Apostle Bruce R. McConkie preaches at BYU against "Seven Deadly Heresies." First heresy: "There are those who say God is progressing in knowledge and is learning new truths." Second heresy is organic evolution. Fifth heresy; "There are those who say that there is progression from one kingdom to another in the eternal worlds." Sixth "Deadly Heresy" is the Adam-God doctrine preached by Brigham Young. McConkie says those who have been through the temple who believe the Adam-God doctrine "do not deserve to be saved."
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
Today In Mormon History-fb
Several curious tidbits that happened on this day in Mormon History
60 years ago today - Jun 1, 1965
Apostle Richard L. Evans is elected president of Rotary International, with its 560,000 community leaders and business executives in 127 nations.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
75 years ago today - Jun 1, 1950
[George Albert Smith]
while in Washington, he meets with a Sister from Mesa, Arizona, who feels "that she was to be the mother of the Holy Ghost; that the Holy Ghost was to receive a mortal body and that she, as Mary of old, the mother of Jesus, had been selected to be the mother of the Holy Ghost."
[Journals of George Albert Smith]
while in Washington, he meets with a Sister from Mesa, Arizona, who feels "that she was to be the mother of the Holy Ghost; that the Holy Ghost was to receive a mortal body and that she, as Mary of old, the mother of Jesus, had been selected to be the mother of the Holy Ghost."
[Journals of George Albert Smith]
75 years ago today - Jun 1, 1950
President George Albert Smith dedicated a statue of Brigham Young at the nation's Capitol.
[Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html]
[Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html]
80 years ago today - Jun 1, 1945
The Improvement Era, states: "When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done." This is the ward teacher's message to all members for the month. To an inquiring Unitarian minister George Albert Smith writes that "not a few members of the Church have been upset in their feelings, and General Authorities have been embarrassed" by the above statement. "Even to imply that members of the Church are not to do their own thinking is grossly to misrepresent the true ideal of the Church," he continues. However, the church president's retraction reaches one non-Mormon, while the original statement reaches the entire LDS population without a similar correction.
[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 )]]
155 years ago today - Jan 6, 1870
Women of the Salt Lake City Fifteenth Ward met to protest the Cullom Bill, proposed federal legislation designed to punish polygamists and limit the church's power. In the next three months, thousands of other Mormon women met in similar protest (or "indignation") meetings.
[Matthew J. Grow, Kate Holbrook, Carol Cornwall Madsen, Jill Mulvay Derr, The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women's History, Chronology. https://churchhistorianspress.org/the-first-fifty-years-of-relief-society/events]
[Matthew J. Grow, Kate Holbrook, Carol Cornwall Madsen, Jill Mulvay Derr, The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women's History, Chronology. https://churchhistorianspress.org/the-first-fifty-years-of-relief-society/events]
165 years ago today - Jun 1, 1860
1860 Census lists 29 slaves in Utah,
[http://www.xtimeline.com/timeline/Chronology-Pertaining-to-Blacks-and-the-LDS-Church]
[http://www.xtimeline.com/timeline/Chronology-Pertaining-to-Blacks-and-the-LDS-Church]
180 years ago today - Jun 1, 1845
An official "clarification" appears in the TIMES AND SEASONS defining William Smith's position as Patriarch TO the Church, not OVER the Church, an obvious restriction. William sees this as yet another attempt to undermine his position.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
180 years ago today - Jun 1, 1845
[Brigham Young Sermon]
I believe that Ghosts will haunt them [murders of Joseph & Hyrum], but Joseph will not take the pains to their haunt them in his visions and dreams, but he will send some of the meanest spirits in the eternal world.
[Leonard J. Arrington Papers, 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]
I believe that Ghosts will haunt them [murders of Joseph & Hyrum], but Joseph will not take the pains to their haunt them in his visions and dreams, but he will send some of the meanest spirits in the eternal world.
[Leonard J. Arrington Papers, 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]
195 years ago today - between 1 June and Jun 9, 1830
In Fayette, New York, Smith drafts the "Articles and Covenants of the church of Christ". Both Smith and Oliver Cowdery are described as "an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of this church". In the earliest possible reference to Smith's First Vision, it says that "after that it truly was manifested unto this first elder, that he had received a remission of his sins, he was entangled again in the vanities of the world; [b]ut after truly repenting, God ministered unto him by an holy angel...." The document refers to the new office of deacon.
[Wikipedia: Chronology of Mormonism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Mormonism]
[Wikipedia: Chronology of Mormonism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Mormonism]
195 years ago today - Jun 1, 1830
The first proselytizing mission is conceived and is to be directed toward native Americans. The PALMYRA REFLECTOR calls Oliver Cowdery "the apostle to the NEPHITES." Cowdery and others of the "Lamanite mission" leave New York Oct. 1830 and preach to the Catteragus tribe in New York, the Wyandot tribe in Ohio, the Shawnee tribe in Missouri, and the Delaware tribe in what is now Kansas. Instead of native Americans, the most prominent converts of this 1830-1831 mission are Sidney Rigdon, Frederick G. Williams, and Newel K. Whitney.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
195 years ago today - Jun 1, 1830
The Church held its first Conference, in Fayette, Seneca County, New York.
[Richards, Franklin Dewey and Little, James A., Compendium of the Doctrines of the Gospel, Church Chronology, Ch.66, p.306, http://www.amazon.com/Compendium-Doctrines-Gospel-ebook/dp/B002LTY4Z0?ie=UTF8tag=mormonchronic-20link_code=btlcamp=213689creative=392969]
[Richards, Franklin Dewey and Little, James A., Compendium of the Doctrines of the Gospel, Church Chronology, Ch.66, p.306, http://www.amazon.com/Compendium-Doctrines-Gospel-ebook/dp/B002LTY4Z0?ie=UTF8tag=mormonchronic-20link_code=btlcamp=213689creative=392969]
75 years ago today - May 31, 1950
[David O. McKay]
At the office at 7 a.m.'Busy with office affairs until 9 a.m., at which time I met with Brother Stephen L. Richards who has been appointed a member of a committee to study a plan for Priesthood insurance. I told Brother Richards that I would call Brother Virgil Smith of the Beneficial Life Insurance Company who I am sure, will be able to give some valuable advice regarding this matter. I later reached Brother Smith by telephone and asked him if he would meet with Brother Stephen L. Richards. I explained to him that for twenty or twenty-five years we have been trying to work out some plan for Priesthood insurance for the Quorums of the Church; that the Council of the First Presidency and the Twelve the other day approved of a committee's working a plan out, and approved of the committee's getting such help as will be necessary to get it on a sound basis. I told him, also, that Brother Stephen L. Richards had met with me this morning on it, and said that he would appreciate very much
receiving his advice regarding it. Brother Smith said that he would be very happy to render whatever help he could, and that he would get in touch with Brother Stephen L. Richards immediately.
[David O. McKay 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]
At the office at 7 a.m.'Busy with office affairs until 9 a.m., at which time I met with Brother Stephen L. Richards who has been appointed a member of a committee to study a plan for Priesthood insurance. I told Brother Richards that I would call Brother Virgil Smith of the Beneficial Life Insurance Company who I am sure, will be able to give some valuable advice regarding this matter. I later reached Brother Smith by telephone and asked him if he would meet with Brother Stephen L. Richards. I explained to him that for twenty or twenty-five years we have been trying to work out some plan for Priesthood insurance for the Quorums of the Church; that the Council of the First Presidency and the Twelve the other day approved of a committee's working a plan out, and approved of the committee's getting such help as will be necessary to get it on a sound basis. I told him, also, that Brother Stephen L. Richards had met with me this morning on it, and said that he would appreciate very much
receiving his advice regarding it. Brother Smith said that he would be very happy to render whatever help he could, and that he would get in touch with Brother Stephen L. Richards immediately.
[David O. McKay 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]
90 years ago today - May 31, 1935
Dr. George W. Middleton and Heber Sears ask 'the opinion of the Church regarding sterilization of criminals, incompetents, etc." Heber J. Grant replies that "the Church had taken no stand whatever on this matter up to date."
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
125 years ago today - May 31, 1900
In a meeting of the Twelve Apostles it is decided that Apostle Reed Smoot should try for a seat on the Republican National Committee.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
125 years ago today - May 31, 1900; Thursday
Brother [Heber J.] Grant reported that in visiting the Granite [Utah] Stake it was evident to him that Bishop Apollos Driggs was not a fit man to preside over the Sugar House Ward. He found that he had paid five dollars tithing last year and his clerk ten cents, and for several years previous Brother Driggs had paid no tithing at all. It looks on the face of it that by himself and clerk paying a little tithing they realized that they would escape being put on the list of non-tithe payers. ... Brother Grant stated that he had decided in his mind that Brother Driggs should be asked for his resignation ...
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
150 years ago today - May 31, 1875
[Wilford Woodruff]
During the Evening My Brother Azmon Woodruff & his wife Elizabeth Pierce Woodruff arived at my house. I should not have been much more surprised if an Angel from Heaven had Called upon me. It had been 38 years since we had met before.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
During the Evening My Brother Azmon Woodruff & his wife Elizabeth Pierce Woodruff arived at my house. I should not have been much more surprised if an Angel from Heaven had Called upon me. It had been 38 years since we had met before.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
180 years ago today - May 31, 1845, Saturday
[William Clayton]
[Regarding the trail of the murders of Joseph & Hyrum Smith] From the testimony of brother Watt it appears the Judge Young is favorable to the mobocrats and manifests a disposition to acquit the murderers rather than bring them to justice. Calvin A. Warren also said if the prisoners were guilty of murder he himself was guilty, alleging that it was the public opinion that the Smiths ought to be killed, and public opinions make laws, and consequently it was not murder to kill the Smiths. Esqr. Browing also railed hard against the saints. In fact the whole proceedings of the court is nothing more than a farce, and it is evident there is no disposition on the part of the people to avenge the blood of the servents of God and it will yet be left for God himself to do it, in his own time and in his own way.
[Fillerup, Robert C., compiler; William Clayton Nauvoo Diaries and Personal Writings, A chronological compilation of the personal writings of William Clayton while he was a resident of Nauvoo, Illinois. http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/clayton-diaries]
[Regarding the trail of the murders of Joseph & Hyrum Smith] From the testimony of brother Watt it appears the Judge Young is favorable to the mobocrats and manifests a disposition to acquit the murderers rather than bring them to justice. Calvin A. Warren also said if the prisoners were guilty of murder he himself was guilty, alleging that it was the public opinion that the Smiths ought to be killed, and public opinions make laws, and consequently it was not murder to kill the Smiths. Esqr. Browing also railed hard against the saints. In fact the whole proceedings of the court is nothing more than a farce, and it is evident there is no disposition on the part of the people to avenge the blood of the servents of God and it will yet be left for God himself to do it, in his own time and in his own way.
[Fillerup, Robert C., compiler; William Clayton Nauvoo Diaries and Personal Writings, A chronological compilation of the personal writings of William Clayton while he was a resident of Nauvoo, Illinois. http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/clayton-diaries]
190 years ago today - May 31, 1835
[Patriarchal Blessing of George A. Smith given by John Smith]
.... thou shalt be a mighty man in the earth, even like unto Alma of old, who by faith caused prison walls to fall to the ground, that they could not hold him, and like Ammon who by the power of his words caused Kings to fall prostrate before him, and even the man who raised his sword to slay him fell dead at his feet; thou shalt preach before the wise and the learned even kings and rulers, many shall bow down before you, and some will even worship you, if you do not tell them better; thou shalt be an instrument in the hands of the Lord, in bringing thousands to the knowledge of the truth and lead them to Zion; you shall do mighty miracles in the name of the Lord, to the astonishment of all who are about you; ... Angels shall minister unto you and console you in time of trouble;
... if you desire it, you shall see the winding up scene when the Heavens shall be unveiled, and you shall see the the face of the Lord and fly to meet him in the cloud; and from this hour your mind shall begin to expand and continue so to do, until you shall comprehend all things; you shall also be healed of all thy bodily infirmities ...
[Early Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:143-144, quoted in Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]
.... thou shalt be a mighty man in the earth, even like unto Alma of old, who by faith caused prison walls to fall to the ground, that they could not hold him, and like Ammon who by the power of his words caused Kings to fall prostrate before him, and even the man who raised his sword to slay him fell dead at his feet; thou shalt preach before the wise and the learned even kings and rulers, many shall bow down before you, and some will even worship you, if you do not tell them better; thou shalt be an instrument in the hands of the Lord, in bringing thousands to the knowledge of the truth and lead them to Zion; you shall do mighty miracles in the name of the Lord, to the astonishment of all who are about you; ... Angels shall minister unto you and console you in time of trouble;
... if you desire it, you shall see the winding up scene when the Heavens shall be unveiled, and you shall see the the face of the Lord and fly to meet him in the cloud; and from this hour your mind shall begin to expand and continue so to do, until you shall comprehend all things; you shall also be healed of all thy bodily infirmities ...
[Early Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:143-144, quoted in Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]
50 years ago today - May 30, 1975
Maxine Conder is the second woman in U.S. Navy history to be promoted to admiral. In her biographical sketch for 'Who's Who in America,' Admiral Conder writes: "I am eternally grateful for my Mormon heritage."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
75 years ago today - May 30, 1950
[George Albert Smith]
I learned this evening that there has been a good deal of difficulty over the Brigham Young Monument dedication services. ... [political maneuvering over which senator should receive the monument is described] ... I am fearful that there was some politics involved in the matter but feel very keenly the fact that on such a sacred occasion such as the dedication of the monument to Brigham Young that any of the people from Utah would stoop to playing politics over such an event. ... Senator Watkins came up to the room after I had gone to bed and visited with Arthur and Emily and talked about the difficulty over the dedication. He is quite embarrassed and disturbed because the announcement was given to all the newspapers and was printed in papers over the country, particularly in Utah, indicating that he will receive the monument on behalf of the Senate and is at a loss to know just what he should do. I am very much disturbed over the situation.
[George Albert Smith Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
I learned this evening that there has been a good deal of difficulty over the Brigham Young Monument dedication services. ... [political maneuvering over which senator should receive the monument is described] ... I am fearful that there was some politics involved in the matter but feel very keenly the fact that on such a sacred occasion such as the dedication of the monument to Brigham Young that any of the people from Utah would stoop to playing politics over such an event. ... Senator Watkins came up to the room after I had gone to bed and visited with Arthur and Emily and talked about the difficulty over the dedication. He is quite embarrassed and disturbed because the announcement was given to all the newspapers and was printed in papers over the country, particularly in Utah, indicating that he will receive the monument on behalf of the Senate and is at a loss to know just what he should do. I am very much disturbed over the situation.
[George Albert Smith Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
110 years ago today - May 30, 1915
William Paul Daniels is the first black African to join the LDS church. An Elder in the Dutch Reformed Church of South Aftrica, he accepts baptism in Salt Lake City without opportunity for the LDS priesthood. He returns to Cape Town where he dies in 1936. Exactly sixty-five years after his baptism, Daniels receives his temple endowment by proxy.
[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 )]]
135 years ago today - May 30, 1890
Apostle Lorenzo Snow tells a meeting of the apostles, "I have thought of the necessity of establishing a mission in Jerusalem and to have a colony established there who should water their lands from the river Jordan."
Heber J. Grant also tells apostles that "he had never had an inspired dream in his life and that although he had always desired to see his father in a dream or vision that he had never been allowed to enjoy this great privilege." Decades later as church president, Grant often speaks publicly of an 1883 manifestation where he saw and heard a heavenly council meeting of his deceased father with Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith. However, he first describes this experience to other apostles as simply "the whisperings of the spirit to him" that he was called as an apostle because of such a meeting.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
Heber J. Grant also tells apostles that "he had never had an inspired dream in his life and that although he had always desired to see his father in a dream or vision that he had never been allowed to enjoy this great privilege." Decades later as church president, Grant often speaks publicly of an 1883 manifestation where he saw and heard a heavenly council meeting of his deceased father with Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith. However, he first describes this experience to other apostles as simply "the whisperings of the spirit to him" that he was called as an apostle because of such a meeting.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
135 years ago today - May 30, 1890
[John W. Taylor:] I have seen the power of God in vision. I have seen the Prophet Joseph [Smith] also Brother Brigham Young and my own father [i.e., John Taylor] since his death. I almost fear when I stop to think that I have seen the Lord Jesus Christ, knowing as I do that others who have similar manifestations have fallen away from the truth, and I am fearful lest Ifall. ...
Bro[ther] Jno. [John] H[enry]. Smith said last U[nited]. O[rder]. resembled communism too much, though present system of Cooperations would unite the people, perhaps better. I could not agree with him but said nothing. There is too much time given, to Cooperations, stocks, bonds, politics etc by leaders to please me. We are in all kinds of business interests, even the members of the Twelve represent businesses which are jealous of each other and almost readyto fight each other.
[Minutes, 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]
Bro[ther] Jno. [John] H[enry]. Smith said last U[nited]. O[rder]. resembled communism too much, though present system of Cooperations would unite the people, perhaps better. I could not agree with him but said nothing. There is too much time given, to Cooperations, stocks, bonds, politics etc by leaders to please me. We are in all kinds of business interests, even the members of the Twelve represent businesses which are jealous of each other and almost readyto fight each other.
[Minutes, 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]
180 years ago today - May 30, 1845
Nearly a year after the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith and Patriarch Hyrum Smith, the nine defendants charged with the murder of Joseph and Hyrum are acquitted.
185 years ago today - May 30, 1840
[Wilford Woodruff]
Yes glory Hallelujah I have now got a letter from Phebe. It is the first letter I have received from her since I have been in England. Her letter contained much intelligence of Interest. She informed me she was blessed with the birth of a Son, on the morn of the 22 of March 1840 at 6 oclock. His Name is WILLFORD WOODRUFF Jr. May he be preserved blameless unto the comeing of the Lord Jesus Christ for which I will ever Pray.
One letter was from Elder Brigham Young at Manchester informing us that the first No of the Millenial Star was out of press & that the Hymn Book & Book of Mormon would soon be in tipe. One letter was from Sister Richards, & one from Elder Whitehead & their was so much glorious news in thes letters that it drove sleep from our eyes for the night & I felt more like going out into the street & shouting glory Hallelujah than any thing els. <Elder Turley is> out <of prison.>
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
Yes glory Hallelujah I have now got a letter from Phebe. It is the first letter I have received from her since I have been in England. Her letter contained much intelligence of Interest. She informed me she was blessed with the birth of a Son, on the morn of the 22 of March 1840 at 6 oclock. His Name is WILLFORD WOODRUFF Jr. May he be preserved blameless unto the comeing of the Lord Jesus Christ for which I will ever Pray.
One letter was from Elder Brigham Young at Manchester informing us that the first No of the Millenial Star was out of press & that the Hymn Book & Book of Mormon would soon be in tipe. One letter was from Sister Richards, & one from Elder Whitehead & their was so much glorious news in thes letters that it drove sleep from our eyes for the night & I felt more like going out into the street & shouting glory Hallelujah than any thing els. <Elder Turley is> out <of prison.>
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
190 years ago today - May 26, 1835
[Martin Harris]
to be the first individual to receive an inheritance in Zion
[Martin Harris Chronology, Michael Marquardt, Sunstone Symposium 2016]
to be the first individual to receive an inheritance in Zion
[Martin Harris Chronology, Michael Marquardt, Sunstone Symposium 2016]
20 years ago today - May 28, 2005
The Church News reports comments from Elder Marlin Jensen:
"[W]e're working on what I think will be the single most significant historical project of our generation: the Joseph Smith papers. With the help of scholars at the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History and our own staff here, we have under way a project that will collect all of the papers of Joseph Smith's lifetime: his journals, his diaries, his correspondence, articles, notices, everything of a written nature that he generated."The result of the 10-to-15-year project, he said, will be a work of up to 35 volumes that will enhance the collective scholarship about the Prophet in that no credible historian will be able "to write about early Church history or Joseph Smith without showing a mastery of this material."
[R. Scott Lloyd, "'Historian by yearning' collects, preserves: Elder Marlin K. Jensen is historian/recorder," Church News, May 28, 2005, Z12, quoted in Joseph Smith Papers Timeline: History of the Joseph Smith Papers Project, MormonWasp Blog (defunct)]
"[W]e're working on what I think will be the single most significant historical project of our generation: the Joseph Smith papers. With the help of scholars at the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Church History and our own staff here, we have under way a project that will collect all of the papers of Joseph Smith's lifetime: his journals, his diaries, his correspondence, articles, notices, everything of a written nature that he generated."The result of the 10-to-15-year project, he said, will be a work of up to 35 volumes that will enhance the collective scholarship about the Prophet in that no credible historian will be able "to write about early Church history or Joseph Smith without showing a mastery of this material."
[R. Scott Lloyd, "'Historian by yearning' collects, preserves: Elder Marlin K. Jensen is historian/recorder," Church News, May 28, 2005, Z12, quoted in Joseph Smith Papers Timeline: History of the Joseph Smith Papers Project, MormonWasp Blog (defunct)]
100 years ago today - May 28, 1925
[Heber J. Grant]
At 6:30 this morning I met Elder Reed Smoot. He has just returned from Los Angeles with Bishop Nibley. I told Reed that I had decided to select Brother [Charles W.] Nibley [not ordained an apostle] as my second counselor, promoting Brother [Anthony] Ivins to First Counselor, succeeding Brother Penrose.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
At 6:30 this morning I met Elder Reed Smoot. He has just returned from Los Angeles with Bishop Nibley. I told Reed that I had decided to select Brother [Charles W.] Nibley [not ordained an apostle] as my second counselor, promoting Brother [Anthony] Ivins to First Counselor, succeeding Brother Penrose.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
165 years ago today - May 28, 1860 (Monday)
The Indians attacked the mail station at Deep Creek, Tooele Co., shot a man and stole several horses.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
175 years ago today - May 28, 1850
[Nauvoo Temple]
Nauvoo city officials "declared that the southern and eastern walls would soon fall down, and that to avoid any serious accident, it was better to destroy them." The walls were then razed, leaving only the west facade standing.
[Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple]
Nauvoo city officials "declared that the southern and eastern walls would soon fall down, and that to avoid any serious accident, it was better to destroy them." The walls were then razed, leaving only the west facade standing.
[Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple]
180 years ago today - May 28, 1845
[Heber C. Kimball]
My wife under tem[p]tation had a dream. Sau [Saw] Evels Spirrits winding strings around hur neck, but I brock them and rent them a sunder, and she was delivered.
[Kimball, Stanley B. ed, On the Potter's Wheel: The Diaries of Heber C. Kimball]
My wife under tem[p]tation had a dream. Sau [Saw] Evels Spirrits winding strings around hur neck, but I brock them and rent them a sunder, and she was delivered.
[Kimball, Stanley B. ed, On the Potter's Wheel: The Diaries of Heber C. Kimball]
180 years ago today - May 28, 1845, Wednesday
On Wednesday the 28th of May the first ``bent'' of the attic story of the [Nauvoo] temple was raised by the carpenters, and up to this time they continued to raise the timber works with pleasing rapidity.
Thus the work of this temple has progressed from the beginning to the present time without any serious accident except in the incident which happened at the stone quarry. The blessing of God has attended the whole progress of the work, and it has advanced beyond our most sanguine expectations. Our enemines have threatened all the time, and for the last two years we have had very little cessation from writs and other efforts of the enemy to prevent our finishing it. Many prophecies have been uttered against it; but the Saints have invariably pursued a steady course of perseverance. As the building has progressed, the Saints have increased their donations and tithings; and this Spring has exceeded all past times for liberality and donations from the brethern.
[Fillerup, Robert C., compiler; William Clayton Nauvoo Diaries and Personal Writings, A chronological compilation of the personal writings of William Clayton while he was a resident of Nauvoo, Illinois. http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/clayton-diaries]
Thus the work of this temple has progressed from the beginning to the present time without any serious accident except in the incident which happened at the stone quarry. The blessing of God has attended the whole progress of the work, and it has advanced beyond our most sanguine expectations. Our enemines have threatened all the time, and for the last two years we have had very little cessation from writs and other efforts of the enemy to prevent our finishing it. Many prophecies have been uttered against it; but the Saints have invariably pursued a steady course of perseverance. As the building has progressed, the Saints have increased their donations and tithings; and this Spring has exceeded all past times for liberality and donations from the brethern.
[Fillerup, Robert C., compiler; William Clayton Nauvoo Diaries and Personal Writings, A chronological compilation of the personal writings of William Clayton while he was a resident of Nauvoo, Illinois. http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/clayton-diaries]
195 years ago today - May 28, 1830
The Indian Removal Act was a law passed by Congress during the presidency of Andrew Jackson. It authorized the president to negotiate with the "Five Civilized Tribes" in the Southern United States for their removal to federal territory west of the Mississippi River in exchange for their homelands. It paved the way for the reluctant migration of tens of thousands of American Indians to the West, an event widely known as the "Trail of Tears," a resettlement of the native population.
[Indian Removal Act]
[Indian Removal Act]
35 years ago today - May 27, 1990
Missionary Gale Stanley Critchfield, age twenty, is stabbed to death in Dublin by an eighteen-year-old Irishman who follows the missionaries to their apartment for the sole purpose of the attack. "We wonder why, when a young man is called to serve the Lord, he isn't watched over so closely [that] his life is protected," says First Presidency counselor Gordon B. Hinckley at the funeral. "We don't know why some things happen."
[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 )]]
155 years ago today - May 27, 1870
[Wilford Woodruff]
I spent most of the day drawing a waggon she[et/af?] through my grain to ketch grass hoppers. We caught many bushels but still the Earth was nearly Covered. It seems a vary hard method to save any grain this season on my farm they have Eat my wheat Barley oats & Corn & it looks as though we [will] not raise any thing. But I would rather have a grass hopper war than a gentile war.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
I spent most of the day drawing a waggon she[et/af?] through my grain to ketch grass hoppers. We caught many bushels but still the Earth was nearly Covered. It seems a vary hard method to save any grain this season on my farm they have Eat my wheat Barley oats & Corn & it looks as though we [will] not raise any thing. But I would rather have a grass hopper war than a gentile war.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
155 years ago today - May 27, 1870
During 1869 and 1870, Latter-day Saint women developed a distinct organization for young women, the first such organization in the church's history. This organization, the Young Ladies' Department of the Ladies' Cooperative Retrenchment Association, was initiated in response to Brigham Young's call for simplification in meal preparation, housekeeping, and clothing. The Young Ladies' Department operated both in connection with and separately from the Relief Society.
The first young ladies' organization consisted of Brigham Young's adolescent and young adult daughters (ranging in age from fourteen to twenty-two), both married and unmarried. ...
On May 27, 1870, which should be considered the formal founding date of the young ladies' organization, Young's daughters organized themselves as the First Young Ladies' Department of the Ladies' Cooperative Retrenchment Association and adopted resolutions composed by Eliza R. Snow, one of Young's plural wives and an avid proponent of reform. ... The young ladies' departments soon became known as the Young Ladies' Retrenchment Association; in 1877 the organization was officially renamed the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association, often abbreviated Y.L.M.I.A.
RESOLUTIONS
Adopted by the First Young Ladies' Department of the Ladies' Co-operative Retrenchment Association, S.L. City, organized May 27, 1870.
Resolved.—That, realizing ourselves to be wives and daughters of Apostles, Prophets and Elders of Israel, and, as such, that high responsibilities rest upon us...
Resolved.—That, inasmuch as the Saints have been commanded to gather out from Babylon and "n[o]t partake of her sins, that they receive not of her plagues," we feel that we should not condescend to imitate the pride, folly and fashions of the world...
Resolved.—That we will respect ancient and modern apostolic instructions. St. Paul exhorted Timothy to teach "the women to adorn themselves in modest apparel—not with braided hair, or gold or pearls, or costly array... Peter, also, in his first epi[s]tle, in speaking of women, says, "Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and wearing of gold, or of putting on apprrel...
Resolved.—That, with a firm and settled determination to honor the foregoing requirements, and being deeply sensible of the sinful ambition and vanity in dress among the daughters of Zion, which are calculated to foster the pride of the world, and shut out the spirit of God from the heart, we mutually agree to exert our influence, both by precept and by example, to suppress, and to eventually eradicate these evils.
Resolved.—That, admitting variety has its charms, we know that real beauty appears to greater advantage in a plain dress than when bedizened with finery, and while we disapprobate extravagance and waste, we would not, like the Quakers, recommend a uniform, but would have each one to choose the style best adapted to her own taste and person: at the same time we shall avoid, and ignore as obsolete with us, all extremes which are opposed to good sense, or repulsive to modesty.
Resolved.—That, inasmuch as cleanliness is a characteristic of a Saint, and an imperative duty, we shall discard the dragging skirts, and, for decency's sake, those disgustingly short ones, extending no lower than the boot tops. We also regard "paniers," and whatever approximates in appearance toward the "Grecian Bend," a burlesque on the natural beauty and dignity of the human female form, and will not disgrace our persons by wearing them. And, also, as fast as it shall be expedient, we shall adopt the wearing of home-made articles, and exercise our united influence in rendering them fashionable. ...
[3.18 Young Ladies' Department of the Ladies' Cooperative Retrenchment Association, Resolutions, May 27, 1870, as quoted in Matthew J. Grow, Jill Derr, Carol Madsen, and Kate Holbrook, editors, The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women's History, The Church Historian's Press, 2016, https://churchhistorianspress.org/the-first-fifty-years-of-relief-society/]
The first young ladies' organization consisted of Brigham Young's adolescent and young adult daughters (ranging in age from fourteen to twenty-two), both married and unmarried. ...
On May 27, 1870, which should be considered the formal founding date of the young ladies' organization, Young's daughters organized themselves as the First Young Ladies' Department of the Ladies' Cooperative Retrenchment Association and adopted resolutions composed by Eliza R. Snow, one of Young's plural wives and an avid proponent of reform. ... The young ladies' departments soon became known as the Young Ladies' Retrenchment Association; in 1877 the organization was officially renamed the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association, often abbreviated Y.L.M.I.A.
RESOLUTIONS
Adopted by the First Young Ladies' Department of the Ladies' Co-operative Retrenchment Association, S.L. City, organized May 27, 1870.
Resolved.—That, realizing ourselves to be wives and daughters of Apostles, Prophets and Elders of Israel, and, as such, that high responsibilities rest upon us...
Resolved.—That, inasmuch as the Saints have been commanded to gather out from Babylon and "n[o]t partake of her sins, that they receive not of her plagues," we feel that we should not condescend to imitate the pride, folly and fashions of the world...
Resolved.—That we will respect ancient and modern apostolic instructions. St. Paul exhorted Timothy to teach "the women to adorn themselves in modest apparel—not with braided hair, or gold or pearls, or costly array... Peter, also, in his first epi[s]tle, in speaking of women, says, "Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and wearing of gold, or of putting on apprrel...
Resolved.—That, with a firm and settled determination to honor the foregoing requirements, and being deeply sensible of the sinful ambition and vanity in dress among the daughters of Zion, which are calculated to foster the pride of the world, and shut out the spirit of God from the heart, we mutually agree to exert our influence, both by precept and by example, to suppress, and to eventually eradicate these evils.
Resolved.—That, admitting variety has its charms, we know that real beauty appears to greater advantage in a plain dress than when bedizened with finery, and while we disapprobate extravagance and waste, we would not, like the Quakers, recommend a uniform, but would have each one to choose the style best adapted to her own taste and person: at the same time we shall avoid, and ignore as obsolete with us, all extremes which are opposed to good sense, or repulsive to modesty.
Resolved.—That, inasmuch as cleanliness is a characteristic of a Saint, and an imperative duty, we shall discard the dragging skirts, and, for decency's sake, those disgustingly short ones, extending no lower than the boot tops. We also regard "paniers," and whatever approximates in appearance toward the "Grecian Bend," a burlesque on the natural beauty and dignity of the human female form, and will not disgrace our persons by wearing them. And, also, as fast as it shall be expedient, we shall adopt the wearing of home-made articles, and exercise our united influence in rendering them fashionable. ...
[3.18 Young Ladies' Department of the Ladies' Cooperative Retrenchment Association, Resolutions, May 27, 1870, as quoted in Matthew J. Grow, Jill Derr, Carol Madsen, and Kate Holbrook, editors, The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women's History, The Church Historian's Press, 2016, https://churchhistorianspress.org/the-first-fifty-years-of-relief-society/]
170 years ago today - May 27, 1855
[Wilford Woodruff]
.... we found that nearly all the wheat crops & other vegitable were eat up by the grass hoppers through the Territory as far as we went & most of the crops & vegitables in the city gardens were also destroyed..
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
.... we found that nearly all the wheat crops & other vegitable were eat up by the grass hoppers through the Territory as far as we went & most of the crops & vegitables in the city gardens were also destroyed..
[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 - May 27, 1855
[Brigham Young]
I have asked this people not to sell their grain, but to preserve it to a day of need ...
[Journal of Discourses. Liverpool, England, 1853-86. 2:279-284, 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]
I have asked this people not to sell their grain, but to preserve it to a day of need ...
[Journal of Discourses. Liverpool, England, 1853-86. 2:279-284, 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]
175 years ago today - May 27, 1850
[Nauvoo Temple]
During 1849-1850 the Icarians had begun to repair the Temple, placing a series of new piers in the basement, planning on refurbishing the building for their use. On this day, as they were working, a tornado suddenly arose and toppled the north wall, leaving the east and south walls severely damaged. The workmen barely escaped with their lives, scrambling out of the ruins in stinging hail, pouring rain, thunder and lightening, all accompanied by violent winds.
[Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple]
During 1849-1850 the Icarians had begun to repair the Temple, placing a series of new piers in the basement, planning on refurbishing the building for their use. On this day, as they were working, a tornado suddenly arose and toppled the north wall, leaving the east and south walls severely damaged. The workmen barely escaped with their lives, scrambling out of the ruins in stinging hail, pouring rain, thunder and lightening, all accompanied by violent winds.
[Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple]
180 years ago today - May 27, 1845
Brigham Young receives "a respectful letter from Governor [Thomas] Drew in reply to our Memorial to him as governor of Arkansas; stating his inability to protect us in the state of Arkansas, and suggesting the propriety of our settling in Oregon, California, Nebraska or some other country where we will be out of the reach of our persecutors." Young's "Memorial" to Drew, sent May 1, asked, "Will it be too much to ask you to convene a special session of your State Legislature, and furnish us an asylum where we can enjoy our rights of conscience and religion unmolested?"
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
185 years ago today - May 27, 1840
In England, Parley P. Pratt issues the first number of The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, which would become the longest-running publication in the Church (1840-1970).
80 years ago today - May 26, 1945
"When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done. When they propose a plan — it is God's plan. When they point the way, there is no other which is safe. When they give direction, it should mark the end of controversy. God works in no other way."
[Ward Teachers Message, Desert News, Church Section, p. 5]
[Ward Teachers Message, Desert News, Church Section, p. 5]
110 years ago today - May 26, 1915
[Letter to Joseph F. Smith]
....The anti-Mormon crusade in the East is still somewhat active, and resolutions are passed occasionally urging congressional action, particularly for an anti-polygamy amendment to the Constitution, with a caution not to include in it a general regulation of the marriage question, but to confine it to the 'crime' of polygamy. This does however appear to create very much of a furor. ...
[Anthon H. Lund and Charles W. Penrose, Letter to Joseph F. Smith, Honolulu, 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 anti-Mormon crusade in the East is still somewhat active, and resolutions are passed occasionally urging congressional action, particularly for an anti-polygamy amendment to the Constitution, with a caution not to include in it a general regulation of the marriage question, but to confine it to the 'crime' of polygamy. This does however appear to create very much of a furor. ...
[Anthon H. Lund and Charles W. Penrose, Letter to Joseph F. Smith, Honolulu, 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 - May 26, 1890
[Letter to Wilford Woodruff]
The rule has been, for the woman to be Sealed to a man in the Priesthood, and the children Sealed to them, and the former husband be Adopted into the family. And where Such Sealings have taken place heretofore, the matters have been Submitted and [the] former Sealing Cancelled * We do not now Seal women to men out of the Church, but some few cases were done in the Endowment House Sometime Ago. Whatever you may feel pleased to direct in these matters, we will carry out.
[Daniel H. Wells to Wilford Woodruff, quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
The rule has been, for the woman to be Sealed to a man in the Priesthood, and the children Sealed to them, and the former husband be Adopted into the family. And where Such Sealings have taken place heretofore, the matters have been Submitted and [the] former Sealing Cancelled * We do not now Seal women to men out of the Church, but some few cases were done in the Endowment House Sometime Ago. Whatever you may feel pleased to direct in these matters, we will carry out.
[Daniel H. Wells to Wilford Woodruff, quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
135 years ago today - May 26, 1890
[Brigham Young Jr.]
Appraisers of B[righam]. Y[oung]. Estate met with me at 2 p.m. in parlour. Appraised the estate in one hour. Footed up according to Judge Elias Smith & Jesse Fox Jr. to $595,930.00 These apprisers are perhaps as well posted as any men in the City. This is an increase of something like $440,000.00 since it passed into our hands a little over twelve years ago. If one is not talented he can be honest.
[Brigham Young Jr., Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
Appraisers of B[righam]. Y[oung]. Estate met with me at 2 p.m. in parlour. Appraised the estate in one hour. Footed up according to Judge Elias Smith & Jesse Fox Jr. to $595,930.00 These apprisers are perhaps as well posted as any men in the City. This is an increase of something like $440,000.00 since it passed into our hands a little over twelve years ago. If one is not talented he can be honest.
[Brigham Young Jr., Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
175 years ago today - May 26, 1850
[Brigham Young]
Now to the sons of Joseph, the children of Manasseh mixed with a very few of Ephraim - that is a key to the Lamanites - you know they have fallen in every respect in habits custom, flesh, spirit, blood, desire, all is fallen - at the commencement of the work the vision of my mind was open, but my natural disposition and taste it loathes the sight of those degraded Indians - but the Spirit of the Lord shews the state they must come into the Book of Mormon says not many generations will pass away until they become a delightsome people - We have got to do something - sometimes when God curses a man woman or nation - sometimes it comes sudden - sometimes gradual - when they are ripened in iniquity then the Lord will sweep them out of existence ...
[Thomas Bullock Minutes, 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]
Now to the sons of Joseph, the children of Manasseh mixed with a very few of Ephraim - that is a key to the Lamanites - you know they have fallen in every respect in habits custom, flesh, spirit, blood, desire, all is fallen - at the commencement of the work the vision of my mind was open, but my natural disposition and taste it loathes the sight of those degraded Indians - but the Spirit of the Lord shews the state they must come into the Book of Mormon says not many generations will pass away until they become a delightsome people - We have got to do something - sometimes when God curses a man woman or nation - sometimes it comes sudden - sometimes gradual - when they are ripened in iniquity then the Lord will sweep them out of existence ...
[Thomas Bullock Minutes, 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]
190 years ago today - May 26, 1835
W. W. Phelps sends his wife, Sally, the first six printed forms of the Doctrines and Covenants and writes that when Zion is redeemed, Martin Harris will receive the first inheritance, Joseph the second, and W. W. the 16th. Joseph preached a 3 1/2-hour sermon, "and unfolded more mysteries than I can write at this time." [I]f you and I continue faithful to the end, we are certain to be one in the Lord throughout eternity."
[He also writes "They keep the word of wisdom, drink cold water, and don't even mention tea and coffee; they pray night and morning."]
[Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]
[He also writes "They keep the word of wisdom, drink cold water, and don't even mention tea and coffee; they pray night and morning."]
[Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]
195 years ago today - May 26 1830
Congress passes Indian Removal Act, forcing Indians west of Mississippi. Mormons view displacement as "God's work", fulfilling prophecy of a literal gathering.
[Chronology of Mormon History (Mormon Stories), http://www.mormonstories.org/truth-claims/chronology-of-mormon-history/]
[Chronology of Mormon History (Mormon Stories), http://www.mormonstories.org/truth-claims/chronology-of-mormon-history/]
195 years ago today - May 26, 1830
Indian Removal Act relocates the Indians east of the Mississippi River
[Kirtland Timeline - Kirtland Safety Society, the Bank of Monroe, Temple Dedication, Consecration, and significant historical events related, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/kirtland-timeline-kirtland-safety-society-the-bank-of-monroe-temple-dedication-consecration-and-significant-historical-events-related/]
[Kirtland Timeline - Kirtland Safety Society, the Bank of Monroe, Temple Dedication, Consecration, and significant historical events related, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/kirtland-timeline-kirtland-safety-society-the-bank-of-monroe-temple-dedication-consecration-and-significant-historical-events-related/]
50 years ago today - May 25, 1975
At a special early-morning "Adults only" fireside in the Seattle East Stake Apostle Mark E. Petersen states that oral sex in an "abomination." Peterson also tells the congregation, "I've been married to my wife for 44 years, and never once have seen her body uncovered".
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
85 years ago today - May 25, 1940
CHURCH SECTION prints Mrs. Horace Eaton's 1881 account that the prophet's mother Lucy Mack Smith performed various forms of divination, including palmistry. Apostle David O. McKay writes to N. B. Lundwall: "Regarding your proposed new book on "Temples of the Most High", I suggest that you confine your statistics to those which have already been approved by the General Authorities for publicity. Even some already published by the Arizona Temple, by Brother Frank T. Pomeroy, are now withheld from the general public. No statistics should be given out by any of the Temples until the items are first submitted to the First Presidency."
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
110 years ago today - May 25, 1915; Saturday
[James E. Talmage]
This evening's issue of the Deseret News contained the official announcement on reverse side of this sheet. This is the outcome of a report which I recently made to the First Presidency
and Twelve, copy of which follows:
Salt Lake City, Utah.
May 11, 1915.
President Joseph F. Smith and Counselors,
City.
Dear Brethren:
I have received an inquiry from the Presiding Bishop's Office relative to the correct or approved spelling of the proper name by which the Higher Priesthood is distinctively designated. Numerous questions relating to the same subject have come to me from unofficial sources. I venture to suggest, inasmuch as uniformity in the matter is greatly to be desired, that a ruling be made as to the approved spelling of the name to be used in our Church literature.
I submit for your consideration the following facts:
In the Old Testament MELCHIZEDEK, and in the New Testament MELCHISEDEC appear.
In literature other than scriptural both the foregoing forms are used with a decided preponderance in favor of the first.
Funk and Wagnalls "Standard Encyclopedia", the Encyclopedia Britannica, Smith's Bible Dictionary, and the Standard Bible Dictionary all give preference to MELCHIZEDEK.
The Century Dictionary adopts the same spelling but gives as an alternative form the New Testament spelling MELCHISEDEC.
The only work of recognized authority examined by me which gives the New Testament form first place is the New Standard Dictionary; and this specifies the more common MELCHIZEDEK as correct.
The Book of Mormon spelling is the same as that in the Old Testament, MELCHIZEDEK.
The Doctrine and Covenants introduces a spelling found nowhere else except in the writings of some of our own people, namely, MELCHISEDEK. Another variant form used only by some of our own writers is MELCHIZEDEC.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the spelling almost universally used by Theologians and writers in general outside of our Church is MELCHIZEDEK; and this is the form given in both the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon.
I respectfully recommend that this last spelling be adopted as the approved form of the name to be used in the publications of the Church.
It is interesting to note that nowhere outside the Doctrine and Covenants, and the writings of our own people is the name used as an adjective. We so use it in speaking of the MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD. The New Standard Dictionary gives MELCHISEDICIAN and MELCHIZEDEKIAN. as the adjective forms derived from the proper nouns MELCHISEDEC and MELCHIZEDEK. I do not think a departure from our usage in this particular is advisable.
Should you deem it wise to make a ruling as to an approved form of spelling, I respectfully suggest that notice thereof be sent to each of our Church publications, at home and abroad, and, if deemed advisable, that a brief article on the subject be published.
Respectfully your brother in the Gospel,
(Signed)
[James E. Talmage, Diary]
This evening's issue of the Deseret News contained the official announcement on reverse side of this sheet. This is the outcome of a report which I recently made to the First Presidency
and Twelve, copy of which follows:
Salt Lake City, Utah.
May 11, 1915.
President Joseph F. Smith and Counselors,
City.
Dear Brethren:
I have received an inquiry from the Presiding Bishop's Office relative to the correct or approved spelling of the proper name by which the Higher Priesthood is distinctively designated. Numerous questions relating to the same subject have come to me from unofficial sources. I venture to suggest, inasmuch as uniformity in the matter is greatly to be desired, that a ruling be made as to the approved spelling of the name to be used in our Church literature.
I submit for your consideration the following facts:
In the Old Testament MELCHIZEDEK, and in the New Testament MELCHISEDEC appear.
In literature other than scriptural both the foregoing forms are used with a decided preponderance in favor of the first.
Funk and Wagnalls "Standard Encyclopedia", the Encyclopedia Britannica, Smith's Bible Dictionary, and the Standard Bible Dictionary all give preference to MELCHIZEDEK.
The Century Dictionary adopts the same spelling but gives as an alternative form the New Testament spelling MELCHISEDEC.
The only work of recognized authority examined by me which gives the New Testament form first place is the New Standard Dictionary; and this specifies the more common MELCHIZEDEK as correct.
The Book of Mormon spelling is the same as that in the Old Testament, MELCHIZEDEK.
The Doctrine and Covenants introduces a spelling found nowhere else except in the writings of some of our own people, namely, MELCHISEDEK. Another variant form used only by some of our own writers is MELCHIZEDEC.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the spelling almost universally used by Theologians and writers in general outside of our Church is MELCHIZEDEK; and this is the form given in both the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon.
I respectfully recommend that this last spelling be adopted as the approved form of the name to be used in the publications of the Church.
It is interesting to note that nowhere outside the Doctrine and Covenants, and the writings of our own people is the name used as an adjective. We so use it in speaking of the MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD. The New Standard Dictionary gives MELCHISEDICIAN and MELCHIZEDEKIAN. as the adjective forms derived from the proper nouns MELCHISEDEC and MELCHIZEDEK. I do not think a departure from our usage in this particular is advisable.
Should you deem it wise to make a ruling as to an approved form of spelling, I respectfully suggest that notice thereof be sent to each of our Church publications, at home and abroad, and, if deemed advisable, that a brief article on the subject be published.
Respectfully your brother in the Gospel,
(Signed)
[James E. Talmage, Diary]
140 years ago today - May 25, 1885 (Monday)
Elders Wiley G. Cragun and Franklin A. Fraughton were mobbed in South Carolina; Fraughton received forty lashes with a whip and Cragun was shot in the chin.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
165 years ago today - May 25, 1860
The [Pony] Express arived From Calafornia Bringing a report that Indians have Commenced war upon the whites & have killed sixty men somewhare about the sink of the Carson. They have broaken up the mail Stations on the middle route From Camp Floyd to Carson & have killed some of the men one of the Streep[an/er?] Boys who lived in the 14 ward. The Mail Carriers & Mail is said to have been destroyed. The Express Boy was also shot at who brought word.
The Eastern Express also arived this Morning 5 days From St Joseph's & News 6 days From washington.
President Young got a letter From Capt Hooper saying that the Bills to organize Five New Territories was rejected in the House. The Homestead Bill was killed in the senate. Abram Lincoln of Illinois was nominated By the republican Convention For President & Hannibal Hamblin of Maine For Vice President. The ship Tapscott was Chartered by the Saints in Liverpool to bring 700 Saints to New York. Asa Calkings will Come with them.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
The Eastern Express also arived this Morning 5 days From St Joseph's & News 6 days From washington.
President Young got a letter From Capt Hooper saying that the Bills to organize Five New Territories was rejected in the House. The Homestead Bill was killed in the senate. Abram Lincoln of Illinois was nominated By the republican Convention For President & Hannibal Hamblin of Maine For Vice President. The ship Tapscott was Chartered by the Saints in Liverpool to bring 700 Saints to New York. Asa Calkings will Come with them.
[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 - May 25, 1855
The grasshoppers are doing very much damage to the crops yet there are much wheat which looks well and bids fair for a good crop[.] The people seem to be in good spirits fighting grasshoppers and planting & sowing where the crops are eaten up.
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
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