Several curious tidbits that happened on this day in Mormon History
[John Henry Smith]
Salt Lake City
It is announced from Cape May that Jos. F. Smith is amnestied by the President [of the United States].
[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]
a game of chess by telephone was played between Salt Lake and Ogden on Sunday. Salt Lake won. This is probably the first instance of telephonic chess on record.
[History to Go, Statehood, http://historytogo.utah.gov/timeline/statehood.html]
[Hosea Stout]
Monday September 7th 1846. Went to see President Young after breakfast and reported what [had] been done which he said was all right and perfectly satisfactory on his part but said for me to use utmost care to keep down any undue excitement from those who did not understand the Laws & ordinances of this kingdom [regarding whipping three boys for "night ramblings" with Wilford Woodruff's new teenage brides.]
I then went with the Marshall over to Hebers camp as we had understood that there was many who were hard against us over there. So we went & got G. W. Langley & W. J. Earl and went round the camp saluting every one friendly that we met & passed off and in an hour or so it was reported that we were after some four or five more to whip and so great was the excitement that some even went in their waggons & was prepared to shoot in case we came
By this means we, as we anticipated, learned who their accomplices in crime were. For of course no one was scared who was not guilty or aiding & abetting those who were and in fact some were in this way detected whom I little would have supposed to be any way engaged in such things. I still kept on the look out all day with some of the police to see that all was going right and saw A. Lyman, W. Richards, W. Woodruff in the mein time and reported to them how matters were going. Brown & Barnum [two of the punished boys] was acting very friendly and said they were going to do better.
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
[Leonard J. Arrington]
"It was in the early 1950s, when graduate research at BYU built up, that Brother Lund put the clamps on research by insisting that each library user clear his notes with him before he could have them. Most scholars worked out various devices for clearing this hurdle: keeping carbon copies of notes; carrying out notes in inside pockets, in their stockings and soles of their shoes, etc. Brother Lund's system was an obstacle, an irritant, but did not impede or prevent honest and comprehensive research."
[Leonard J Arrington Reminiscences, 6 September 1976. USU, Arrington Collection, Series 10]
[Hosea Stout]
This morning a number of the Police and the Marshall went over into Heber camp and took Peletiah Brown another one of the young men who had been with young Barnum [who had been engaging in "night ramblings" with Wilford Woodruff's two new teenage brides] and took him into the woods and give him 18 stripes which brought blood in two places. He also protested that he was innocent. He was considerably excited when we came but after reasoning with him a short time he consented to go and in fact he & Barnum both acted manly after we took them[.] He requested go alone with me and let the others follow for he was ashamed to be taken off in a croud before the people
He took his whipping tolerable well but all the time protested he was innocent. When the Marshall had given him near what he was to have he loudly exclaimed "O Br Eldridge if you will only stop Ill never touch another girl again while hells afloat." He finished this sentence at the top of his voice. When we were through we all came homewe had now but one more case to attend to and that was A. J. Clothier or as he was more known by Jack Clothier. When I came home I was very unwell and the long walk had tired me down and I staid at home untill in the evening when George W. Langley and some more brought Jack Clothier here. He said that when he took Jack his mother and all the family railed on them and called them mobbers and every evil thing against them that they could think of and finally sent for Father Cutler to have him interfere but when he came he said he had nothing to do with it and advised him to go. His mother followed him here railing all the time which made no small stir among the people who did not know what to think of it.
We took him out of camp and gave him 23 stripes putting on five for his mean conduct while in our hands. We then gave him a long lecture on the law in the matter before us as we did the others. He did not act honorably as did the others but manifested a mean low, and grovelling spirit all the time
We then sent him home & after having a long conversation among ourselves about what was wisdom for us to do in future & the course to pursue in order to meet the excitement we came home It was now in the night.
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
In the Ravenna Courier, Symonds Ryder publishes the first printed attack on Mormonism by a former member.
[Mark Lyman Staker, Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith's Ohio Revelations: A Selective Chronology of Significant Events in Ohio's LDS History]
William Appleman Williams, writing in THE NATION, Calls the LDS First Presidency's statement on the MX missile system a "truly radical action," which has "received far less attention than it deserves. He encourages radicals committed to social change to learn from the Mormons. Williams asserts "the left has created nothing to compare with the concentrated force of the Mormon opposition to the MX and to the American acceleration of the arms race." Williams, who teaches history at Oregon State University and is president of the Organization of American Historians, acknowledges that "the Mormons display a very, shrewd understanding of the kind of national power that can grow out of organizing a relatively small number of people in a specific region."
[J. Reuben Clark]
Told Bro McKay about Pres Grant's and my insistence that U-I [sugar company] borrow some of its funds from us, say $1,000,000.
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
[Abraham H. Cannon]
Uncle Angus [M. Cannon]. . . said he felt [his son] John Q. ought to get up before the public congregation in the Big Tabernacle this afternoon and confess his sin and Uncle Angus should then propose and put it to vote that he be cut off from the Church. ... I therefore carried the latter's advice to John and he manfully agreed to follow it.... I reached meeting just in time to hear Uncle Angus put the motion to vote that John be cut off. It was unanimously sustained. Uncle Angus immediately left the meeting to again go in hiding. The affair created a great sensation because no idea was had by any, except two or three, of John's guilt and the fact that Uncle Angus came out of his hiding to put the matter before the people that it might be a warning made a profound impression. ... I drove to the farm after meeting and heard Father tell the folks what had occurred. He began in this way: "John Q. Cannon has committed adultery and was today cut off the Church." The sadness of the scene which followed beggars description. All wept and felt their spirits wounded. I went over for John Q. in the evening and after giving solicitation, he went over and met Father and the folks. He seemed to feel very penitent and humble, and will, I hope, try to live his religion hereafter. The blow has been a terrible one to us all as we all placed so much faith in John Q. He said he suffered a thousand deaths in telling Annie, Louie, and Sister Wells this afternoon of his fall from the Church.
[Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
[Hosea Stout]
I saw Br Wilford Woodruff who informed me of the conduct of some young men towards some young women [Woodruff's two new teenage brides]. President Young had also previously given me charge to keep a sharp look out for them and that they had undertakin to get hold of them and some one informed them what was up.
Elder Woodruff said that they and the girls had been out for fifteen nights in succession untill after two oclock and that it was his wish & the wish of the President that I should take the matter in hand and see that they had a just punishment by whipping them and for me to take my own course and use my own judgement in executing the same[.] I told him that I would see to it[.] This was I believe the first step taken since we were in the wilderness to enforce obedience to the Law of God or to punish a transgressor for a breach of the same. The crimes of these men were adultery or having carnal communication with the girls which was well known to many and the legal punishment was death
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
Apostle Orson Pratt is the first general authority to receive an honorary college degree (M.A. from the University of the City of Nauvoo).
[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]
[Wilford Woodruff]
Elder Grooves & Boydstun heal'd by the laying on of hands.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Gordon B. Hinckley receives the American Legion's "Good Guy Award."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
[Joseph Fielding]
2nd I came to Preston [England]. […]
…there has been a certain Principle manifested here which I shall mention. there has been a select little Company who have looked upon themselves as better than the rest, they met together as a choice Band, where they obtained Manifestations which it was not lawful to tell to the common Saints, nor even to me, though at that time presiding, it was shewn them who should be Companions in another World, that they would not be united as they are now, (these were mostly Females). they had many strange Visions, of these things I got to hear by degrees, and one/ of their Company came to a short time ago to ask my forgiveness, as she had once pronounced a Curse [p. 74] or Woe upon me. I told her I freely forgave her, the san the Mo had not come upon me, I did not care what it was nor who were concerned in it, I did not get to know of the new Companion Revelation till a short time ago. I then said it was not of God, and if one of the Twelve should sanction it, I should still reject it, soon after I was with Elder P. P. Pratt, and asked him if it were of God, he said "no", it had been the same in Manchester while a certain Female from Preston was living there, some one had been marked out for him, and some were still believing that they should have such & such an one In Preston, they were much affraid of me knowing of these things— Others have prophesied (Females) of things pertaining to the Elders, one, that an Elder's Wife would die and he should be married to another certain Person, and the Elder for want of Experience more I think, than the Want of honesty, [p. 75] really thought it was true or from the Lord, I often cautioned this Sister to be careful about her Dreams and told her if her Eye were not single, her Dreams would be mixed with Error, I also endeavoured to show the Elders that the Priesthood was to govern and, not be led by Females Dreams or Propheizings or by anyone else, I felt much grieved for the Sis, who was to die, a faithful Sister, there kind of Prophetesses, whould also say they would see who would stand and who would not, I told them there was no defense against anyone, all might stand, and it was the Will of God that all should overcome, for it was calculated to discourage some who felt weak, and I have told the Saints that some of those who seemed to be first on the Way to the Kingdom, would find it hard work to get through, which the humble, and those who were overlooked, would be first, these things have learned me more and more the use and [p. 76] Value of the Priesthood, and the Folly of thinking to do without it, or for any one exalt himself above it, for the Lord will not authorize Men to do his Work and then direct another to go and do that which pertains to the Priesthood nor reveal things to Women to teach his Will to Men
Another thing I will mention here there had been/ too great Familiarity between the Brethren and Sisters in this Land, this I saw, but had not so much Firmness as I should have had, but rather partook in it, and when the 12 returned last year, to this Land they checked this Evil, yet some who came from America, went far beyond any thing we had ever done or sanctioned, so much so that E[lder] C— went into Bed with different Women and endeavored to persuade them it was no harm and while I was in Manchester last Week, I was informed that a Sister was in a tate of Pregnancy by an E[ld]er who persuaded her [p. 77] it mattered not how familiar they were with one another so [long as] they did not actually commit Adultery or Fornication, till they got to Bed together and were overcome, and he thus received the young Sis, and the inducement he held out to her, was that E[lder] C— had often slept with Sis P— and there was no harm in it, It seems also that E[lder] T— [Theodore Turley] has been cut off from the Church since he returned to America for the like Sin. what do their Wives think of such things, I feel myself to be weak, but the Lord has preserved me at least from outward Sin, to God be all the Praise. Yes, I am very thankful that I have been thus preserved O Lord, my God, do thou keep me unspotted to the End for Jesus Christs sake Amen.
[Joseph Fielding, Journals, 1837-1859, Church Archives, MS 1567]
[Brigham Young]
"On my return from England I found my family living in a small unfinished log cabin, situated on a low, wet lot, so swampy that when the first attempt was made to plow it the oxen mired; but after the city was drained it became a very valuable garden spot."
"Although I had to spend the principal part of my time, at the call of Brother Joseph, in the service of the Church, the portion of time left me I spent in draining, fencing and cultivating my lot, building a temporary shed for my cow, chinking and otherwise finishing my house; and as the ground was too damp to admit of a cellar underground, I built one with two brick walls about four or six inches apart, arched over with brick. Frost never penetrated it, although in summer articles would mildew in it."
[Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844, ed. Elden Jay Watson (Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968).]
In response to the increasing "personal problems of church members . . . in number and seriousness," together with the absence of "revealed truth about human behavior" among professionals "to combat these problems," BYU President Dallin Oaks proposes to the Board of Trustees that "an Institute for Studies in Values and Human Behavior be established at BYU to sponsor and conduct research that would assist in preventing and changing [deviant] behaviors which lead people away from eternal life." The trustees approve Oaks's proposal and back the appointment of BYU psychologist Allen Bergin as its director. Noting that "too many LDS behavioral scientists do not harmonize their professional concepts with their religious stands," Bergin explained that his "first project [would] be to state as clearly as possible to the behavioral scientists . . . that Jesus Christ teaches in principles of behavior. He later adds, "What we can do is receive inspiration in our research and then seek reviews by the authorities [of the church] for their interpretations, disapproval, or whatever, if doctrinal questions are raised by it." Institute member Victor Brown, Jr. writes to BYU officials, "Our basic theme is that truth lies with the scriptures and prophets, not with secular data or debate."
German mazazine DER STERN reports on a lecture by Dr. Max Haenle from Tubingen, a non-Mormon who visited Utah in the late twenties and became a friend of Anthony W. Ivins, First Counselor to Heber J. Grant. The article says that Haenle made "comparisons ... throughout the whole lecture between the Mormon state founded 86 years ago by Brigham Young in Utah and Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. . . . In its political productivity, its organization forms, and its unswerving successes in the various areas of governmental, social, and communal life," he proclaimed, "Utah bears a really striking similarity to our Germany of today. Here as well as there, the unshakable faith in and willingness to die for their Fuhrer [respective leaders] is the foundation and prerequisite for all further development."
[Heber J. Grant to Anthony W. Ivins]
"Bro[ther]s. [John W.] Taylor and [Matthias F.] Cowley have got just what they were entitled to [diciplined, including being dropped from the quorum of twelve for promoting polygamy], and did not get it as soon as they should. They presumed to be a law unto themselves. There are many things that I can tell you that will throw light on the situation. The young man [i.e., Henry S. Tanner] in the Y.M.M.I.A. will go to hell all right if he does not repent of the position he now occupies. Bro[ther]. [Francis M.] Lyman or no man that has ever lived will be able to influence Pres[ident]. [Joseph F.] Smith to accept his'the man's policy. Jos[eph]. F. Smith is the strongest man that has stood at the head of the Church since the Prophet Joseph Smith. Bro[ther]. Lyman is not in the same class when it comes to real force of character. You or no man that lives need have the least anxiety of Pres[ident]. Smith allowing Bro[ther] Lyman to dominate the President. I see from your letter that you are not at all worried in that direction. Your position is the only correct one and that is to see that every presiding man in your Stake sustains the present policy of the Church or gets out of office. There is not the least safety in any other position. I supposed the bone that you were going to pick with me was what some good friend said to you as to what I had told him, but you dropped the picking, and so did I and am now more than willing to let it wait until we meet."
[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Anthony W. Ivins, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
Young warns non-Mormon Thomas L. Kane (whom Young had just met) "that we had more influence with the indians than all other nations on the earth, & if we were compelled we would use it."
[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]
[Minutes of the Apostles]
Resolved unanimously, that we deeply feel for our beloved President Joseph Smith & his fathers family on account of the great losses they have sustained in their properties on account of /by/ the unparalleled persecutions in Missouri, as well as the other many persecutions they have sustained since the Rise of the church, which has brought them to their present destitute situation; 'Therefore, Voted unanimously, /for ourselves & the church we represent/ that we approve of whel of the proceedings of president Smith so far as he has gone, in making over certain properties to his wife & children /& friends/ for their Support. & that He continue to deed & make over certain portions of church property /which now exist, or which may be obtained by exchange/ as in his wisdom he shall judge expedient, till his own & his fathers household shall have an inheritance secured to them ...
Resolved, that on account of the peculiar situation of the Church hitherto, it has been expedient & necessary that that the deeds. Bonds. & properties of the Church should be & have been taken & holden by committees of the church'& private individuals.'but that we now have a Trustte in Trust.' viz. President Joseph Smith appointed according to the laws of the Land....
... it was, voted unanimously that President Smith., as Trustee in Trust, be requested, & instructed /by the Conference on behalf of the Church/ to extend relief to such indigent suffering brethren., either by land or goods, as the properties of the Church would admit.
[Minutes, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
Joseph Smith receives a revelation (unpublished) directing that Kirtland's sawmill operator, John Burk, and others immigrate to Missouri. The family of later sawmill owners Azariah Lyman and Austin Loud believe that this act disrupts Kirtland's sawmill operation.
[Mark Lyman Staker, Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith's Ohio Revelations: A Selective Chronology of Significant Events in Ohio's LDS History]