On this day in Mormon History
http://TodayInMormonHistory.com/
-- 200 years ago today - Mar 19, 1826 --
Peter Bridgman, nephew of Josiah Stowell, issues a warrant accusing Joseph Smith, Jr., of being "a disorderly person and an Impostor." Joseph is served a warrant by Constable Philip DeZeng on 19 March 1826 and spends two days and one night in custody. (1)
----------------------
-- 195 years ago today - Mar 19, 1831 --
The PALMYRA REFLECTOR notes: "There appears to be a great discrepancy, in the stories told by the famous three witnesses to the Gold Bible; . . . it was roundly asserted that the plates on which Mormon wrote his history, (in the reformed Egyptian language) were of gold, . . . Smith and Harris gave out that no mortal save Jo could look upon it and live; and Harris declares that when he acted as amanuenes, and wrote the translation, as Smith dictated, such was his fear of the Divine displeasure that a screen (sheet) was suspended between the prophet and himself. Whitmar's description of the Book of Mormon, differs entirely from that given by Harris; both of whom it would seem have been of late permitted, not only to see and handle it, but to examine its contents. Whitmar relates that he was led by Smith into an open field, on his father's farm near Waterloo, where they found the book lying on the ground; Smith took it up and requested him to examine it, which he did for the space of
half an hour or more, when he returned it to Smith who placed it in its former position, alledging that the book was in the custody of another, intimating that some Divine agent would have it in safe keeping. This witness describes the book as being something like 8 inches square: (our informant did not recollect precisely), the leaves were plates of metal of a whitish yellow color and of the thickness of tin plate; the back was secured with three small rings of the same metal, passing through each leaf in succession; - that the leaves were divided equi-distant between the back and edge by cutting the plates in two parts, and united again with solder, so that the front might be opened, as it were on a hinge, while the back part remained stationary and immovable and in this manner remained to him and the other witnesses a sealed book, which would not as yet be revealed for ages to come, and that event the prophet himself was not as yet permitted to understand. On opening that
portion of the book which was not secured by the seals, he discovered inscribed on the aforesaid plates, divers and wonderful characters; some of the large and some small, but beyond the wisdom of man to understand without supernatural aid. Some of the other apostles give somewhat similar accounts but varying in many particulars, according to their various powers of description. - Harris, however, gives the lie to a very important part of Whitmar's relation, and declares that the leaves or pages of the book are not cut, and a part of them sealed, but that it opens like any other book, from the edge to the back, the rings operating in the place of common binding. . . . We have on hand a new edition of the prophet's vision, at the time the Gold Bible was revealed to him by the Spirit, and the subsequent transactions, as related by JO'S father and his elder brother; - also sundry money digging scenes in which the Smiths acted conspicuous parts, all of which will be given to the public
in due time.
----------------------
-- 145 years ago today - Mar 19, 1881 --
It is recorded in the American Cyclopaedia and the Encyclopaedia Britannica, that I, David Whitmer, have denied my testimony as one of the three witnesses to the divinity of the Book of Mormon; ... I have never at any time, denied that testimony or any part thereof, which has so long since been published with that book as one of the three witnesses... . And that no one may be deceived or misled by this Statement, I wish here to state that I do not indorse Polygamy or Spiritual wifeism. It is a great Evil, Shocking to the moral Sense; and the more so because practiced in the name of religion. ... (2)
----------------------
-- 130 years ago today - Mar 19, 1896 --
The First Presidency and Apostles met at the Temple at 11 A.M. ... Merrill reported that two brethren who had been selected as Counsellors to a Bishop in the Oneida [Idaho] Stake, had acknowledged, when about to be ordained that they were members of a Secret Society. He had therefore deferred their ordination until the First Presidency could be consulted on the matter. After the subject of Secret Societies had been discussed, it was decided that a letter be written to Geo[rge]. C. Parkinson, President of the Oneida Stake, authorizing him to ordain those brethren, with the understanding that they be advised to withdraw from that Secret Organization as soon as wisdom should dictate. It was resolved that the Seven Presidents of Seventies, including Elder B. H. Roberts, be invited to meet with the Council of the Twelve Apostles at their next regular meeting. (3)
----------------------
First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve "met in Council at the [Salt Lake] Temple. The case of B. H. Roberts for insubordination was considered and we agreed to meet on Thursday next. He is to be required to humble himself and put himself in proper shape before the people." Roberts ran for Congress without first getting permission from Church leaders.
----------------------
-- 125 years ago today - Mar 19, 1901 --
President Joseph F. Smith refuses an offer to buy the printer's copy of the Book of Mormon which was preserved by Oliver Cowdery: "The manuscript in . . . possesses no value whatever. It has been repeatedly offered to us and numerous false reports have been put in circulation with regards to our desire to obtain possession of it, but we have at no time regarded it of any value, neither have we ever offered any money to procure it, all the stories to the contrary notwithstanding, for we have always known it was not the original, as aforesaid, and as many editions of the Book of Mormon have been printed, and tens of thousands of copies of it circulated throughout the world you can readily perceive that this manuscript is of no value to anyone. There is no principle involved in its possession, there could be nothing lost if it were utterly destroyed, it can neither add to or diminish aught from the word of God as contained in the printed work which has already gone to the world and
been translated into many languages. Indeed, it is not worth the time and paper I am using to convey these thoughts to you." In 1903 the RLDS Church buys it for $2,450.
----------------------
-- 45 years ago today - Mar 19, 1981 --
An exchange agreement was signed by LDS and RLDS officials, and a blessing by Joseph Smith naming his son as his successor is turned over to the RLDS Church in exchange for one of the few existing copies of an 1833 Book of Commandments, conservatively valued at $10,000. The exchange was to be conditional for ninety days, pending further authentication by the RLDS. Spokesmen of both churches agreed that the discovery of the blessing had done little to improve chances of reconciliation. The NEW YORK TIMES on this day runs an article headlined "Mormon Document Raises Doubts on Succession of Church's Leaders." On May 18th, 1981, the RLDS Church announces that the document is authentic and the trade is finalized. The document later it turns out to have been forged by Mark Hofmann.
----------------------
1 - Vogel, Dan, Early Mormon Documents, Appendix B: Chronology, 1771-1831, http://amzn.to/T5nY8w
2 - David Whitmer, Proclamation, 19 March 1881, LDS Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah. Published in "A Proclamation," Richmond (Missouri) Conservator, 24 March 1881; reprinted in the Hamiltonian (Hamilton, Missouri), 8 April 1881; Saints' Herald 28 (1 June 1881): 168; and David Whitmer, Address to All Believers in Christ (Richmond, Missouri: D. Whitmer, 1887), 8-10; also published as a leaflet, "A Proclamation" (n.p., n.d.)., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: David Whitmer Proclamation
3 - Journal History, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015
via todayinmormonhistory-email https://ift.tt/albfFwM
|
|
Manage
|
|
Unsubscribe
from these notifications or sign in to manage your
Email service.
|
