[Heber J. Grant] [In Provo] The name of Bro [apostle] Moses Thatcher was omitted as a counselor to General Superintendent Woodruff. [The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
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Several curious tidbits that happened on this day in Mormon History
180 years ago today - May 31, 1846
[General Young] Brigham Young first realizes the saints are running on 'Mormon Standard Time' -- "Brethren should be as prompt and punctual with each other as do the gentiles ..." [John D. Lee Journals (LDS Church Reporter, 1845-47), Leonard J. Arrington Papers, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.. (A reference reading LJA 12-55-5, 10, means LJA Series 12, Box 55, Folder 5, page 10.); Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah]
180 years ago today - May 31, 1846
[Brigham Young] It has been reported the past week to new comers and news has been sent back that the Twelve command the people and are going to take everything from them. I shall command when God requires it of me. I want to know whether those that have recently arrived here will be united and work for the general good, and not desire to separate themselves. ... Exhorted the saints to live up to all of their privileges, for the saints have to become so pure that their bodies will be changed in a moment as Jesus was, and not rest in the grave one hundred or a thousand years. [MHBY 172-173, in Elden J. Watson, ed. Brigham Young Addresses, 1801-1877: A Chronological Compilation of Known Addresses of the Prophet Brigham Young, 6 vols. (Salt Lake City: Privately published, 1971)]
190 years ago today - May 31, 1836
[Wilford Woodruff] .... found it [today] to be the most interesting, important & instructive day of my LIFE. For on this Glorious DAY I was ordained unto the High Priesthood and also as one of the Second Seventy & sealed up unto Eternal LIFE under the hands of my Beloved Brethren, VIZ Elder's David W Patten & Warren Parrish. My ordination was requested by the PRESIDENCY of the Church at Kirtland Ohio. Their was glorious things Pronounced upon my head in my ordination by the spirit of Prophecy & Revelation. Some I will mention which are as follows: That although my enemies would strive to take my life & confine me in dungeons & Prisons yet God should give me power over my enemies & deliver me out of their hands & from their vaults, Prisons, & caves in the name of Jesus Christ, & that men would bow at my feet & worship me if I did not say to them do it not & that Kings would bow before me & Princes give me their hand & that I Should Baptize them into the Kingdom of God & that I should be blessed on the EARTH When my head blossomed with age & if I desired it I should remain on the Earth untill the comeing of the Savior & that God would give me the desire of my heart & that God had had his eye upon me all my life long to prepare me for this work. YEA <even when my spirit was [praying?] around the throne of God [--]> that I should travel to the nations of the Earth & the Islands of the sea to Proclaim the word of God. When these and other blessings were Pronounced upon my head I Was filled With the Power & Spirit of God. EVEN SO LET IT BE. AMEN... [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 31, 1836
About this time - Lucy Mack Smith: -At the time a certain young woman, who was living at David Whitmer's uttered a prophecy, which she said was given her by looking through a black stone that she had found. This prophecy gave some altogether a new idea of things. She said the reason why one third of the church would turn away from Joseph was because that he was in transgression himself; that he would fall from his office on account of the same; that David Whitmer or Martin Harris would fill Joseph's place. The girl soon became an object of great attention among those who were disaffected. Dr. Williams became her scribe and wrote her revelations for her. Jared Carter soon imbibed the same spirit, and I was informed that he said in one of their meetings that he had power to raise Joseph Smith to the highest heavens, or sink him down to the lowest hell. They still held their secret meetings at David Whitmer's and when the young woman who was their instructress was through giving what revelation she intended for the evening, she would jump out of her chair and dance over the floor, boasting of her power, until she was perfectly exhausted. Her proselytes would also, in the most vehement manner proclaim their purity and holiness, and the mighty power which they were going to have. They made a standing appointment for meetings to be held every Thursday in the Holy Temple the House of the Lord- [Lucy Mack Smith, History of Joseph Smith, pp. 242-243, 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/]
165 years ago today - May 30, 1861
At 4 P.M. he [Pres. Young] preached 120 minutes in my family hall. Said this was the best fort that had ever been built in this territory. Reproved the Bishops for using tithing [for personal ends], Bishop R. D. Covington in particular. ... Pres. Young said that the company that was used [killed] up at the Mountain Meadows were the fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and connections of those that murdered the Prophets; they merited their fate, and the only thing that ever troubled him was the lives of the women and children, but that under circumstances could not be avoided. Although there had been [some] that wanted to betray the brethren into the hands of their enemies, for that thing [they] will be damned and go down to hell. I would be glad to see one of those traitors, though I [don't] suppose that there is any here now. They have ran away, and when he came to the monument that contained their bones, he made this remark: '"Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, and I have taken a little of it.'" -- Fort Harmony, Utah [A Mormon Chronicle: The Diaries of John D. Lee. 1848-1876. Robert Glass Cleland and Juanita Brooks, eds. San Marino, California: Huntington Library Press, 2003 ed. 313-314, 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]
165 years ago today - May 30, 1861
[Brigham Young] In his sermon, when speaking of the Mountain Meadows Massacre, he [Pres. Young] said: Do you know who those people were that were killed at the Mountain Meadows? I will tell you who those people were. They were fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, cousins and children of those who killed the Saints, and drove them from Missouri, and afterwards killed our Prophets in Carthage jail. ... And yet after all this, I am told that there are many of the brethren who are willing to inform upon and swear against the brethren who were engaged in that affair. I hope there is no truth in this report. I hope there is no such person here, under the sound of my voice. But if there is, I will tell you my opinion of you, and the fact so far as your fate is concerned. Unless you repent at once of that unholy intention, and keep the secret of all that you know, you will die a dog's death, and be damned, and go to hell. I do not want to hear of any more treachery among my people. -- Fort Harmony, Utah [Mormonism Unveiled 258-259, 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 - May 30, 1846
[William Clayton] Went and borrowed A[aron] Farr's ornaments and robe. Then rode with Dr. Richards about 3 miles on the prairie. There were 5 others and carriages[.] President Young [brought our two tents]. We fixed them up and then met and clothed. There was President B[righam] Young, H[eber] C. Kimball, P[arley] P. Pratt, W[illard] Richards, O[rson] Pratt, J[ohn] Taylor, Geo[rge] A. Smith, A[masa] Lyman, John Smith, N[ewel] K. Whitney, D[aniel] Spencer, O[rson] Spencer, C[harles] C. Rich, E[zra] T. Benson, W[illia]m Huntington and myself. Clothed and having offered up the signs [and then] offered up prayer[,] H. C. Kimball being mouth. We then conversed a while and prayed again, G. A. Smith being mouth. A[lbert] P. Rockwood and W[illiam] Kimball were guarding the tent. Prayers were offered that we might be delivered from our enemies and have teams to go on our journey &c. About 2 o'clock we returned to camp. [William Clayton diary, May 30, 1846, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]
185 years ago today - 1841: 30 May
[Patriarchal Blessing] Mary Newberry. (Given by Hyrum Smith.) "... Behold I seal upon your head the comforter the second comforter even the promise of eternal life to come forth and chear [sic] your heart in the day of affliction and tribulation that when you read these sacred words and your heart shall leap with joy you shall know the promise is true. [Typescript; RLDS Archives, Up N423, in Selected LDS Patriarchal Blessings, New Mormon Studies CD ROM, Signature Book, 2009, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
185 years ago today - 1841: 30 May
[Patriarchal Blessing] James Newberry. (Given by Hyrum Smith.) "... thou art a descendant of Nathan that Prophet, that with boldness said thou art the very man; when he stood in the presence of the King. [Typescript; RLDS Archives, Up N423, in Selected LDS Patriarchal Blessings, New Mormon Studies CD ROM, Signature Book, 2009, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
130 years ago today - May 29, 1896
President Wilford Woodruff "spent the day in the office and talked over our Church Debts & how to settle them. F S Richards Just Notified me that the Government had sent back our Real Estate Property to salt Lake City to be dismissed by the Court & the property turned over to the Trustee in trust." [On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
35 years ago today - May 28, 1991
The LDS church receives legal recognition in the Republic of Russia, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs a concert in the Bolshoi Theater on 24 June. The Church News cover photograph emphasizes that this is "America's Choir" at Red Square in Moscow. [The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
75 years ago today - May 28, 1951
[J. Reuben Clark] James Sharp left the following message: He travels throughout the state, meets numerous people, both Mormons and non-Mormons, and the question arises for him to answer which he can't answer, as to why Pres. Clark had to take a back seat. He wanted Pres. Clark to know that the people throughout the State, Mormons and non-Mormons, do not approve of the movement; he does not either, and as a non-Mormon told him yesterday, he said the Presidency of the Church is slipping, does not like to see the way things have gone. There isn't anything he can do, but he wanted Pres. Clark to know how he feels. ( R J M). [The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
130 years ago today - May 28, 1896
The First Presidency at their office this morning conversed on the subject of the terrible disaster with awful destruction of life and property in the City of St. Louis [Missouri] on Wednesday. President [Wilford] Woodruff remarked that the Lord in the early days of the Church required his servants to make a record of their persecutions and the mobbings they endured from their enemies. The Lord also told them that angels were waiting to go forth and reap down the earth, but were told to keep back for a season. President Woodruff said that at the time of the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple, the spirit manifested to him that the Lord was about to send special messengers to the earth for special purposes, and he firmly believed as much as he believed anything that some of those messengers had already commenced their work, and that the numerous and great disaster of recent date were the evidences of their presence. [Journal History, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
120 years ago today - May 26, 1906
Thomas Clawson, brother of Apostle Rudger Clawson, writes: "Held our regular Block Teachers Meeting after the servide. Bro John Woodmansee was the home missionary and his talk was upon the Adam God doctrine which was entirely to deep for him as well as for all who listened to him. In fact it was a very dry and unprofitable meeting." [On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
135 years ago today - Tuesday, May 26, 1891
[Apostle John Henry Smith] The Republican Committee met and adopted an address to the people. Myself, John M. Zane, and Geo. M. Cannon arc to go about organizing the Counties into clubs. John M. Zane and I took the Document to the Herald and Tribune. [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]
180 years ago today - May 26, 1846
"President Young told Daniel and O. Spencer that he dreamed, asleep or awake, that the Spirit said to him, tell Daniel to gather up what teams, tools, and seed and men he can, and go on and let Orson stay and take care of the families and bring them on, etc." [Apostle Willard Richards Journal]
185 years ago today - May 26, 1841
Joseph Smith writes to Thomas Sharp, editor of the WARSAW SIGNAL: "SIR-You will discontinue my paper-its contents are calculated to pollute me, and to patronize the filthy sheet-that tissue of lies-that sink of iniquity-is disgraceful to any moral man. Yours, with utter contempt, JOSEPH SMITH. P.S. Please publish the above in your contemptible paper." Sharp publishes Smith's letter with the introduction: "In our paper of week before last, we took occasion to express an honest opinion in relation to the Mormons, and some of their leaders -an opinion which we believe is concurred in by nine-tenths of the community. No sooner, however, had our paper reached Nauvoo, than it caused the following highly important revelation to be forwarded us, from his holiness, the Prophet." This is Sharps first published sarcasm towards the Mormons but from now on he refers to Smith as "His Holiness." [On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
60 years ago today - May 25, 1966
Robert H. Hinckley, former assistant secretary of the U.S. commerce department, chair of the Civil Aeronautics Administration, and vice-president of the American Broadcasting Company, criticized the Birch Society in an address to students of the University of Utah. He lambasted the society's "collective slander, which now seems to have become standard operating procedure for some Birchites," and also "the semi-secret chapters that parallel Communist cells, the use of front groups, the tactics of infiltration, [and] the use of the big lie." Hinckley also identified Ezra Taft Benson as part of the "leadership of the Right Wing" in America. The full text of this assessment appeared in the Congressional Record in June 1966. [Robert H. Hinckley, "The Politics of Extremism," in Congressional Record—Senate 112 (13 July 1966): 15584, 15583; "Says Birchers Copy Reds," Deseret News, 25 May 1966, A-12; "Hinckley Blasts Extremists," Provo Daily Herald, 25 May 1966, 14. 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.]
65 years ago today - May 25, 1961
Several apostles "are gravely concerned about the pressures being put on missionaries to baptize to fill a quota of baptisms. . . .This of course[is] a criticism of President Moyle and many of the mission presidents working under his direction." Extensive abuses in "baseball baptism program" lead to counselor Moyle's censure in 1963, mass excommunications of European "kiddie baptisms" in 1964-65, and more than decade of avoiding baptism quotas for full-time missionaries. General authorities are haunted by memories of baseball baptism era and urge restrain upon youthful missionaries. [Wilkinson diary, 25 May 1961, also 6 September 1960 as quoted in D. Michael Quinn, 'I-Thou vs. I-It Conversions: The Mormon "Baseball Baptism" Era', Sunstone Magazine 16 (7) December 1993: 30-44]
170 years ago today - May 25, 1856
The ship Horizon leaves Liverpool, England, for Boston, carrying 856 Saints led by Edward Martin. Most in the company later become part of the ill-fated Martin and Willie handcart companies, which become stranded in present-day Wyoming during their trek to Utah.
170 years ago today - May 25, 1856
Emma Smith Bidamon (widow of Joseph Smith) sells "four Egyptian Mummies with the records of them. These Mummies were obtained from the catacombs of Egypt sixty feet below the surface of the Earth, by the antiquarian society of Paris & forwarded to New York & purchased by the Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith at the price of twenty four hundred dollars in the year Eighteen hundred thirty-five they were highly prized by Mr. Smith on account of the importance which attached to the records which were accidentally found enclosed in the breast of one of the Mummies." Emma waited until Lucy Mack Smith, Joseph's mother, died (eleven days previously) before selling the mummies and "records" to "Mr. A. Combs." [On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
185 years ago today - May 25, 1841
Lieutenant General Joseph Smith issues General Orders for the Nauvoo Legion: "The 1st Company, (riflemen) 1st Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 2nd Cohort, will be attached to the escort contemplated in the general orders of the 4th inst., for the 3rd of Jul next. In forming the Legion, the Adjutant will observe the rank of companies as follows; to wit: 1st Cohort the flying artillery first, the lancers next, and the riflemen next -- visiting companies of dragoons next the lancers, and cavalry next the dragoons: 2nd Cohort -- the artillery first, the lancers next, the riflemen next, the light-infantry next, and the infantry next -- visiting companies in their appropriate places on the right of said troops of their own grade: the ranking company of the 1st Cohort will be formed on the right of said cohort, and the ranking company of the 2nd Cohort will be formed on the left of said cohort, -- he escort will be formed on the right of the forces." [On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
120 years ago today - May 24, 1906
[Carl Badger] "The Senator [i.e., Reed Smoot] says he thinks nothing was said about the reasons for the resignations of T. & C. [John W. Taylor and Matthias F. Cowley] because it was hoped some day to forgive them and take them back into the quorum." [Carl A. Badger, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
140 years ago today - May 24th, 1886
[Lorenzo Snow to Governer West] "Utah Penitentiary May 24, 1886 To His Excellency Caleb W. West .... We conscientiously believe in the doctrine of plural marriage, and have practiced it from a firm conviction of its being a divine requirement. Of the forty nine Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints now imprisoned in this Penitentiary for alleged violations of the Edmunds law all but four had plural wives from its passage to thirty five years prior to its passage. We were united to our wives for time and eternity by the most sacred covenants, and in many instances numerous children have been born as a result of our union, who are endeared to us by the strongest parental ties. ... Had you offered us unconditional amnesty, it would have been gladly accepted, but dearly as we prize the great boon of liberty, we cannot afford to obtain it by proving untrue to our conscience, our religion, and our God.... As witness our hands, Lorenzo Snow" [Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]
150 years ago today - May 24, 1876
Patriarchal Blessing of James Henry Martineau given by Henry Lunt ... Thou wilt live to see the face of thy Savior, and the holy angels will administer unto thee, and will reveal to thee the genealogy of many of thy forefathers, which to thee are unknown. Thou shalt live until thou art satisfied with life, and inasmuch as thou wilt exercise faith thou shalt not taste of death, but be quickened and changed in the twinkling of an eye, and caught up to meet our Savior when he shall come in his glory. ... Thy guardian angels have charge concerning thee. ... [Patriarchal Blessings]
190 years ago today - May 24, 1836
[Wilford Woodruff] "Travled to Mr Joseph Ash & found the family shaken in their faith three of which were members of the Church. They were shaken by the conduct of Br John Jackson Who was a Teacher in the church but had denied the faith & now become hostile. From thence to Br Petty. From thence to John Jacksons house. He was absent. Found his wife Sister Jackson turning from the faith & desireing to leeve the church. Walked from thence to Br Howard Williams. He had lost faith & desired to leav the church. His wife Sister Williams Also Sister Nancy Wood both were unbelieving & a prospect of their leaving the church & this by the influence of John Jackson." "We then returned to Mr Jacksons. Had an interview with him. He denied all his former faith & pretentions. He raged much. Was filled with the spirit of anger wrath <and the destroyer>. He rejected our testimony <and denied the revelations of Christ>." "We left his house at 10 oclock at night & went to a stream of Pure water & clensed our hands & feet & testified against him that our garments might be clear of his blood. We then walked to Br Petty's & spent the night." [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 24, 1836
Patriarchal Blessing of Abner Scovel given by Joseph Smith, Sr. ... The Lord will bless thee on thy journey to the land of Zion. Thou must respect the sabbath on thy way by calling together thy family for prayer and by supplicating the throne of grace for blessings. Thou wilt assist in the redemption of Zion and succeed if thou art faithful. ... In passing from place to place no winds nor waves shall stop thee. Thou shalt stand on mount Zion with the one hundred and forty four thousand [Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:56, quoted in Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]
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