Today in Mormon History - $d2

[TodayInMormonHistory]

On this day in Mormon History
http://TodayInMormonHistory.com/

-- 185 years ago today - May 10, 1841 --
[Wilford Woodruff]
Elders Kimball O. Pratt & myself undertook to climb the riging of the Ship. Elders Kimball & O. Pratt went up to the round top of the main mast about 50 feet & returned. I clumb over the round top & went up to the main top gallant sail about 100 feet from the upper deck which was the top of the rope ladders. I could go no higher without climing a single bear rope so I returned to the deck. I found it required some presens of mind & caution to go up & down the riging of a ship as she was waving in the air. We had a calm night. (1)
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-- 140 years ago today - May 10, 1886 --

Court sentences Frank J. Cannon to three months' imprisonment and $150 fine for instructing his 16-year-old brother Hugh J. Cannon to physically attack Prosecuting Attorney Dickson following the arrest of their father, George Q. Cannon. Frank becomes the U.S. Senator from Utah 1896-98). Fined $35 dollars in 1886, Hugh grows up to become a general board member (1896-1931), mission president (1901-1904), and stake president (1904-1925). (2)
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-- 125 years ago today - May 10, 1901 --

President [Lorenzo] Snow today made a contract with John Hafen, the artist, for $100. per month to make a number of paintings which would become the property of the Church. (3)
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-- 120 years ago today - May 10, 1906 --

Apostle and U.S. Senator Reed Smoot writes to President Joseph F. Smith: "[Senator Beverage] said that he had just been reading your testimony in relation to the marriage of Abram H. Cannon; he did not understand how you, a member of the First Presidency of the Church, could go on a trip with A. H. Cannon and be introduced to a young lady as his wife and have them occupy the position of husband and wife toward each other, it being six years after the issuance of the Manifesto . . . and not complain of one of the Apostles so acting, and of no action being taken by the Church, unless the Church approved of new marriages or at least allowed them."
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-- 115 years ago today - May 10, 1911 --

Former apostle Matthias F. Cowley is tried by the Council of Twelve Apostles. He is charged with performing post-manifesto plural marriages of questionable sanction. Cowley states: "[Late] President [George Q.] Cannon told me to do these things or I would never have done it." Cowley also states that when he asked Church President Lorenzo Snow for permission, Snow "simply told me that he would not interfere with Brother Woodruff's and Cannon's work [of authorizing plural marriages]." Cowley also makes the statement: " I am not dishonest and not a liar and have always been true to the work and to the brethren. I have always been true and faithful myself. We have always been taught that when the brethren were in a tight place that it would not be amiss to lie to help them out. One of the Presidency of the Church made the statement some years ago when I was in the presidency of one of the stakes of Zion in Idaho that he would lie like hell to help his brethren." The next day the
President of the Twelve, Francis M. Lyman, writes their decision: "This day by unanimous vote of the Council of the Twelve Apostles it was decided that Matthias F. Cowley, for insubordination to the government and discipline of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, be and he is hereby deprived of the right and authority to exercise any of the functions of the Priesthood."
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[Joseph Fielding Smith]
I was in council with the quorum of the Twelve Apostles all day in the Temple where we met with Brother Matthias F. Cowley to investigate matters pertaining to him and his alleged activity in

performing plural marriages. He was very frank and confessed his shortcomings in this regard answering all questions required of him and manifesting a spirit of sorrow and confessing his error in the performing of plural marriages contrary to the rule of the church. H asked for forgiveness and expressed a willingness and desire to be in harmony with the authorities of the Church. The session lasted all day, and after his departure from the meeting each of the brethren present expressed his candid views in the case. ... Seven of the brethren were in favor of showing leniency to Bro[ther]. Cowley, because of his frankness and request for forgiveness, and were of the opinion that no punishment, more than he had received should be measured out to him. President Lyman, Charles W. Penrose and Geo[rge] F. Richards were of the opinion that he should be punished by being disfellowshipped. (4)
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-- 105 years ago today - May 10, 1921 --

Apostle David O. McKay, visiting Samoa, falls "asleep, and beheld in vision something infinitely sublime. In the distance I beheld a beautiful white city. Though far ways, yet I seemed to realize that trees with luscious fruit, shrubbery with gorgeously-tinted leaves, and flowers in perfect bloom abound everywhere. The clear sky above seemed to reflect these beautiful shades of color. I then saw a great concourse of people approaching the city. Each one wore a white flowing robe, and a white headdress. Instantly my attention seemed centered upon their Leader, and though I could see only the profile of his features and his body, I recognized him at once as my Savior! The tint and radiance of his countenance were glorious to behold! There was a peace about him which seemed sublime - it was divine! The city, I understood, was his. It was the City Eternal; and the people following him were to abide there in peace and eternal happiness. But who were they? As if the Savior read my
thought, he answered by pointing to a semicircle that then appeared above them, and on which were written in gold the words: 'These Are They Who Have Overcome The World - Who Have Truly Been Born Again!'"
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-- 75 years ago today - May 10, 1951 --
[J. Reuben Clark]
[BYU President] Ernest L. Wilkinson called about getting Pres. Herbert Hoover to give the Commencement Address. Pres. Clark said he did not think he could get him, and did not want to try, because would not want to be turned down. Pres. Clark also asked if he had sounded out the Brethren, th[at] there was some feeling that the Commencement Addresses ought to be given by our own people. He had asked J. C. Penney to give the Commencement Address but he could not; Nath[an] Mathesius had also turned them down. Pres. Clark said he did not think they ought to ask if it was a clear slate and he was the first choice, he might. He suggested that they wait until next year, and get one of the Brethren this year. He said that Mr. Hoover would find out and he would feel that he, Pres. Clark, had personally let him down, if he urged him to come, and he would not want him to feel that way. (5)
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1 - Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
2 - The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]
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
4 - Joseph Fielding Smith, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015
5 - The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015

[TodayInMormonHistory]

On this day in Mormon History
http://TodayInMormonHistory.com/

-- 215 years ago today - 1811 (after May 11) --

After selling his property in Sharon, Vermont and moving to live with Smith's uncle Daniel in Royalton, Smith's maternal grandfather Solomon Mack self-publishes a booklet describing his heavenly visions and voices of the previous winter: Mack, Solomon (1811), A Narraitve [sic] of the Life of Solomon Mack, Windsor (1)
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-- 180 years ago today - May 11, 1846 --
[Lucy Mac Statement]
Mrs. Lucy Smith's Testimony.



"Nauvoo, May 11, 1846.

"My Dear Son-For so I must call you; as the church has passed through much affection, and it pains my heart that it should suffer more. The Twelve (Brighamites) have abused my son William, and trampled upon my children, and have also treated me with contempt. Now mark it, these men are not right. God has not sent them to lead this kingdom. I am satisfied that Joseph appointed James J. Strang. It is verily so. Now, Brother Reuben, I exhort you for the love you have for the truth, to hear my voice, and warn the saints concerning these things, and your reward shall be doubled in the heavenly world. This from your mother, Lucy Smith,

"Mother in Israel."

"This is to certify that we, the undersigned. members of the Smith family, fully accord with the sentiments expressed above.

"W.J. Salisbury,

"Catherine Salisbury,

"Arthur Milliken,

"Lucy Milliken.' (2)
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-- 140 years ago today - May 11th, 1886 --
[General Authority Abraham H. Cannon]
"There have been two windows left out of the west end of the Salt Lake Temple through an error of the architect which will most likely necessitate the taking down of the wall for 20 ft. Order was given yesterday to stop laying stone now until a decision was reached about this matter. It is a most egregious error." (3)
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-- 115 years ago today - May 11, 1911 --

The Twelve vote as a compromise to deprive Matthias F. Cowley of his right to exercise his priesthood but not to disfellowship him. This resolves a two-day deadlock in which seven apostles want to give him no punishment, wheras quorum president Francis M. Lyman and two others want to disfellowship Cowley for performing plural marriage up to his 1905 resignation. Cowley regards this as a second punishment (double jeopardy) he has received for the same acts, which he insists he did by authorization of the First Presidency. (4)
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1 - Wikipedia: Chronology of Mormonism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Mormonism
2 - Lucy Mac Smith Statement
3 - Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4
4 - The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]