Brigham Young tells conference it is necessary "to grease the wheels" (bribe federal officials). "To show how minutely corruption prevails where justice should exist," Young gives example where it was necessary to pay $1,300 bribe "to get our claims paid for expenditures in quelling Indian disturbances in 1853." This is the first announcement of the First Presidency's policy to bribe federal officials when necessary. Historian Wallace D. Farnham once described the frequent graft in nineteenth-century federal government as the "weakened spring of government" in America. [The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
Today In Mormon History-fb
Several curious tidbits that happened on this day in Mormon History
170 years ago today - Apr 6, 1856
[George A. Smith] The inaccurate "Milk Strippings" story is first preached in General Conference. [Journal of Discourses, http://jod.mrm.org]
180 years ago today - Apr 6, 1846
At a Strangite high council meeting, Jehiel Savage testifies against the conduct of the Twelve at Nauvoo: "There was an institution called Aunt Peggy, by means of which one Carl was whip[p]ed &...one Peck was annointed [with human excrement]." [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]
185 years ago today - April 6, 7, 8, 9, 1841. Tuesday-Friday.
.... The names of the official characters [as presented in General Conference] are as follows Joseph Smith first president Sidney Rigdon and Wm. Law councillor. Brother Law was appointed councillor at this conference in the stead of Hyrum Smith who was appointed a Prophet Seer and Revelator according to a revelation given January 19, 1841. Brother Law was objected to by our quorum but honourably elected after investigation. On account of the ill health of Sidney Rigdon John C. Bennett was appointed in his stead until Brother Rigdons health improved. ... [George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://bit.ly/WilliamClayton]
185 years ago today - Apr 6, 1841
Cornerstones laid for Nauvoo Temple; among other books and items, a Bible is laid but only after the Apocryphia is added to it (torn from one of the member's family Bible) to make it complete [Samuel Miles]. Sidney Rigdon officiates at the ceremony and gives a hour long speech. This is practically Rigdon's last official act in the Church until the spring of 1844. [Broadhurst, Dale R., Mormon Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/morchrn2.htm]
60 years ago today - Apr 5, 1966
A former LDS mission president and current "section leader" of the Birch Society hand-carried a letter to McKay that "many people are confused and shocked by the recent editorial in the Church News, entitled: `Politics and Religion.' [regarding "Birchers"] "
[Mark E. Anderson to David O. McKay, 5 Apr. 1966, MS 3744, 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.]
[Mark E. Anderson to David O. McKay, 5 Apr. 1966, MS 3744, 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.]
85 years ago today - Apr 5, 1941
[Heber J. Grant]
After the Priesthood meeting I had a little talk with Harold B. Lee and told him we had decided that he should fill the vacancy in the quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He was overwhelmed and shed tears. I feel sure that we shall be very happy with his work.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
After the Priesthood meeting I had a little talk with Harold B. Lee and told him we had decided that he should fill the vacancy in the quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He was overwhelmed and shed tears. I feel sure that we shall be very happy with his work.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
120 years ago today - Apr 5, 1906
The regular meeting of the First Presidency and Twelve was held this morning as usual in the Temple. ... Some time was occupied on the question of filling the vacancies in the quorum of the Twelve Apostles created by the withdrawal of Bro[ther]s. [John W.] Taylor and [Matthias F.] Cowley, and the vacancy created through the death of Brother [Marriner Wood] Merrill. Also the vacancy in the First Council of Seventy through the death of Brother C[hristian]. D. Fjeldsted. President [Joseph F.] Smith had invited the Apostles to furnish him with a list of names of brethren suggested by them as eligible for these positions. From that list it was finally decided to select George F. Richards to fill the vacancy created by the death of Brother Merrill, and Orson F. Whitney and David O. McKay to fill the vacancies made by Bro[ther]s. Taylor and Cowley. It was also decided to select Charles H. Hart to fill the vacancy in the First Council of Seventy.
[Journal History, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
[Journal History, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
125 years ago today - Apr 5, 1901
Lorenzo Snow tells general conference that "we will continue on improving, advancing and increasing in wisdom, intelligence, power, and dominion, worlds without end." In 1908 John A. Widtsoe's 'Joseph Smith As a Scientist' (137) affirms: "God in 'Mormon' Theology is the greatest intelligence; yet it must of necessity, under the inexorable law of the universe, grow." In his 1910 'Seventies Course in Theology,' B.H. Roberts writes that "progress is eternal, even for the highest intelligences" (151). In his 1911 'Seventies' Course in Theology,' Roberts writes: "And is it too bold a thought that with this progress, even for the Mightiest, new thoughts, and new vistas may appear, inviting to new adventures and enterprises that will yield new experiences, advancement, and enlargement even for the Most High?"
[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)]]
130 years ago today - Apr 5, 1896
The Presidency and 12 met and considered a manifesto on the political situation to guide the eclesiastical authorities in accepting office. ... It was agreed to by all present.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
130 years ago today - Apr 5, 1896
[Brigham Young Jr.]
[Regarding the political manifesto] "I was spoken to privately by Pres[iden]t Woodruff that he wanted me to carry it to M. Thatcher if he chooses to sign it. All seemed anxious that I should have a partner I wanted Pres[iden]t L. Snow." Thatcher was not up when they arrived and kept the document by permission and sent it to the office without his signature. "He could not coincide with the whole doctrine but hoped when he got better in health he might see it." Young notes that he has had the principles before him for two years; "I was full of sorrow so were all the Brethren." Document was read and accepted unanimously by the Conference.
[Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Regarding the political manifesto] "I was spoken to privately by Pres[iden]t Woodruff that he wanted me to carry it to M. Thatcher if he chooses to sign it. All seemed anxious that I should have a partner I wanted Pres[iden]t L. Snow." Thatcher was not up when they arrived and kept the document by permission and sent it to the office without his signature. "He could not coincide with the whole doctrine but hoped when he got better in health he might see it." Young notes that he has had the principles before him for two years; "I was full of sorrow so were all the Brethren." Document was read and accepted unanimously by the Conference.
[Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
145 years ago today - Apr 5, 1881
.... At the Close of the Meeting we again met with the Twelve & voted unanimously that we would withhold the name of John W Young from being Presented to the Conference for Conformation untill he had made satisfaction. ...
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
150 years ago today - Apr 5, 1876
"This afternoon at about 5 oclok the great explosion of four powder magazene on the Hill north of the City took place, when forty tons of Blasting, sporting, & giant Powder was burned which shook the whole City to its foundations and done tens of thousands of Dollars of Damage in glass alone. I do not know of one house in the City that Entirely escaped damage. It was a miracle that the four building made of Rock, Cobble, Iron & Concrete was blown high into the air & scattered over the City for a circuit of more than a mile with a population of 20,000, and ownly four persons killed. The whole City shook like an Earthquake. Many escaped narrowly from death. Many women fainted. Nearly all the glass was blown out of the New Tabernacle."
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
185 years ago today - Apr 5, 1841
Louisa Beaman (single, age 26) marriage to Joseph Smith
Though Mormon history and press indicate Beaman was not baptized until May 11, 1843, she had migrated with Mormons to Nauvoo in 1839 or 1840. She has been called the "first plural wife of the Prophet Joseph Smith" [although he had at least one earlier relationship]. After Smith's death, Beaman remarried, becoming the ninth wife of Brigham Young. They had five children together, all of whom predeceased Beaman, who died young at age 35. Listed as a Smith plural wife by Joseph F. Smith, who noted 1869 affidavit of Beaman's brother-in-law Joseph B. Noble, stating he officiated at the wedding, William Clayton said Smith told him in February 1843 that Beaman was one of his plural wives. This would have been prior to her baptism.
[Wikipedia: List of the Wives of Joseph Smith, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_wives_of_Joseph_Smith]
Though Mormon history and press indicate Beaman was not baptized until May 11, 1843, she had migrated with Mormons to Nauvoo in 1839 or 1840. She has been called the "first plural wife of the Prophet Joseph Smith" [although he had at least one earlier relationship]. After Smith's death, Beaman remarried, becoming the ninth wife of Brigham Young. They had five children together, all of whom predeceased Beaman, who died young at age 35. Listed as a Smith plural wife by Joseph F. Smith, who noted 1869 affidavit of Beaman's brother-in-law Joseph B. Noble, stating he officiated at the wedding, William Clayton said Smith told him in February 1843 that Beaman was one of his plural wives. This would have been prior to her baptism.
[Wikipedia: List of the Wives of Joseph Smith, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_wives_of_Joseph_Smith]
45 years ago today - Apr 4, 1981
Conference sustains the first Hispanic Latin American as a general authority, the First Quorum of the Seventy's Angel Abrea.
[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)]]
75 years ago today - 1951. April 4
George Albert Smith died on his eighty-first birthday at his Yale Avenue home in Salt Lake City of lupuserythematosus disseminatus, a disease of the connective tissue which may have contributed to his mental collapse. Buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
As church president, he also was president of many church-controlled corporations: Beneficial Life Insurance Company, Utah Hotel Company, Utah Home Fire Insurance Company, Utah-Idaho Sugar Company, Utah First National Bank, Zion's Savings Bank and Trust, ZCMI, and Zions Securities Corporation. He was president of the Church Board of Education, which controlled LDS educational institutions, and was also editor of the church's official magazines. He expedited welfare shipments to Latter-day Saints in Europe at the end of World War II, supervised the reconciliation of 1,200 Latter-day Saints in Mexico who had formed a schismatic group, and expanded programs to help American Indians. A person of compassion, he worked especially in the interests of the youth of the church, the troubled, the poor, and the underprivileged.
[Van Wagoner, Richard and Walker, Steven C., A Book of Mormons, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies;Utah History Encyclopedia: George Albert Smith, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
As church president, he also was president of many church-controlled corporations: Beneficial Life Insurance Company, Utah Hotel Company, Utah Home Fire Insurance Company, Utah-Idaho Sugar Company, Utah First National Bank, Zion's Savings Bank and Trust, ZCMI, and Zions Securities Corporation. He was president of the Church Board of Education, which controlled LDS educational institutions, and was also editor of the church's official magazines. He expedited welfare shipments to Latter-day Saints in Europe at the end of World War II, supervised the reconciliation of 1,200 Latter-day Saints in Mexico who had formed a schismatic group, and expanded programs to help American Indians. A person of compassion, he worked especially in the interests of the youth of the church, the troubled, the poor, and the underprivileged.
[Van Wagoner, Richard and Walker, Steven C., A Book of Mormons, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies;Utah History Encyclopedia: George Albert Smith, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
95 years ago today - Apr 4, 1931
Heber J. Grant announces that the church will give whatever assistance it can to aid the criminal prosecution of polygamists.
[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)]]
115 years ago today - Apr 4, 1911
[Orson F. Whitney]
Spent the day in Quarterly Meeting with the Apostles. Presented to the Council my proposition that a portion of our time in these meetings be devoted to the reading and discussion of leading questions of the day, religious, scientific, political, philosophical, &c. [including evolution], with a view to a common understanding and unanimity of view concerning the same. The brethren were pleased with the suggestion and it was adopted unanimously.
[Orson F. Whitney, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
Spent the day in Quarterly Meeting with the Apostles. Presented to the Council my proposition that a portion of our time in these meetings be devoted to the reading and discussion of leading questions of the day, religious, scientific, political, philosophical, &c. [including evolution], with a view to a common understanding and unanimity of view concerning the same. The brethren were pleased with the suggestion and it was adopted unanimously.
[Orson F. Whitney, 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 - Thursday, Apr 4, 1901
.... There was some further discussion in regard to administering to the sick. It was clearly the mind of the brethren that it should be done in a simple manner, without display, according to the order of the church. A letter incorporating this view was addressed to Jas. Hall of Springville, who had been going about among the saints holding special fast meetings and administering to the sick; and although he may have been accomplishing good, his manner of doing was thought to be too much in the nature of display of the power of God. (The Presidency afterwards approved of said letter.)...
Apostle M. F. Cowley called attention to the labors of the Seven Presidents of Seventies. Said they had been very faithful and through their labors he was satisfied that the tithing of the church had been greatly increased. Inasmuch as some of them were in straightened circumstances, notably Brother B. H. Roberts (the latter was now acting as a life insurance agent), he felt that the compensation of the Seven Presidents of Seventies should be increased.
President Snow said that nothing could be done in the matter at present. We have not arrived at a point where we can say to the general authorities of the church: "Give up all your financial affairs, devote your whole time to the work, and the church will provide fully for you; but that time is coming."
[President Snow:] Said that there are many bishops in the church, who are not capable and efficient in their official calling, many of them not being naturally endowed with the qualifications for the bishopric. In all such cases they should be released and others planted in their stead. ...
The sacrament was then administered, Pres. J. F. Smith being month in pronouncing the blessing upon the bread and wine. ...
[Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
Apostle M. F. Cowley called attention to the labors of the Seven Presidents of Seventies. Said they had been very faithful and through their labors he was satisfied that the tithing of the church had been greatly increased. Inasmuch as some of them were in straightened circumstances, notably Brother B. H. Roberts (the latter was now acting as a life insurance agent), he felt that the compensation of the Seven Presidents of Seventies should be increased.
President Snow said that nothing could be done in the matter at present. We have not arrived at a point where we can say to the general authorities of the church: "Give up all your financial affairs, devote your whole time to the work, and the church will provide fully for you; but that time is coming."
[President Snow:] Said that there are many bishops in the church, who are not capable and efficient in their official calling, many of them not being naturally endowed with the qualifications for the bishopric. In all such cases they should be released and others planted in their stead. ...
The sacrament was then administered, Pres. J. F. Smith being month in pronouncing the blessing upon the bread and wine. ...
[Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
130 years ago today - Apr 4, 1896 (Saturday)
The sixty-sixth annual conference of the Church convened in Salt Lake City; In voting for the general Church authorities, ... Moses Thatcher, was not upheld as one of the Twelve, because of his refusal to sign a manifesto issued by the general authorities of the Church to the Saints, in which the leading men of the Church were requested to seek counsel before accepting political offices which would interfere with their ecclesiastical duties.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
145 years ago today - Apr 4, 1881
Joseph [F.] Smith spoke vary Strongly against the Saints sending their Children to Gentiles schools. ...
Report of Logen Temple was Given. Donations from Cache Stake was $143,433, Bear Lake $38,134.64 Box Elder $36,733.49, Trustee in trust $78,705.19, from other sources $660, Total $297,666.32. Sanpete [Manti] Temple Reported as having Received $250,235.40. Total in the two Temples $547,901.72.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Report of Logen Temple was Given. Donations from Cache Stake was $143,433, Bear Lake $38,134.64 Box Elder $36,733.49, Trustee in trust $78,705.19, from other sources $660, Total $297,666.32. Sanpete [Manti] Temple Reported as having Received $250,235.40. Total in the two Temples $547,901.72.
[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 - Apr 4, 1851
Upon recommendation by Brigham Young (the retiring "state" and incoming territorial leader), the General Assembly dissolved the State of Deseret on 4 April 1851.
[Utah History Encyclopedia: Deseret, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
[Utah History Encyclopedia: Deseret, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
185 years ago today - Apr 4, 1841
The Elders Quorum met in the Lords House according to appointment Bro [Otis] Hobart Reported to the quorum that Brother [Oliver] Granger refused to give up the Keys of the Lords House to the Trustees and sent a letter to be read before the quorum from Brother Joseph Smith on the subject of his holding the Keys.
the letter was read by the clerk the Brethren was still of the opinion that the Trustees ought to hold the Keys and furthermore it was agreed to let the subject rest at present where it was.
[Kirtland Elder's Quorum Record, http://ogdenkraut.com/?page_id=414]
the letter was read by the clerk the Brethren was still of the opinion that the Trustees ought to hold the Keys and furthermore it was agreed to let the subject rest at present where it was.
[Kirtland Elder's Quorum Record, http://ogdenkraut.com/?page_id=414]
195 years ago today - Apr 4, 1831
Edward Partridge is called to be the first bishop in the church. Sidney Rigdon anoints him an elder and sets him apart as a bishop.
[Wikipedia: Chronology of Mormonism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Mormonism]
[Wikipedia: Chronology of Mormonism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Mormonism]
45 years ago today - Apr 3, 1981
At the regional representatives meeting, President Spencer W. Kimball outlined three responsibilities to carry out the mission of the Church: Proclaim the gospel, perfect the saints and redeem the dead.
[Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html]
[Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html]
50 years ago today - Apr 3, 1976
Members attending general conference accepted Joseph Smith's Vision of the Celestial Kingdom and Joseph F. Smith's Vision of the Redemption of the Dead for addition to the Pearl of Great Price. These scriptures became part of the Doctrine and Covenants on June 6, 1979.
[Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html]
[Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html]
90 years ago today - Apr 3, 1936
The First Presidency restores full church and priesthood blessings to Matthias F. Cowley. He unsuccessfully asked for this since 1926. The Deseret News publishes this announcement.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
125 years ago today - Wednesday, Apr 3, 1901
Apostle M. W. Merrill ... Prophesied that in the due time of the Lord Pres. Snow would have power to save every soul in his family [Nine wives and 42 children].
Remarks, David H. Cannon. ... Said Pres. Snow had promised the people of the St. George country that, if they were faithful in honoring the law of tithing and other commandments of God, they should be visited by the early and latter rains. This promise had been literally fulfilled, for a recent drought of some 5 years had been broken by copious rains. Explained how he had been guided by revelation in his labors at the temple.
[Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
Remarks, David H. Cannon. ... Said Pres. Snow had promised the people of the St. George country that, if they were faithful in honoring the law of tithing and other commandments of God, they should be visited by the early and latter rains. This promise had been literally fulfilled, for a recent drought of some 5 years had been broken by copious rains. Explained how he had been guided by revelation in his labors at the temple.
[Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
130 years ago today - Apr 3, 1896
Apostle Franklin D. Richards tells the Relief Society conference that women have a right "to rebuke disease in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ & by virtue of the Holy Anointing which I have received."
[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)]]
185 years ago today - Apr 3, 1841
[Charles Anthon]
NEW-YORK, April 3, 1841. Rev. and Dear Sir,--I have often heard that the Mormons claimed me for an auxiliary, but, as no one, until the present time, has ever requested from me any statement in writing, I have not deemed it worth while to say any thing publicly on the subject. ... Many years ago, the precise date I do not now recollect, a plain looking countryman called upon me with a letter from Dr. Samuel L. Mitchell, requesting me to examine, and give my opinion upon, a certain paper, marked with various characters which the Doctor confessed he could not decypher, and which the bearer of the note was very anxious to have explained. A very brief examination of the paper convinced me that it was a mere hoax, and a very clumsy one too. The characters were arranged in columns, like the chinese mode of writing, and presented the most singular medley that I had ever beheld. Greek, Hebrew, and all sorts of letters, more or less distorted, either through unskilfulness or from actual
design, were intermingled with sundry delineations of half moons, stars, and other natural objects, and the whole ended in a rude representation of the Mexican zodiac. The conclusion was irresistible, that some cunning fellow had prepared the paper in question, for the purpose of imposing upon the countryman who brought it, and I told the man so without any hesitation. ... To convince him the more clearly that there was no risk whatever in the matter, and that the work was actually what it claimed to be, he was told to take the paper, which purported to be a copy of one of the pages of the book, to the city of New York, and submit it to the learned in that quarter, who would soon dispel all his doubts, and satisfy him as to the perfect safety of the investment. As Dr. [Samuel L.] Mitchell was our "Magnus Apollo" in those days, the man called first upon him; but the Doctor, evidently suspecting some trick, declined giving any opinion about the matter, and sent the countryman down
to the college, to see, in all probability, what the "learned pundits" in that place would make of the affair. On my telling the bearer of the paper that an attempt had been made to impose upon him, and defraud him of his property, he requested me to give him my opinion in writing about the paper which he had shown to me. I did so without any hesitation, partly for the man's sake, and partly to let the individual "behind the curtain" see that his trick was discovered. The import of what I wrote was, as far as I can now recollect, simply this, that the marks in the paper appeared to be merely an imitation of various alphabetic characters, and had in my opinion no meaning at all connected with them. The countryman then took his leave, with many thanks, and with the express declaration that he would in no shape part with his farm or embark in the speculation of printing the golden book. The matter rested here for a considerable time, until one day, when I had ceased entirely to
think of the countryman and his paper, this same individual, to my great surprise, paid me a second visit. He now brought with him a duodecimo volume, which he said was a translation into English of the "Golden Bible." He also stated, that, notwithstanding his original determination, he had been induced eventually to sell his farm, and apply the money to the publication of the book, and had received the golden plates as a security for repayment. He begged my acceptance of the volume, assuring me that it would be found extremely interesting, and that it was already "making a great noise" in the upper part of the State. Suspecting, now, that some serious trick was on foot, and that my plain-looking visitor might be in fact a very cunning fellow, I declined his present, and merely contented myself with a slight examination of the volume while he stood by. The more I declined receiving it, however, the more urgent the man became in offering the book, until at last I told him plainly,
that if he left the volume, as he said he intended to do, I should most assuredly throw it after him as he departed. I then asked him how he could be so foolish as to sell his farm and engage in this affair; and requested him to tell me if the plates were really of gold. In answer to this latter enquiry, he said, that he had never seen the plates themselves, which were carefully locked up in a trunk, but that he had the trunk in his possession. I advised him by all means to open the trunk and examine its contents, and if the plates proved to be of gold, which I did not believe at all, to sell them immediately. His reply was, that if he opened the trunk the "curse of Heaven would descend upon him and his children." "However," added he, "I will agree to open it, provided you will take the `curse of Heaven' upon yourself, for having advised me to the step." I told him I was perfectly willing to do so, and begged him to hasten home and examine the trunk, for he would find he had been
cheated. He promised to do as I recommended, and left me taking his book with him. I have never seen him since. Such is a plain statement of all that I know respecting the Mormons. My impression now is, that the plain-looking countryman was none other than the prophet Smith himself, who assumed an appearance of great simplicity in order to entrap me, if possible, into some recommendation of his book. That the prophet aided me, by his inspiration, in interpreting the volume, is only one of the many amusing falsehoods which the Mormonites utter relative to my participation in their doctrines. Of these doctrines I know nothing whatever, nor have I ever heard a single discourse from any one of their preachers, although I have often felt a strong curiosity to become an auditor, since my friends tell me that they frequently name me in their sermons, and even go so far as to say that I am alluded to in the prophecies of Scripture! If what I have here written shall prove of any service in
opening the eyes of some of their deluded followers to the real designs of those who profess to be the apostles of Mormonism, it will afford me a satisfaction equalled, I have no doubt, only by that which you yourself will feel on this subject.
I remain very respectfully and truly,
Your friend,
CHAS. ANTHON. Rev. Dr. Coit, New Rochelle, N.Y.
[Charles Anthon to Thomas Winthrop Coit, 3 April 1841, Church Record (Flushing, New York) 1 (17 April 1841): 231-32. Reprinted in John A. Clark, Gleanings by the Way (Philadelphia: W. J. & J. K. Simon, 1842), 233-38., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Charles Anthon To Thomas Winthrop Coit]
NEW-YORK, April 3, 1841. Rev. and Dear Sir,--I have often heard that the Mormons claimed me for an auxiliary, but, as no one, until the present time, has ever requested from me any statement in writing, I have not deemed it worth while to say any thing publicly on the subject. ... Many years ago, the precise date I do not now recollect, a plain looking countryman called upon me with a letter from Dr. Samuel L. Mitchell, requesting me to examine, and give my opinion upon, a certain paper, marked with various characters which the Doctor confessed he could not decypher, and which the bearer of the note was very anxious to have explained. A very brief examination of the paper convinced me that it was a mere hoax, and a very clumsy one too. The characters were arranged in columns, like the chinese mode of writing, and presented the most singular medley that I had ever beheld. Greek, Hebrew, and all sorts of letters, more or less distorted, either through unskilfulness or from actual
design, were intermingled with sundry delineations of half moons, stars, and other natural objects, and the whole ended in a rude representation of the Mexican zodiac. The conclusion was irresistible, that some cunning fellow had prepared the paper in question, for the purpose of imposing upon the countryman who brought it, and I told the man so without any hesitation. ... To convince him the more clearly that there was no risk whatever in the matter, and that the work was actually what it claimed to be, he was told to take the paper, which purported to be a copy of one of the pages of the book, to the city of New York, and submit it to the learned in that quarter, who would soon dispel all his doubts, and satisfy him as to the perfect safety of the investment. As Dr. [Samuel L.] Mitchell was our "Magnus Apollo" in those days, the man called first upon him; but the Doctor, evidently suspecting some trick, declined giving any opinion about the matter, and sent the countryman down
to the college, to see, in all probability, what the "learned pundits" in that place would make of the affair. On my telling the bearer of the paper that an attempt had been made to impose upon him, and defraud him of his property, he requested me to give him my opinion in writing about the paper which he had shown to me. I did so without any hesitation, partly for the man's sake, and partly to let the individual "behind the curtain" see that his trick was discovered. The import of what I wrote was, as far as I can now recollect, simply this, that the marks in the paper appeared to be merely an imitation of various alphabetic characters, and had in my opinion no meaning at all connected with them. The countryman then took his leave, with many thanks, and with the express declaration that he would in no shape part with his farm or embark in the speculation of printing the golden book. The matter rested here for a considerable time, until one day, when I had ceased entirely to
think of the countryman and his paper, this same individual, to my great surprise, paid me a second visit. He now brought with him a duodecimo volume, which he said was a translation into English of the "Golden Bible." He also stated, that, notwithstanding his original determination, he had been induced eventually to sell his farm, and apply the money to the publication of the book, and had received the golden plates as a security for repayment. He begged my acceptance of the volume, assuring me that it would be found extremely interesting, and that it was already "making a great noise" in the upper part of the State. Suspecting, now, that some serious trick was on foot, and that my plain-looking visitor might be in fact a very cunning fellow, I declined his present, and merely contented myself with a slight examination of the volume while he stood by. The more I declined receiving it, however, the more urgent the man became in offering the book, until at last I told him plainly,
that if he left the volume, as he said he intended to do, I should most assuredly throw it after him as he departed. I then asked him how he could be so foolish as to sell his farm and engage in this affair; and requested him to tell me if the plates were really of gold. In answer to this latter enquiry, he said, that he had never seen the plates themselves, which were carefully locked up in a trunk, but that he had the trunk in his possession. I advised him by all means to open the trunk and examine its contents, and if the plates proved to be of gold, which I did not believe at all, to sell them immediately. His reply was, that if he opened the trunk the "curse of Heaven would descend upon him and his children." "However," added he, "I will agree to open it, provided you will take the `curse of Heaven' upon yourself, for having advised me to the step." I told him I was perfectly willing to do so, and begged him to hasten home and examine the trunk, for he would find he had been
cheated. He promised to do as I recommended, and left me taking his book with him. I have never seen him since. Such is a plain statement of all that I know respecting the Mormons. My impression now is, that the plain-looking countryman was none other than the prophet Smith himself, who assumed an appearance of great simplicity in order to entrap me, if possible, into some recommendation of his book. That the prophet aided me, by his inspiration, in interpreting the volume, is only one of the many amusing falsehoods which the Mormonites utter relative to my participation in their doctrines. Of these doctrines I know nothing whatever, nor have I ever heard a single discourse from any one of their preachers, although I have often felt a strong curiosity to become an auditor, since my friends tell me that they frequently name me in their sermons, and even go so far as to say that I am alluded to in the prophecies of Scripture! If what I have here written shall prove of any service in
opening the eyes of some of their deluded followers to the real designs of those who profess to be the apostles of Mormonism, it will afford me a satisfaction equalled, I have no doubt, only by that which you yourself will feel on this subject.
I remain very respectfully and truly,
Your friend,
CHAS. ANTHON. Rev. Dr. Coit, New Rochelle, N.Y.
[Charles Anthon to Thomas Winthrop Coit, 3 April 1841, Church Record (Flushing, New York) 1 (17 April 1841): 231-32. Reprinted in John A. Clark, Gleanings by the Way (Philadelphia: W. J. & J. K. Simon, 1842), 233-38., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Charles Anthon To Thomas Winthrop Coit]
190 years ago today - Apr 3, 1836
Mormon apostle Oliver Cowdery, as editor of the Latter Day Saint Messenger and Advocate, published an editorial on behalf of "our southern brethren", stating that "low indeed must be the mind, that would consent for a moment, to see his fair daughter, his sister, or perhaps, his bosom companion in the embrace of a NEGRO!"
[LDS (or related) Documents on Walker Lewis, the Lowell, Mass. Branch of the Mormon Church and its missionaries and members, and the Priesthood Ban against Blacks, Compiled by Connell O'Donovan, http://people.ucsc.edu/~odonovan/Mormon_Chronology.html]
[LDS (or related) Documents on Walker Lewis, the Lowell, Mass. Branch of the Mormon Church and its missionaries and members, and the Priesthood Ban against Blacks, Compiled by Connell O'Donovan, http://people.ucsc.edu/~odonovan/Mormon_Chronology.html]
190 years ago today - Apr 3, 1836
Sabbath, April 3rd He [Joseph Smith] attended meeting in the Lord's House [Kirtland Temple]... he retired to the pulpit, the vails being dropped, and bowed himself, with O[liver] Cowdery, in solemn but silent prayer to the Most High.
After rising from prayer the following vision was opened to both of them. The vail was taken from their minds and the eyes of their understandings were opened. They saw the Lord standing upon the breast work of the pulpit before them and under his feet was a paved work of pure gold, in color like amber. His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was like the pure snow. His countenance shone above the brightness of the sun, and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the Voice of Jehovah, saying, "I am the first and the last. I am he who liveth. I am he who was slain. I am your Advocate with the Father. Behold your sins are forgiven you. You are clean before me. Therefore lift up your heads and rejoice. Let the hearts of all my brethren /people/ rejoice, who have, with their might, built this house to my name.
"For behold I have accepted this house and my name shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people, in mercy, in this House. Yea, I will appear unto my servants and speak unto them with mine own voice, if my people will keep my commandments and do not pollute this Holy House. Yea, the hearts of thousands and tens of thousands shall greatly rejoice in consequence of the blessings which shall be poured out and the endowment with which my servants have already been endowed and shall hereafter be endowed in this House. And the fame of this House shall spread to foreign lands, and this is the beginning of the blessing, which shall be poured out upon the heads of my people. Even so. Amen."
After this vision closed, the Heavens were again opened unto them and Moses appeared before them and committed unto them the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the Earth and the leading of the ten tribes from the Land of the North. After this Elias appeared and committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, saying, that in them and their seed all generations after them should be blessed.
After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon them, for Elijah the Prophet, who was taken to Heaven without tasting death, also stood before them, and said, "Behold the time has fully come which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi, testifying, that he should be sent before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come, to turn the hearts of the Fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse. Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and the dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors." [See D&C 110]
[Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1835-36, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
After rising from prayer the following vision was opened to both of them. The vail was taken from their minds and the eyes of their understandings were opened. They saw the Lord standing upon the breast work of the pulpit before them and under his feet was a paved work of pure gold, in color like amber. His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was like the pure snow. His countenance shone above the brightness of the sun, and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the Voice of Jehovah, saying, "I am the first and the last. I am he who liveth. I am he who was slain. I am your Advocate with the Father. Behold your sins are forgiven you. You are clean before me. Therefore lift up your heads and rejoice. Let the hearts of all my brethren /people/ rejoice, who have, with their might, built this house to my name.
"For behold I have accepted this house and my name shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people, in mercy, in this House. Yea, I will appear unto my servants and speak unto them with mine own voice, if my people will keep my commandments and do not pollute this Holy House. Yea, the hearts of thousands and tens of thousands shall greatly rejoice in consequence of the blessings which shall be poured out and the endowment with which my servants have already been endowed and shall hereafter be endowed in this House. And the fame of this House shall spread to foreign lands, and this is the beginning of the blessing, which shall be poured out upon the heads of my people. Even so. Amen."
After this vision closed, the Heavens were again opened unto them and Moses appeared before them and committed unto them the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the Earth and the leading of the ten tribes from the Land of the North. After this Elias appeared and committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, saying, that in them and their seed all generations after them should be blessed.
After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon them, for Elijah the Prophet, who was taken to Heaven without tasting death, also stood before them, and said, "Behold the time has fully come which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi, testifying, that he should be sent before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come, to turn the hearts of the Fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse. Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and the dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors." [See D&C 110]
[Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1835-36, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]
215 years ago today - Apr 3, 1811
Joseph Smith, Sr. tells his family about his first vision. He sees a field representing the barrenness of true religion upon the earth, and he sees a log containing a box. His spirit guide tells him that if he eats the contents of the box, he will be filled with "wisdom and understanding". He raises the lid of the box, but is unable to eat its contents because "all manner of beasts, horned cattle, and roaring animals, rose up on every side in the most threatening manner possible". Based on the vision, Smith, Sr. concludes, more than ever, that there is no true religion on the earth. He would have six other visions between 1811 and 1819.
[Wikipedia: Chronology of Mormonism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Mormonism]
[Wikipedia: Chronology of Mormonism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Mormonism]
40 years ago today - Apr 2, 1986
BYU's administration prepares a document for its external accreditation review, including: "BYU administrators are advised not to publish in 'Dialogue, a Journal of Mormon Thought,' nor to participate in 'Sunstone' symposia.
[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)]]
45 years ago today - Apr 2, 1981-Thursday
[Leonard Arrington]
I have learned of an interesting development with respect to Nauvoo Restoration, Inc. When it was originally set up, the plan was to make it non-Church, non-Mormon, resembling Williamsburg. For that purpose the original advisory board included both non-Mormons and Mormons, and in order to insure historical integrity, it employed and consulted only with top-flight historians, archaeologists, and restorationists. This went on for a few years and then when vacancies in the advisory board appeared, an all-Mormon advisory board was created which included some general authorities. These included Elder Mark Petersen and Elder Delbert Stapley. Originally the corporation was to draw on private funds primarily-the donations of wealthy Mormons and grants from national philanthropic agencies, in addition to the pledged contributions of Dr. LeRoy Kimball. As time went on the Church became less concerned with the historical and artistic integrity and more interested in the proselyt[iz]ing
potential which it offered. It came to be, not a historical restoration, but a missionary tool for preaching the gospel to people who visit the site. This appears to have been primarily the objective of Elder Mark Petersen, who used his very considerable influence to downplay any aspect of the restoration which was not "positive" and helpful in the "missionary sale." For example, he prohibited them from putting up signs about the Masonic Hall and insisted that the sign simply say Cultural Hall. For that purpose also he did not wish any form of cooperation with the RLDS Church, which owned some of the properties and had its own tour guides. While the RLDS tour guides simply provided historical information, Elder Petersen insisted that our own tour guides be missionaries and that they did hard-sell proselyting in connection with the tour. This obviously created ill-will with the RLDS people. When Elder Stapley died, his place was taken by Elder [L.] Tom Parry. Elder Petersen remained
the senior member of the board.
Recently, with Dr. Kimball, who had been president both of the Nauvoo Mission and of Nauvoo Restoration, Inc., reaching 78, the Missionary Committee decided to release him as president of the mission. At the same time Elder Petersen decided that he should be released also as president of Nauvoo Restoration, Inc. This decision, according to my informant, was made without consultation with President [Spencer W.] Kimball. Elder Petersen wrote a beautiful letter of release which he submitted to the First Presidency for signature. They signed it as a perfunctory thing, as they sign many letters presented to them, and there was no discussion with them about the matter. Dr. Kimball was very hurt when he received the letter-not because he was being released, but because of the manner in which it was done, simply notifying him by letter without any advance warning or consultation. He had put several hundred thousand dollars of his own money into the project, and for him to be
released in this manner deeply injured his feelings. He finally decided, after weeping for a couple of days about it, to go to President Kimball to see if indeed President Kimball approved of this manner of doing things. President Kimball wept with him when Dr. Kimball explained all of this to President Kimball. President Kimball said he was not aware of it and did not approve of it, that he was very disappointed that a letter would be placed for him to sign without preliminary conversation about it.
President Kimball then called a meeting of those involved. This included Elder Petersen, who had written the letter, Elder [L. Tom] Parry, Dr. Kimball, President Kimball, and his two counselors, President [N. Eldon] Tanner and President [Marion G.] Romney. Both of the latter, it turned out, had also signed the letter without knowing the circumstances.
President Kimball said it was not his preference to have Dr. Kimball released as president of Nauvoo Restoration, Inc. He also said he did not approve of this manner of notification and chastened Elder Petersen, who apologized profusely. It became evident that Elder Petersen himself expected to be the president of Nauvoo Restoration, Inc., replacing Dr. Kimball. After the meeting Elder Petersen came up to Dr. Kimball and said, "Dr. Kimball, we love you and wouldn't do anything in the world to hurt you." (This reminds me of a similar action of Elder Petersen after the meeting at which he torpedoed The Story of the Latter-day Saints. He said, "Brother Arrington, we want you to know that we love you and wouldn't do anything to hurt you.") Apparently then[,] Dr. Kimball is back as president of Nauvoo Restoration, Inc. ...
Yesterday Grace and I attended the Women's History Symposium, jointly sponsored by the Women's Research Center at BYU and the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History. Both morning and afternoon papers were excellent... Here are the notes I made from these: Kate Kirkham
3. In early days, what women did [professionally was] perceived as positive because [it] came back to help the community. Different boundary today. [Back then][,] go out and get education and return [to Utah].
4. Change in tasks and in relationship [of women] to priesthood. [Women handling] grain storage v. [rules for] single and married ladies. Difference between initiating [tasks] and supervising [lifestyles]. Easier to coalesce around things you oppose than around something you want to do. Can't agree [today].
5. Relief Society as a change agent of Church. Taking on tasks, develop[ing], [then] turn[ing] [projects] over to Church. Often don't get credit or visibility....
In the evening we watched the address of Elder [Marion D.] Hanks at the fourteen BYU stakes, broadcast on KBYU. It was a truly outstanding talk.9
We noted the change in the sustaining of officers in which they sustained the new Seventy, Elder Abrea, and then simply asked us to sustain all other general authorities as previously constituted. That was a surprise. After Elder [Marion G.] Romney put that motion to the group, there was a delayed "No" shouted by one or two or three women in the rear, with something else being said like "No-because they are against ERA [Equal Rights Amendment]." Elder Romney either did not hear this or deliberately chose to ignore it. No attention was paid to it nor did the television switch to that part of the tabernacle nor was any mention made of it in the Conference news story in the Deseret News.
The News story did carry information about the fifty or sixty women who marched from the State Capitol to Temple Square and marched once around the grounds. They carried placards "Down with the Church That Opposes ERA." The TV news also had a shot of the airplane carrying a banner over the center of Salt Lake City with some inscription like "Mormons for ERA." There were no altercations in connection with the picketing. People seemed to be astonished or oblivious or with the attitude "Here we go again."
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
I have learned of an interesting development with respect to Nauvoo Restoration, Inc. When it was originally set up, the plan was to make it non-Church, non-Mormon, resembling Williamsburg. For that purpose the original advisory board included both non-Mormons and Mormons, and in order to insure historical integrity, it employed and consulted only with top-flight historians, archaeologists, and restorationists. This went on for a few years and then when vacancies in the advisory board appeared, an all-Mormon advisory board was created which included some general authorities. These included Elder Mark Petersen and Elder Delbert Stapley. Originally the corporation was to draw on private funds primarily-the donations of wealthy Mormons and grants from national philanthropic agencies, in addition to the pledged contributions of Dr. LeRoy Kimball. As time went on the Church became less concerned with the historical and artistic integrity and more interested in the proselyt[iz]ing
potential which it offered. It came to be, not a historical restoration, but a missionary tool for preaching the gospel to people who visit the site. This appears to have been primarily the objective of Elder Mark Petersen, who used his very considerable influence to downplay any aspect of the restoration which was not "positive" and helpful in the "missionary sale." For example, he prohibited them from putting up signs about the Masonic Hall and insisted that the sign simply say Cultural Hall. For that purpose also he did not wish any form of cooperation with the RLDS Church, which owned some of the properties and had its own tour guides. While the RLDS tour guides simply provided historical information, Elder Petersen insisted that our own tour guides be missionaries and that they did hard-sell proselyting in connection with the tour. This obviously created ill-will with the RLDS people. When Elder Stapley died, his place was taken by Elder [L.] Tom Parry. Elder Petersen remained
the senior member of the board.
Recently, with Dr. Kimball, who had been president both of the Nauvoo Mission and of Nauvoo Restoration, Inc., reaching 78, the Missionary Committee decided to release him as president of the mission. At the same time Elder Petersen decided that he should be released also as president of Nauvoo Restoration, Inc. This decision, according to my informant, was made without consultation with President [Spencer W.] Kimball. Elder Petersen wrote a beautiful letter of release which he submitted to the First Presidency for signature. They signed it as a perfunctory thing, as they sign many letters presented to them, and there was no discussion with them about the matter. Dr. Kimball was very hurt when he received the letter-not because he was being released, but because of the manner in which it was done, simply notifying him by letter without any advance warning or consultation. He had put several hundred thousand dollars of his own money into the project, and for him to be
released in this manner deeply injured his feelings. He finally decided, after weeping for a couple of days about it, to go to President Kimball to see if indeed President Kimball approved of this manner of doing things. President Kimball wept with him when Dr. Kimball explained all of this to President Kimball. President Kimball said he was not aware of it and did not approve of it, that he was very disappointed that a letter would be placed for him to sign without preliminary conversation about it.
President Kimball then called a meeting of those involved. This included Elder Petersen, who had written the letter, Elder [L. Tom] Parry, Dr. Kimball, President Kimball, and his two counselors, President [N. Eldon] Tanner and President [Marion G.] Romney. Both of the latter, it turned out, had also signed the letter without knowing the circumstances.
President Kimball said it was not his preference to have Dr. Kimball released as president of Nauvoo Restoration, Inc. He also said he did not approve of this manner of notification and chastened Elder Petersen, who apologized profusely. It became evident that Elder Petersen himself expected to be the president of Nauvoo Restoration, Inc., replacing Dr. Kimball. After the meeting Elder Petersen came up to Dr. Kimball and said, "Dr. Kimball, we love you and wouldn't do anything in the world to hurt you." (This reminds me of a similar action of Elder Petersen after the meeting at which he torpedoed The Story of the Latter-day Saints. He said, "Brother Arrington, we want you to know that we love you and wouldn't do anything to hurt you.") Apparently then[,] Dr. Kimball is back as president of Nauvoo Restoration, Inc. ...
Yesterday Grace and I attended the Women's History Symposium, jointly sponsored by the Women's Research Center at BYU and the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History. Both morning and afternoon papers were excellent... Here are the notes I made from these: Kate Kirkham
3. In early days, what women did [professionally was] perceived as positive because [it] came back to help the community. Different boundary today. [Back then][,] go out and get education and return [to Utah].
4. Change in tasks and in relationship [of women] to priesthood. [Women handling] grain storage v. [rules for] single and married ladies. Difference between initiating [tasks] and supervising [lifestyles]. Easier to coalesce around things you oppose than around something you want to do. Can't agree [today].
5. Relief Society as a change agent of Church. Taking on tasks, develop[ing], [then] turn[ing] [projects] over to Church. Often don't get credit or visibility....
In the evening we watched the address of Elder [Marion D.] Hanks at the fourteen BYU stakes, broadcast on KBYU. It was a truly outstanding talk.9
We noted the change in the sustaining of officers in which they sustained the new Seventy, Elder Abrea, and then simply asked us to sustain all other general authorities as previously constituted. That was a surprise. After Elder [Marion G.] Romney put that motion to the group, there was a delayed "No" shouted by one or two or three women in the rear, with something else being said like "No-because they are against ERA [Equal Rights Amendment]." Elder Romney either did not hear this or deliberately chose to ignore it. No attention was paid to it nor did the television switch to that part of the tabernacle nor was any mention made of it in the Conference news story in the Deseret News.
The News story did carry information about the fifty or sixty women who marched from the State Capitol to Temple Square and marched once around the grounds. They carried placards "Down with the Church That Opposes ERA." The TV news also had a shot of the airplane carrying a banner over the center of Salt Lake City with some inscription like "Mormons for ERA." There were no altercations in connection with the picketing. People seemed to be astonished or oblivious or with the attitude "Here we go again."
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
60 years ago today - Early April 1966
Apostle Lee's general conference talk publicly criticized Apostle Benson. Without naming his apostolic subordinate, Lee next told the April 1966 conference, "I would that all who are called to high places in the Church would determine, as did the Apostle to the Gentiles, to know and to preach nothing save Jesus Christ and him crucified." Then Lee darkly added: "The absolute test of the divinity of the calling of any officer in the Church is this: Is he in harmony with the brethren of that body to which he belongs? When we are out of harmony, we should look to ourselves first to find the way to unity." Apostles Joseph Fielding Smith, Harold B. Lee, and Mark E. Petersen had already indicated that Apostle Ezra Taft Benson was not in harmony with his quorum.
[Quinn's telephone conversation on 7 Nov. 1992 with L. Brent Goates. He described his father-in-law's April 1966 conference address as "an insinuation" concerning Benson but declined to comment further on the differences between the two apostles. Goates, Harold B. Lee, makes no reference to the dispute. 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.]
[Quinn's telephone conversation on 7 Nov. 1992 with L. Brent Goates. He described his father-in-law's April 1966 conference address as "an insinuation" concerning Benson but declined to comment further on the differences between the two apostles. Goates, Harold B. Lee, makes no reference to the dispute. 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.]
60 years ago today - early Apr 1966
During a four- month period, Quinn McKay attempted several times to get a statement from Reed Benson denying that he was the author of [the] September 1965 letter. McKay described the rumors of September 1965 and paraphrased the letter that "all who belong to this group do all they can to foster a whispering campaign that there would be a racial demonstration at General Conference."
[Quinn G. McKay statement, 25 Apr. 1966, in J. Kenneth Davies, Political Extremism Under the Spotlight (Provo, UT: Young Democrats and Young Republicans of Brigham Young University, 1966), 21. 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.]
[Quinn G. McKay statement, 25 Apr. 1966, in J. Kenneth Davies, Political Extremism Under the Spotlight (Provo, UT: Young Democrats and Young Republicans of Brigham Young University, 1966), 21. 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.]
75 years ago today - Mon Apr 2, 1951
[David O. McKay]
Received word from the doctor that President [George Albert] Smith was in a very serious condition. I went immediately to the house anda was shocked at his appearance. He did not seem to recognize me--the first time since his sickness. I realized that possibly the end was not far off. It came as quite a shock to my nervous system, for I fully sensed then what his passing means.
[McKay, David O., Office Journal]
Received word from the doctor that President [George Albert] Smith was in a very serious condition. I went immediately to the house anda was shocked at his appearance. He did not seem to recognize me--the first time since his sickness. I realized that possibly the end was not far off. It came as quite a shock to my nervous system, for I fully sensed then what his passing means.
[McKay, David O., Office Journal]
95 years ago today - Apr 2, 1931
[Heber J. Grant]
At the Council meeting today it was unanimously decided to prepare a statement to be read, refuting some of the lies in The New Era, among other things the declaration that Brother Widtsoe had married a plural wife and then discarded her while he was president of the University. A motion was made that the charge against Brother Widtsoe should be repudiated, and I requested Brother Stephen L. Richards who made the motion to prepare the article.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
At the Council meeting today it was unanimously decided to prepare a statement to be read, refuting some of the lies in The New Era, among other things the declaration that Brother Widtsoe had married a plural wife and then discarded her while he was president of the University. A motion was made that the charge against Brother Widtsoe should be repudiated, and I requested Brother Stephen L. Richards who made the motion to prepare the article.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
105 years ago today - Apr 02, 1921
Clarissa Smith Williams is called as the sixth general president of the Relief Society, with Jennie Brimhall Knight and Louise Yates Robison as counselors.
130 years ago today - Apr 2, 1896
[Brigham Young Jr.]
.... Pres[iden]t Cannon presented change cash a/c [account] from B[isho]p. to Pres[iden]t. Church carried unanimously. Abrogate all salar[is]s paid to Church officials, carried unanimously. If apostles & others must be helped should be done as they need up to present limit, anything over requires special order of First Presidency. Thank God these questions are settled. Pres[iden]t. Woodruff blessed the brethren for being unanimous in righting wrong returning to proper method of managing Church business. Sacrament administered and we rejoiced before the Lord. ...
After meeting proposed to Cannon that the First Presidency & Twelve obtain a farm and operate it on the principle of United Order. My mind opens to visions of Presidents of Stakes High Councils B[isho]p. Etc. gradually'unsolicited'following our example, Coming to us for Council and thus a core of men and women who have received, through their faithfulness, all the blessings in the House of the Lord being prepared to inhabit and build up the Center stake of Zion in Jackson Co[unty], Miss[ouri].
[Brigham Young Jr. 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]
.... Pres[iden]t Cannon presented change cash a/c [account] from B[isho]p. to Pres[iden]t. Church carried unanimously. Abrogate all salar[is]s paid to Church officials, carried unanimously. If apostles & others must be helped should be done as they need up to present limit, anything over requires special order of First Presidency. Thank God these questions are settled. Pres[iden]t. Woodruff blessed the brethren for being unanimous in righting wrong returning to proper method of managing Church business. Sacrament administered and we rejoiced before the Lord. ...
After meeting proposed to Cannon that the First Presidency & Twelve obtain a farm and operate it on the principle of United Order. My mind opens to visions of Presidents of Stakes High Councils B[isho]p. Etc. gradually'unsolicited'following our example, Coming to us for Council and thus a core of men and women who have received, through their faithfulness, all the blessings in the House of the Lord being prepared to inhabit and build up the Center stake of Zion in Jackson Co[unty], Miss[ouri].
[Brigham Young Jr. Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
135 years ago today - Apr 2, 1891
PRESIDENT [of the Quorum of Twelve] LORENZO SNOW said ... the Savior would come to the temple in Missouri and lay his hands on Joseph and the brethren with him were pretty well supplied with Apostles and that he would not call any more of the Apostles to pass away from this life unless they wished to go. ...
Heber J. Grant, said that at the time that his brother George Smith Grant was accidentally killed that the impression came that his father had the whisperings of the spirit to him at the time he was in Arizona and wondering to himself while riding along in the Navajo reservation why he should be called as an Apostle. These whisperings were to the effect that his father Jedediah M. Grant and the Prophet Joseph to whom his mother had been sealed had asked that he be appointed to the position....
[President Woodruff] Referring to the Manifesto he said that he wished to say that the Lord was with us and he testified in the name of Israel's God that the heavens were not closed over our heads and the Lord had not left us to ourselves. If it had not been for the Manifesto all the work of the living and the dead in our temples would have to stop. Would not have taken the stand he did had he not been moved on by the inspiration of God. The Lord God will hold this Nation responsible for the persecutions the saints have had to pass through. He will et open doors that the principle of plural marriage can and will be restored.... The Presidency and Apostles should remain on the earth until the coming of the Son of God. ...
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
Heber J. Grant, said that at the time that his brother George Smith Grant was accidentally killed that the impression came that his father had the whisperings of the spirit to him at the time he was in Arizona and wondering to himself while riding along in the Navajo reservation why he should be called as an Apostle. These whisperings were to the effect that his father Jedediah M. Grant and the Prophet Joseph to whom his mother had been sealed had asked that he be appointed to the position....
[President Woodruff] Referring to the Manifesto he said that he wished to say that the Lord was with us and he testified in the name of Israel's God that the heavens were not closed over our heads and the Lord had not left us to ourselves. If it had not been for the Manifesto all the work of the living and the dead in our temples would have to stop. Would not have taken the stand he did had he not been moved on by the inspiration of God. The Lord God will hold this Nation responsible for the persecutions the saints have had to pass through. He will et open doors that the principle of plural marriage can and will be restored.... The Presidency and Apostles should remain on the earth until the coming of the Son of God. ...
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
145 years ago today - Apr 2, 1881
[Heber J. Grant]
[Among the instructions to stake presidents from First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:] Before parties can be recommended to the Temples or house of the Lord, they must be rebaptised & must be tithing payers.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
[Among the instructions to stake presidents from First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:] Before parties can be recommended to the Temples or house of the Lord, they must be rebaptised & must be tithing payers.
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
180 years ago today - Apr 2, 1846
President Young said in talking about him that he had become satisfied that William [Smith] was in the murder with the Hodges in Iowa for which two were hung as before mentioned[.]
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
35 years ago today - Apr 1,1991
Student at BYU's commencement offers prayer to "Our Mother and Father in Heaven."
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-1996, http://amzn.to/extensions-power]
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-1996, http://amzn.to/extensions-power]
35 years ago today - Spring 1991.
An administrator in the Church History Department's archives tells two separate individuals that permission to use archival materials depends to some extent on "who the researcher is," whether this person is considered to be reliable, what approach the researcher will likely take to the material, and where the researcher plans to publish. If Sunstone, Dialogue, or Signature Books are potential publishers, the request receives "extra scrutiny."
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1]
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1]
50 years ago today - Spring-fall 1976.
Elder Ezra Taft Benson defines "historical realism" as "slander and defamation," denounces those who "inordinately humanize the prophets of God," and instructs CES personnel: "If you feel you must write for the scholarly journals, you always defend the faith. Avoid expressions and terminology which offend the Brethren and Church members." He also warns them not to buy the books or subscribe to the periodicals of "known apostates, or other liberal sources" or have such works on office or personal bookshelves.
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1]
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1]
60 years ago today - Apr 1, 1966
(Spring) The first issue of Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought is published. Dialogue is the longest running independent publication devoted to Mormonism. Characterized by scholarly historical articles, personal essays on contemporary issues, fiction, poetry, graphic arts, and lively letters to the editor. Six men are appointed as general authorities after affliliation with Dialogue: Dallin H. Oaks (board of editors, 1966-70; author 1968), Richard B. Wirthlin (author, 1968), Joseph C. Muren (author, 1969), Ronald E. Poelman (board of advisors, 1970-72), G. Homer Durham (author, 1973), Francis M. Gibbons (author, 1975).
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
90 years ago today - Apr 1, 1936
[David O. McKay]
In the evening Brother M[atthias]. F. Cowley called at our home, and asked me to give to President [Heber J.] Grant for him a written confession and plea for forgiveness. [Cowley had been dropped from the Quorum of Twelve for continued promption of plural marriage.]
[David O. McKay, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015, Appendix 8: The Reinstatements of Matthias F. Cowley and John W. Taylor]
In the evening Brother M[atthias]. F. Cowley called at our home, and asked me to give to President [Heber J.] Grant for him a written confession and plea for forgiveness. [Cowley had been dropped from the Quorum of Twelve for continued promption of plural marriage.]
[David O. McKay, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015, Appendix 8: The Reinstatements of Matthias F. Cowley and John W. Taylor]
95 years ago today - April 1931 (conference)
Several times within the past three months I have been approached by individuals and have received communications through the mails, making inquiry concerning a certain purported revelation said to have been given many years ago to President Joseph F. Smith, in which he saw the destruction of many great cities and many countries of the world and other very unusual things. Inquiry has also been made regarding a purported vision given to the Prophet Joseph Smith in relation to the same things, and which has been in circulation for many years. It is evident that these things are again being circulated and many of the people are becoming agitated over them wondering if they are true or not, and some of the people have been deceived.
At the October Conference of the Church in the year 1918, which was the last General Conference attended by President Joseph F. Smith, I made some remarks in relation to these two so-called visions and pointed out the fact that they were not true. At the close of my remarks President Smith arose and also spoke of them. …
[Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, April 1931, 69]
At the October Conference of the Church in the year 1918, which was the last General Conference attended by President Joseph F. Smith, I made some remarks in relation to these two so-called visions and pointed out the fact that they were not true. At the close of my remarks President Smith arose and also spoke of them. …
[Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, April 1931, 69]
130 years ago today - Wednesday, Apr 1, 1896
M. W. Merrill. Told of his ordination to the Priesthood. He predicted we would practice plural marriage again and our Nation endorse.
Lorenzo Snow. Told of letters written by a lady to England from Nauvoo, Ill. about Celestial Marriage.
He said that Joseph Smith the Prophet taught him the Doctrine of plural marriage April 15, 1843.
[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]
Lorenzo Snow. Told of letters written by a lady to England from Nauvoo, Ill. about Celestial Marriage.
He said that Joseph Smith the Prophet taught him the Doctrine of plural marriage April 15, 1843.
[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]
130 years ago today - Apr 1, 1896; Wednesday
Pres[iden]t Lorenzo Snow stated that he was in England with Bro[ther] Pratt when reports came from Nauvoo [Illinois] to the effect that the doctrine of plural marriage was bring taught. Upon his return to Nauvoo in the spring of 1843 he had a long talk with the Prophet Joseph Smith, who fully explained to him the doctrine of plural marriage, and stated that an angel with a drawn sword had visited him and commanded him to go into this principle, and President Smith told Bro[ther] Snow to enter into plural marriage.
[Heber J. Grant, Diary]
[Heber J. Grant, Diary]
130 years ago today - Apr 1, 1896
Lorenzo Snow ... Felt that the influence of the Apostles was very great, and that we were great before we came to this earth. Felt sure that we held high offices before we came here ... Referred to the prayer of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to his Father, asking the Father to glorify him with that same glory which he had before he came to this world, and felt that we should pray the same as the Savior had done ... It was his belief that President Brigham Young would be living today, if the Prophet Joseph Smith had not asked to have him come and assist him in his labors ... Marriner Wood Merrill ... The time will come when this nation will ask to have the law of plural marriage established, and it will be practiced again in Israel. Plural marriage is a trial for men as well as women. Was doing all he could to be true to his family. ... Pres[iden]t. [Lorenzo] Snow stated that he was in England with Bro[ther]. [Parley P.] Pratt when reports came from Nauvoo [Illinois] to the
effect that the doctrine of plural marriage was being taught. Pres[iden]t. Snow said that the principle was just as true today as it ever was, and bore his testimony to the effect that it will again be practiced by this people. Abraham H. Cannon expressed gratitude at listening to the testimony Pres[iden]t. Snow. He had never had a doubt since arriving at manhood, but that plural marriage was a true principle of the Gospel. Stated that he had been true to his family, and had divided his time as near as may be equally with his wives. Believed that plural marriage would yet be practiced by this Church, and acknowledged all right by this nation. Pres[iden]t. Lorenzo Snow stated that it was his belief that the Lord would soon arrange matters that those brethren who have wives can live with them and raise families by them. Believed that the Lord would assist us in softening the hearts of officials. He said he felt to bless the brethren in keeping their covenants with families and living
with them. Francis M. Lyman testified to the truthfulness of the remarks of Bro[ther]. [Marriner Wood] Merrill regarding plural marriage. He felt that when the time came that this principle was again established among the people, he thought that men would be selected to enter into this principle, and not be allowed to do so from mere choice, as had been the case in years gone by. He felt that no man, unless he was a servant of God in very deed should be permitted to marry more than one wife. ...
[Minutes, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
effect that the doctrine of plural marriage was being taught. Pres[iden]t. Snow said that the principle was just as true today as it ever was, and bore his testimony to the effect that it will again be practiced by this people. Abraham H. Cannon expressed gratitude at listening to the testimony Pres[iden]t. Snow. He had never had a doubt since arriving at manhood, but that plural marriage was a true principle of the Gospel. Stated that he had been true to his family, and had divided his time as near as may be equally with his wives. Believed that plural marriage would yet be practiced by this Church, and acknowledged all right by this nation. Pres[iden]t. Lorenzo Snow stated that it was his belief that the Lord would soon arrange matters that those brethren who have wives can live with them and raise families by them. Believed that the Lord would assist us in softening the hearts of officials. He said he felt to bless the brethren in keeping their covenants with families and living
with them. Francis M. Lyman testified to the truthfulness of the remarks of Bro[ther]. [Marriner Wood] Merrill regarding plural marriage. He felt that when the time came that this principle was again established among the people, he thought that men would be selected to enter into this principle, and not be allowed to do so from mere choice, as had been the case in years gone by. He felt that no man, unless he was a servant of God in very deed should be permitted to marry more than one wife. ...
[Minutes, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
140 years ago today - Thursday, Apr 1, 1886
[John Henry Smith]
Salt Lake City
I attended fast meeting and heard the speaking in tongues.
[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]
Salt Lake City
I attended fast meeting and heard the speaking in tongues.
[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]
190 years ago today - 1836 Spring
Eliza R. Snow boards with the Smith family and teaches a school for young ladies. [A number of women who stay with the Smiths become his plural wife, including Eliza R. Snow.]
[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]
195 years ago today - 1/Apr 7, 1831
Martin Harris sells his 151-acre farm to Thomas Lakey for $3,000 to cover the Book of Mormon debt. By the end of the month, he settles some property upon his wife, from whom he separates, and leads several other families to Kirtland. Hyrum Smith leads the Colesville branch to Kirtland, departing from New York before the end of April.
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books, http://bit.ly/lucys-book]
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books, http://bit.ly/lucys-book]
25 years ago today - Mar 31, 2001
[Finances]
Gordon B. Hinckley announces the creation of the Perpetual Education Fund to make loans to members of the church in developing nations, enabling them to improve their job prospects by pursuing higher education and vocational training programs.
[http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/282148/]
Gordon B. Hinckley announces the creation of the Perpetual Education Fund to make loans to members of the church in developing nations, enabling them to improve their job prospects by pursuing higher education and vocational training programs.
[http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/282148/]
130 years ago today - Mar 31, 1896
Meeting of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the Temple. Opening prayer by Bro[ther]. Lorenzo Snow. Bro[ther]. Lorenzo Snow expressed his pleasure at being able to meet ... Said that we should desire to live until the Lord Jesus came, and that he knew that it was possible that the brethren could so live as to preserve their bodies and renew them sufficiently to be enabled to live until the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Said that the brethren by care and faith were entitled to live and that there was no necessity for them to have their bodies buried in the ground. Stated that he did not know that it was his privilege, because of his advanced age, to have his life preserved until the coming of the Savior. It was the design of the Gospel to overcome death, and to enable men who are faithful to so live until they are translated ... Franklin D. Richards ... Felt that inasmuch that we are the special witnesses of our Savior that he would like to know more of him.
Stated, I rejoice beyond all expression, to be one with you, my brethren, and expressed a desire to have the council of fifty again hold some meetings. Brigham Young [Jr.] had felt deeply touched by what he had felt thus far in our meeting this morning. More than once he had been offended by the actions of his brethren, but when he met with them and partook of the good influence present in our meeting, every spirit of resentment or animosity disappeared ... He felt that a great many of the people were preparing themselves to meet our Lord and Savior when he shall come to reign upon the earth. He felt that a majority of the Latter-day Saints are so living today that their lives and the faithfulness of them was calculated to hasten the time of the coming of the Savior ... If we were only prepared for it and had sufficient faith, President [Wilford] Woodruff, Pres[iden]t. Snow and Bro[ther] Richards would not need to die. While he did not know in the providences of the Lord whether
these brethren's lives might be preserved, he felt to pray that they might not be called upon to taste death ...
[Minutes, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
Stated, I rejoice beyond all expression, to be one with you, my brethren, and expressed a desire to have the council of fifty again hold some meetings. Brigham Young [Jr.] had felt deeply touched by what he had felt thus far in our meeting this morning. More than once he had been offended by the actions of his brethren, but when he met with them and partook of the good influence present in our meeting, every spirit of resentment or animosity disappeared ... He felt that a great many of the people were preparing themselves to meet our Lord and Savior when he shall come to reign upon the earth. He felt that a majority of the Latter-day Saints are so living today that their lives and the faithfulness of them was calculated to hasten the time of the coming of the Savior ... If we were only prepared for it and had sufficient faith, President [Wilford] Woodruff, Pres[iden]t. Snow and Bro[ther] Richards would not need to die. While he did not know in the providences of the Lord whether
these brethren's lives might be preserved, he felt to pray that they might not be called upon to taste death ...
[Minutes, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
150 years ago today - Mar 31, 1876
[Wilford Woodruff]
Dedicates ZCMI building
[Kenney, Scott (editor), Wilford Woodruff's Journals 1833-1898, Chronology Signature Books, Midvale, Utah, http://bit.ly/wwjournal]
Dedicates ZCMI building
[Kenney, Scott (editor), Wilford Woodruff's Journals 1833-1898, Chronology Signature Books, Midvale, Utah, http://bit.ly/wwjournal]
165 years ago today - Mar 31, 1861
.... Pres. B. Young who closed the meeting by the most powerful prayer I ever heard. -- SLC Tabernacle
[Lorenzo Brown Diary, Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.. Also The Journal of Lorenzo Brown 1823-1900, Heritage Press, 1975. 126, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
[Lorenzo Brown Diary, Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.. Also The Journal of Lorenzo Brown 1823-1900, Heritage Press, 1975. 126, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
195 years ago today - Mar 31, 1831
Martin Harris calls the Book of Mormon the "Antimasonic Bible."
[Brooke, John L. The Refiner's Fire: The Making of Mormon Cosmology, 1644-1844. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1994. p.169]
[Brooke, John L. The Refiner's Fire: The Making of Mormon Cosmology, 1644-1844. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1994. p.169]
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