At meeting of First presidency and Twelve "[John Henry Smith] Had devoted considerable thought during the night to the question of selling beer at Saltair and wondered if we were not inclined to take rather an extreme view of the case-whether, if we cut off the privilege entirely, we were not to some extent invading the rights of the Latter-day Saints. The revelation on the Word of Wisdom speaks of barley for mild drinks [D&C 89:17]. It is a question that demands serious thought. Have we taken an extreme view of the word of God? Where can we strike the limit, where can we reach the spirit of the Word of Wisdom? (Apostle Heber J. Grant asked Apostle Smith if beer that is intoxicating is to be considered a mild drink. The revelation, he said, forbids the use of strong drink.) Apostle Smith continued and said that the German beer was very light and mild and would not intoxicate, though he conceded that the beer of the United States is of a very different character and will cause drunkenness. Apostle Brigham Young [Jr Spoke]. Topics treated[:] Said that he believed the temperance movement among our people a proper movement. If we give an inch, the people and the world will take advantage of it-and drunkenness is the crying evil of the age. The Word of Wisdom! "Who can cut it off and patch it on for me?" Each must be judge for himself. Many times water, he said, would distress him, while a little Danish beer would bring a feeling of comfort and ease. However, he believed in the Word of Wisdom as we teach it. As to the matter of selling liquor, said that he was simply disgusted with what he saw at Saltair on the occasion of the "old folks" excursion. He came across a lot of old men-members of the church-smoking old pipes and guzzling beer." First Presidency and apostles agree that Danish beer is not harmful or in violation of Word of Wisdom and release an official statement to the same affect. President Lorenzo Snow tells the Quorum of Apostles, "Some of the brethren are worrying about the matter, and feel that they ought to have other wives. Brethren do not worry; you will lose nothing.... Brethren, don't worry about these things, and if you don-t happen to secure the means you would like, don-t feel disappointed." In these remarks, President Snow referrs specifically to Heber J. Grant who concluds that these instructions to the entire Quorum repealed the private authorization to take a plural wife the Church president had given him in May; he "dropped the matter" and left within a few days for Japan."
Today In Mormon History
Several curious tidbits that happened on this day in Mormon History
165 years ago today - Jul 11, 1861
The President [Brigham Young] observed it would not do for the northern and Southern party to fight too much at once [IE civil war]. The Lord used wisdom to bring about his purposes, and they were frequently he waits until the wrath of man is ready, England is to have a hand in the struggle with the north and South, and England will be slow in her movements. -- Salt Lake City
[Brigham Young Office Journals, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
170 years ago today - Jul 11, 1856
[Wilford Woodruff]
I called upon President Young. Read a peace of History on Book E-1 page 1681-2 concerning Hyram leading this Church & tracing the aaronic Priesthood. It was in detached sentences. President Young thought it was not essential to be inserted in the History & had better be omitted. He spoke of the peace of History published in the News Vol VI No 18 Concerning Josephs words [prophecy] upon South Carolinia. He wished it not published.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
65 years ago today - Jul 10, 1961
Dr. Romney presented to the Education Committee its revised recommendations. It was proposed to adopt a system of correlation that would permit the reorganization of Church curriculum based on age group levels, which would coordinate not only the curriculum, but activities and other programs of the several age groups. To accomplish the goal, it was recommended that "a general All-Church Coordinating Council (ACCC) should be formed," under whose direction three age group committees (children, youth, and adults) would coordinate the activities of the groups through the existing priesthood and Auxiliary organizations. This recommendation was approved. Elder Lee, subsequently, was appointed the chairman of the new All-Church Coordinating Council.
[Correlation Timeline, Compiled by Lisle Brown]
80 years ago today - Jul 10, 1946
President George Albert Smith writes in his diary: "Met in office with Council of Presidency & Twelve .... Jos Patriarch case considered. Bad situation. Am heartsick." President Smith is referring to Presiding Patriarch Joseph Fielding Smith [Not the Apostle of the same name] and to the recent discovery of his homosexual activities. Forty-seven-year-old Patriarch Smith is "released due to ill health" the following Oct.
85 years ago today - Jul 10, 1941
Regarding military service in WWII, the First Presidency says "The Church is and must be against war . . . but the Church membership are citizens or subjects of sovereignties over which the Church has no control.
[1941-July 10-Original circular letter, L.D.S. Church Archives, in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
135 years ago today - Jul 9, 1891
John W. Taylor suggested that the church finances could be increased, by paying Church agents a percentage on all tithings remitted to the head office, instead of all received. Thus there would be an incentive to diligent effort in order to cash the products received at the different offices.
[Abraham H. Cannon (Author), Edward Leo Lyman (Editor), Candid Insights of a Mormon Apostle: The Diaries of Abraham H. Cannon, 1889-1895, Signature Books]
165 years ago today - Jul 9, 1861
The Prest [Brigham Young] joined and said he and Carrington were Vermonters, and that they were both for the Constitution, but each earnestly prayed for the success of both North & South. At the request of the President Br[other] Carrington read the extract from a newspaper Pres[ident] Young remarked to H.C. Kimball who had come in that Old Abe the President of the U.S. has it in his mind to pitch in to us when he had got through with the South. President Kimball observed that men that he had met with whether they had little or much of the Spirit of God were in favor of the South. Pres[ident] Young, as of [the] opinion the sympathy of the people for the South was in case they should be whipped, and the Northern party remain in power he thought they wanted the War to go that both parties might be used up...Br[other] H.C. Kimball told the vision that he saw on the night Joseph Smith obtained the plates. He described the Soldiers in the sky with their accoutrements on. He said Father Young was with him and he clapped his hands and rejoiced saying that it was a sign that the Coming of the Son of Man was nigh. Br[other] Heber said the whole world would be involved in this war. -- Salt Lake City
[Brigham Young Office Journals, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
185 years ago today - Jul 9, 1841
Joseph Smith receives a revelation (later section 126 of D&C) at Brigham Young's house: "Dear and well-beloved brother Brigham Young, verily thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant Brigham, it is no more required at your hand to leave your family as in times past, for your offering is acceptable to me; I have seen your labour and toil in journeyings for my name. I therefore command you to send my word abroad, and take special care of your family from this time, henceforth, and forever. Amen." However, Young is called to leave his family and go on a mission three years later.
130 years ago today - Jul 8, 1896; Wednesday
[Heber J. Grant]
At 10 am attended a meeting of the Apostles in the Temple. Pres[iden]t Lorenzo Snow offered the opening prayer, and he very earnestly supplicated the Lord in behalf of Apostle Moses Thatcher. John Henry Smith said that he did not look on him the same as a man who had become addicted to the use of liquor to the extent that he was not responsible for his actions. Bro[ther] Moses had been addicted to the use of morphine.
[Heber J. Grant, Diary]
250 years ago today - 1776. July 8
Lucy Mack Smith: Born in Gilsum, New Hampshire. In 1796 she married Joseph Smith; they had eleven children: Alvin (1798-1823), Hyrum (1800-1844), Sophronia (1803-?), Joseph (1805-1844), Samuel Harrison (1808-1844), Ephraim (1810-1810), William (1811-1894), Catherine (1812-1900), Don Carlos (1816-1841), and Lucy (1824-1882). Their first child, an unnamed daughter, died shortly after birth in 1797.
[Van Wagoner, Richard and Walker, Steven C., A Book of Mormons, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
170 years ago today - Jul 08, 1856
The Saints who make up the Martin handcart company arrive at Iowa City to outfit themselves for their journey west.
125 years ago today - Jul 7, 1901
Lorenzo Snow presides at the Salt Lake temple's monthly fast meeting, "and Sister Lillie T. Freeze sang in tongues."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
125 years ago today - Jul 7, 1901
[In Lewiston, Utah:] Apostle M[arriner]. W[ood]. Merrill was not present tho[ugh], he knew I would be there. He failed to come nor send word why he did not come. This is just as he has treated me ever since I rendered a decision in political case wherein he was in a clash with others of his brethren in the days of President [Wilford] Woodruff.
[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]
130 years ago today - Jul 7, 1896; Tuesday
Brigham Young [Jr.] ... spoke of the Gardo House incident, when Moses Thatcher accused George Q. Cannon with dishonesty, and threatened a lawsuit. He referred to the fact that Moses had never been called to account for thus wrongfully accusing one of his brethren, and wondered if we had not done wrong in this and other similar cases, in not demanding from Bro[ther] Moses, that he make restitution. He thought it was mistaken sympathy to allow men to do wrong, and not taking prompt action to require them to make proper restitution.
[Heber J. Grant, Diary]
100 years ago today - Jul 06, 1926
Neal A. Maxwell, later the Church commissioner of education and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, is born in Salt Lake City, Utah.
135 years ago today - Jul 6, 1891
[Heber J. Grant]
I have unbound faith in the success of the business and I should be delighted to see the benefits go to the Church. I feel sure that the profits will be at least twenty five percent and as the Church can get the money for not more than eight percent there will be a good margin of profit for them ... I shall be pleased and thankful when the Church has more funds than it has at the present [which was coping with a recession, as well as debt due to confiscated properties by the government].
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
135 years ago today - Jul 6, 1891 (Monday)
A Democratic convention, held in Salt Lake City, placed the first Democratic ticket for Salt Lake County officers in the field, after the division of the People's Party [controlled by the church] on party lines.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
155 years ago today - Jul 5, 1871
Presidt Young [in Soda Springs] got a telegraph [-] from presidt Wells that all right in the Celebration of the 4. Our Enemies were Defeated & we triumped.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
165 years ago today - Jul 5, 1861
Brigham Young's office journal records: "President Young mentioned that he enjoyed his dancing last evening it caused him to perspire, he said it rested his mind and did him good, and relieved him from his onerous every day duties."
170 years ago today - Jul 5, 1856
George A. Smith writes an obituary of Lucy Mack Smith for 'The Mormon', then being published in New York City, in which he praises Lucy and criticizes her book as inaccurate.
[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books, http://bit.ly/lucys-book]