Great Moments in Church History
John Manning
The following historical moments come from Michael Quinn's excellent
book The Mormon Hierarchy : Extensions of Power . For references, refer
to the book. All of these events actually happened...
Jan 23,1852 - Brigham Young instructs Utah Legislature to legalize
slavery because "we must believe in slavery."
Feb 5,1852 - Brigham Young announces policy of denying priesthood to all
those black African ancestry, even "if there never was a prophet, or
apostle of Jesus Christ spoke it before" because "negroes are the
children of old Cain....any many having one drop of the seed of Cain in
him cannot hold the priesthood." Contrary to Joseph Smith's example in
authorizing the ordination of Elijah Abel, this is LDS policy for the
next 126 years.
Jan 3,1854 - Brigham Young invites Elijah Abel, free black and ordained
Seventy, to party with 98 other men in Social Hall. Some of these
parties are male-only dances.
Nov 22,1855 - Brigham Young secretly ordains his eleven year old son
John W. an apostle in connection with receiving the endowment. Young
later ordains three other sons apostles.
Mar 21,1858 - Brigham Young tells this special conference that Joseph
Smith disobeyed revelation by returning to Nauvoo to stand trial, that
the church's founding prophet lost Spirit of God the last days of his
life, and died as unnecessary martyr. He published this talk as
pamphlet.
Dec 15,1858 - Young readily grants divorce to unhappy plural wives but
requires husbands to pay him personally a $10 fee ($214.50 in 2001 U.S.
dollars). Young issues 1,600 certificates of divorce for unhappy
polygamous marriages. (This equals 16 thousand dollars, or $343,200 2001
U.S. dollars)
Aug 20,1859 - Brigham Young regarding slavery: "We consider it of devine
institution, and not to be abolished until the curse pronounced on Ham
shall have been removed from his descendants."
Sep 7,1859 - Salt Lake City clerk records sale of twenty six year old
"negro boy" for $800 to William H. Hooper. Until federal law ends
slavery in U.S. Territories in 1862, some African-American slaves are
paid as tithing, bought, sold and otherwise treated as chattel in Utah.
Nov 18,1861 - Abraham Lincoln checks out Book of Mormon from Library of
Congress. He returns it on 29 July 1862, apparently first U.S. president
to read Book of Mormon.
Dec 10,1862 - Deseret News reports that Church Historian's Office is
displaying sample of tobacco crops grown in Provo during past summer.
Oct 6,1863 - Brigham Young prophesies to general conference: "Will the
present struggle (of the U.S. Civil War) free the slaves? No..... and
men will be called to judgement for the way they have treated the
negroe." The 13th Amendment legally ends slavery in the United States in
1865.
May 15,1864 - Brigham Young preaches, "I don't want Mormonism to become
too popular... we would be overrun by the wicked."
Dec 9,1869 - ZCMI Drug Stores advertises that is has just opened on Main
Street with "Liquors, Draught and by the case."
Jun 18,1870 - First Counselor George A Smith tells Salt Lake School of
Prophets about "the evil of masturbation" among Utah Mormons. Apostle
Lorenzo Snow says that "plural marriage would tend to diminish the evil
of self pollution and the indulgence on the part of men was less in
plural marriage than in monogamy."
Sep 1,1870 - Salt Lake City's 9th Ward reports that only thirty one of
its 181 families attends Sunday Services regularly and 50% of families
are perfectly indifferent.
Jun 3,1871 - Salt Lake Tabernacle service: "Pres D.H. Wells spoke 25
minutes following Pres Young's remarks. Not very good attention.
Considerable moving about, passing out, and drowsiness."
Jan 4,1877 - Joseph Smith's last born child David is committed to
Illinois Hospital for the Insane. Proclaimed by Brigham Young in 1866 as
rightful heir of LDS presidency, he has served as counselor on RLDS
presidency since 1873. He dies in asylum in 1904.
Aug 29,1877 - Brigham Young dies. His last words are "Joseph, Joseph,
Joseph!"
June 4,1879 - John Taylor and apostles decline to allow Elijah Abel to
receive temple endowment because he is Negroid, even though Abel
received Melchizedek priesthood with Joseph Smith's authorization in
1836. This African American regularly attends his Seventy's quorum
meetings and serves proselyting mission just before his death in 1888.
Dec 27,1879 - Apostle Wilford Woodruff tells stake conference in
Snowflake, Arizona, "There will be no United States in the year 1890."
Jan 9,1880 - Apostle Orson Pratt writes to his children that city of New
Jerusalem will be constructed by April 1950.
Jan 7,1882 - Apostle Francis M Lyman's diary begins recording month-long
nervous breakdown of Heber J Grant, his successor as Tooele Stake
President. Physician diagnoses Grant's condition as "nervous
convulsions" and warns that condition could lead to "softening of the
brain," if Grant continues his stressful pace of activity. Grant becomes
apostle ten months later and is first LDS leader with diagnosed history
of emotional illness.
Mar 31,1882 - John Taylor closes Church Historian's Office to the
public.
Mar 22,1884 - James E Talmage begins using hashish at Johns Hopkins
University as "my physiological experiment" of its effects. By April 6
he is using twenty grains, "and the effect was felt in a not very
agreeable way." This is last reference in his diary. Four months later
he becomes member of stake high council.
May 17,1888 - At dedication of Manti Temple, Wilford Woodruff says, "We
are not going to stop the practice of plural marriage until the Coming
of the Son of Man."
Feb 27,1889 - LDS political newspaper Salt Lake Herald: "In 1870 Utah
had second highest rate of divorce and in 1880 the tenth highest for all
states and territories."
Jun 8, 1889 - Apostle Lorenzo Snow says that "his sister, the late Eliza
R. Snow Smith, was a firm believer in the principle of reincarnation and
that she claimed to have received if from the Joseph the Prophet, her
husband. He said he saw nothing unreasonable in it, and could believe
it, it it came from the Lord or His oracle."
Dec 5, 1891 - Stake President relates "incident of the Prophet Joseph
telling Dimick B Huntington.....that Noah built the Ark in the land
where South Carolina is now."
Nov 29,1893 - Presidents Wilford Woodruff and George Q Cannon meet with
three apostles and James E Talmage: "That there will also be daughters
of Perdition there is no doubt in the minds of the brethren."
Dec 7,1893 - First Presidency and Twelve decide that garments worn under
clothing should be white. This is first departure of Utah temple garment
from contemporary "Union Suit" which comes in various colors and upon
which Utah "street garment" is based.
Apr 5,1894 - At meeting of First Presidency and apostles, Wilford
Woodruff announces revelation which ends practice of adopting (sealing)
men to LDS leaders.
Apr 9,1894 - Death of Thomas C Sharp, principal conspirator in murder of
Joseph and Hyrum Smith. He has had a successful career as mayor, judge,
school principal and newspaper editor.
Apr 15,1894 - Juvenile Instructor publishes hymn "Our Mother in Heaven,"
which is phrased as prayer to the goddess.
May 18,1894 - In Salt Lake Temple, "Jane Elizabeth Manning (a Negro
woman) is sealed as a servitor for eternity to the Prophet Joseph
Smith." Joseph F. Smith acts as proxy."
Aug 26,1894 - "First time a woman has spoken in the Salt Lake Tabernacle
on the Sabbath at the regular service- the people don't know what to
make of it-it must bode good for women." The speaker is a non-Mormon.
Oct 24,1894 - Wilford Woodruff and his two counselors each give approval
for Apostle Abraham H Cannon to marry another plural wife. In all, ten
general authorities marry post-Manifesto plural wives by permission of
church president or his counselors during next ten years.
Mar 1,1895 - Some non-Mormons are given full tour of dedicated Salt Lake
Temple interior.
Apr 7,1895 - Wilford Woodruff tells conference: "Cease troubling
yourselves about who God is; who Adam is, who Christ is, who Jehovah is.
For Heaven's sake, let these things alone."
Aug 22,1895 - First Presidency and apostles decide to deny temple
endowments to "Black Jane" Manning (James) because of her "negro blood."
Mar 12,1896 - First Presidency gives James E. Talmage "an instruction to
smoke tobacco to relieve his persistent insomnia."
Aug 23,1896 - Sugar House Ward congregation votes against man proposed
as Bishop of new ward to divided from the old. Salt Lake stake president
Angus M. Cannon furiously shouts, "Sit down! and shut your mouths, you
have no right to speak!" When Cannon engages in shouting match with
dissenting congregation, a ward member and policeman threaten to arrest
stake president for disturbing the peace. Cannon more calmly repeats his
attempt but is voted down "again several times." Secretary of the First
Council in attendance writes: "I have been taught that the appointing
power comes from the priesthood and the sustaining power from the people
and that they have the right of sustaining or not sustaining
appointees."
Aug 26,1896 - Apostle Moses Thatcher begins treatment with Keeley
Institute for his addiction to opium and morphine. First Presidency and
apostles tolerated Thatcher as a "morphine fiend" and "opium eater", but
on 26 July his family and friends considered involuntary commitment to
treatment. His is most prominent drug addict in Mormon history. Twelve
drop Thatcher from quorum membership on 19 Nov because of four year
conflict over his insubordination in political matters, but Thatcher's
drug addiction aggravates that conflict.
Nov 5,1896 - Apostle Lorenzo Snow's youngest plural wife bears his last
child in Canada. At age 82 he is the oldest General Authority to father
a child.
Jan 15,1897 - Apostle Brigham Young, Jr. temporarily resigns as
vice-president of Brigham Young Trust Company because first counselor
George Q. Cannon allows its property to become "a first class" brothel
on Commercial Street (now Regent Street), Salt Lake City. Apostle Heber
J. Grant is invited to its opening reception and is stunned to discover
himself inside "a regular whore-house." This situation begins in 1891,
and for fifty years church controlled real estate companies lease houses
of prostitution.
Oct 7,1898 - At general conference Apostle John W. Taylor reports that
in one rural area, 80% of LDS marriages involve premarital sex.
Feb 7,1901 - Apostle Brigham Young, Jr writes that proposal to provide
Utah's school children with smallpox vaccinations is "Gentile doctors
trying to force Babylon into the people and some of them are willing to
disease the blood of our children if they can do so, and they think they
are doing God's service."
Mar 3,1901 - Lorenzo Snow promises Salt Lake temple workers that "some
of us would go back to Jackson County, Missouri."
July 11, 1901 - 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.
Nov 7,1901 - First Presidency officially declares that there is no "rule
in the church forbidding cousins to intermarry" and that first cousins
can have temple marriages if they present civil license.
Apr 3,1902 - First Presidency and apostles read letter that U.S.
President Theodore Roosevelt and Republican Part leader Mark Hanna
guarantee they will arrange to defeat proposed constitutional amendment
on polygamy and unlawful cohabitation. They expect Mormons to vote
Republican in exchange.
Mar 26,1903 - Joseph F Smith tells apostles "there would be no daughters
of perdition, only sons" in final judgement.
Oct 22,1903 - First Presidency and Twelve authorize purchase of twenty
five acres of the original temple lot at Independence, Jackson County,
Missouri. Purchase is complete on
14 Apr 1904. These purchases continue throughout twentieth century.
Feb 20 1904 - First verified suicide of full time LDS missionary. He
shoots himself as he is returning to Utah.
Mar 2,1904 - Before committee of U.S. Senate, Joseph F. Smith testifies:
"I have never pretended to nor do I profess to have received
revelations. I never said that I had a revelation except so far as God
has shown me that so-called Mormonism is God's devine truth, that is
all."
Apr 14,1904 - First Presidency and apostles decide to resume sale of
liquor at church resort of Saltair due to need for non-Mormon patronage.
Jan 10,1906 - First Council of Seventy instructs B. H. Roberts to go to
Los Angeles for "recuperation from a weakness for liquor that had
fastened itself upon him."
Oct 6, 1907 - At sustaining of church officers a man votes against
Joseph F. Smith because of his admitted violation of Utah's cohabitation
law. Smith has him ejected from Salt Lake Tabernacle.
1904 - Church president instructs twelve apostles to walk through all
doorways in order of seniority.
1906 - Joseph F. Smith pleads guilty in court to unlawful cohabitation
for which he pays $300 fine.
1907 - General Conference votes to send twenty tons of flour to China
for famine relief. This comes from Relief Society grain storage program.
1909 - October at General Conference, Apostle George Albert Smith stops
speaking after three minutes as he begins to "tremble and perspire."
Apostle Reed Smoot had referred two weeks earlier to Smith's "mental
trouble." Since January Smith's diary has described symptoms of his
eventual collapse. At age thirty-nine he is first general authority
whose debilitating mental problems cannot be attributed to senility.
Hospitalized for ten weeks at Gray's Sanatarium in Salt Lake City, Smith
does not recover from his emotional breakdown until 1913. Problem
re-emerges in 1930's and in 1949-51.
1910 April - Stake president writes of church members "complaining on
account of so many Smiths being chosen." Recent conference sustained
John Henry Smith as second counselor and President Smith's son, Joseph
Fielding Smith, as new apostle. In addition to appointing his son Hyrum
M. an apostle in 1901, Smith also appointed his son David A. Smith to
Presiding Bishopric in 1907.
Oct 2,1910 - First anti-Mormon film, Victim of the Mormons ("Mormons
Offer"), opens in Copenhagen, Denmark. Film goes into international
distribution, is publicly condemned by Apostle David O. McKay at next
general conference. It is target of first censorship effort led by Utah
governor (William Spry, LDS).
Jan 1913 - Deseret News favorably reviews One Hundred Years of
Mormonism, first commercial film about Mormons made with cooperation of
church officials. The 6 reel, 90 minute silent film features one of
Brigham Young's grandsons in the role of his grandfather. During Joseph
F. Smith presidency, Hollywood produces other silent features which
portray Mormonism less favorably: A Trip to Salt Lake City (1905), The
Mountain Meadow Massacre (1912), The Mormon (1912), Deadwood Dick Spoils
Brigham Young(1915), Cecil B. DeMille's A Mormon Maid (1917), and The
Rainbow Trail (1918).
Dec 17,1913 - Death of Joseph Smith's last surviving plural wife, Mary
E. Rollins Lightner. She helped save the still-unbound Book of
Commandments from printing office set afire by mob in 1833. She
witnessed adoption of 1835 D&C, which prohibited polygamy, and became
secret plural wife of Joseph Smith at Nauvoo while still living with her
non-Mormon husband.
Oct 8, 1916 Apostle James E. Talmadge announces in Conference that "The
[ten lost] tribes shall come: they are not lost unto the Lord; they
shall be brought forth as hath been predicted; and I say unto you there
are those now living - aye, some here present - who shall live to read
the records of the Lost Tribes of Israel..."
Mar 22,1919 - "The Nigger" is the new production to be given at the
Social Hall, proclaims Deseret News with explanation: "The Nigger" is
distinctly Southern. It is a romance based on Southern ideals and the
race problem.
Nov 11,1919 - Apostle James E. Talmage attends Third Christian
Citizenship Conference in Pittsburgh as delegate chosen by Utah's
governor. Utah delegates are booed and hissed by 4,000 other delegates.
Talmage hurriedly leaves after some delegates surround him and threaten
to strip off his clothes in order to display his temple garments.
Jan 4,1922 - From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Brigham H. Roberts presents
detailed summary of textual and historical problems in Book of Mormon to
combined meeting of First Presidency, apostles, and Seventy's
presidents. He recommends that these problems should be researched and
publicly discussed.
May 17,1923 - First Presidency and Twelve agree to alter temple
undergarment worn outside temple: "buttons instead of strings; no
collar; sleeves above the elbow and few inches below the knee and a
change in the crotch so as to cover the same." Mormons of the time
regard this as a dramatic change from endowment garment introduced by
Joseph Smith.
Nov 26,1923 - Corporation of the President is incorporated, becoming the
successor of the Trustee-in-Trust as center of church financial
operations.
Jan 21,1925 - Mason Grand Lodge of Utah officially prohibits Mormons
from membership in any of its Masonic lodges and provides for expulsion
of any Mormons who are current members of any Utah lodge. Utah is the
only state with formal Masonic restriction against religious group or
denomination. Some Mormons (primarily converts) affiliate or preside in
Masonic lodges outside Utah after 1925.
May 22,1925 - Deseret News editorializes in favor of new Utah law which
legalizes horse racing and pari-mutual betting. Legislature has
appointed Brigham F. Grant as chair of Racing Commission. He is manager
of Deseret News and brother of church president, Heber J. Grant.
Feb 15,1927 - Apostle George F. Richards notifies temples that it is
decision of First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve to immediately omit
from prayer circles "all references to avenging the blood of the
Prophets. Omit from the ordinance and lecture all reference to
retribution." Letter also instructs to "omit the kissing" at the end of
the proxy sealings.
Jan 19-20, 1928 - Frederick M. Smith, RLDS president, supervises
disinterment of his martyred grandfather and granduncle, Joseph and
Hyrum Smith, from coffin-less burial place kept secret since 1844. They
are reburied in coffins, one on each side of Emma Hale Smith Bidamon,
next to Mansion House in Nauvoo.
Sept. 24,1929 - Heber J. Grant writes: "I am free to confess that I am
disappointed with the Yosemite valley. It seems only about one-half as
grand as the American Fork canyon of Utah."
Aug 16,1930 - Heber J. Grant remarks that Apostle George Albert Smith
"is getting very nervous. We don't want him to have another breakdown
such as he had years ago, almost costing him his life." Apostle Smith
doesn't begin describing his symptoms until January 1932, and year later
writes,"My Nerves are nearly gone but am holding on the best I know
how." Symptoms gradually subside and do not resume until he is church
president years later.
April 2,1932 - Heber J. Grant launches campaign against use of tobacco
as part of his emphasis on observing Word of Wisdom by total abstinence
from alcohol, tobacco, tea and coffee. Previously, Section 89 was not
regarded as a commandment nor was it interpreted as simply abstaining
from four specific substances.
May 5,1932 - Apostle Stephen L. Richards tells First Presidency and
Quorum of the Twelve that he will resign as apostle rather than
apologize for his general conference talk which says church is putting
too much emphasis on Word of Wisdom. He later confesses his error to
Heber J. Grant on 26 may and retains his position.
July 29,1932 - Death of George H. Brimhall from self inflicted gunshot.
He served as BYU President from 1904 to 1921 and is only BYU president
to commit suicide.
Dec 9,1933 - Church News article "Mormonism in The New Germany,"
enthusiastically emphasizes parallels "between the LDS Church and some
of the ideas and policies of the National Socialists." First, Nazis have
introduced "Fast Sunday." Second, "it is a very well known fact that
Hitler observes a form of living which Mormons term the Word of Wisdom.
Finally, due to the importance given to the racial question by Nazis and
the almost necessity of proving that one's grandmother was not Jewish,
there no longer is resistance against genealogical research by German
Mormons who now have received letters of encouragement complementing
them for their patriotism."
Jan 25,1936 - Church News Section photograph of LDS basketball team in
Germany giving "Sieg Heil: salute of Nazi Party."
Oct 31,1936 - First Presidency publishes unsigned editorial in Deseret
News, which argues against re-election of Democratic president Franklin
D. Roosevelt. Editorial, written by J. Reuben Clark, accuses F.D.R. of
unconstitutional and Communist activities. In response one thousand
Mormons angrily cancel their subscriptions to the News. Three days
later, 69.3 percent of Utah's voters help re-elect Roosevelt. Utah's
electorate re-elects F.D.R. again (1940,1944), despite First
Presidency's opposition.
Mar 29,1940 - First Presidency asks Apostle Joseph Fielding Smith to
chair "Literature Censorship Committee authorized by Quorum of the
Twelve last Thursday."
Mar 10,1941 - First Presidency orders Clayton Investment Company to get
rid of its "whore-houses," no matter the financial loss, so that church
affiliated company can merge with church-owned Zion's Securities Corp.
Ends fifty years of church's leases to brothels.
June 8,1941 - First counselor J. Reuben Clark tells annual conference of
youth and their leaders: "When I was a boy it was preached from the
stand, and my father and mother repeated the principle to me time and
time again. They said, 'Reuben, we had rather bury you than to have you
become unchaste.' and that is the law of this Church." This doctrine
continues in the church and is included in all editions of Bruce R.
McConkie's great work Mormon Doctrine under the heading "Chastity."
June 1945 - 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 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, church president's retraction reaches one
non-Mormon, while original statement reaches entire LDS population
without similar retraction.
Oct 6,1946 - Public release of Joseph Fielding Smith (b. 1899) as
Patriarch to Church due to "ill health" but actually due to discovery of
his recent homosexual activity.
Oct 9,1946 - First Presidency and apostles decide to allow faithful
African-American Mormons to receive patriarchal blessings, and Patriarch
Eldred G. Smith blesses black couple for the first time.
April 16,1948 - Apostle Mark E. Petersen asks for permission to instruct
local leaders to begin excommunication trials for persons he suspects of
having disloyal attitudes towards LDS Church. First Counselor J. Reuben
Clark warns Petersen "to be careful about the insubordination or
disloyalty question, because they ought to be permitted to think, you
can't throw a man off for thinking."
Jan 20,1949 - President George Albert Smith begins week's stay in
California Lutheran Hospital for his "tired nerves," which his diary
first refers to at Oct 1948 general conference. He is first LDS
president with history of severe emotional illness and hospitalization.
He does not recover from this episode until mid May 1949, when able to
be in First Presidency office at least half day. Smith is absent from
church headquarters 12 Jan to 27 Feb 1950 to stay at Laguna Beach,
California, "to rest my nerves." He returns there to recuperate again
for ten days in March. Year later his nurse notes that church president
is "very confused, very nervous." Ten days before his death, nurse adds
that George Albert Smith is "irrational at times."
April 5,1949 - First counselor J. Reuben Clark tells meeting of bishops:
"I wish that we could get over being flattered into almost anything. If
any stranger comes among us and tells us how wonderful we are, he pretty
much nearly owns us."
Aug 17,1951 - First Presidency statement that church's restriction on
negroid peoples receiving priesthood "is not a matter of the declaration
of policy but of direct commandment from the Lord."
Oct 16,1951 - Temple council of First Presidency, Quorum of Twelve
Apostles and Patriarch to church decides to allow beer commercials on
church-owned KSL television station.
Nov 5,1951 - First Presidency learns of plans by Warner Brothers to make
film about Mountain Meadows Massacre, based on recent scholarly book by
LDS Juanita Brooks. Within seven days First Presidency successfully
persuades Hollywood studio to kill project.
Mar 3,1953 - First Presidency secretary answers Mormon's inquiry about
receiving blood transfusions from African Americans: "The LDS Hospital
here in Salt Lake City has a blood bank which does not contain any
colored blood." This represents five year effort to keep LDS Hospital's
blood bank separate from American Red Cross system in order "to protect
the purity of the blood streams of the people of this Church" (Counselor
J. Reuben Clark's phrase.)
March 30,1955 - Quorum of Twelve recommends establishment of separate
unit or branch for African-American members in Salt Lake City.
April 10,1956 - Non-LDS governor of Utah, J. Bracken Lee, speaks of his
counsel to prominent non-Mormons: "I said to them you are never going to
have any success in Utah unless you let the leaders of the Church give
you some advice."
Dec 4,1959 - Budget Committee reports that church spent $8 million more
than its revenues that year. As result, church permanently stops
releasing annual reports of expenditures.
Jan 7-8,1960 - First Presidency decides that Bruce R. McConkie's Mormon
Doctrine "must not be re-published, as it is full of errors and
misstatements, and it is most unfortunate that it has received such wide
circulation." They are exasperated that McConkie and his publisher
released the book without pre-publication publicity or notifying First
Presidency. Even his father-in-law, senior apostle, Joseph Fielding
Smith, "did not know anything about it until it was published." This is
McConkie's way to avoid repetition of Presidency's stopping his
pre-announced Sound Doctrine three years earlier. Committee of two
apostles (Mark E. Petersen and Marion G. Romney) report that McConkie's
Mormon Doctrine contains 1,067 doctinal errors. For example, page 493
said: "Those who falsely and erroneously suppose that God is progressing
in knowledge and gaining new truths cannot exercise sufficient faith in
him to gain salvation until they divest themselves of their false
beliefs." However, McConkie is affirming doctrine of omniscience
officially condemned by previous First Presidency and Quorum of the
Twelve Apostles in 1865. In announcing their decision to the Twelve on
28 Jan 1960, First Presidency says there should be no revised edition of
Mormon Doctrine. Presidency reverses initial decision on 7 Jan. "that
the book should be officially repudiated."
By 28 Jan Presidency decides against requiring McConkie to make public
apology because "it might lessen his influence" as general authority.
In 1966 year after his father-in-law becomes assistant counselor to
First Presidency, McConkie publishes second edition of Mormon Doctrine.
It corrects only a few of first edition "errors" cited by First
Presidency and apostles in 1960. Book becomes best seller among
Latter-day Saints. McConkie becomes member of Quorum of Twelve Apostles
to fill vacancy which his father-in-law's death creates in 1972.
Nov 10,1960 - Brigham Young University's president tells Executive
Committee of BYU's trustees "about a colored boy on campus having been a
candidate for the vice presidency of a class and receiving a very large
vote." The three apostles present want to exclude all African Americans
from BYU. "If a granddaughter of mine should ever go the BYU and become
engaged to a colored boy," Apostle Harold B. Lee fumes, "I would hold
you responsible!"
May 14,1961 - Apostle Joseph Fielding Smith announces to stake
conference in Honolulu: "We will never get a man into space. This earth
is man's sphere and it was never intended that he should get away from
it." Smith, the Twelve's president and next in succession as LDS
President, adds: "The moon is a superior planet to the earth and it was
never intended that man should go there. You can write it down in your
books that this will never happen." In May 1962, he privately instructs
that this view be taught to "the boys and girls in the Seminary System."
On 20 July 1969 U.S. Astronauts are first men to walk on moon. Six
months later Joseph Fielding Smith becomes church president.
June 22,1961 - First Presidency supports plan to persuade U.S. Army to
send its "colored contingents" to California rather than to Utah. At its
same meeting Presidency agrees to allow baptism of Nigerians seeking
membership in church.
Feb 3,1962 - Church News Headlines, "MIA Bans The Twist," popular dance
among teenagers and young adults. This prohibition is widely ignored by
youth and even by adult leaders in some wards and stakes, especially in
Britain and Europe.
May 25,1962 - Boyd K. Packer is first to earn regular doctorate while
serving as general authority. He receives Ed.D. degree from Brigham
Young University.
Sep 19,1962 - First Presidency rules that prominent Egyptian polygamist
can be baptized because polygamy is legal in Egypt. This is in reference
to "an earlier ruling in the matter of Indians who had married more than
one wife and it was decided that they may be baptized, if they were
legally married according to their tribal customs."
Oct 27,1962 - In midst of Cuban Missile Crisis, Apostle Ezra Taft Benson
publicly endorses John Birch Society as "the most effective non-church
organization in our fight against creeping socialism and godless
communism," and his son Reed A. Benson announces that he is Utah
coordinator of the society.
Jan 1,1964 - "Home Teaching" replaces traditional "ward teaching"
program of monthly visits of priesthood men to church members. This
begins new emphasis on family life which subtly (yet fundamentally)
replaces previous priorities of God, Church and family with new ranking
of family, church and God.
Feb 29,1964 - After forty one years teaching in Church Education System,
George S. Tanner writes that "a large majority of CES teachers are so
narrow and ignorant that it is a shame to have them indoctrinating our
young people. I would much rather my sons and daughters go to other
schools in the state than have them led by these religious fanatics."
Apr 15,1964 - Daryl Chase, Mormon president of Utah State University,
confides that "the LDS church has a greater strangle hold on the people
and institutions of the state now than they had in Brigham's time.
Complete academic freedom is actually non-existent."
March 3,1965 - Apostle Harold B. Lee is "protesting vigorously over our
having given a scholarship at BYU to a negro student from Africa.
Brother Lee holds the traditional belief as revealed in the Old
Testament that the races ought to be kept together and that there is
danger in trying to integrate them on the BYU campus."
April 29,1965 - BYU President Ernest L. Wilkinson makes first reference
in his diary to receiving reports from student "spy ring" he has
authorized and which becomes national scandal within ten months.
July 1967 - Church-wide Priesthood Bulletin prohibits women from praying
in sacrament meeting.
Nov 27,1967 - New York Metropolitan Museum of Art gives to LDS church
the original Egyptian papyri upon which Joseph Smith based "Book of
Abraham" in Pearl of Great Price. Scholars and church officials
authenticate papyri as the same used by Smith. Apostle N. Eldon Tanner
states the discovery of the papyri will finally prove Joseph Smith could
translate ancient documents. Unfortunately, Egyptologists, LDS and
non-LDS, verify that these papyri are typical "Book of Breathings" in
form and content. Church officials begin repressing the story that the
original papyri have been discovered and are in their possession.
June 33,1967 - BYU's president receives "confidential draft" by Terry
Warner, professor of philosophy and religion, that "freedom of speech as
it is known today is a secular concept and has no place of any kind at
the BYU."
Nov 19,1967 - BYU's administration discuss possibility of taking legal
action to close down off campus student newspaper.
Dec 19,1967 - BYU's Daily Universe publishes article in favor of
recruiting African American athletes. BYU's president writes: "This
argues all the more in favor of our making the student newspaper an
agency of our Communications Department rather than a student
publication." Universe ceases to be independent student paper on 18 Apr
1969, but "nothing would be announced about this new policy."
Sep 14,1971 - Apollo 15 astronauts present to President Joseph Fielding
Smith a Utah state flag that has traveled with them to the moon.
May 13,1972 - May Presidency letter that "fluoridation of public water
supplies to prevent tooth decay" is one of the "non-moral issues" that
Mormons should vote on "according to their honest convictions." John
Birch Society, which Apostle Ezra Taft Benson and many other Mormons
support, is condemning fluoridation as a Communist "plot."
April 6,1974 - April conference sustains Neal A. Maxwell as Assistant to
the Twelve, first general authority who previously worked for U.S.
Government's Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Maxwell becomes member
of the twelve in 1981.
Aug 14,1976 - New York Times reports U.S. patent granted to Mormons G.
Richard Jacobs, Cluff Peck, Dean G. Doderquist for "speaking mannequins"
at LDS information centers.
Nov 1,1977 - Spencer W. Kimball dedicates Osmond Family Studio in Orem,
Utah.
Feb 15,1978 - First Presidency letter that Mohammed and Confucius
"received a portion of God's light."
June 9,1978 - First Presidency announces "priesthood now available to
all worthy male members." First Presidency secretary Francis M. Gibbons
writes that this change "seemed to relieve them of a subtle sense of
guilt they had felt over the years."
June 17,1978 - Church News headline "Interracial Marriage Discouraged"
in same issue which announces authorization of priesthood for those of
black African descent. Sources at church headquarters indicate that
Apostle Mark E. Petersen requires this emphasis.
Dec 29,1978 - First Presidency allows women to pray in sacrament
meetings again, rescind earlier ban from July 1967.
August 1979 - Church's Ensign magazine publishes first counselor N.
Eldon Tanner's statement: "When the prophet speaks the debate is over,"
which echoes Improvement Era's message of June 1945.
Feb 7,1980 - Dallin H. Oaks, president of BYU, is chair of board for
television's Public Broadcasting Service. He continues as PBS Chair
after his appointment to Twelve in April 1984.
March 2,1980 - Introduction of "Consolidated Meeting Schedule" of
three-hours on Sundays. This eliminates week-day meetings of
auxiliaries, as well as traditional twice daily Sunday meetings. This
eases transportation and weekly scheduling but erodes fellowshipping
opportunities and diminishes tightly knit social environment of LDS
Wards. By 1996, this has severely diminished emotional ties of North
American Mormon youth to LDS community, eroding what is called "Mormon
ethnic identity." Most dramatic manifestation of this trend is fact that
for first time in Mormon history, young women cease LDS participation at
greater percentages than young men (according to general authority Jack
H. Goaslind's statement in BYU Daily Universe, 31 Aug 1992). Likewise,
despite absolute increase in missionary numbers, proportion of Mormon
males who accept full time missions has decreased significantly in North
America.
July 3,1981 - After nearly eleven years of losing advertising revenues,
Deseret News begins publishing ads for R-rated movies.
August 22,1981 - Apostle Boyd K. Packer instructs BYU religion faculty,
all seminary and institute teachers, and administrators of Church
Education System that Mormon history, "if not properly written or
properly taught, may be a faith destroyer," and he affirms that Mormon
historians are wrong in publicizing controversial elements of Mormon
past. BYU Studies publishes this address in full. At request of
students, BYU history professor gives his perspective on Elder Packer's
talk and role of historical inquiry to meeting of BYU's history majors.
Summarized within days by off-campus student newspaper Seventh East
Press, this conflict between some apostles and some Mormon historians is
subject of Feb 1982 Newsweek article which quotes BYU professor that "a
history which makes LDS leaders flawless and benignly angelic would
border on idolatry."
Oct 1,1981 - New York Times reports official announcement that new
edition of Book of Mormon changes prophecy that Lamanites will "become
white and delightsome." Instead of continuing original reference to skin
color, new edition emphasizes inward spirituality: "become pure and
delightsome."
Oct 31,1981 - Apostle Bruce R. McConkie preaches to combined stakes of
BYU that second coming of Jesus Christ will not be in his lifetime or in
lifetime of his children or his grandchildren. This runs contrary to the
common folk belief that Christ will come in year 2000 or shortly
thereafter.
March 2,1982 - In televised sermon at BYU Apostle Bruce R. McConkie
denounces "spiritually immature: students and other Mormons who devote
themselves to gaining a special personal relationship with Christ." He
criticizes widely circulated book on that topic by popular religion
professor George Pace who writes public letter of apology within days
and is released as stake president shortly thereafter.
April 2,1982 - First Presidency announces service of male missionaries
is reduced from 24 months to 18 months. "It is anticipated that this
shortened term will make it possible for many to go who cannot go under
present financial circumstances," counselor Gordon B. Hinckley explains.
"This will extend the opportunity for missionary service to an enlarged
body of our young men." Instead, the annual number of new missionaries
level off. Annual convert baptisms decline more than 7 percent each year
rather than increase by same proportion as before.
Jan 11,1983 - Second counselor Gordon B. Hinckley pays document dealer
Mark Hoffmann $15,000 for alleged Joseph Smith letter about his treasure
digging activities. He has Hoffmann agree not to mention the
transaction to anyone else and then he sequesters document in First
Presidency's vault. First Presidency does not acknowledge its existence
until Los Angeles Times is about to release story about document, which
Hoffmann later admits he forged.
April 15,1983 - University Post: The Unofficial Newspaper of Brigham
Young University reports interview with director of Standards
Department. He acknowledges that students suspected of cheating, illegal
drug use, stealing, or homosexuality are expelled from BYU if they
refuse to take polygraph examination. BYU Security has licensed
polygraph examiner.
Nov 26,1984 - First Presidency announces that as of 1 January mission
service for young men will return to 24 months.
May 5,1985 - LDS Astronaut Don Lind administers sacrament in zero
gravity Skylab 3.
June 9,1985 - Church headquarters telephones all bishops in Utah, Idaho
and Arizona with instructions to forbid discussion of Linda Newell and
Valeen Tippetts Avery's biography Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith in
Relief Society or other church meetings. Lasting for ten months, this
ban is apparently what triples book's sales.
April 4,1987 - First Counselor Gordon B. Hinckley tells priesthood
session of conference that "marriage should not be viewed as a
therapeutic step to solve problems such as homosexual inclinations of
practices..." This reverses decades long policy formulated by Spencer W.
Kimball.
Oct 2,1988 - Michaelene P. Grassli, general Primary President, is first
woman to speak in general conference in 133 years.
Oct 12,1989 - Deseret News reports that representative of Eli Lilly
pharmaceutical company confirms that Utah has highest per-capita use in
nation of anti-depressant Prozac.
April 1,1991 - Student at BYU's commencement offers prayer to "Our
Mother and Father in Heaven."
April 17,1991 - Chronicle of Higher Education reports that Utah "ranks
last in proportion of students who are female" throughout the United
States. This is result of Utah's "traditions that inhibit the
educational progress of women."
Aug 9,1991 - Salt Lake Tribune article, "Of LDS Women, 58% Admit
Premarital Sex."
April 4,1992 - Apostle Richard G. Scott tells general conference that
LDS women should avoid "morbid probing into details of past acts, long
buried and mercifully forgotten," and that "the Lord may prompt a victim
to recognize a degree of responsibility for abuse."
Among his concluding remarks: "Remember, false accusation is also a
sin," and "bury the past." Unspoken background to his remarks is that in
recent years current stake presidents and temple workers have been
accused of child abuse by their now adult children. Salt Lake Tribune
reports that suicide prevention lines are swamped with telephone calls
by women in days after Scott's remarks.
Aug 8,1992 - Salt Lake Tribune reports that First Presidency's spokesman
has acknowledged existence of special "Strengthening the Members
Committee" that keeps secret files on church members regarded as
disloyal. Due to publicity on this matter, including New York Times,
Presidency issues statement on 13 Aug. defending organization of this
apostle-directed committee as consistent with God's commandment to
Joseph Smith to gather documentation about non-Mormons who mob and
persecute LDS Church. Presidency lists Apostles James E. Faust and
Russell M. Nelson as leading the committee.
May 18,1993 - Apostle Boyd K. Packer tells All-Church Coordinating
Council that LDS church faces three major threats: "The dangers I speak
of come from the gay-lesbian movement, the feminist movement (both of
which are relatively new), and the ever-present challenge from the
so-called scholars or intellectuals."
June 27,1993 - Counselor Gordon B. Hinckley dedicates former Hotel Utah
as new Joseph Smith Memorial Building to serve primarily as additional
office space for LDS central bureaucracy. Its large theatres also begin
showing devotional film, "Legacy" (about Mormon pioneers), scripted by
Academy award-winner Keith Merrill according to Hinckley's
instruction:"I want them to leave the theatre crying."
Nov 6,1994 - Apostle M. Russell Ballard tells 25,000 students at BYU
that general authorities "will not lead you astray. We cannot." This
claim of infallibility is officially published, and he repeats it to
another BYU devotional meeting in March 1996.
May 3,1995 - Agreement between LDS church and American Gathering of
Jewish Holocaust Survivors "over the issue of posthumous baptisms of
Jewish Holocaust victims." First Presidency agrees to "remove from next
issue of International Genealogical Index [public-access record only]
names of all known posthumously baptized Jewish holocaust victims,"and
"to discontinue any further baptisms of deceased Jews, including all
lists of Jewish Holocaust victims who are know Jews, except if they were
direct ancestors of living members of the Church."
Sept. 1995 - Ensign magazine publishes First Presidency message by
second counselor James E. Faust which denounces "the false belief of
inborn homosexual orientation." Next month's Ensign contains what
appears as one apostle's direct challenge to First Presidency's
unequivocal statement. In his October article "Same-Gender Attraction,"
Dallin H. Oaks writes: "There are also theories and some evidence that
inheritance is a factor in susceptibilities to various behavior-related
disorders like aggression, alcoholism, and obesity. It is easy to
hypothesize that inheritance plays a role in sexual orientation."
1996 Fall, Brigham Young University Studies publishes study by two
sociologists who analyze 1,384 questionnaires submitted by LDS
"householders," including discovery that LDS men are more likely to
think they are going to heaven ("celestial kingdom") than women think of
themselves. Men are less likely to attend church or pray privately than
women.
Kevin Thurston
"John Manning" <joh...@biohard.com.br> wrote in message
news:3DA42679...@biohard.com.br...
> Great Moments in LDS Church History
> Jan 11,1983 - Second counselor Gordon B. Hinckley pays document dealer
> Mark Hoffmann $15,000 for alleged Joseph Smith letter about his treasure
> digging activities. He has Hoffmann agree not to mention the
> transaction to anyone else and then he sequesters document in First
> Presidency's vault. First Presidency does not acknowledge its existence
> until Los Angeles Times is about to release story about document, which
> Hoffmann later admits he forged.
> SOURCE: http://exmormon.8m.com/great.html
I read that when it was referenced yesterday. I thought he went easy on them
as far as Hofmann was concerned. The acquisition of the Anthon Transcript
forgery and the press conference where Dallin Oaks lied about the McLellin
collection, as well as Hinckley's stipulated testimony in Hofmann's
preliminary hearing seem to merit mention at least as much or more than the
described acquisition of the Josiah Stowell letter.
Kevin Thurston
"I've learned that life is just one crushing defeat after another until you
just wish Flanders was dead."... Homer Simpson
Karl Graff
Pastor Karl
"John Manning" <joh...@biohard.com.br> wrote in message
news:3DA42679...@biohard.com.br...
---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.394 / Virus Database: 224 - Release Date: 10/3/2002
Duwayne Anderson
>
> The following historical moments come from Michael Quinn's excellent
> book The Mormon Hierarchy : Extensions of Power . For references, refer
> to the book. All of these events actually happened...
Very interesting stuff. Can any apologists for the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, out there, refute this stuff?
<snip>
> May 18,1993 - Apostle Boyd K. Packer tells All-Church Coordinating
> Council that LDS church faces three major threats: "The dangers I speak
> of come from the gay-lesbian movement, the feminist movement (both of
> which are relatively new), and the ever-present challenge from the
> so-called scholars or intellectuals."
<snip>
Feminists and intellectuals have been dragging the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS, or Mormon) kicking and screaming
into the 21st century. And they don't like it. Not one bit.
Duwayne Anderson
American Quarter Horse: The ultimate all-terrain vehicle.
Troy Kohler
Karl Graff wrote:
> Now how can any of these top Coriantumr breathing after he was beheaded?
>
> Pastor Karl
' 9...And it came to pass that when Coriantumr had leaned upon his
sword, that he rested a little, he smote off the head of Shiz. And it
came to pass that after he had smote off the head of Shiz, that Shiz
raised upon his hands and fell; and after that he had struggled for
breath, he died. And it came to pass that Coriantumr fell to the earth,
and became as if he had no life. And the Lord spake unto Ether, and said
unto him, go forth. And he went forth, and beheld that the words of the
Lord had all been fulfilled; and he finished his record; AND THE
HUNDREDTH PART I HAVE NOT WRITTEN.'
"It seems a pity he [Joseph Smith] did not finish, for after all his
dreary former chapters of commonplace, he stopped just as he was in
danger of becoming interesting." -Mark Twain ("Roughing It", 1871)
(snip)
GRaleigh345
writes:
>Now how can any of these top Coriantumr breathing after he was beheaded?
>
>Pastor Karl
I think that Joshua being certain that the sun orbits the earth might come
close.
Raleigh
"Dammit, Hillary! I was NOT naked! I just didn't have any clothes on."
Bill Clinton
Helen
"Duwayne Anderson" <duwa...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:a42139e3.02100...@posting.google.com...
> John Manning <joh...@biohard.com.br> wrote in message
news:<3DA42679...@biohard.com.br>...
> > Great Moments in LDS Church History
> >
Jesus
> Christ of Latter-day Saints, out there, refute this stuff?
>
They will try to .......
> <snip>
> > May 18,1993 - Apostle Boyd K. Packer tells All-Church Coordinating
> > Council that LDS church faces three major threats: "The dangers I speak
> > of come from the gay-lesbian movement, the feminist movement (both of
> > which are relatively new), and the ever-present challenge from the
> > so-called scholars or intellectuals."
> <snip>
>
> Feminists and intellectuals have been dragging the Church of Jesus
> Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS, or Mormon) kicking and screaming
> into the 21st century. And they don't like it. Not one bit.
>
LOL>>>
Top Posting Dick
Mountain Meadows Massacre
The 1981 Letter to Bishops and Stake Presidents calling oral sex
between married couples an 'unholy practice' prompting bishops to deny
temple recommends to couples who had engaged in it.
Clovis Lark
> Good list, but I couldn't find 2 more great moments in Mormon History:
> Mountain Meadows Massacre
Fighting Over History
by Paul Swenson
If history makes strange bedfellows, it may also make improbable
adversaries. The still-smoldering controversy over the events of Sept. 11,
1857, in southern Utah remains volatile 145 year later. So much so that
locally, it may rival the storm surrounding the planners and perpetrators
of the Sept. 11, 2002 attack on New York’s World Trade Center.
Mormon housewife and resolute researcher Juanita Brooks taught herself the
historian’s craft and took on a topic no one else would touch, producing
the groundbreaking book, The Mountain Meadows Massacre, in 1950. She was
then treated as a pariah by her ecclesiastical leaders and virtually
banished as the bearer of bad news. But her research detailed the
cold-blooded murder of 120 men, women and children in an Arkansas wagon
train by Mormon settlers who recruited Paiute Indians as a cover for their
attack. It was supposed vengeance for mob violence against Mormons by
Arkansas residents.
Flash forward to 2002 for the publication of historian Will Bagley’s book,
Blood of the Prophets: Brigham Young and the Massacre at Mountain Meadows.
Bagley and Deseret News book editor and sometimes historian Dennis Lythgoe
both honor Brooks for her courage and foresight. But agreement ends there.
Lythgoe, a self-identified liberal Mormon who has himself championed
independent history, condemns Bagley’s book as historical heresy and
believes he detects the aroma of anti-Mormonism. The work offers new
evidence that Young had advance knowledge of the attack and possible
involvement in approving it.
After Lythgoe’s D-News review appeared Sept. 1 under the incendiary
headline, “‘Massacre’ book has ax to grind; Anti-Mormon ‘tract,’ compares
Young to Hitler,” Bagley had his chance to respond on KUED 7’s Civic
Dialogue (Sept. 22) during an interview with Doug Fabrizio.
A tough little bantam rooster of a man, Bagley didn’t do himself any
favors by not mentioning Lythgoe by name, while referring to the review as
if it were the generic product of the assumed bias of the LDS church-owned
afternoon paper. “They lied,” he said, as if the review reflected a
composite editorial position. In addition, Bagley, who writes a history
column for The Salt Lake Tribune, took a petulant poke at the afternoon
paper by dismissing “the Mormon community who reads the Deseret News—for
Lord knows what reason.”
But what Bagley was outraged by was Lythgoe’s contention that the author,
in his preface, “awkwardly compares Young and Mountain Meadows to Richard
Nixon and Watergate, as well as to Adolph Hitler and the Holocaust.”
Bagley didn’t mention Hitler. What he wrote was, “A balanced assessment of
Brigham Young must recognize his many achievements. Apologists dismiss
difficult questions about Young that careful historians must consider. No
one should attempt a credible evaluation of [his] life without mentioning
Mountain Meadows … just as no one should write Richard Nixon’s biography
without noting Watergate or hope to understand modern German history
without considering the Holocaust.”
Lythgoe’s review also irked Bagley by referring to the heavily-footnoted
volume of more than 500 pages as a “tract”—in fact, an “anti-Mormon
tract”—and for impugning the reputation of the highly regarded University
of Oklahoma Press (which reprinted a new edition of Brooks’ book) for
publishing it.
With the exception of the headline on his review (which he didn’t write),
Lythgoe is unrepentant about his review. It was solely his idea to review
the book, he said, and noted he has never been given a hint by his bosses
of what he ought or ought not to review or what opinion to form.
Lythgoe demurs when asked if there isn’t a difference between comparing
Brigham Young and Hitler and Bagley’s point that the historical record of
Young’s tenure as a Mormon leader would be incomplete without examination
of the catastrophic attack—just as modern Germany’s history would be
lacking sans the Holocaust.
“I think he meant to suggest Hitler without mentioning him,” Lythgoe said.
Why would he change the headline on his review? “Because it makes it sound
sensational,” he noted. The Hitler reference is “not at the center of what
I was trying to say,” he said. “The controversy over the Hitler item is an
unfortunate extraneous thing.” But by mentioning Hitler, didn’t the
reviewer himself introduce a sensational aspect into the review? “No,”
Lythgoe said.
As for the University of Oklahoma Press, Lythgoe told City Weekly, he is
aware of its excellent reputation for history. But he conceded that he did
not know that its director, John Drayton, is LDS. “It wouldn’t have
changed my opinion,” he said.
On Civic Dialogue, Bagley told Fabrizio that Lythgoe’s characterization of
his book as an “anti-Mormon tract” was an insult to the author’s Mormon
heritage, which he continues to prize. He said he also values his
reputation for balance and fairness in his historical writing, qualities
which Lythgoe charges are lacking in Blood of the Prophets.
Since Bagley’s book has sold briskly in its first printing, Lythgoe’s
justification of his description of it as a “tract” by defining the word
as “something that is passed around to promote a particular point of view”
appears to make little sense.
Defining anti-Mormonism is more difficult, which Lythgoe fails to do
beyond his own subjective perception. “I went out on a limb,” Lythgoe
says, “but I wrote my opinion.”
http://www.slweekly.com/editorial/2002/mdia_2002-10-10.cfm
clif...@netdoor.com
wrote:
>John Manning <joh...@biohard.com.br> wrote in message news:<3DA42679...@biohard.com.br>...
>> Great Moments in LDS Church History
>>
>> The following historical moments come from Michael Quinn's excellent
>> book The Mormon Hierarchy : Extensions of Power . For references, refer
>> to the book. All of these events actually happened...
><snip>
>
>Very interesting stuff. Can any apologists for the Church of Jesus
>Christ of Latter-day Saints, out there, refute this stuff?
>
><snip>
>> May 18,1993 - Apostle Boyd K. Packer tells All-Church Coordinating
>> Council that LDS church faces three major threats: "The dangers I speak
>> of come from the gay-lesbian movement, the feminist movement (both of
>> which are relatively new), and the ever-present challenge from the
>> so-called scholars or intellectuals."
><snip>
The Packer quote that most interests me is where he states that,
in effect, truth must be made subservient to that which is 'faith
promoting'; that truth itself can be a 'destroyer' if it is not
qualified by that which is 'faith promoting'.
>Feminists and intellectuals have been dragging the Church of Jesus
>Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS, or Mormon) kicking and screaming
>into the 21st century. And they don't like it. Not one bit.
During the last purge, during which Lavina Fielding Andersen was
involuntarily removed from the Church rolls, the Talking Head from
Salt Lake said that the Church reserved the right to preserve
'doctrinal purity' (whatever that means). And it's unfortunate that
Quinn's sexuality made his excommunication a fait accompli, for
he posed some interesting questions regarding Church History.
Trevor Holyoak
numbers?
Thanks,
Trevor
"John Manning" <joh...@biohard.com.br> wrote in message
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