow Joseph Smith's proposal and erected a canvas tabernacle on the west side of the temple. Orson Hyde was to travel east and raise money to purchase the canvas. The tabernacle was to be erected "in front of , and joining the Temple on the west." It was to be about 250 feet long and 125 feet wide. It was designed to seat a congregation of eight to ten thousand persons for "preaching," while the temple was to be "used for the meeting of councils and quorums, and the administrations of ordinances and blessings, and preaching to smaller congregations."
Near his date Orson Hyde left for the East "to obtain cloth for the tabernacle" and Howard Eagan had earlier left for St Louis to purchase hemp for making ropes to hold the canvas up. [some minor corrections made]
[Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple]
Near his date Orson Hyde left for the East "to obtain cloth for the tabernacle" and Howard Eagan had earlier left for St Louis to purchase hemp for making ropes to hold the canvas up. [some minor corrections made]
[Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple]
175 years ago today - Jun 17, 1845
"While in this condition, Elder Phineas Richards, the father of Apostle F. D. Richards, assisted by other kind brethren, took me [Lorenzo Snow] from my bed, wrapped in a sheet - placed me in a carriage, drove to a stream of water, and baptized me in the name of the Lord, for my recovery. The fever immediately abated, and through kind, unwearied nursing and attention . . . I was delivered from suffering and restored to health."
[Eliza R. Snow writing as Lorenzo Snow in "Biography and Family Record of Lorenzo Snow" Salt Lake City: Deseret News Company, 1884, quoted in Stapley, Jonathan and Wright, Kristine, '"They Shall Be Made Whole": A History of Baptism for Health,' Journal of Mormon History, Fall 2008]
[Eliza R. Snow writing as Lorenzo Snow in "Biography and Family Record of Lorenzo Snow" Salt Lake City: Deseret News Company, 1884, quoted in Stapley, Jonathan and Wright, Kristine, '"They Shall Be Made Whole": A History of Baptism for Health,' Journal of Mormon History, Fall 2008]
195 years ago today - Jun 17, 1825
The REPUBLICAN ADVOCATE of Batavia, New York publishes an article titled "GOLD:" "Gold is beaten into leaves upon a smooth block of marble. . . These pieces are then fitted into books. . . It was anciently the custom to beat gold into thin plates..."
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
15 years ago today - JUNE 16, 2005
An Arizona grand jury indicts Warren Jeffs on two counts of felony child sex abuse for his role in planning and performing the marriage of a 16-year-old girl to a man that was already married. He could face two years in jail. Jeffs also faces 2 civil suits in Utah, one from young men expelled from the church and another from a nephew who has accused him of sexual abuse.
Two U.S. courts determine he is trying to avoid being served with papers regarding two lawsuits against him and the United Effort Plan trust. One suit, launched last July by Brent Jeffs, alleges that Warren Jeffs, his uncle, began molesting him when he was five. Since Jeff fails to file a statement of defence, and the UEP trust also did not file a statement of defence, lawyers for Brent ask court to freeze the UEP trust.
Utah authorities seize FLDS's biggest asset the UEP trust, registered in that state. It controls ¾ of Bountiful's landall the farms, ranches, and homes. Utah officials remove the Board of Directors.
Warren Jeffs is on the run, authorities believe he may be in Canada.
[Gartner, Hana, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Timeline: History of Polygamy]
Two U.S. courts determine he is trying to avoid being served with papers regarding two lawsuits against him and the United Effort Plan trust. One suit, launched last July by Brent Jeffs, alleges that Warren Jeffs, his uncle, began molesting him when he was five. Since Jeff fails to file a statement of defence, and the UEP trust also did not file a statement of defence, lawyers for Brent ask court to freeze the UEP trust.
Utah authorities seize FLDS's biggest asset the UEP trust, registered in that state. It controls ¾ of Bountiful's landall the farms, ranches, and homes. Utah officials remove the Board of Directors.
Warren Jeffs is on the run, authorities believe he may be in Canada.
[Gartner, Hana, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Timeline: History of Polygamy]
25 years ago today - Jun 16, 1995
The International Olympic Committee in Budapest votes overwhelmingly for Salt Lake City as the site of the winter Olympics in the year 2002. Utahns are divided about the economic benefits/losses, and some Mormons have misgivings about the long-term secularization of the city that the Olympics will cause. However, many see this as an ideal opportunity to preach Mormonism directly and indirectly to tens of thousands of visitors in a short time. LDS headquarters technically remains neutral about this "political matter" during the five-year promotional effort. However, the Salt Lake Olympic Bid Committee's legally required financial statement shows that during its final year of operation alone, the committee received $100,000 from the LDS church's "associated business" Intermountain Healthcare, and $100,000 from the Deseret Foundation (arm of the LDS Hospital). The hospital subsequently denies that it is officially involved in a transaction by which an "anonymous" party channels donations through the Deseret Foundation.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
35 years ago today - Jun 16, 1985
Joyce McKinney is arrested in Salt Lake City after Kirk Anderson informs police she has been shadowing him. She is charged with disturbing the peace and giving false information to police. Seven years earlier McKinney (one-time Miss Wyoming in the "Miss Universe" pageant and former BYU graduate student) became a fugitive from justice in Great Britain, where she stands accused of abducting then missionary Anderson, keeping him tied to a bed for three days, and raping him. She denied the charges at the time, saying Anderson went along with her willingly and had promised to marry her. In May of 1982 LDS Communications director Heber Wolsey referred to a positive effect of publicity surrounding the McKinney-Anderson case: "a lot of doors [were opened] to missionaries in England because of the publicity generated by the abduction of an elder by a young woman." Salt Lake City police reports show McKinney possessed numerous photographs of Anderson, had recorded his daily activities in a notebook, and had mapped out his travels, pinpointing where Anderson lives with his wife and children. Years earlier Loren Pomeroy had given McKinney a priesthood blessing when she was distraught over being pregnant out of wedlock with what she claimed was Anderson's child
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
75 years ago today - Jun 16, 1945
[George Albert Smith]
Talked to Pres Clark & Nicholas [G. Smith?] about use of meeting houses for meetings to prevent Negroes from becoming neighbors. [Decided against allowing this]
[George Albert Smith Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
Talked to Pres Clark & Nicholas [G. Smith?] about use of meeting houses for meetings to prevent Negroes from becoming neighbors. [Decided against allowing this]
[George Albert Smith Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
115 years ago today - Jun 16, 1905
Second blessings [anointings] are intended for those only who have borne the heat and burden of the day, and endured faithful to the end: and, as a general thing, they are administered only to people who have gathered with the body of the Church. And in recommending such people it is expected that their worthiness is personally known to the Stake President who recommends them. The case referred to in yours of the 12th inst. cannot for a moment be considered as eligible for these higher blessings.
[Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder, and Anthon H. Lund to Stephen L. Chipman, June 16, 1905, quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
[Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder, and Anthon H. Lund to Stephen L. Chipman, June 16, 1905, quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
145 years ago today - Jun 16, 1875
[Wilford Woodruff]
I spent the day in the Endowment House. We gave Endowments Baptized 646. D H Wells sealed 62 Couple & W Woodruff 116 Couple for the dead the most I ever done in one day in my life. I was vary weary when I got through 178 Cealing.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I spent the day in the Endowment House. We gave Endowments Baptized 646. D H Wells sealed 62 Couple & W Woodruff 116 Couple for the dead the most I ever done in one day in my life. I was vary weary when I got through 178 Cealing.
[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 - Jun 16, 1850
At 4 oclock there was a trial before the High Council against several of the Utah people relative to a dissatisfaction which arose with the Committee sent there to trade with the Indians about 2 weeks since. They were "whipped & cleared"
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
185 years ago today - Jun 16, 1835
Geauga County court acquits Joseph of charges brought by brother-in-law Calvin Stoddard that Joseph had deprived him of water rights. During trial Calvin calls Joseph a "damned false prophet," and Joseph knocks him down. Stoddard sues for assault.
[Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]
[Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]
85 years ago today - Jun 15, 1935
[David O. McKay]
During the last year particularly we have been more deeply impressed than ever with the need of Stake and Ward officers exercising more care and of giving deeper personal inquiry into the lives of those who are promoted in the Priesthood and to those who are recommended to go through the temple. That there is too much moral laxity in the Church today, as in the world generally, is apparent to anyone who will give the least thought to the matter. Unfortunately we have some psychologists in our leading institutions of learning and some teachers in our high schools who by their unwise instructions and sometimes by innuendoes and sneers lend encouragement to wilful youth to disregard the tried and proved laws of chastity and virtue.
There are three things which we can do'(1) raise the standard of parental instruction, and try to improve home conditions; (2) encourage more chaperonage of youth; (3) choose more competent Ward Teachers whose duty it is to 'watch over the Church always and to see that no iniquity exists.' &c.
[David O. McKay, Letter to Joseph F. Merrill, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
During the last year particularly we have been more deeply impressed than ever with the need of Stake and Ward officers exercising more care and of giving deeper personal inquiry into the lives of those who are promoted in the Priesthood and to those who are recommended to go through the temple. That there is too much moral laxity in the Church today, as in the world generally, is apparent to anyone who will give the least thought to the matter. Unfortunately we have some psychologists in our leading institutions of learning and some teachers in our high schools who by their unwise instructions and sometimes by innuendoes and sneers lend encouragement to wilful youth to disregard the tried and proved laws of chastity and virtue.
There are three things which we can do'(1) raise the standard of parental instruction, and try to improve home conditions; (2) encourage more chaperonage of youth; (3) choose more competent Ward Teachers whose duty it is to 'watch over the Church always and to see that no iniquity exists.' &c.
[David O. McKay, Letter to Joseph F. Merrill, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
125 years ago today - Saturday, Jun 15, 1895
[Franklin D. Richards]
At 7 am Sister Zina DH Young called and with Jane Emily & FSR spent about an hour listening to FSR explain to us the present political move of joining the ladies with the Gents in their societies, canvases, conventions for precinct, city, count & territorial work in nomination as well as in voting at elections.
[Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
At 7 am Sister Zina DH Young called and with Jane Emily & FSR spent about an hour listening to FSR explain to us the present political move of joining the ladies with the Gents in their societies, canvases, conventions for precinct, city, count & territorial work in nomination as well as in voting at elections.
[Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
160 years ago today - Jun 15, 1860
Albert Carrington read a letter from Sydney Rigdon to the President. The President remarked, Sydney is crazy'- The President remarked at Haun's Mill about 100 men ravished a young woman after tying her to a bench. They were part of a mob headed by Governor Boggs that was worse than whipping Henifer. I also Consider, observed the President, that the Troops are a mob of the United States, before our persecutions were from single states. -- Salt Lake City
[Brigham Young Office Journals, quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
[Brigham Young Office Journals, quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
170 years ago today - Jun 15, 1850
First issue of church's DESERET NEWS, which includes astrological almanacs. Willard Richards is the editor.
175 years ago today - Jun 15, 1845
Sidney Rigdon publishes an editorial: "Nauvoo is a sink of corruption, Deception in its most forbidding forms, is resorted to by them, to make people think they are different from what they are in truth. They deny, or attempt to deny, the existence of the very doctrine on which they pretend that their exaltation depends. . . . A true saint would publish his faith to the world, though he would suffer death for it; and rejoice in the thought that he suffered death for Christ's sake. . . . Has it come to this, that men must lie, defame, and slander, in order to sustain the religion of Jesus Christ?"
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
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