55 years ago today - Apr 17, 1969 [David O. McKay] President [N. Eldon] Tanner referred to initiatory ordinances in the temple for the dead and proposed the adoption of the following procedure: Perform the ordinations to the Melchizedek Priesthood in advance with the other initiatory work to follow by other proxies. Under this plan one proxy would be ordained for each individual name as at present, but at one sitting he would act as proxy for several individual names. This proposed procedure would eliminate the proxy walking back to the ordaining area after completing each initiatory ordinance. Instead, the proxy would remain in an assigned ordinance booth to complete all the names on his list. This would give three proxies for the same person instead of two. This was approved. [Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, https://lnkd.in/ePMmYdHi] https://ift.tt/jKX4nQB
Today In Mormon History’s Post
More Relevant Posts
-
30 years ago today - Jun 4, 1994-Saturday [Leonard Arrington] .... Historical-critical understanding of the Bible. You have probably heard the least about this because, though popular among Bible students and scholars, it has not reached a wider audience. i... I regret that there is little of it in Mormon literature. The word critical, by the way, does not mean negative but, rather, free of presuppositions or, as in my case, self-conscious about one's presuppositions. It means understanding the Bible as a collection of writings by many authors over more than a thousand years; they contain different points of view, sometimes contradictory understandings and formulations of the nature of God and our relationship with Him and other human beings. The Bible may be the word of God but, as we have it, it is the words of Amos and Isaiah, Luke and Paul; and so on. Nor is the usual credit to various ancient figures historically accurate. Moses did not write the first five books of the Bible, David did not write most of the Psalms, Solomon did not write the Song of Solomon, Paul did not write the letters to Timothy or Titus, and scholars doubt that Peter had anything to do with the books of Peter. Although the vast majority acknowledge the Bible, much of it is simply ignored. Most put aside Joshua, with its horrifying narratives of extermination, and Judges with its accounts of patriarchy and sexual assault, and Song of Solomon, which doesn't mention God and its erotic references and Ecclesiastes with its apparent hedonism. For many, the Bible is little more than an anthology of quotations to be drawn upon as argument or occasion requires. It is a series of proof texts. From the point of view of the historically-critical method the Bible can be viewed as a historically conditioned anthology-not a complete and infallible guide to the details of human conduct. A series of signposts pointing the way to a goal that its writers, like us, had not yet reached but were moving toward. Their experience of the divine may have been superior to ours, but they were nevertheless human experiences. [Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018] https://ift.tt/5Shk6l4
To view or add a comment, sign in
-
60 years ago today - Jun 4, 1964 David O. McKay: "It would be well for faculty members to hold no discussions whatsoever on the John Birch Society, and to drop the matter entirely." [David O. McKay to Earl C. Crockett as referenced in Gregory A. Prince and Wm. Robert Write, David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press (2005)] https://ift.tt/ldOH9bE
To view or add a comment, sign in
-
80 years ago today - Jun 04, 1944 Elder Joseph Fielding Smith begins a new radio program, The Restoration of All Things, on Sunday evenings. Later, the talks are published in a book under the same title. https://ift.tt/YnjJz04
To view or add a comment, sign in
-
100 years ago today - Jun 4, 1924 [President Heber J. Grant Diary] Brother Joseph J. Daynes Fr. Called and showed me letters signed by Miss Clark and John A. Burt, claiming that Harrison Sperry had never performed a plural marriage ceremony uniting them. I would not believer John Burt under oath, but I certainly hope that their statements are true and that Harrison Sperry a man who I have admired and loved and who is now over 90 years of age, and a patriarch in the Grant stake of Zion, was not guilty of performing this marriage. [Diary of Heber J. Grant, https://lnkd.in/eJWAsBNZ] https://ift.tt/xmCNdY5
To view or add a comment, sign in
-
135 years ago today - Apr 6, 1889 The first annual general Relief Society conference was held in Salt Lake City. [Matthew J. Grow, Kate Holbrook, Carol Cornwall Madsen, Jill Mulvay Derr, The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women's History, Chronology. https://lnkd.in/gpSHPcPz] https://ift.tt/1etDmr2
To view or add a comment, sign in
-
145 years ago today - Jun 4, 1879 John Taylor and apostles decline to allow Elijah Abel to receive the temple endowment because he is Negroid, even though Abel received the Melchizedek priesthood with Joseph Smith's authorization. This African-American regularly attends his Seventy's quorum meetings and serves a proselytizing mission just before his death. [The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]] https://ift.tt/KherPlW
To view or add a comment, sign in
-
145 years ago today - Jun 4, 1879 Minutes of the Council of the Twelve and of the First Presidency: President [John] Taylor drew attention to the subject of negroes receiving the priesthood, which matter was canvassed at the last meeting of the Council and by his directions the following statements were read: . . . A blessing under the hands of Joseph Smith, Sen., upon Elijah Abel, who was born in Frederick County, Maryland, July 25, 1808. Brother Abel, in the name of Jesus, I lay my hands upon they [thy] head to bless thee, and thou shalt be blessed even forever. I seal upon thee a father's blessing, because thou art an orphan, for thy father hath never done his duty toward thee, but the Lord hath had his eye upon thee, and brought thee through straits, and thou hast come to be reckoned with the saints of the Most High. Thou hast been ordained an Elder and annointed to secure thee against the power of the destroyer. Thou shalt see His power in laying waste the nations, and the wicked slaying the wicked, while blood shall run down the streets like water, and thy heart shall weep over their calamities. Angels shall visit thee, and thou shalt receive comfort. They shall call thee blessed, and deliver thee from thine enemies. They shall break thy bands and keep thee from affliction. They [Thy] name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Thou shalt travel in the East, and visit foreign countries, speak in all the various tongues, and thou shalt be able to teach different languages. Thou shall see all kingdoms, and confound the wisdom of this generation. Thy life shall be preserved to a good old age. Thou must seek first the kingdom of heaven and all blessings shall be added thereto. Thou shalt be made equal to thy brethren, and thy soul be white in eternity and thy robes glittering: thou shalt receive these blessings because of the covenants of thy fathers. Thou shalt save thy thousands, do much good, and receive all the power that thou needest to accomplish thy mission. These and all the blessings which thou canst desire in righteousness, I seal upon thee, in the name of Jesus. Amen. W.A. Cowdery, Assistant Recorder. (From page 88, Joseph Smith's Patriarchal Blessing Record) Brother Joseph F. Smith said he thought Brother [Zebedee] Coltrin's memory was incorrect as to Brother Abel being dropped from the quorum of Seventies, to which he belonged, as Brother Abel has in his possession, (which also he had shown Brother J.F.S. [Joseph F. Smith]) his certificate as a Seventy, given to him in 1841, and signed by Elder Joseph Young, Sen., and A.P. Rockwood, and still later one given in this city. Brother Abel's account of the persons who washed and annointed him in the Kirtland Temple also disagreed with the statement of Brother Coltrin, whilst he stated that Brother Coltrin ordained him a Seventy. Brother Abel also states that the Prophet Joseph [Smith] told him he was entitled to the priesthood, (Brother Abel is understoo...
To view or add a comment, sign in
-
160 years ago today - Jun 4, 1864 [Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] .... At the Close of the sealings all the above Named persons repaired to the Font & we there dedicated the Baptismal Font unto god for Baptisms for the remission of sins for the Healing of the sick & for Baptism for the dead. President Brigham Young was mouth & he named in his Prayer every thing from the foundation to the Top, and He said that He felt that the Lord Accepted the Dedication. [Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, https://lnkd.in/eJWAsBNZ] https://ift.tt/RGLwKmx
To view or add a comment, sign in
-
165 years ago today - Jun 4, 1859 U.S. army officer writes: "Saw two kills today from the scene of the Mountain Meadows Massacre [-] One of them was shot through[,] the ball entering the back part of the head and coming out near the right temple. The other had two gashes on the top as if from a sharp knife. They were of young persons." [The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]] https://ift.tt/b7Bu5vX
To view or add a comment, sign in
-
180 years ago today - Jun 4, 1844 Joseph Smith has himself appointed legal guardian for orphan girls Maria and Sarah Lawrence. Joseph has been secretly married to both of them for over a year. On this day he also decides to prosecute "Laws and Fosters for perjury, slander, &c.- in behalf of Maria Lawrence" William Law, former Second Counselor to Joseph, had accused Joseph of living with Maria Lawrence "in an open state of adultery" https://ift.tt/zlLWjZt
To view or add a comment, sign in