Today in Mormon History - Oct 23

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On this day in Mormon History
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-- 180 years ago today - Oct 23, 1841 --
[Brigham Young]
We taught the brethren on the necessity of finishing and completing the House of the Lord in preference to anything else. The brethren unanimously voted to devote one-tenth of their time and property to the building of the Temple at Nauvoo, under the superintendence of President Isaac Morley and his counsellors. (1)
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The Nauvoo City Council votes to remove the "house on the hill, a brothel with connections to John C. Bennett. (2)
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-- 135 years ago today - Oct 23, 1886 (Saturday) --

The new political party of Idaho, consisting mainly of "Mormon" citizens and known as the Independent Party, held a Territorial convention at Franklin, Oneida Co., where a platform and resolutions were adopted. (3)
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-- 125 years ago today - Oct 23, 1896; Friday --

Brother John M. Cannon as attorney for Elder Edward Stevenson, informed Presidents [Wilford] Woodruff and [Joseph F.] Smith that he had been instructed by Brother Stevenson to draw up a deed transferring to the Latter Day Saints' College of the Salt Lake Stake, a piece of land 80 x 100 feet, facing on First West and South Temple street. In answer to questions as to the feeling of Brother Stevenson's family concerning this donation, Brother Cannon said that the matter had been talked about for some time, and the family had finally become united in regard to the matter. President Woodruff sent word to Brother Stevenson that the Lord and the church would accept of his offering. (4)
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-- 120 years ago today - Oct. 23rd, 1901 --
[Brigham Young Jr.]
Pres. [Joseph F.] Smith is about to publish Lucy Smith's book which was suppressed by Father because of its untruthfulness. He, Jos. will carefully revise it before publishing it in the "Era." I regret it for so many are dead who knew more than the living about this matter. (5)
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-- 110 years ago today - Oct 23, 1911; Monday --
[Joseph F. Smith & Anthon Lund]
In the first place you should know that the second anointing is not intended for every male member of the Church, and goodness alone is not a sufficient recommendation to receive the higher blessings.

Recommends for the second anointing should only be given to men and women who have lived together as husband and wife, and who through long years of faithfulness are still found to be worthy before the Lord and their brethren. They should be men of good report, men whose faith has never been shaken, whose integrity to the Lord and his servants has been beyond question, men who have been valiant for the truth, men who have either defended the servants of the Lord or would do so at all hazards should circumstances require it at their hands. They should be men who have done what they could whether in preaching or working or otherwise helping their file leaders in the building up of Zion, and who are every ready and willing to labor in the interests of Zion at home or abroad. And all those thus recommended must be in harmony with the First Presidency and general authorities of the Church, also those immediately presiding over them. And this spirit also must characterize their wives in order to make them eligible to be associated with their husbands in receiving these blessings.

... it is not for you to take your bishops into your confidence in having them recommend brethren to you for these blessings, because they are in no wise responsible for such recommends. It is you as stake president, and you alone, who are held responsible ... all brethren recommended by you should be instructed to regard this matter in the utmost privacy. ... neither should they take the liberty of advising any to ask you to be likewise recommended, as it is not for any man to seek for these blessings, but for those worthy of them to be sought out.

You must be exceedingly careful in recommending for the second anointing, careful as to the character of the men recommended, also careful with a view to maintaining privacy, and in order to avoid attention being drawn to recommends of this character, we suggest that you do not recommend more than one couple at a time, and that not more than one couple from your stake come to the temple during any one week.

... Deceased men or women recommended by you must of course also be likewise worthy ...

P.S. We take it for granted that you and your counselors have received higher blessings. (6)
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-- 75 years ago today - Oct 23, 1946 --

BYU campus newspaper reports that professor of religion Richard Thomson, announced in a class that "during a vision last night, it was made known to me that 'you bet' is the anglicization of "hubet," the pure Adamic word for "you're welcome." Either the word has survived relatively intact for many millennia, or else it was revealed to the true Saints in the nineteenth century as part of the restoration of all things. Personally, I support the latter view." This announcement leads to the creation of the "Hubet Society of BYU" (HSBYU), which in turn leads to an attempt to create an Adamic 101 course. The entire movement is crushed when Jesse Wright, Provo Central Stake president, speaks at a BYU fireside and calls Professor Thomson, who lived in the stake, "insane," "an apostate and a heretic." Professor Thomson soon disappears from BYU.
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-- 30 years ago today - Oct 23, 1991 --
Paul H. Dunn sends an "open letter to the members of the Church." It states: "I confess that I have not always been accurate in my public talks and writings. Furthermore, I have indulged in other activities inconsistent with the high and sacred office which I have held. For all of these I feel a deep sense of remorse, and ask forgiveness of any whom I may have offended. My brethren of the General Authorities, over a long period of time, have conducted in-depth investigations of the charges made against me. They have weighed the evidence. They have censured me and placed a heavy penalty upon me. I accept their censure and the imposed penalty, and pledge to conduct my life in such a way as to merit their confidence and full fellowship. In making these acknowledgements, I plead for the understanding of my brethren and sisters throughout the Church and give assurance of my determination so to live as to bring added respect to the cause I deeply love, and honor to the Lord who is my Redeemer. Sincerely, Paul H. Dunn." The letter is the lead news story on all three Salt Lake City TV News programs and was reported in the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE and the DESERET NEWS. Elder Dunn's statement that for a "long period of time" Church leaders "conducted in-depth investigations" of his actions appears to contradict a previous First Presidency statement responding to the Arizona Republic story that it had "no way of fully or finally verifying the accuracy or inaccuracy" of the allegations. Church spokesperson Don LeFevre tells the DESERET NEWS that the nature of Elder Dunn's penalty is "an internal matter, and we don't discuss such matters" publicly.
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1 - Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844, ed. Elden Jay Watson (Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968).
2 - Hales, Brian C., Joseph Smith's Polygamy: History and Theology, 3 vols., Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2013 (www.JosephSmithsPolygamy.com)
3 - Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology
4 - First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes
5 - Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
6 - Joseph F. Smith and Anthon H. Lund, letter to President William C. Partridge, Kenney Papers, original in LDS Archives