Today In Mormon History-FB
Several curious tidbits that happened on this day in Mormon History
45 years ago today - Oct 21, 1979
Elizapan and Ebisiba Osaka and their children, the first African converts in Kenya, are baptized.
125 years ago today - Oct 21, 1899
Brother Samuel Thatcher, of Logan [Utah], called upon President Snow. He had recently married a woman who was not a member of the Church, and was living with her, notwithstanding that he had had a wife (since dead) sealed to him under the covenant of the priesthood. His Bishop (Brother Lewis) had refused to give him a transfer to another Ward, as being in full fellowship without the case being stated to the President of the Church. President Snow, after some conversation with Brother Thatcher, who signified his willingness to make amends, wrote to Bishop Lewis, asking him to permit Brother Thatcher to appear before the Ward priesthood meeting, confess his error, and ask to be forgiven. This done, and forgiveness granted, he would be entitled to the desired certificate.
[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]
135 years ago today - Oct 21, 1889
[Apostle Abraham H. Cannon]
About 5 p.m. Bro. Jorgason of Sevier Co[unty] desired my counsel as to what course he should take. He was arrested two weeks since on a bench warrant on a charge of polygamy. His first wife died 18 months ago and he has since married his plural wife before a justice of the peace. I advised him to keep his wife out of the way until after his trial, and when his case came up, he should prove the death of his first wife and subsequent marriage to his second. The date of his union with the latter, however, in the house of the Lord, he should not reveal, as it has occurred within three years.
[Diary of Apostle Abraham H. Cannon, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
About 5 p.m. Bro. Jorgason of Sevier Co[unty] desired my counsel as to what course he should take. He was arrested two weeks since on a bench warrant on a charge of polygamy. His first wife died 18 months ago and he has since married his plural wife before a justice of the peace. I advised him to keep his wife out of the way until after his trial, and when his case came up, he should prove the death of his first wife and subsequent marriage to his second. The date of his union with the latter, however, in the house of the Lord, he should not reveal, as it has occurred within three years.
[Diary of Apostle Abraham H. Cannon, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
140 years ago today - Oct 21, 1884 (Tuesday)
The jury, which could not agree on a verdict in [future First Presidency member] Rudger Clawson's case, was discharged, and preparations were made for a new trial.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
145 years ago today - Oct 21, 1879
Thomas Edison tested an electric incandescent light bulb in Menlo Park, N.J., that burned for 13 1/2 hours, marking the beginning of a new era of electric lighting.
[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]
150 years ago today - Oct 21, 1874
[Assistant First Presidency counselor] G[eorge] Q. Cannon was arested to day on a warrant for Lacivious Cohabitation. This was got up by the miserable wicked ring of Judges & Marshals who profess to be Executing the Law. It is done to keep him from Going to Congress.
[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 - Oct 21, 1874
Polygamist George Reynolds is approached by First Presidency Counselor George Q. Cannon and told he has been selected to be a test case on the legality of polygamy. Reynolds is arrested, charged, convicted and sentenced to one year in prison. On appeal his conviction is set aside on a technicality, Reynolds's case is re-tried. He is convicted in the re-trial and is sentenced to two years in prison.. His case goes to the U.S. Supreme Court where his conviction, and the legality of the anti-polygamy laws are upheld but the hard labor part of his sentence is overturned as being excessive. With time off for good conduct he serves one year and seven months in prison. In 1890, he is sustained as one of the First Seven Presidents of Seventies.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
180 years ago today - Oct 21, 1844
Apostle Orson Hyde, then husband of three wives, writes: "I will now venture a prediction, that since Nauvoo has thrown off so much bile from its stomach [i.e., Sidney Rigdon] it will be more healthy, and less complaints about spiritual wives, adultery, bogus making, &c. &c." The letter is published two months later in a Mormon newspaper.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
180 years ago today - After Oct 21, 1844
Alice Felt Tyler describes William Miller's failed prediction of the end of the world:
' ... Preparations for the end were made by countless hundreds of joyous or desperate souls. White cloth was purchased and made into ascension robes. Nearly all secular business was neglected ... Voting was light ... Tents were put up outside cities ... and hundreds of people assembled on the night of October 21 [1844] to keep their vigil together. No provision was made for food ... the tension was intolerable ... There were several suicides, and as the dawn of October 23 served notice that "time continued" regardless of prophecy, some heart-broken Millennialists were led away insane. '
[Joseph Smith had denounced Miller's prophecies]
[Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source]
' ... Preparations for the end were made by countless hundreds of joyous or desperate souls. White cloth was purchased and made into ascension robes. Nearly all secular business was neglected ... Voting was light ... Tents were put up outside cities ... and hundreds of people assembled on the night of October 21 [1844] to keep their vigil together. No provision was made for food ... the tension was intolerable ... There were several suicides, and as the dawn of October 23 served notice that "time continued" regardless of prophecy, some heart-broken Millennialists were led away insane. '
[Joseph Smith had denounced Miller's prophecies]
[Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source]
55 years ago today - Oct 20, 1969
While BYU's basketball team is playing University of Wyoming in Laramie, fourteen African-Americans are disqualified from Wyoming's team for wearing black armbands in protest of LDS church's priesthood restriction. Game continues despite objects thrown by spectators at playing floor and audience shouting accusations of racism against BYU's athletes. Wyoming defeats BYU by 33 points.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
90 years ago today - Oct 20, 1934
[President Heber J. Grant]
Joseph M. [?] Cannon called and said that a couple of editorials had been handed to him by the direction of the First Presidency.
I said, 'We have not sent any editorials over for you, Joseph.'
He said, 'I was told you did.'
I said, 'Who wrote them?'
He said, 'Joseph Fielding Smith wrote one of them.' Broyher (sic) Joseph Fielding Smith happened to come into the office at the time and he said Brother Bennion requested a couple of editorials from Brother Widtsoe and himself and that he wrote them.
Joseph Cannon doubted the wisdom of having Church editorials, as we rely on Gentile patronage, etc., and thought that everything of a Church nature should be in the Church Section.
We told him we did not think it would hurt our subscriptions if we had some good Church editorials.
He said of course anything we wanted he wanted. He stayed quite awhile.
I could not help feeling that perhaps he had heard we had decided to release him, but we did not tell him so. ...
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Joseph M. [?] Cannon called and said that a couple of editorials had been handed to him by the direction of the First Presidency.
I said, 'We have not sent any editorials over for you, Joseph.'
He said, 'I was told you did.'
I said, 'Who wrote them?'
He said, 'Joseph Fielding Smith wrote one of them.' Broyher (sic) Joseph Fielding Smith happened to come into the office at the time and he said Brother Bennion requested a couple of editorials from Brother Widtsoe and himself and that he wrote them.
Joseph Cannon doubted the wisdom of having Church editorials, as we rely on Gentile patronage, etc., and thought that everything of a Church nature should be in the Church Section.
We told him we did not think it would hurt our subscriptions if we had some good Church editorials.
He said of course anything we wanted he wanted. He stayed quite awhile.
I could not help feeling that perhaps he had heard we had decided to release him, but we did not tell him so. ...
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
110 years ago today - Oct 20, 1914
Spencer Woolley Kimball: Mission to central states 20 October 1914-14 December1916.
[Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith]
[Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith]
120 years ago today - Oct 20, 1904
A meeting of the First Presidency and Apostles was held this morning as usual. ... President [Joseph F.] Smith said that he had been reliably informed that some of our people were in the habit of sending their garments and, in some instances, their temple robes, to laundries to be washed; and that laundry employees had been known to dress themselves in temple clothing for the purpose of ridicule and making sport among other employees of the laundry. The Apostles were asked to take this matter up with the several Bishops of this city, Ogden [Utah] and other places where laundries operate, with a view to having our people instructed not to send their temple clothing to laundries, but have it washed at their own homes or by latter-day Saints. In this connection President Smith also related to the Council the efforts which had been made by the First Presidency to maintain a uniform pattern of the knitted garment, by furnishing samples of the approved garment to factories, and issuing
what is known as the approval label, which label is attached by the manufacturer to all such garments; that since then other factories had come into existence, and the result is that garments are being hawked about by drummers, and sold over the counter in Gentile stores. He felt that such things should be corrected.
[Journal History, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
what is known as the approval label, which label is attached by the manufacturer to all such garments; that since then other factories had come into existence, and the result is that garments are being hawked about by drummers, and sold over the counter in Gentile stores. He felt that such things should be corrected.
[Journal History, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
135 years ago today - Oct 20, 1889
President Woodruff says church not performing plural marriage.
The Salt Lake Tribune quoted President Woodruff as saying, "I have refused to give any recommendations for the performance of plural marriages since I have been President ... and have instructed that they should not be solemnized." Woodruff had only been sustained President for 6 months before making this statement. President Woodruff authorized the destruction of the Endowment House because the new temples could perform marriages and he needed those doing the demolition to become Mormon voters to vote against the anti-Mormon party in the upcoming city elections.
["Mormon Polygamy a History", Richard S. Van Wagoner, 1986, p. 138. as quoted in Tungate, Mel, Mormon Polygamy, http://www.tungate.com/polygamy.htm]
The Salt Lake Tribune quoted President Woodruff as saying, "I have refused to give any recommendations for the performance of plural marriages since I have been President ... and have instructed that they should not be solemnized." Woodruff had only been sustained President for 6 months before making this statement. President Woodruff authorized the destruction of the Endowment House because the new temples could perform marriages and he needed those doing the demolition to become Mormon voters to vote against the anti-Mormon party in the upcoming city elections.
["Mormon Polygamy a History", Richard S. Van Wagoner, 1986, p. 138. as quoted in Tungate, Mel, Mormon Polygamy, http://www.tungate.com/polygamy.htm]
170 years ago today - Oct 20, 1854
.... Twitch had taken possession of 4 of the horses selling two of them to Levi Abram a mean & contempible Jew who had put them in his stable & refused to deliver them up to Burton on demand Burton called on W[illiam] A. Hickman to assist to recover the horses which had to be done by force. A considerable altercation ensued. The Jew posted to the probate Judge complained that Hickman had drawn a knife also a club on him with intent as he said to take his life. ...
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
175 years ago today - Oct 20, 1849
[Brigham Young Sermon]
.... feel like going to bed more than going to meeting. .... I mean to monopolize the labor here. The Council House walls finished. I have monopolized all the good things of the earth for those who will work for us. I have the right to monopolize.
[Thomas Bullock Minutes, LJA; Thomas Bullock—LDS Church Reporter, 1844-56.C, Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.; GCM, Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah..; General Church Minutes. Selected Collections from the Archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints DVD 1 (2002) as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
.... feel like going to bed more than going to meeting. .... I mean to monopolize the labor here. The Council House walls finished. I have monopolized all the good things of the earth for those who will work for us. I have the right to monopolize.
[Thomas Bullock Minutes, LJA; Thomas Bullock—LDS Church Reporter, 1844-56.C, Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.; GCM, Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah..; General Church Minutes. Selected Collections from the Archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints DVD 1 (2002) as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
185 years ago today - Oct 20, 1839
The Nauvoo High Council makes Joseph Smith treasurer of the Church, empowered to set prices and to sell real-estate lots in Nauvoo as well as to discharge other business functions.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
200 years ago today - Oct 20, 1824
The First Baptist Church in Palmyra welcomes 8 new converts. This is the first of many for the Baptist Church during the revival of 1824-25. For the one year period from Oct 1824 to the end of Sep 1825 there were a total of 94 persons baptized, by the Baptists and an increase of 87 members. Membership increased from 132 to 219 (65 percent). By comparison in the whole year of 1820 there were only eight new members baptized into the church.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspotcom]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspotcom]
25 years ago today - Oct 19, 1999
BYU and the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS) sign an affiliation agreement, officially joining the organizations together.
125 years ago today - Oct 19, 1899; Thursday
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
Referring to the inexperience of many, President Smith suggested that some kind of missionary course be provided for the young men, so that they could devote from three to sis months to religious study previous to going, such time to be regarded as part of their missions. He thought that young men prepared in this way would do more good than twice as many without such preparation.
Brother John Henry Smith endorsed President Smith's suggestion, which he considered one of great moment. He added, however, that he thought the young men should receive a year's notice with a view to preparing themselves.
...This matter was dropped without any action being taken.
...President Snow added that the Bishops should not be hard upon the members of their Wards if they did not have faith enough to pay tithing; also that they should use wisdom in refusing recommends to the Temple in case of those who were not tithepayers. ...
Brother Grant also brought up the subject of missionary blessings, stating that our missionaries, as a rule, when being set apart, had their blessings reported, and that it cost them fifty cents each for this service. He proposed that Brother Martin Lindsay, the stenographer, be paid a regular salary by the Church, and that a part of his labor consist of reporting these blessings free. This also was approved by the Council. ...
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
Referring to the inexperience of many, President Smith suggested that some kind of missionary course be provided for the young men, so that they could devote from three to sis months to religious study previous to going, such time to be regarded as part of their missions. He thought that young men prepared in this way would do more good than twice as many without such preparation.
Brother John Henry Smith endorsed President Smith's suggestion, which he considered one of great moment. He added, however, that he thought the young men should receive a year's notice with a view to preparing themselves.
...This matter was dropped without any action being taken.
...President Snow added that the Bishops should not be hard upon the members of their Wards if they did not have faith enough to pay tithing; also that they should use wisdom in refusing recommends to the Temple in case of those who were not tithepayers. ...
Brother Grant also brought up the subject of missionary blessings, stating that our missionaries, as a rule, when being set apart, had their blessings reported, and that it cost them fifty cents each for this service. He proposed that Brother Martin Lindsay, the stenographer, be paid a regular salary by the Church, and that a part of his labor consist of reporting these blessings free. This also was approved by the Council. ...
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
125 years ago today - Thursday, Oct 19, 1899
[Apostle Rudger Clawson]
Pres. J. F. Smith stated that brethren going on missions who were over sixty years of age were instructed that, as the church did not require elders beyond that age to take missions, if they were released on account of sickness or physical disability, they would be obliged to bear their expenses home.
[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]
Pres. J. F. Smith stated that brethren going on missions who were over sixty years of age were instructed that, as the church did not require elders beyond that age to take missions, if they were released on account of sickness or physical disability, they would be obliged to bear their expenses home.
[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 - Oct 19, 1894
Apostle Abraham H. Cannon records that his father, First Counselor in the First Presidency George Q. Cannon: "spoke to me about taking some good girl and raising up seed by her for my brother David." Within days, he has the hearty approval of the two other members of the First Presidency. This polygamous marriage occurs two years later after a long courtship.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
140 years ago today - Oct 19, 1884
President John Taylor, speaking in Ogden two days after testifying in an anti-polygamy case, says he doesn't want to know anything that he might be asked to divulge on the stand someday: "Therefore I tell them to keep their own secrets, and remember what is called the Mormon creed: 'Mind your own business.' . . . I have studiously avoided knowing any more than I could possibly help about such matters."
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
180 years ago today - Oct 19, 1844
[William Clayton]
Last night I dreamed I was in a nice building in a very pleasant place. I thought I was married to brother Cutlers youngest daughter & she seemed as happy as an angel and I felt full of joy and peace. I thought I had received Miss Cutler in addition to those I had already got. When I awoke I felt disappointed and felt to pray in my heart O God if it be thy will give me that women for a companion and my soul shall praise thee but they will be done and not mine. ... Sister Booth tells me that Sara Ann is very unhappy and wants to see me. she says Jane Charnock is perfectly unhappy and if there is any way she can be loosed she wants me to take her. Mary Aspen is ready to unite to me as her savior and sister Booth says she shall not risk her salvation in Roberts hands & wants me to interfere. We had considerable conversation on many subjects and felt pretty well.
[The Nauvoo Diaries of William Clayton, 1842-1846, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
Last night I dreamed I was in a nice building in a very pleasant place. I thought I was married to brother Cutlers youngest daughter & she seemed as happy as an angel and I felt full of joy and peace. I thought I had received Miss Cutler in addition to those I had already got. When I awoke I felt disappointed and felt to pray in my heart O God if it be thy will give me that women for a companion and my soul shall praise thee but they will be done and not mine. ... Sister Booth tells me that Sara Ann is very unhappy and wants to see me. she says Jane Charnock is perfectly unhappy and if there is any way she can be loosed she wants me to take her. Mary Aspen is ready to unite to me as her savior and sister Booth says she shall not risk her salvation in Roberts hands & wants me to interfere. We had considerable conversation on many subjects and felt pretty well.
[The Nauvoo Diaries of William Clayton, 1842-1846, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
55 years ago today - Oct 18, 1969
BYU's football team is beaten by the University of Wyoming despite its loss of 14 African-American players (half in the starting line-up) "for wearing black arm bands in protest to BYU's allegedly rescist policies." Less than 24 hours earlier, the 14 were expelled from the team for joining a Laramie "campus protest movement against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which controls BYU."
[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 - Oct 18, 1949
[George Albert Smith]
Ernest L. Wilkinson of Washington, D.C. stopped by for a few minutes and he told me of a plan that he [is] working on at the present time to turn over a fee which may be forthcoming to him to the B.Y.U. He is one his way to Montana to handle a case for the Crow Indians against the United States Government. If he is successful, and he believes that he has a good chance, he will receive one-third of the net proceeds as his fee which should amount to a half million dollars for him. He prefers to have the B.Y.U. receive this amount, since he feels that he does not need it. He has discussed this matter with President Clark and President McKay and they concur in my feeling that it will be all right to go ahead provided first that an advance ruling is obtained from the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Washington, D.C. to ascertain whether or not such a procedure will be entirely proper.
[George Albert Smith, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
Ernest L. Wilkinson of Washington, D.C. stopped by for a few minutes and he told me of a plan that he [is] working on at the present time to turn over a fee which may be forthcoming to him to the B.Y.U. He is one his way to Montana to handle a case for the Crow Indians against the United States Government. If he is successful, and he believes that he has a good chance, he will receive one-third of the net proceeds as his fee which should amount to a half million dollars for him. He prefers to have the B.Y.U. receive this amount, since he feels that he does not need it. He has discussed this matter with President Clark and President McKay and they concur in my feeling that it will be all right to go ahead provided first that an advance ruling is obtained from the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Washington, D.C. to ascertain whether or not such a procedure will be entirely proper.
[George Albert Smith, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
90 years ago today - Oct 18, 1934
[President Heber J. Grant]
Council meeting was held at 10:00. At the regular meeting of the Presidency and Apostles this morning after reading a couple of editorials in last night's News, it was voted to release Brother Joseph J. Cannon as the editor of the Deseret News. There was a general discussion about his attempting to discuss financial and other questions that he knows nothing about in the paper. The general feeling was that while he was a good worker and a very intelligent, fine man, that he had not filled the bill. Brother Stephen L. Richards said it was our own fault that he have been talking about Joseph's editorials not being satisfactory, and he said he was ready to make a promotion to release him. And finally, after some discussion, it was decided to do so and to appoint him President of the British Mission I was very glad for this suggestion; it will be a very nice way to promote him.'
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Council meeting was held at 10:00. At the regular meeting of the Presidency and Apostles this morning after reading a couple of editorials in last night's News, it was voted to release Brother Joseph J. Cannon as the editor of the Deseret News. There was a general discussion about his attempting to discuss financial and other questions that he knows nothing about in the paper. The general feeling was that while he was a good worker and a very intelligent, fine man, that he had not filled the bill. Brother Stephen L. Richards said it was our own fault that he have been talking about Joseph's editorials not being satisfactory, and he said he was ready to make a promotion to release him. And finally, after some discussion, it was decided to do so and to appoint him President of the British Mission I was very glad for this suggestion; it will be a very nice way to promote him.'
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
90 years ago today - Oct 18, 1934
Oliver Cowdery: Proxy endowment 18 Oct. 1934
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 6, Biographical Sketches of General Officers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 6, Biographical Sketches of General Officers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
95 years ago today - Oct 18, 1929
A First Presidency urges European Mormons not to emigrate to the United States.
[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 )]]
110 years ago today - Oct 18, 1914
Joseph F. Smith and Apostle Francis M. Lyman publicly state that undergarments worn by endowed persons outside the temple must "come high up on the neck and down to the wrists and ankles, for that was the pattern revealed from heaven."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
120 years ago today - Oct 18, 1904; Tuesday
I took Nichol Hood to the Presidents Office and as I entered the north door in to the private office of President [Joseph F.] Smith, there was the president, brother [Charles W.] Penrose and John R. Winder, his counselors and ten of the apostles. And by the way, Nichol Hood loved Brother Penrose and held him as a perfect democrat, and brother Penrose had done many things for Nichol Hood, I said, "President Smith, this is Nichol Hood, the man who has made the charge against you that you gave your consent for his brother John Hood, to take a plural wife." What a surprize to most of the brethren and what a spirit it at once aroused. President Smith was calm and very gracious to Nichol Hood and said, "Brother Hood, bring your chair close to me and let me talk with you. Who and where is your brother John Hood, and tell me just what he said." Nichol Hood said, "My brother John Hood told me that you personally told him you had no objection for him to take a plural wife." And then
President Smith said, "Nichol I don't know your brother, I never remember of ever having seen him and if he said
such a thing to you, he is a liar and the truth is not in him. The man is not living, or the man is not dead that could say I ever gave my consent for any one to take a plural wife since the Manifesto." He then spent over an hour going over the history of cases in the church and then said: "We learned from reliable sources that John W. Taylor and Matthias F. Cowley and others were writing and making appointments and were performing polygamous marriages in secret places and intercepted two letters written by John W. Taylor and Matthias F. Cowley and I had them come here to my office and asked: "John W. Taylor, did you write this letter," (handing it to him, in which people were instructed to meet him in a certain secret place and he would marry them in polygamy). He said, "yes President Smith, that is my letter." the president then said, "if you wrote that letter, then sit down right here and write out your resignation as an Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, right now." And John W. Taylor said, "I have the right to perform such marriages and I will not do anything of the kind." "All right then we will try you, and we tried him for overstepping his authority after the church said such things could not be done and we disfellowshipped him from the church." Then continuing to speak to Nichol Hood, President Smith said, "Brother Matthias F. Cowley did you write this letter," handing it to him, and he said, "Yes President Smith, that is my letter. (in it also were arrangements for certain people to meet him in a certain secret place and he would marry such people in polygamy.) "Then Brother Cowley, sit right down here and write your resignation as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, and Brother Cowley was tried and DISFELLOWSHIPPED from the church, and that is what we are doing to all who take the law in their own hands."
[John M. Whitaker, Diary]
President Smith said, "Nichol I don't know your brother, I never remember of ever having seen him and if he said
such a thing to you, he is a liar and the truth is not in him. The man is not living, or the man is not dead that could say I ever gave my consent for any one to take a plural wife since the Manifesto." He then spent over an hour going over the history of cases in the church and then said: "We learned from reliable sources that John W. Taylor and Matthias F. Cowley and others were writing and making appointments and were performing polygamous marriages in secret places and intercepted two letters written by John W. Taylor and Matthias F. Cowley and I had them come here to my office and asked: "John W. Taylor, did you write this letter," (handing it to him, in which people were instructed to meet him in a certain secret place and he would marry them in polygamy). He said, "yes President Smith, that is my letter." the president then said, "if you wrote that letter, then sit down right here and write out your resignation as an Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, right now." And John W. Taylor said, "I have the right to perform such marriages and I will not do anything of the kind." "All right then we will try you, and we tried him for overstepping his authority after the church said such things could not be done and we disfellowshipped him from the church." Then continuing to speak to Nichol Hood, President Smith said, "Brother Matthias F. Cowley did you write this letter," handing it to him, and he said, "Yes President Smith, that is my letter. (in it also were arrangements for certain people to meet him in a certain secret place and he would marry such people in polygamy.) "Then Brother Cowley, sit right down here and write your resignation as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, and Brother Cowley was tried and DISFELLOWSHIPPED from the church, and that is what we are doing to all who take the law in their own hands."
[John M. Whitaker, Diary]
125 years ago today - Oct 18, 1899; Wednesday
Presidents Lorenzo Snow and Joseph F. Smith were at the office.
...The sum of $41.25 was appropriated to pay the travelling expenses to Utah of Mrs. J. Ellen Foster, whose services in behalf of this community, as a newspaper correspondent and a prominent political leader, our friend judge [George C.] Bartch has been interesting himself to secure. The design is to have her write up the present situation in Utah as an offset to the misrepresentations and lying communications sent to Eastern papers and published throughout the country respecting the polygamous relations of the Mormon people; also to use her influence with prominent Republicans against the proposed constitutional amendment. The lady having signified her willingness to come, the amount named was appropriated to pay her expenses.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
...The sum of $41.25 was appropriated to pay the travelling expenses to Utah of Mrs. J. Ellen Foster, whose services in behalf of this community, as a newspaper correspondent and a prominent political leader, our friend judge [George C.] Bartch has been interesting himself to secure. The design is to have her write up the present situation in Utah as an offset to the misrepresentations and lying communications sent to Eastern papers and published throughout the country respecting the polygamous relations of the Mormon people; also to use her influence with prominent Republicans against the proposed constitutional amendment. The lady having signified her willingness to come, the amount named was appropriated to pay her expenses.
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
130 years ago today - Oct 18, 1894
[Apostle Francis M. Lyman]
I talked with Pres[ident] Snow upon the Word of Wisdom. He does not seem to look upon it so seriously as some of us do.
[Excerpts of Apostle Francis M. Lyman Diaries, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I talked with Pres[ident] Snow upon the Word of Wisdom. He does not seem to look upon it so seriously as some of us do.
[Excerpts of Apostle Francis M. Lyman Diaries, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
135 years ago today - Oct 18, 1889
After consideration Elder B[righam]. Young moved that the Endowment House be taken down, but that the Font with the dressing rooms be preserved for baptismal purposes. Sec[onde]d & carried. Pres[iden]t. Geo[rge]. Q. Cannon, moved that B[isho]p. R[obert]. T. Burton be instructed to emply 50 men and set them to work at places where their labor will not attract attention. sec[onde]d. & Carried.
[First Presidency Office Journal, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
[First Presidency Office Journal, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
180 years ago today - 18 October 1844, Friday
[William Clayton]
Saturday 19th. ... Last night I dreamed I was in a nice building in a very pleasant place. I thought I was married to brother Cutlers youngest daughter & she seemed as happy as an angel and I felt full of joy and peace. I thought I had received Miss Cutler in addition to those I had already got. When I awoke I felt disappointed and felt to pray in my heart O God if it be thy will give me that women for a companion and my soul shall praise thee but they will be done and not mine ... Sister Booth tells me that Sara Ann is very unhappy and wants to see me she says Jane Charnock is perfectly unhappy and if there is any way she can be loosed she wants me to take her. Mary Aspen is ready to unite to me as her savior and sister Booth says she shall not risk her salvation in Roberts hands & wants me to interfere We had considerable conversation on many subjects and felt pretty well.
[Fillerup, Robert C., compiler; William Clayton Nauvoo Diaries and Personal Writings, A chronological compilation of the personal writings of William Clayton while he was a resident of Nauvoo, Illinois. http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/clayton-diaries]
Saturday 19th. ... Last night I dreamed I was in a nice building in a very pleasant place. I thought I was married to brother Cutlers youngest daughter & she seemed as happy as an angel and I felt full of joy and peace. I thought I had received Miss Cutler in addition to those I had already got. When I awoke I felt disappointed and felt to pray in my heart O God if it be thy will give me that women for a companion and my soul shall praise thee but they will be done and not mine ... Sister Booth tells me that Sara Ann is very unhappy and wants to see me she says Jane Charnock is perfectly unhappy and if there is any way she can be loosed she wants me to take her. Mary Aspen is ready to unite to me as her savior and sister Booth says she shall not risk her salvation in Roberts hands & wants me to interfere We had considerable conversation on many subjects and felt pretty well.
[Fillerup, Robert C., compiler; William Clayton Nauvoo Diaries and Personal Writings, A chronological compilation of the personal writings of William Clayton while he was a resident of Nauvoo, Illinois. http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/clayton-diaries]
25 years ago today - Oct 17, 1999
Jerold Ottley, conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for twenty-five years, conducts his last broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word.
135 years ago today - Thurs. Oct. 17th, 1889
[Apostle Abraham H. Cannon]
"Pres. W., Father, H.J. Grant, John W. Taylor and myself dressed in our robes, and President Woodruff prayed to open and Father in the circle. This is my first meeting with a prayer circle, and I felt the solemnity of the occasion."
[Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
"Pres. W., Father, H.J. Grant, John W. Taylor and myself dressed in our robes, and President Woodruff prayed to open and Father in the circle. This is my first meeting with a prayer circle, and I felt the solemnity of the occasion."
[Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
165 years ago today - Oct 17, 1859
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff]
I received a letter from G.A.S [George A. Smith] in Deseret Alphabet. Informed me there would be a Council with the Presidency Twelve, & the presidency of the Seventies in order to fill up those Quorums.
A man was shot through the head on saturday night. He was found dead in the morning.
I met with the Twelve in the evening at the upper room of the Historians office. The evening was spent in speaking upon the subjects of the Twelve keeping Gentiles Boarders of Having them associateing with our families. Elders E. T. Benson & F. D. Richards Both were keeping Boarders. They both expressed there willingness to dismiss there Boarders as soon as they Could without temperal loss to themselves.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I received a letter from G.A.S [George A. Smith] in Deseret Alphabet. Informed me there would be a Council with the Presidency Twelve, & the presidency of the Seventies in order to fill up those Quorums.
A man was shot through the head on saturday night. He was found dead in the morning.
I met with the Twelve in the evening at the upper room of the Historians office. The evening was spent in speaking upon the subjects of the Twelve keeping Gentiles Boarders of Having them associateing with our families. Elders E. T. Benson & F. D. Richards Both were keeping Boarders. They both expressed there willingness to dismiss there Boarders as soon as they Could without temperal loss to themselves.
[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 - Oct 17, 1849
Frontier editorial "Dancing" observes: "Among the Saints, it is regarded not only as a civil recreation, but a religious exercise when conducted by the sanction and under the government of the Church."
[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 )]]
190 years ago today - Oct 17, 1834
En route to Michigan. While on board the steamer Monroe, a man called Ellmer claimed to know about -"Joe Smith-" and insisted, even in the Prophet's presence, that Joseph Smith was a liar and that he was dead.
[BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]
[BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]
75 years ago today - Oct 16, 1949
[George Albert Smith]
[In a meeting with Lord Otani of Japan, head of a branch of the Buddhist Church in Japan with 60 million members:] I then presented to Lord and Lady Otani some tracts, a copy of The Book of Mormon, my own book, Sharing the Gospel with Others and a book What of the Mormons. They seemed very happy to receive these and made several favorable comments. They said we know that during and since the war there was and has been a great anti-Japanese feeling throughout the United States and other parts of the world, but in Utah this feeling has not existed, but there has been one of tolerance and charity and respect, and they are confident that this fine feeling and expression of brotherly love in Utah is a direct result of the influence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints upon the people of that state.
[George Albert Smith Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
[In a meeting with Lord Otani of Japan, head of a branch of the Buddhist Church in Japan with 60 million members:] I then presented to Lord and Lady Otani some tracts, a copy of The Book of Mormon, my own book, Sharing the Gospel with Others and a book What of the Mormons. They seemed very happy to receive these and made several favorable comments. They said we know that during and since the war there was and has been a great anti-Japanese feeling throughout the United States and other parts of the world, but in Utah this feeling has not existed, but there has been one of tolerance and charity and respect, and they are confident that this fine feeling and expression of brotherly love in Utah is a direct result of the influence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints upon the people of that state.
[George Albert Smith Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
130 years ago today - Oct 16, 1894
[President Wilford Woodruff]
We had Meeting with several individuals among the rest Black Jane [Manning] wanted to know if I would not let her have her Endowments in the Temple. This I Could not do as it was against the Law of God. As Cain killed Abel All the seed of Cain would have to wait for Redemption untill all the seed that Abel would have had that may Come through other men Can be redeemed.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
We had Meeting with several individuals among the rest Black Jane [Manning] wanted to know if I would not let her have her Endowments in the Temple. This I Could not do as it was against the Law of God. As Cain killed Abel All the seed of Cain would have to wait for Redemption untill all the seed that Abel would have had that may Come through other men Can be redeemed.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
145 years ago today - Oct 16, 1879
[Rudger Clawson]
Attends trial in Georgia of the three men accused of Standing's [a Mormon missionary] murder, resulting in verdict of not guilty.
[Larsen, Stan (editor), A Ministry of Meetings:The Apostolic Diaries of Rudger Clawson, Significant Mormon Diaries Series No. 6, A Rudger Clawson Chronology, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
Attends trial in Georgia of the three men accused of Standing's [a Mormon missionary] murder, resulting in verdict of not guilty.
[Larsen, Stan (editor), A Ministry of Meetings:The Apostolic Diaries of Rudger Clawson, Significant Mormon Diaries Series No. 6, A Rudger Clawson Chronology, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]
155 years ago today - 1869. October 16
(William S. Godbe) : Disfellowshipped for "irregular attendance" at the School of the Prophets. Godbe and Harrison continued to argue for "the right of, respectfully but freely, discussing all measures upon which we are called to act. And, if we are cut off from this Church for asserting this right, while our standing is dear to us, we will suffer it to be taken from us sooner than resign the liberties of thought and speech to which the gospel entitles us." They were excommunicated within the week for "apostasy."
President George Q. Cannon editorialized in the Deseret News, "We could conceive of a man honestly differing in opinion from the authorities of the church and yet not be apostate; but we could not conceive of a man publishing those differences of opinion, and seeking by arguments, sophistry and special pleading to enforce them upon the people to produce division and strife, and to place the acts and counsels of the church, if possible, in a wrong light, and not be apostate; for such conduct was apostasy as we understood the term."
[Van Wagoner, Richard and Walker, Steven C., A Book of Mormons, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
President George Q. Cannon editorialized in the Deseret News, "We could conceive of a man honestly differing in opinion from the authorities of the church and yet not be apostate; but we could not conceive of a man publishing those differences of opinion, and seeking by arguments, sophistry and special pleading to enforce them upon the people to produce division and strife, and to place the acts and counsels of the church, if possible, in a wrong light, and not be apostate; for such conduct was apostasy as we understood the term."
[Van Wagoner, Richard and Walker, Steven C., A Book of Mormons, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
180 years ago today - Oct 16, 1844
[Letter: William Smith to Brigham Young]
[Regarding George J. Adams:] the mantle of the Prophet is upon him in his Place Joseph told me last Spring that Adams was ap[p]ointed in the place of Paul as one of the two witnesses raised up to do a great work in Jerusalem not however as one of the 12 but as the 13 apostle
[Letter: William Smith to Brigham Young]
[Regarding George J. Adams:] the mantle of the Prophet is upon him in his Place Joseph told me last Spring that Adams was ap[p]ointed in the place of Paul as one of the two witnesses raised up to do a great work in Jerusalem not however as one of the 12 but as the 13 apostle
[Letter: William Smith to Brigham Young]
40 years ago today - Oct 15, 1984
Steven F. Christensen is killed by Mark Hofmann.
[Palmyra Magic Timeline, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/palmyra-magic-timeline/]
[Palmyra Magic Timeline, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/palmyra-magic-timeline/]
65 years ago today - Oct 15, 1959
Howard W. Hunter is ordained an Apostle, replacing Henry D. Moyle, who had been called to the First Presidency.
180 years ago today - Oct 15, 1844
[Wilford Woodruff]
"I visited Lowel and held a meeting with the Lowell branch, It was rather a squally time dificulties appear to be rising in this quarter - some dissatisfaction, after I closed I was followed by Elder Wm Smith" (... it was on this day that all the men in the branch resigned from their priesthood offices, with the exception of [African-American] Elder Walker Lewis.)'
[Wilford Woodruff Journal as quoted in 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]
"I visited Lowel and held a meeting with the Lowell branch, It was rather a squally time dificulties appear to be rising in this quarter - some dissatisfaction, after I closed I was followed by Elder Wm Smith" (... it was on this day that all the men in the branch resigned from their priesthood offices, with the exception of [African-American] Elder Walker Lewis.)'
[Wilford Woodruff Journal as quoted in 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]
180 years ago today - Oct 15, 1844
Signey Rigdon returns to Pittsburgh, PA; 500 secessionists follow him.
[Mormon Chronology, N. R. Tidd, http://www.exmormon.org/mhistory.html]
[Mormon Chronology, N. R. Tidd, http://www.exmormon.org/mhistory.html]
185 years ago today - Oct 15, 1839
Joseph heads a hundred men from Far West to defend Saints at Di-Ahman
[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]
185 years ago today - Mid-Oct. 1839
King Follett, the last prisoner in Missouri, is finally freed.
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)