On this day in Mormon History
http://TodayInMormonHistory.com/
-- 195 years ago today - Jan 30, 1831 --
Sidney Rigdon preaches in Kirtland, Ohio that Joseph Smith, their latter-day oracle, is en route to Kirtland. During his sermon he challenges the world to "refute the divine pretensions of the Book of Mormon." In the audience is the father of Alexander Campbell, who writes to his son. Alexander Campbell, Ridgon's former mentor, writes to Rigdon taking up the challenge: "I, therefore, as in duty bound, accept the challenge, and shall hold myself in readiness, if the Lord permit, to meet you publicly, in any place, either in Mentor or Kirtland, or in any of the adjoining towns that may appear most eligible for the accommodation of the public. The sooner the investigation takes place the better for all concerned." When the letter is delivered to Rigdon he, after coming to the line "the infernal book of Mormon" throws the letter into the fire. Rigdon never meets Campbell in open debate.
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-- 190 years ago today - Jan 30, 1836 --
[Joseph Smith]
In the evening went to the upper rooms of the Lord's House and set the different quorems in order. Instructed the Presidents of the Seventy concerning the order of their anointing and requested them to proceed and anoint the Seventy. Having set all the quorems in order, I returned to my house being weary with continual anxiety and labour in put[t]ing all the Authorities in and in striving to purify them for the Solemn Assembly according to the commandment of the Lord. (1)
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-- 185 years ago today - Jan 30, 1841 --
Joseph Smith is elected sole Trustee-in-rust for church, the legal entity for directing church finances until 1923. This enables Smith "to receive, acquire, manage or convey property, real, personal, or mixed, for the sole use and benefit of said church". Smith uses the office to combine corporate and personal affairs in an intricate manner never entirely unraveled after his death. Later Brigham Young, as Trustee-in-Trust does the same on an even larger scale requiring the Church to sue his estate after his death.
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-- 180 years ago today - Jan 30, 1846 --
Revelation to Brigham Young, President of the Quorum of the Twelve, received at Nauvoo, Illinois, on 30 January 1846
yesterday [30 January] I had some conversation with Rubin [Reuben] Miller of Norway- [Ottawa, Illinois] he being considerably bewildered by Strang new- fangled Revelation- rendered him almost devoid of Reason although apparently honest in what he was doing - & said that the word of the Lord would- be decidedly satisfactorily to him- where upon I- said
thus saith the Lord unto Reuben Miller through Brigham Young- that [James J.] Strang is a wicked & corrupt man & that his revelations are as false as he is - therefore turn away from his folly- & never let it be said of Reuben Miller- that he ever was led away & entangled- by such nonsense
Thus saying I left him my time being to precious- to be spent in hearing and even talking about-such trash-- (2)
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[Hosea Stout]
[Alpheus Cutler] informed me that a company was organized to steal our waggons as fast as we got them done to prevent us from moving west. I then gave him a full statement of the nature of the dissension in the "Old Police"[.] He had a better understanding of it than any man which I had before talked with and seemed to comprehend the Spirit by which they were actuated and informed me of evil plotting against me which I had not heard of and also that my life was threatened by some in very positive terms. I felt that he was my friend. (3)
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John Taylor: Nauvoo Temple sealing for time to Lydia Dibble 30 January 1846. (4)
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[Nauvoo Temple]
Weather vane placed on the steeple of the temple. The weather vane was a "representation of an angel in his priestly robes with a book of Mormon in one hand and a trumpet in the other which [was] over laid with gold." [It also included the masonic symbols of a compass and square, which are also used in Mormon temple worship.] (5)
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-- 165 years ago today - Jan 30, 1861 --
Brigham Young's office journal records: "Pres. Joseph Young related a dream he had to his brother the President as follows. He saw the first Presidency dealing out land and sections of land to the Brethren. In his dream he frequently saw the President with a Compass and chain in his hand, and sometimes working with it. Br. Joseph remarked he was sure he had dreamed this dream as often as one hundred times. Some of the brethren remarked it looked as if our inheritances would be dealt out to us in Jackson County. The President also related a dream In his dream he saw the children singing and dancing unusually merry, and the people also dancing and merry making with extraordinary energy."
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-- 135 years ago today - Jan 30, 1891 --
After some little discussion it was decided that it will be best for Z.C.M.I. and other corporations to cease paying tithing on their earnings but leave the stockholders to pay from their dividends. The custom, however, of deducting the tithing from the wages of employees was not discontinued. It was thought proper in some instances to induce eastern Gentiles of respectability to take stock with us in some of our large corporations. They would thus feel interested in protecting us in case of attack on our institutions. It was reported that there are many thieves working in Z.C.M.I. whose thefts have been discovered. Whether to make public examples of them or merely discharge them, was referred to the Board of Directors. (6)
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-- 130 years ago today - Jan 30, 1896; Thursday --
Meeting in Temple of Pres[idency]. & Twelve at 11 a.m. Talked over general demonstration which is being made in honor of Aunt Zina [D. H. Young]'s birthday. Was appointed chairmain [sic] of Committee to investigate this furor concerning Aunt Zina's birthday. Pres[iden]t [George Q.] Cannon was afterward added who will be pres[ident]. of Com[mittee]. I believe that there is a religious and political significance in so general movement among the women of the church. (7)
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-- 130 years ago today - Jan 30, 1896 --
The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve decide that women should not have their own prayer circles or participate with their husbands in prayer circle meetings. (8)
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-- 100 years ago today - Jan 30, 1926 --
President Heber J. Grant writes to a stake president regarding a letter he received from a "Brother Arthur Bradder making application for his Second Blessings. Second blessings are only given by the President of the Church upon recommendation of a member of the Council of the Twelve. At some time when one of the Apostles is in your stake, if he feels to properly recommend Brother Bradder, the matter will be taken under advisement." This signals a policy change which greatly curtails the performance of Second Anointings during Grant's administration making them extremely rare after 1930. According to Apostle George F. Richards, the policy change was a result of an incident in which a "brother had received his Second Blessings, [and] while speaking in a priesthood meeting in one of the Idaho stakes, told the brethren that they all should have their Second Blessings. Of course that was a serious infraction of the charge which he received when he had his Second Anointings; but I have
never learned of any serious consequences to follow, except the action on the part of the Authorities, discontinuing the administration of these blessings in the Church."
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-- 75 years ago today - Jan 30, 1951 --
[Spencer W. Kimball]
I reached the office at 9:30 to attend a special meeting of The Presidency and the Council of The Twelve, to consider the matter of the missionary work. Inasmuch as there has been great confusion and misunderstanding and opposition on the part of many of the draft boards, it seemed best that we discontinue calling missionaries of draft age for the time being. [As result, there is increase of missionary callings to young, married men who serve two or more years separated from their wives.] (9)
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-- 30 years ago today - Jan 30, 1996 --
The Utah Senate closes a bi-partisan caucus billed as a discussion of a state education fund. Those present include about twenty senators, state commissioner of higher education, state superintendent of public education, and attorneys from the governor's and attorney general's offices. No vote is taken to close the meeting nor are minutes kept, though both are required by Utah's Open Meeting Act. Behind the closed doors, LDS senators Howard Stephenson and Charles Stewart level charges that public schools are promoting homosexuality and undermining family values. The meeting had been arranged after ten students petitioned to use a classroom at East High School for a gay and lesbian support group "to increase awareness about homosexuality in high schools, to decrease homophobia, and to help gay, lesbian, and bisexual students feel safe and welcome in their school environment". The students did not request meeting announcements or advertising, "we feel doing so would attract unwanted
attention. We are extremely concerned for the safety and well-being of our members." The resulting controversy reaches national headlines when, with a four-to-three vote, the Salt Lake City school board bans all extracurricular clubs rather than allow the gay and lesbian support group.
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1 - Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1835-36, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries
2 - Brigham Young Journal, 31 Jan. 1846, typed copy, original LDS archives, available at Marquardt, H. Michael, http://www.xmission.com/~research/central/revel2.htm
3 - Diaries of Hosea Stout
4 - Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith
5 - Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple
6 - Abraham H. Cannon (Author), Edward Leo Lyman (Editor), Candid Insights of a Mormon Apostle: The Diaries of Abraham H. Cannon, 1889-1895, Signature Books
7 - Brigham Young Jr., Diary
8 - https://byustudies.byu.edu/PDFLibrary/19.1QuinnLatter-day-dd60c2d0-159f-4238-84c7-42658a35d6ce.pdf Latter-day Saint Prayer Circles, BYU Studies 19 no. 1 (1978) by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]
9 - Spencer W. Kimball, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015
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