The first female LDS missionaries to be murdered are sixty-six-year-old Elizabeth W. King and sixty-five-year-old Jane Ruth Teuchner in North Carolina.
[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
80 years ago today - Dec 22, 1944
[Ezra Taft Benson]
Had long conference with Bro. Geo[rge] F. Richards re. temple work, temple rulings and the importance of the second or higher blessings. I am very grateful that my faithful and devoted wife and I have recently received these rich blessings. I wish more of the Latter-day Saints could receive these blessings. I feel sure there are hundreds who are worthy.
[Ezra Taft Benson diary, Dec. 22, 1944 as quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
Had long conference with Bro. Geo[rge] F. Richards re. temple work, temple rulings and the importance of the second or higher blessings. I am very grateful that my faithful and devoted wife and I have recently received these rich blessings. I wish more of the Latter-day Saints could receive these blessings. I feel sure there are hundreds who are worthy.
[Ezra Taft Benson diary, Dec. 22, 1944 as quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
120 years ago today - Dec 22, 1904; Thursday
[Carl Badger]
James H. Anderson has been telling me a story that for strangeness to moral straightness is a prize one. It began by my observing that these new cases of polygamy should be tried. James says that they should not ... The law of the Church, which is the law of God, is not against polygamy, and the Church will not punish polygamy. If you are forced to do wrong, it is not you who do wrong, but the one who forces you.
Reed [Smoot] received a letter, which I did not see from the Presidency, in answer to the one he sent asking that unlawful cohabitation be given up, in which he was told that he was to leave these things alone.
[Carl A. Badger, Diary]
James H. Anderson has been telling me a story that for strangeness to moral straightness is a prize one. It began by my observing that these new cases of polygamy should be tried. James says that they should not ... The law of the Church, which is the law of God, is not against polygamy, and the Church will not punish polygamy. If you are forced to do wrong, it is not you who do wrong, but the one who forces you.
Reed [Smoot] received a letter, which I did not see from the Presidency, in answer to the one he sent asking that unlawful cohabitation be given up, in which he was told that he was to leave these things alone.
[Carl A. Badger, Diary]
125 years ago today - Dec 22, 1899
Presidents Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith were at the office. The sums of $30 and $100 were appropriated, the former in favor of the St. George [Utah] Indians, and the latter in favor of Lees Ferry.
[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 - Friday, Dec 22, 1899
[Apostle John Henry Smith]
I bot four sets of Knives and Forks, paid $15.00. Z.C.M.I. gave one hundred tons of coal to the poor as a Christmas 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]
I bot four sets of Knives and Forks, paid $15.00. Z.C.M.I. gave one hundred tons of coal to the poor as a Christmas 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]
140 years ago today - Mon. Dec. 22nd 1884
[General Authority Abraham H. Cannon]
Abram & Geo. Q. go to Ogden to stop & visit Frank (first Utah senator). "Frank was not in the store when we entered but came in soon afterwards, and, judging from his strange actions and the smell of his breath, he had been drinking . . . my confidence in Frank received a severe shock this evening."
[Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
Abram & Geo. Q. go to Ogden to stop & visit Frank (first Utah senator). "Frank was not in the store when we entered but came in soon afterwards, and, judging from his strange actions and the smell of his breath, he had been drinking . . . my confidence in Frank received a severe shock this evening."
[Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
180 years ago today - December 22, 1844. Sunday.
[William Clayton]
[Young reconvenes the Quorum of the Anointed which begins initiating new members into the endowment ceremony]. "Met with the brethren of the first quorum to pray and counsel. My wife and O[rson] Pratts wife, P[arley] P. Pratts wife and A[masa] Lymans wife was voted in [but not endowed]. We have to use the greatest care and caution and dare not let it be known that we meet."
[George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton; 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]
[Young reconvenes the Quorum of the Anointed which begins initiating new members into the endowment ceremony]. "Met with the brethren of the first quorum to pray and counsel. My wife and O[rson] Pratts wife, P[arley] P. Pratts wife and A[masa] Lymans wife was voted in [but not endowed]. We have to use the greatest care and caution and dare not let it be known that we meet."
[George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton; Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]
180 years ago today - December 22, 1844. Sunday.
[William Clayton]
Met with the brethren of the first quorum to pray and counsel. My wife and O[rson] Pratts wife, P[arley] P. Pratts wife and A[masa] Lymans wife was voted in [but not endowed]. We have to use the greatest care and caution and dare not let it be known that we meet.
[George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton]
Met with the brethren of the first quorum to pray and counsel. My wife and O[rson] Pratts wife, P[arley] P. Pratts wife and A[masa] Lymans wife was voted in [but not endowed]. We have to use the greatest care and caution and dare not let it be known that we meet.
[George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton]
180 years ago today - December 22, 1844.
Young reconvenes the Quorum of the Anointed which begins initiating new members into the endowment ceremony.
[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]
[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]
195 years ago today - 1829 Dec 22
Palmyra Reflector announces it will start publishing extracts from the Book of Mormon next week
[https://docs.google.com/document/d/10ttN3vOzf2UcVhruCrvDf9pF27T0o0PP0Xj1X98tKBc/edit?fbclid=IwAR3HXLgL-X-M_c5LT2W-_F7AYqsqqaQ0yIhfNuyeFsX85irSPuEO6_Q993A]
[https://docs.google.com/document/d/10ttN3vOzf2UcVhruCrvDf9pF27T0o0PP0Xj1X98tKBc/edit?fbclid=IwAR3HXLgL-X-M_c5LT2W-_F7AYqsqqaQ0yIhfNuyeFsX85irSPuEO6_Q993A]
45 years ago today - Dec 20, 1979-Thursday
[Leonard Arrington]
Today there was a gathering of LDS women scholars to coordinate some of their work relating to women's studies. ... I happened by just as they were gathering to go out to lunch, and thus had an opportunity of meeting for the first time Margaret Woodworth. ... She is obviously very brilliant and analytical. She is also a courageous speaker and conversationalist. ...
Several months ago she had been in contact with Teddy Wood, Sonia Johnson, and other Mormons for ERA. She felt they were misguided; and eventually was invited back to speak to them. Apparently she spoke to them very straightly and candidly. The conversation went on for nearly all night. She was defending the Church's point of view with them, as I understand it. While she was effective and felt good about her presentation, the women went ahead with the program they had already planned on. ...
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
Today there was a gathering of LDS women scholars to coordinate some of their work relating to women's studies. ... I happened by just as they were gathering to go out to lunch, and thus had an opportunity of meeting for the first time Margaret Woodworth. ... She is obviously very brilliant and analytical. She is also a courageous speaker and conversationalist. ...
Several months ago she had been in contact with Teddy Wood, Sonia Johnson, and other Mormons for ERA. She felt they were misguided; and eventually was invited back to speak to them. Apparently she spoke to them very straightly and candidly. The conversation went on for nearly all night. She was defending the Church's point of view with them, as I understand it. While she was effective and felt good about her presentation, the women went ahead with the program they had already planned on. ...
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
110 years ago today - Dec 20, 1914
[President Joseph F. Smith]
....You all know that your fathers are indeed your fathers and that your mothers are indeed your mothers you all know that don't you? You cannot deny it. Now, we are told in scriptures that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God in the flesh. Well, now for the benefit of the older ones, how are children begotten? I answer just as Jesus Christ was begotten of his father. The Christian denominations believe that Christ was begotten not of God but of the spirit that overshadowed his mother. This is nonsense. Why will not the world receive the truth? Why will they not believe the Father when he says that Jesus Christ is His only begotten Son? ...
Now, little boys and girls, when you are confronted by infidels in the world who know nothing of how Christ was begotten, you can say he was born just as the infidel was begotten and born, so was Christ begotten by his Father, who is also our Father-the Father of our spirits-and he was born of his mother Mary.
... Now, my little friends, I will repeat again in words as simple as I can, and you talk to your parents about it, that God, the Eternal Father is literally the father of Jesus Christ.
Mary was married to Joseph for time. No man could take her for eternity because she belonged to the Father of her divine Son.
[1914-December 20-The Box Elder News, January 28, 1915 as quoted in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
....You all know that your fathers are indeed your fathers and that your mothers are indeed your mothers you all know that don't you? You cannot deny it. Now, we are told in scriptures that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God in the flesh. Well, now for the benefit of the older ones, how are children begotten? I answer just as Jesus Christ was begotten of his father. The Christian denominations believe that Christ was begotten not of God but of the spirit that overshadowed his mother. This is nonsense. Why will not the world receive the truth? Why will they not believe the Father when he says that Jesus Christ is His only begotten Son? ...
Now, little boys and girls, when you are confronted by infidels in the world who know nothing of how Christ was begotten, you can say he was born just as the infidel was begotten and born, so was Christ begotten by his Father, who is also our Father-the Father of our spirits-and he was born of his mother Mary.
... Now, my little friends, I will repeat again in words as simple as I can, and you talk to your parents about it, that God, the Eternal Father is literally the father of Jesus Christ.
Mary was married to Joseph for time. No man could take her for eternity because she belonged to the Father of her divine Son.
[1914-December 20-The Box Elder News, January 28, 1915 as quoted in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
120 years ago today - Dec 20, 1904
[Carl A. Badger]
Last night I had a talk with F[ranklin]. S. Richards and asked him to give me a reason why I should not go outside of the Church, if I doubted, disbelieved in things that all orthodox Mormons considered essential. He said he would illustrate his reasons. In 1877 he went on a mission to the Sandwich Islands with Jos[eph]. F. Smith. Up to that time no one had thought that polygamy was not mand[a]tory upon all the Church; one would have lost his standing if he had voiced other sentiments. In 1887 he was here in Washington [D.C.] with Jos[eph]. F. Smith who was on the underground. He thought he must argue before the senate committee that polygamy was not mand[a]tory upon the Church. Jerry Wilson agreed with him; Jos[eph]. F. opposed it strongly; he believed it was mand[a]tory, but Richards got him to consent that the argument be made'it would not hurt the Church anyway. When Richards got home he came near to loosing his fellowship. On the witness stand before the committee in 1904
Pres[ident]. J[oseph]. F. Smith testified that the doctrine never had been mand[a]tory. 'Now why not stay with the Church, there is good here, and truth, and noble men and women. 'I have done more for those who I love by staying with them than I could have done by fighting what I considered their faults.' Richards says that Pres[ident]. Jos[eph]. F. Smith told him recently ... that in the event of the divulgence of the temple ceremony, 'if there was anything in the Church which the Lord desired removed, he hoped he would remove it.'
[Carl A. Badger 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]
Last night I had a talk with F[ranklin]. S. Richards and asked him to give me a reason why I should not go outside of the Church, if I doubted, disbelieved in things that all orthodox Mormons considered essential. He said he would illustrate his reasons. In 1877 he went on a mission to the Sandwich Islands with Jos[eph]. F. Smith. Up to that time no one had thought that polygamy was not mand[a]tory upon all the Church; one would have lost his standing if he had voiced other sentiments. In 1887 he was here in Washington [D.C.] with Jos[eph]. F. Smith who was on the underground. He thought he must argue before the senate committee that polygamy was not mand[a]tory upon the Church. Jerry Wilson agreed with him; Jos[eph]. F. opposed it strongly; he believed it was mand[a]tory, but Richards got him to consent that the argument be made'it would not hurt the Church anyway. When Richards got home he came near to loosing his fellowship. On the witness stand before the committee in 1904
Pres[ident]. J[oseph]. F. Smith testified that the doctrine never had been mand[a]tory. 'Now why not stay with the Church, there is good here, and truth, and noble men and women. 'I have done more for those who I love by staying with them than I could have done by fighting what I considered their faults.' Richards says that Pres[ident]. Jos[eph]. F. Smith told him recently ... that in the event of the divulgence of the temple ceremony, 'if there was anything in the Church which the Lord desired removed, he hoped he would remove it.'
[Carl A. Badger 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]
140 years ago today - Dec 20, 1884
[J.D.T. McAllister Diary]
Man disfellowshipped for claiming Revelations
10 A.M. at High Council. preferred a charge against Elder Herman Lascher for unchristian like conduct in presuming to give revelation in the name of the Lord without Authority Prest E. Snow with us. Herman was suspended from the functions of the Priesthood, and disfellowshipped from the Church.
[Diary Excerpts of J.D.T. McAllister, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Man disfellowshipped for claiming Revelations
10 A.M. at High Council. preferred a charge against Elder Herman Lascher for unchristian like conduct in presuming to give revelation in the name of the Lord without Authority Prest E. Snow with us. Herman was suspended from the functions of the Priesthood, and disfellowshipped from the Church.
[Diary Excerpts of J.D.T. McAllister, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
170 years ago today - Dec 20, 1854
Polysophical Society organizes with Apostle Lorenzo Snow as president. Women and men lecture and participate in discussions on equal basis. Brigham Young soon organizes male-dominated Deseret Theological Institute as competition.
[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 - Dec 20, 1839
[Brigham Young]
I told them that Baptistism, Methodism, Presbyterianism, Quakerism, Shakerism, and every other ism I had studied and learned, for I desired to know the truth, and found I could put all their doctrines, when simmered down to truth, into a snuffbox of the smallest class, put it into my vest pocket and go on my way; but, when I found "Mormonism," I found that it was higher than I could reach with my researches, deeper than I was capable of comprehending, and calculated to expand the mind and lead mankind from truth to truth, from light to light, from grace to grace, and exalt him in the celestial kingdom, to become associated with the Gods and the angels. I bade them goodnight, and went over the hill to Hamilton, and stayed at Brother Murdock's.
[Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844, ed. Elden Jay Watson (Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968).]
I told them that Baptistism, Methodism, Presbyterianism, Quakerism, Shakerism, and every other ism I had studied and learned, for I desired to know the truth, and found I could put all their doctrines, when simmered down to truth, into a snuffbox of the smallest class, put it into my vest pocket and go on my way; but, when I found "Mormonism," I found that it was higher than I could reach with my researches, deeper than I was capable of comprehending, and calculated to expand the mind and lead mankind from truth to truth, from light to light, from grace to grace, and exalt him in the celestial kingdom, to become associated with the Gods and the angels. I bade them goodnight, and went over the hill to Hamilton, and stayed at Brother Murdock's.
[Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844, ed. Elden Jay Watson (Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968).]
70 years ago today - Wednesday, Dec 19, 1954
Shortly after the 1954 publication of Joseph Fielding Smith's Man, His Origin and Destiny, BYU History professor Richard D. Poll and his wife were invited to discuss the book with the author. Knowing that President McKay disagreed strongly with the book, they managed to arrange a meeting with him on the same day. According to the Polls' combined notes, made immediately afterwards, President McKay, "striking the desk for emphasis ... repeated that [Man, His Origin and Destiny] is not the authoritative position of the Church."
[Ben Spackman, "David O. McKay, Genesis, and Evolution: Part 2.", http://www.patheos.com/blogs/benjaminthescribe/2016/08/david-o-mckay-genesis-and-evolution-part-2/; Richard D. Poll, "The Swearing Elders, Some Reflections: A Response to Thomas Blakley, Sunstone Magazine, 10:9, https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/pdf/053-14-17.pdf]
[Ben Spackman, "David O. McKay, Genesis, and Evolution: Part 2.", http://www.patheos.com/blogs/benjaminthescribe/2016/08/david-o-mckay-genesis-and-evolution-part-2/; Richard D. Poll, "The Swearing Elders, Some Reflections: A Response to Thomas Blakley, Sunstone Magazine, 10:9, https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/pdf/053-14-17.pdf]
135 years ago today - Dec 19, 1889
[Apostle John Henry Smith]
The following brethren met in Council: W. Woodruff, J. F. Smith F. D. Richards, H. J. Grant, J. W. Taylor, A. H. Cannon, J. W. Young and myself. We had prayers and Bro. Woodruff had Bro. L.J. Nuttall read a revelation the Lord had given him in which we his servants were told to remain true to our coilors and he would protect his little flock. How happy I am.
[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]
The following brethren met in Council: W. Woodruff, J. F. Smith F. D. Richards, H. J. Grant, J. W. Taylor, A. H. Cannon, J. W. Young and myself. We had prayers and Bro. Woodruff had Bro. L.J. Nuttall read a revelation the Lord had given him in which we his servants were told to remain true to our coilors and he would protect his little flock. How happy I am.
[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]
135 years ago today - Dec 19, 1889
[Apostle Franklin D. Richards]
[Gardo House Council meeting] A revelation received by Pres[iden]t WW on Sunday Nov 24 was read giving to those now first hearing great joy as it did the others who heard when first given.
[Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Gardo House Council meeting] A revelation received by Pres[iden]t WW on Sunday Nov 24 was read giving to those now first hearing great joy as it did the others who heard when first given.
[Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
135 years ago today - Dec 19th, 1889
[Apostle Abraham H. Cannon]
During our meeting a revelation was read which Pres. Woodruff received Sunday evening, Nov. 24th. Propositions had been made for the Church to make some concessions to the Courts in regard to its principles. Both of Pres. Woodruff's counselors refused to advise him as to the course he should pursue, and he therefore laid the matter before the Lord. The answer came quick and strong. The word of the Lord was for us not to yield one particle of that which He had revealed and established. He had done and would continue to care for His work and those of the Saints who were faithful, and we need have no fear of our enemies when we were in the line of our duty. We are promised redemption and deliverance if we will trust in God and not in the arm of flesh. We were admonished to read and study the Word of God, and to pray often. The whole revelation was filled with words of the greatest encouragement and comfort, and my heart was felled with joy and peace during the entire reading. It sets
all doubts at rest concerning the course to pursue.
[Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
During our meeting a revelation was read which Pres. Woodruff received Sunday evening, Nov. 24th. Propositions had been made for the Church to make some concessions to the Courts in regard to its principles. Both of Pres. Woodruff's counselors refused to advise him as to the course he should pursue, and he therefore laid the matter before the Lord. The answer came quick and strong. The word of the Lord was for us not to yield one particle of that which He had revealed and established. He had done and would continue to care for His work and those of the Saints who were faithful, and we need have no fear of our enemies when we were in the line of our duty. We are promised redemption and deliverance if we will trust in God and not in the arm of flesh. We were admonished to read and study the Word of God, and to pray often. The whole revelation was filled with words of the greatest encouragement and comfort, and my heart was felled with joy and peace during the entire reading. It sets
all doubts at rest concerning the course to pursue.
[Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
155 years ago today - Dec 19, 1869 (Sunday)
The "Godbeite Movement" began to take definite shape.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
155 years ago today - Dec 19, 1869
Orson Pratt taught:"By and by an obscure individual ... proclaimed the startling news that God had sent an angel to him ... This young man, some four years afterwards, was visited again by a holy angel."
["Journal of Discourses", Vol.13, pp.65-66 as quoted in A Documented History of Joseph Smith's First Vision, http://beggarsbread.org/2013/04/01/a-documented-history-of-joseph-smiths-first-vision/]
["Journal of Discourses", Vol.13, pp.65-66 as quoted in A Documented History of Joseph Smith's First Vision, http://beggarsbread.org/2013/04/01/a-documented-history-of-joseph-smiths-first-vision/]
155 years ago today - Dec 19, 1869
Orson Pratt taught:"By and by an obscure individual ... proclaimed the startling news that God had sent an angel to him ... This young man, some four years afterwards, was visited again by a holy angel."
["Journal of Discourses", Vol.13, pp.65-66 as quoted in A Documented History of Joseph Smith's First Vision, http://beggarsbread.org/2013/04/01/a-documented-history-of-joseph-smiths-first-vision/]
["Journal of Discourses", Vol.13, pp.65-66 as quoted in A Documented History of Joseph Smith's First Vision, http://beggarsbread.org/2013/04/01/a-documented-history-of-joseph-smiths-first-vision/]
165 years ago today - Dec 19, 1859
[Brigham Young]
said if a man met you with drawn sword, if you throw your sword away, in nine cases out of ten it would bring about reconciliation.
[Brigham Young Office Journals, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.; Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.; New Mormon Studies CD-ROM 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]
said if a man met you with drawn sword, if you throw your sword away, in nine cases out of ten it would bring about reconciliation.
[Brigham Young Office Journals, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.; Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah.; New Mormon Studies CD-ROM 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]
180 years ago today - Dec 19, 1844. Thursday.
[William Clayton]
....Read 2 letters from Elder Woodruff to President Young concerning [apostle] W[illia]m Smith and G[eorge] J. Adams showing that they are in opposition to the Twelve and have collected money in the east for the Temple and have used it. There are warrants out for them in N[ew] York and Boston and all seems confusion and sorrow wherever they go.
[George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton]
....Read 2 letters from Elder Woodruff to President Young concerning [apostle] W[illia]m Smith and G[eorge] J. Adams showing that they are in opposition to the Twelve and have collected money in the east for the Temple and have used it. There are warrants out for them in N[ew] York and Boston and all seems confusion and sorrow wherever they go.
[George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton]
50 years ago today - Dec 18, 1974-Wednesday
[Leonard Arrington]
In the meeting with the advisors neither Brother Hunter or Brother McConkie brought up the matter of us giving any response to Elder Packer's letter to the First Presidency about our work. ... We are in no sense to regard his suggestions as binding or as causing us to change our policies duly arrived at in the past. This is comforting. I feel that we have the full confidence of both Brother McConkie and Brother Hunter and as long as our division and its work has the united support of Earl and Brother Anderson and as long as we keep Brother Hunter and Brother McConkie reasonably well informed on what we are doing, we will be able to carry out the policies which we have desired and wish continued. ...
President [N. Eldon] Tanner has been working with Brother [Lee] Bickmore on restructuring the organization of the Church in the central level. Specifically they are going to make new committee assignments to representatives of the Quorum of the Twelve and it is their purpose to reduce the administrative responsibilities of the General Authorities. Specifically they will probably reduce the number of advisors from the Quorum of the Twelve on any committee to two and they will probably avoid members of the quorum being administrators of any agency, division or chairman of any committee or department. This will leave them freer to move about the Church counseling, reorganizing and so on. This will also leave time freer in counseling strong department heads, who will be appointed. As a part of this President Tanner has asked Brother Hunter to have us do a historical study of the [organizational structure of the] First Presidency and Twelve in the history of the Church ...
That they are asking us for these historical studies shows confidence and awareness of our work. They have also asked us to do a study of the understanding Church leaders have had about what kind of temples should be built. There is apparently a feeling that the day of building temples as monuments for eternity is at an end. We are spread all over the world and it will be too expensive to build monuments all over. Thought is therefore being given to building endowment rooms where the [liturgical] film will be used in connection with ward chapels, stake centers and nice homes. In that way they would be able to do ordinance work in many parts of the world convenient to the habitations of members without an inordinate expense. ... In connection with Church organization one basic question they want answered is whether the Presiding Bishopric report to the Twelve or to the First Presidency and some suggestion on that will need to be made by whoever does the study.
...This morning coming on the bus I sat with John Talmage who told me a little about management of the Deseret News during the period he was associated with it. Brother Talmage says that in 1934 [1914] when his father [apostle] James E. Talmage became more closely connected with the Deseret News the News literally had twenty-six bosses, all of the General Authorities of the Church. Each one felt free to phone up and tell them what to do both on policy and procedure matters and often did so even to the extent of requiring them to run a picture or article on some relative leaving on a mission or something of that order. Elder Talmage felt that this was a hopeless situation and tried to get it altered. The chief obstacle was President [J. Reuben] Clark who hated newspapers, did not trust them, and wanted to have the right to interfere and make suggestions whenever he wished. Finally sometime between 1934 and 1939 [1937] Albert Bowen of President Clark's law firm was chosen
to be an apostle and was made the contact man among the General Authorities and since that date there has been one General Authority who has been more or less a representative through whom all matters pertaining to the Deseret News were channeled by Church matters. That man today is Gordon Hinckley. Brother Talmage reminisced a little and mentioned the time when President [Charles W.] Penrose as editor of the News wrote an editorial about [J. T.] Goodwin, son of C. C. Goodwin. The editorial went something like this: Many years ago there came a person into our community who was not exactly one of us but who was received well by the community. He enjoyed writing nice things about people and he was regarded as having a particular talent in writing obituaries. He was assigned to write obituaries for many people and people came to have such affection for him that as a term of affection they called him Obituary Goodwin. He reared a son who followed in his footsteps in the newspaper game,
[J. T.] Goodwin, but the son grew up in an atmosphere of anti-Mormonism and hatred for the Mormons and their institutions. The editorial went on, "This son of Obituary Goodwin ..." Brother Talmage regarded that as one of the nicest ways of calling a man a son of a bitch that he had ever read in the Church newspaper.
Brother Talmage mentioned the period when [Ralph] Jordon came in, a kind of apostate Mormon-not a good Mormon at all-free thinking. If a General Authority told him to do something, he would do the opposite twice as strongly. He mentioned [Earl] Hawkes coming in and insisting upon a good strong contract under which he could more or less run the paper the way it should be run but the people kept trying to interfere and use influence and persuasion and finally after some years according to Brother Talmage he caved in and gave up the struggle and more or less did what they asked him to do.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
In the meeting with the advisors neither Brother Hunter or Brother McConkie brought up the matter of us giving any response to Elder Packer's letter to the First Presidency about our work. ... We are in no sense to regard his suggestions as binding or as causing us to change our policies duly arrived at in the past. This is comforting. I feel that we have the full confidence of both Brother McConkie and Brother Hunter and as long as our division and its work has the united support of Earl and Brother Anderson and as long as we keep Brother Hunter and Brother McConkie reasonably well informed on what we are doing, we will be able to carry out the policies which we have desired and wish continued. ...
President [N. Eldon] Tanner has been working with Brother [Lee] Bickmore on restructuring the organization of the Church in the central level. Specifically they are going to make new committee assignments to representatives of the Quorum of the Twelve and it is their purpose to reduce the administrative responsibilities of the General Authorities. Specifically they will probably reduce the number of advisors from the Quorum of the Twelve on any committee to two and they will probably avoid members of the quorum being administrators of any agency, division or chairman of any committee or department. This will leave them freer to move about the Church counseling, reorganizing and so on. This will also leave time freer in counseling strong department heads, who will be appointed. As a part of this President Tanner has asked Brother Hunter to have us do a historical study of the [organizational structure of the] First Presidency and Twelve in the history of the Church ...
That they are asking us for these historical studies shows confidence and awareness of our work. They have also asked us to do a study of the understanding Church leaders have had about what kind of temples should be built. There is apparently a feeling that the day of building temples as monuments for eternity is at an end. We are spread all over the world and it will be too expensive to build monuments all over. Thought is therefore being given to building endowment rooms where the [liturgical] film will be used in connection with ward chapels, stake centers and nice homes. In that way they would be able to do ordinance work in many parts of the world convenient to the habitations of members without an inordinate expense. ... In connection with Church organization one basic question they want answered is whether the Presiding Bishopric report to the Twelve or to the First Presidency and some suggestion on that will need to be made by whoever does the study.
...This morning coming on the bus I sat with John Talmage who told me a little about management of the Deseret News during the period he was associated with it. Brother Talmage says that in 1934 [1914] when his father [apostle] James E. Talmage became more closely connected with the Deseret News the News literally had twenty-six bosses, all of the General Authorities of the Church. Each one felt free to phone up and tell them what to do both on policy and procedure matters and often did so even to the extent of requiring them to run a picture or article on some relative leaving on a mission or something of that order. Elder Talmage felt that this was a hopeless situation and tried to get it altered. The chief obstacle was President [J. Reuben] Clark who hated newspapers, did not trust them, and wanted to have the right to interfere and make suggestions whenever he wished. Finally sometime between 1934 and 1939 [1937] Albert Bowen of President Clark's law firm was chosen
to be an apostle and was made the contact man among the General Authorities and since that date there has been one General Authority who has been more or less a representative through whom all matters pertaining to the Deseret News were channeled by Church matters. That man today is Gordon Hinckley. Brother Talmage reminisced a little and mentioned the time when President [Charles W.] Penrose as editor of the News wrote an editorial about [J. T.] Goodwin, son of C. C. Goodwin. The editorial went something like this: Many years ago there came a person into our community who was not exactly one of us but who was received well by the community. He enjoyed writing nice things about people and he was regarded as having a particular talent in writing obituaries. He was assigned to write obituaries for many people and people came to have such affection for him that as a term of affection they called him Obituary Goodwin. He reared a son who followed in his footsteps in the newspaper game,
[J. T.] Goodwin, but the son grew up in an atmosphere of anti-Mormonism and hatred for the Mormons and their institutions. The editorial went on, "This son of Obituary Goodwin ..." Brother Talmage regarded that as one of the nicest ways of calling a man a son of a bitch that he had ever read in the Church newspaper.
Brother Talmage mentioned the period when [Ralph] Jordon came in, a kind of apostate Mormon-not a good Mormon at all-free thinking. If a General Authority told him to do something, he would do the opposite twice as strongly. He mentioned [Earl] Hawkes coming in and insisting upon a good strong contract under which he could more or less run the paper the way it should be run but the people kept trying to interfere and use influence and persuasion and finally after some years according to Brother Talmage he caved in and gave up the struggle and more or less did what they asked him to do.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
90 years ago today - Dec 18, 1934
[Heber J. Grant and David O. McKay]
1. 'Should a person who is sick be anointed with oil more than once a day?' No.
2. 'If the Elders are called in several times a day during severe illness, what should be the procedure when they have been called to administer to them?' The Elders should bless them by virtue of their Priesthood, but frequent administrations are not necessary.
3. 'Should oil be drunk that has been consecrated; if not, what are the objections?' There is no objection to one who is ill taking consecrated oil internally if he or she desires to do so. The drinking of the oil has no connection whatever with the administration ordinance, however.
4. 'Is it advisable to drink olive oil that has not been consecrated, as a cure or help in sickness?' Olive oil, whether consecrated or not, is generally considered a very good remedy. Many people claim to have avoided surgical operations by drinking olive oil. However, in cases of severe illness one should not drink olive oil except upon the prescription of a physician.
[Heber J. Grant and David O. McKay, Letter to Alfred Fallows, 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]
1. 'Should a person who is sick be anointed with oil more than once a day?' No.
2. 'If the Elders are called in several times a day during severe illness, what should be the procedure when they have been called to administer to them?' The Elders should bless them by virtue of their Priesthood, but frequent administrations are not necessary.
3. 'Should oil be drunk that has been consecrated; if not, what are the objections?' There is no objection to one who is ill taking consecrated oil internally if he or she desires to do so. The drinking of the oil has no connection whatever with the administration ordinance, however.
4. 'Is it advisable to drink olive oil that has not been consecrated, as a cure or help in sickness?' Olive oil, whether consecrated or not, is generally considered a very good remedy. Many people claim to have avoided surgical operations by drinking olive oil. However, in cases of severe illness one should not drink olive oil except upon the prescription of a physician.
[Heber J. Grant and David O. McKay, Letter to Alfred Fallows, 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]
90 years ago today - Dec 18, 1934
In answer to the questions submitted by you in your letter of December 15, we are pleased to give you the following information:
1. 'Should a person who is sick be anointed with oil more than once a day?' No.
2. 'If the Elders are called in several times a day during severe illness, what should be the procedure when they have been called to administer to them?' The Elders should bless them by virtue of their Priesthood, but frequent administrations are not necessary.
3. 'Should oil be drunk that has been consecrated; if not, what are the objections?' There is no objection to one who is ill taking consecrated oil internally if he or she desires to do so. The drinking of the oil has no connection whatever with the administration ordinance, however.
4. 'Is it advisable to drink olive oil that has not been consecrated, as a cure or help in sickness?' Olive oil, whether consecrated or not, is generally considered a very good remedy. Many people claim to have avoided surgical operations by drinking olive oil. However, in cases of severe illness one should not drink olive oil except upon the prescription of a physician.
[Heber J. Grant and David O. McKay, Letter to Alfred Fallows, 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]
1. 'Should a person who is sick be anointed with oil more than once a day?' No.
2. 'If the Elders are called in several times a day during severe illness, what should be the procedure when they have been called to administer to them?' The Elders should bless them by virtue of their Priesthood, but frequent administrations are not necessary.
3. 'Should oil be drunk that has been consecrated; if not, what are the objections?' There is no objection to one who is ill taking consecrated oil internally if he or she desires to do so. The drinking of the oil has no connection whatever with the administration ordinance, however.
4. 'Is it advisable to drink olive oil that has not been consecrated, as a cure or help in sickness?' Olive oil, whether consecrated or not, is generally considered a very good remedy. Many people claim to have avoided surgical operations by drinking olive oil. However, in cases of severe illness one should not drink olive oil except upon the prescription of a physician.
[Heber J. Grant and David O. McKay, Letter to Alfred Fallows, 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]
120 years ago today - Dec 18, 1904
[Carl A. Badger]
I just told the Senator [Reed Smoot] that I was discouraged with the Church leaders, and that unless something was done I did not know what the effect would be upon the young people'that is, something must be done with those who have violated the pledge against the taking of new wives. The Senator answered, 'Nothing will be done; I believe they were authorized to take the wives.'
[Carl A. Badger 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]
I just told the Senator [Reed Smoot] that I was discouraged with the Church leaders, and that unless something was done I did not know what the effect would be upon the young people'that is, something must be done with those who have violated the pledge against the taking of new wives. The Senator answered, 'Nothing will be done; I believe they were authorized to take the wives.'
[Carl A. Badger 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 - Dec 18, 1889 (Wednesday)
Judge Zane denied the People's Party [of the church] mandamus against the Salt Lake City registrars, some of whom were charged with crooked work in their official capacity, calculated to harm the People's Party and favor the Liberals at the approaching election.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
20 years ago today - Dec 17, 2004
ACLU submits its appellants' reply brief to the Tenth Circuit Court. Oral arguments are scheduled for May 4, 2005.
[The Main Street Plaza Time Line: http://www.mormonlawyers.com/2008/07/main-st-plaza-mormons-1-aclu-0.html]
[The Main Street Plaza Time Line: http://www.mormonlawyers.com/2008/07/main-st-plaza-mormons-1-aclu-0.html]
40 years ago today - Dec 17, 1984
David Fowers at age 19 is the youngest presidential elector in U.S. history to vote in the Electoral College election of the U.S. president.
[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 - Dec 17, 1979-Monday
[Leonard Arrington]
Glen Taggart... asked me how the General Authorities looked upon some of our history writing endeavors, and then made some comments about Elder [Ezra Taft] Benson. He had been an employee of the [US] Department of Agriculture during all of the years that Elder Benson was Secretary of Agriculture [1953-61]. ... When I reported to him that Elder Benson took a dim view of our analytical history, believing history ought to help sell the cause of Mormonism, President Taggart said that that was consistent with his management of the Department of Agriculture. Under his administration they cut down on the research in the Department of Agriculture quite drastically. They not only cut down the research by the staff but also cut down the appropriations for research ... President Taggart also said that when the question first arose as to trying Sonia Johnson for her membership, about a year ago, Gordon Hinckley advised that under no circumstances should they try her for her ERA activities.
They must get her on a point of doctrine or something similar. [[Hinckley told the Historical Department during their annual Christmas devo- tional two days later: "We are standing for what those whom we sustain as prophets have said is right. We may have been inept-and I think we have been in many ways-in stating our case. We've been clumsy, and some others have been clumsy. But that clumsiness hasn't come of anything but honesty, I believe. ... That's the way it should be. There could be no more vocal recognition by the powers of darkness of the divinity of this work. This is what we can expect for the Lord's work. The Adversary will oppose it by every means available to him, and he has some very powerful means available to him." Arrington's notes of this address were placed in the diary at Dec. 13, 1979.]]
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
Glen Taggart... asked me how the General Authorities looked upon some of our history writing endeavors, and then made some comments about Elder [Ezra Taft] Benson. He had been an employee of the [US] Department of Agriculture during all of the years that Elder Benson was Secretary of Agriculture [1953-61]. ... When I reported to him that Elder Benson took a dim view of our analytical history, believing history ought to help sell the cause of Mormonism, President Taggart said that that was consistent with his management of the Department of Agriculture. Under his administration they cut down on the research in the Department of Agriculture quite drastically. They not only cut down the research by the staff but also cut down the appropriations for research ... President Taggart also said that when the question first arose as to trying Sonia Johnson for her membership, about a year ago, Gordon Hinckley advised that under no circumstances should they try her for her ERA activities.
They must get her on a point of doctrine or something similar. [[Hinckley told the Historical Department during their annual Christmas devo- tional two days later: "We are standing for what those whom we sustain as prophets have said is right. We may have been inept-and I think we have been in many ways-in stating our case. We've been clumsy, and some others have been clumsy. But that clumsiness hasn't come of anything but honesty, I believe. ... That's the way it should be. There could be no more vocal recognition by the powers of darkness of the divinity of this work. This is what we can expect for the Lord's work. The Adversary will oppose it by every means available to him, and he has some very powerful means available to him." Arrington's notes of this address were placed in the diary at Dec. 13, 1979.]]
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
50 years ago today - Dec 17, 1974-Tuesday
[Leonard Arrington]
.... Maureen [Beecher] received a letter of appointment as a writer for the instructional development group in the Church. The letter indicated this was a Church service position. She was to resign all other Church positions and it was signed by Bruce McConkie, Boyd Packer, Marvin Ashton, and Tom Monson. Maureen is now a Sunday school teacher with her husband Dale [Beecher] in her ward. We were all delighted with this appointment.
Later during the morning I learned that a condition had been attached. This was apparently passed on from Bruce McConkie to Earl Olson and from Earl Olson to me. This condition was that she not publish any articles in Dialogue or Woman's Exponent II or be involved or associated with them in any official capacity during the period of her appointment, which is "indefinite." The indefinite appointment suggests that she may be asked to write other manuals in addition to the Relief Society manual which she is to direct for the coming year.
Under the appointment she is to write a series of lessons about outstanding historical Relief Society personalities. This first draft is to be finished by May and the complete work is to be finished by September. At that time she may or may not be released from the group. I told Earl that I was sure Maureen would comply with the requirement. Maureen, of course, has had her article on Eliza R. Snow as an enigma accepted by Dialogue and they had planned to publish it in the next issue. She was pleased that it was to be published there. However, she telephoned Bob Rees and asked him to withdraw it. ... The most peculiar thing is that all members of the Twelve [Apostles] had signed her appointment before she had made any commitment in regard to Dialogue and Exponent II.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
.... Maureen [Beecher] received a letter of appointment as a writer for the instructional development group in the Church. The letter indicated this was a Church service position. She was to resign all other Church positions and it was signed by Bruce McConkie, Boyd Packer, Marvin Ashton, and Tom Monson. Maureen is now a Sunday school teacher with her husband Dale [Beecher] in her ward. We were all delighted with this appointment.
Later during the morning I learned that a condition had been attached. This was apparently passed on from Bruce McConkie to Earl Olson and from Earl Olson to me. This condition was that she not publish any articles in Dialogue or Woman's Exponent II or be involved or associated with them in any official capacity during the period of her appointment, which is "indefinite." The indefinite appointment suggests that she may be asked to write other manuals in addition to the Relief Society manual which she is to direct for the coming year.
Under the appointment she is to write a series of lessons about outstanding historical Relief Society personalities. This first draft is to be finished by May and the complete work is to be finished by September. At that time she may or may not be released from the group. I told Earl that I was sure Maureen would comply with the requirement. Maureen, of course, has had her article on Eliza R. Snow as an enigma accepted by Dialogue and they had planned to publish it in the next issue. She was pleased that it was to be published there. However, she telephoned Bob Rees and asked him to withdraw it. ... The most peculiar thing is that all members of the Twelve [Apostles] had signed her appointment before she had made any commitment in regard to Dialogue and Exponent II.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
90 years ago today - Dec 17, 1934
In response to your request, I am pleased to furnish the following explanation:
The Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a corporation sole, organized under the laws of the State of Utah for religious and charitable purposes. The President of the Church is the corporation. It has no Board of Directors nor other officers. Since my official position as President of the Church constitutes me the Corporation of the President, I am therefore fully empowered to conduct the business of the Corporation, which includes depositing funds at any bank and withdrawing same by check or order.
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to W. H. Hayne, 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]
The Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a corporation sole, organized under the laws of the State of Utah for religious and charitable purposes. The President of the Church is the corporation. It has no Board of Directors nor other officers. Since my official position as President of the Church constitutes me the Corporation of the President, I am therefore fully empowered to conduct the business of the Corporation, which includes depositing funds at any bank and withdrawing same by check or order.
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to W. H. Hayne, 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]
110 years ago today - Dec 17, 1914; Thursday
While in Rexburg [Idaho], Bro[ther]. Whitney said, a young couple called to see him named Bergner. The young woman had been a plural wife of Bro[ther]. [former apostle] M[atthias]. F. Cowley, whom he married in 1905, the result of this union being one child. She had since left Bro[ther]. Cowley and married Bergner. They told Bro[ther]. Whitney that Bro[ther]. Cowley had spoken to Pres[iden]t. Austin, asking him to see that this child was baptized in his own name, that of Cowley and not Bergner, but Bro[ther]. and Sister Bergner wanted the name of the child changed, and in fact they had had him baptized under the name of Bergner and confirmed under that name, he having been baptized in one ward and confirmed in another. Bro[ther]. Whitney said he told them he could not give any council regard to this matter.
President Smith now raised the question of the right of Bro[ther]. M[atthias]. F. Cowley to claim Sister Bergner's child, she not having been sealed to him by the authority of the Church.
On motion of Bro[ther]. Joseph F[ielding]. Smith Jr., seconded by Bro[ther]. Talmage, the council sustained the claim of the mother, that the child belonged to her, and that she therefore had the right to call it after her name. ....
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
President Smith now raised the question of the right of Bro[ther]. M[atthias]. F. Cowley to claim Sister Bergner's child, she not having been sealed to him by the authority of the Church.
On motion of Bro[ther]. Joseph F[ielding]. Smith Jr., seconded by Bro[ther]. Talmage, the council sustained the claim of the mother, that the child belonged to her, and that she therefore had the right to call it after her name. ....
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
135 years ago today - Dec 17, 1889
[President Wilford Woodruff]
The whole City Country & Nation is stired up & moved to Destroy the Latter Day Saints.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
The whole City Country & Nation is stired up & moved to Destroy the Latter Day Saints.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
135 years ago today - Dec 17, 1889
Apostle H[eber]. J. Grant submitted the propriety of the leading businessmen of our city signing a resolution approving the Manifesto or the Official Declaration [regarding blood atonement] of the First Presidency and Twelve, and that this be done soon. This was approved and Brother Grant was requested to see that the matter is gotten into shape and attended to without delay. It was also suggested that the People's party manager get up their meetings and pass suitable resolutions as suggested at a previous meeting by Brother J. W. Pike, and that the mass meetings of the citizens on this same subject should be held.
[First Presidency Office Journal, 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]
[First Presidency Office Journal, 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]
140 years ago today - Wednesday, Dec 17, 1884
[Apostle John Henry Smith]
Bern, Switzerland
Pleasant. I found Bros. Schoenfeld, J. A. Smith and several other brethren at the office well. I wrote letters to both of my wives. I visited the Swiss Congress and enjoyed myself very much.
[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]
Bern, Switzerland
Pleasant. I found Bros. Schoenfeld, J. A. Smith and several other brethren at the office well. I wrote letters to both of my wives. I visited the Swiss Congress and enjoyed myself very much.
[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]
170 years ago today - Dec 17, 1854
[Wilford Woodruff]
I met with the presidency & Twelve in an upper room in President Young office. The room was dedicated for prayer & the sick prayed for & oil consecrated.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I met with the presidency & Twelve in an upper room in President Young office. The room was dedicated for prayer & the sick prayed for & oil consecrated.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
60 years ago today - Dec 16, 1964
Reed Benson becomes John Birch Society coordinater of washington D.C.
["Utahn Heads Birch Office in Capital," Deseret News, 16 Dec. 1964, A-13. 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.]
["Utahn Heads Birch Office in Capital," Deseret News, 16 Dec. 1964, A-13. 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.]
80 years ago today - Dec 16, 1944
A Deseret News Church Section article from New Orleans: "Negro Members of The Church Display Great Faith."
[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 - Dec 16, 1909; Thursday
[George F. Gibbs to Bishop Lorin Merrill]
[S]hould another such case arise in your ward, or come within your personal knowledge, they hope you will be emphatic in warning against it, in the understanding that there can be but the one way of dealing with such a violation of the action of the Church on the question under consideration, namely, contraction of plural marriages, and that is excommunication.
[George F. Gibbs, letter to Bishop Lorin A. Merrill, Kenney Papers, original in LDS Archives]
[S]hould another such case arise in your ward, or come within your personal knowledge, they hope you will be emphatic in warning against it, in the understanding that there can be but the one way of dealing with such a violation of the action of the Church on the question under consideration, namely, contraction of plural marriages, and that is excommunication.
[George F. Gibbs, letter to Bishop Lorin A. Merrill, Kenney Papers, original in LDS Archives]
130 years ago today - Dec 16, 1894
[Patriarchal Blessing of Samuel RosKelley by James G. Willie]
.... thou art of Ephriam through the loins of ElKanah, and Ephrathite, and of Samuel his son. And inasmuch as thy great grogenitor [progenitor] was called upon to administer unto the Great High Priest so that great influence which he enjoyed to administer unto the Holy of the Holies and wait upon Eli the great High Priest and became great and mighty in the things of God, that has descended unto thee for his blood permeates in thy veins. ... the Lord will bless thy progenitors, they have a watchful eye over thee, and the day will come, and that not very long, when your progenitors will visit you, when they will reveal unto thee the full links of thy ancestry, according to the geneology [genealogy] of the Priesthood as it has been handed down from the days of Adam. And those eho have not had the opportunities that you and I have had to live in this great gospel day, they shall be redeemed, they shalt stand forth upon Mount Zion as a Saviour, of the true and living God. ... for thy
eyes shall sparkle as living diamonds, that every power within its grasp shall fall before thee. ... and some must "bite the dust" and lay down their lives for the testimony of Jesus Christ as they have done in ancient days. ...
.... thou art of Ephriam through the loins of ElKanah, and Ephrathite, and of Samuel his son. And inasmuch as thy great grogenitor [progenitor] was called upon to administer unto the Great High Priest so that great influence which he enjoyed to administer unto the Holy of the Holies and wait upon Eli the great High Priest and became great and mighty in the things of God, that has descended unto thee for his blood permeates in thy veins. ... the Lord will bless thy progenitors, they have a watchful eye over thee, and the day will come, and that not very long, when your progenitors will visit you, when they will reveal unto thee the full links of thy ancestry, according to the geneology [genealogy] of the Priesthood as it has been handed down from the days of Adam. And those eho have not had the opportunities that you and I have had to live in this great gospel day, they shall be redeemed, they shalt stand forth upon Mount Zion as a Saviour, of the true and living God. ... for thy
eyes shall sparkle as living diamonds, that every power within its grasp shall fall before thee. ... and some must "bite the dust" and lay down their lives for the testimony of Jesus Christ as they have done in ancient days. ...
145 years ago today - Dec 16, 1879
obtained my Second Anointings Sept. 23, 1867 at 9 a.m. also my wife Elizabeth.
"Adam-ondi-Ahman" The Valley of God where Adam dwelt- so say O Pratt Sr Oct/80
[Loose papers at end of book on inside back cover:]
Pres Taylor said I heard Jan 13/80
Joseph Smith say that Adam was the Ancient of Days spoken of by Daniel ... you do not give up your priesthood Adam heard the voice of the Lord walking in the garden. Adam had a God then...
Cain heard the voice of the Lord who enquired after Abel-
referred to Peter Jas & John conferring the Mel Prt on Jos Smith Moses who conferred the spirit of gathering - Elijah the sealing of the fathers & when we get to God our Father we are told to approach him in the name of Jesus Adam is the father of our bodies who is to say he is not the Father of our spirits.
Present Pres Taylor CCR. F. D. R. & W L Johnson Jr.
[L. John Nuttal Papers; BYU Special Collections, Mss 188, Container #1, File Folder #1, Red book with gold lining, front and back covers, with the title "Records" on front cover in gold. 19.5 cm x 12.5 cm, 240 pages, Thursday June 19, 1879-Tuesday December 16, 1879 : journal [Inside front cover fly leaf: Not in BYU Typescript of Diaries:] as quoted in "Quotations Dealing with the Relationship of Our First Earthy Parents to Our Heavenly Parents (1830-1978)"]
"Adam-ondi-Ahman" The Valley of God where Adam dwelt- so say O Pratt Sr Oct/80
[Loose papers at end of book on inside back cover:]
Pres Taylor said I heard Jan 13/80
Joseph Smith say that Adam was the Ancient of Days spoken of by Daniel ... you do not give up your priesthood Adam heard the voice of the Lord walking in the garden. Adam had a God then...
Cain heard the voice of the Lord who enquired after Abel-
referred to Peter Jas & John conferring the Mel Prt on Jos Smith Moses who conferred the spirit of gathering - Elijah the sealing of the fathers & when we get to God our Father we are told to approach him in the name of Jesus Adam is the father of our bodies who is to say he is not the Father of our spirits.
Present Pres Taylor CCR. F. D. R. & W L Johnson Jr.
[L. John Nuttal Papers; BYU Special Collections, Mss 188, Container #1, File Folder #1, Red book with gold lining, front and back covers, with the title "Records" on front cover in gold. 19.5 cm x 12.5 cm, 240 pages, Thursday June 19, 1879-Tuesday December 16, 1879 : journal [Inside front cover fly leaf: Not in BYU Typescript of Diaries:] as quoted in "Quotations Dealing with the Relationship of Our First Earthy Parents to Our Heavenly Parents (1830-1978)"]
145 years ago today - Dec 16, 1879
[Apostle Wilford Woodruff]
I dreamed at night that President Taylor was sealing all in the Church Plural marriages to them that wished it. We met in the Council of the 12. I thought the glory of God rested upon us and we done all our work openly and the government had no power over us and we rejoiced together.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I dreamed at night that President Taylor was sealing all in the Church Plural marriages to them that wished it. We met in the Council of the 12. I thought the glory of God rested upon us and we done all our work openly and the government had no power over us and we rejoiced together.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
170 years ago today - Dec 16, 1854
[Hosea Stout]
Met with the Regents in the evening Subject the New [Deseret] Alphabet which is now becoming a subject of interest in the primary schools in the Territory
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
Met with the Regents in the evening Subject the New [Deseret] Alphabet which is now becoming a subject of interest in the primary schools in the Territory
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
60 years ago today - Dec 14, 1964
[Ezra Taft Benson]
Regarding his father's mission call to Europe, at a church farewell on December 14, 1964 Reed Benson complained that his father had been "`stabbed' in the back." The Twelve's president was present to hear the younger Benson's remark that his father's mission call was a back-stab.
Nine days later, Joseph Fielding Smith wrote: "I am glad to report to you that it will be some time before we hear anything from Brother Benson, who is now on his way to Great Britain where I suppose he will be, at least for the next two years.
[Quinn, D. Michael; Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought]
Regarding his father's mission call to Europe, at a church farewell on December 14, 1964 Reed Benson complained that his father had been "`stabbed' in the back." The Twelve's president was present to hear the younger Benson's remark that his father's mission call was a back-stab.
Nine days later, Joseph Fielding Smith wrote: "I am glad to report to you that it will be some time before we hear anything from Brother Benson, who is now on his way to Great Britain where I suppose he will be, at least for the next two years.
[Quinn, D. Michael; Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought]
85 years ago today - Dec 14, 1939
[President Heber J. Grant]
I made up my mind, after talking to a number of the Brethren yesterday, to recommend at our meeting today that Sister May Green Hinckley be made Superintendent of the Primary Association General Board. I called and saw Brother B.S. Hinckley and told him what I was going to do. I called up his wife and congratulated her, and then I called and told May Anderson, Superintendent of the Primary, that we had decided upon Sister Hinckley. I had a telephone message from J. Reuben Clark, Jr. He gave his endorsement of Sister Hinckley. Brother David O. McKay called me last night on the telephone. I had called him from the office telling him I was in favor of Sister Hinckley and he said, 'I think you are making a mistake. She is not well enough educated for that important position.' When I got home he called and said, 'I am a hundred per cent for Sister Hinckley. I got the wrong Hinckley in mind.' I was very glad indeed to have this endorsement. Sister Anderson was very much pleased with the
selection of Sister Hinckley.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I made up my mind, after talking to a number of the Brethren yesterday, to recommend at our meeting today that Sister May Green Hinckley be made Superintendent of the Primary Association General Board. I called and saw Brother B.S. Hinckley and told him what I was going to do. I called up his wife and congratulated her, and then I called and told May Anderson, Superintendent of the Primary, that we had decided upon Sister Hinckley. I had a telephone message from J. Reuben Clark, Jr. He gave his endorsement of Sister Hinckley. Brother David O. McKay called me last night on the telephone. I had called him from the office telling him I was in favor of Sister Hinckley and he said, 'I think you are making a mistake. She is not well enough educated for that important position.' When I got home he called and said, 'I am a hundred per cent for Sister Hinckley. I got the wrong Hinckley in mind.' I was very glad indeed to have this endorsement. Sister Anderson was very much pleased with the
selection of Sister Hinckley.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
115 years ago today - Dec 14, 1909; Tuesday
[George F. Richards]
I had a private conversation with Pres[ident]. Francis M. Lyman in which I expressed the thought that it would be well for members of our Council of Twelve who have but one living wife to have some good dead women sealed to them while they are here and can look after their own interests as I have done, and perhaps Pres[ident]. Lyman could present it to these members in a way that they would take no offense. I would have my brethren avoid the disappointments which must follow neglect of opportunity.
[George F. Richards, Diary]
I had a private conversation with Pres[ident]. Francis M. Lyman in which I expressed the thought that it would be well for members of our Council of Twelve who have but one living wife to have some good dead women sealed to them while they are here and can look after their own interests as I have done, and perhaps Pres[ident]. Lyman could present it to these members in a way that they would take no offense. I would have my brethren avoid the disappointments which must follow neglect of opportunity.
[George F. Richards, Diary]
125 years ago today - Dec 14, 1899
Brothers J. G[olden]. Kimball and J[oseph]. W. McMurrin, of the First Council of Seventies, having been invited to go into business for the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, with which concern their associate, Elder Rulon S. Wells, was already engaged under permission of the First Presidency, given last April, they now desired to know the mind of the Presidency upon their own case.
Brother Grant remarked that he could see no reason why they should not be left at liberty to enter into such an engagement. He also said that he felt there was an excellent opportunity to establish a Home Life Insurance Company among ourselves, and he heartily favored such an institution.
President Snow invited the brethren to express themselves on this subject, whereupon President Cannon said that he was against life insurance as a general proposition, but that he would favor a local organization. He could foresee, however, that if the Church were to engage in anything of that kind, it would invite attacks upon it by its opponents.
Brother Grant suggested that individual names might be used in behalf of the Church. He showed how money could be made in the business, stating that he himself had made as much as $1500 in three days. He would take delight in canvassing for a Church institution, free of charge. He showed that the risks among our people, who were more moral than others, would not be so great as those that other companies carried. Moreover, it would have the effect of keeping money at home.
Brother John W. Taylor reminded the Council that the only thing which induced our people to join secret organizations was to get the benefit of reduced rates of life insurance; and Brother Grant remarked that his brother, B[enjamin]. F. Grant, had told him that from personal experience he knew of nothing so potent as an influence to wean away the feelings and destroy the faith of our young men, as membership in these secret organizations.
President Snow observed that as this was a new idea to the Council, he thought each member might ponder it over for himself and discuss it further at some other time.
Meantime, it was asked, what should be done with the request of Brother Kimball and Brother McMurrin. Brother Grant moved that a committee be appointed to consider the question of the Church going into the business of life insurance, and that these brethren wait for an answer until that committee had reported. The motion was seconded by Brother Clawson and carried. President Snow then named Joseph F. Smith, Francis H. Lyman, John Henry Smith, Heber J. Grant, and Anthon H. Lund as the committee. ...
[Journal History, 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]
Brother Grant remarked that he could see no reason why they should not be left at liberty to enter into such an engagement. He also said that he felt there was an excellent opportunity to establish a Home Life Insurance Company among ourselves, and he heartily favored such an institution.
President Snow invited the brethren to express themselves on this subject, whereupon President Cannon said that he was against life insurance as a general proposition, but that he would favor a local organization. He could foresee, however, that if the Church were to engage in anything of that kind, it would invite attacks upon it by its opponents.
Brother Grant suggested that individual names might be used in behalf of the Church. He showed how money could be made in the business, stating that he himself had made as much as $1500 in three days. He would take delight in canvassing for a Church institution, free of charge. He showed that the risks among our people, who were more moral than others, would not be so great as those that other companies carried. Moreover, it would have the effect of keeping money at home.
Brother John W. Taylor reminded the Council that the only thing which induced our people to join secret organizations was to get the benefit of reduced rates of life insurance; and Brother Grant remarked that his brother, B[enjamin]. F. Grant, had told him that from personal experience he knew of nothing so potent as an influence to wean away the feelings and destroy the faith of our young men, as membership in these secret organizations.
President Snow observed that as this was a new idea to the Council, he thought each member might ponder it over for himself and discuss it further at some other time.
Meantime, it was asked, what should be done with the request of Brother Kimball and Brother McMurrin. Brother Grant moved that a committee be appointed to consider the question of the Church going into the business of life insurance, and that these brethren wait for an answer until that committee had reported. The motion was seconded by Brother Clawson and carried. President Snow then named Joseph F. Smith, Francis H. Lyman, John Henry Smith, Heber J. Grant, and Anthon H. Lund as the committee. ...
[Journal History, 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 - Dec 14, 1889
[First Presidency Office Journal]
A brief synopsis of the Manifesto [regarding blood atonement] of the First Presidency and Twelve was published in the Salt Lake Herald this morning. Upon which brother W. B. Dougall called and thought it would now be proper to have the whole Manifesto published in the Deseret News and Salt Lake Herald. President [George Q.] Cannon gave instructions to send the Manifesto for publication. It was handed to Brother C[harles]. W. Penrose who called.
[First Presidency Office Journal, 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]
A brief synopsis of the Manifesto [regarding blood atonement] of the First Presidency and Twelve was published in the Salt Lake Herald this morning. Upon which brother W. B. Dougall called and thought it would now be proper to have the whole Manifesto published in the Deseret News and Salt Lake Herald. President [George Q.] Cannon gave instructions to send the Manifesto for publication. It was handed to Brother C[harles]. W. Penrose who called.
[First Presidency Office Journal, 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]
140 years ago today - Dec 14, 1884
George Q. Cannon preaches, "Now I have heard that there are men among us who are professing to cure witchcraft and other evils of that kind... Do not seek for those who have peepstones, for soothsayers, and for those who profess to be able to counter-act the influence of witchcraft." Faithful Mormons continue using counter-charms.
[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 )]]
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