3×5 Card Index (A-J) 3×5 Card Index (K-S) 3×5 Card Index (S-Z)
I first began recording notes from my reading on 3×5 cards, which I typed on a manual typewriter. As time went on, I switched to an electric typewriter, and by the time computers arrived, I had compiled several thousand cards. These I filed in a four-drawer black cabinet. Initially, I continued to record information on cards, and as time and interest allowed, I began producing papers on gospel and LDS history topics, using my notes to write up material which I organized and processed on a computer. Once I had several dozen papers in my computer, I could add new information directly to existing computer papers, even though that made some of the papers much longer than I initially intended.
About a year ago, my electric typewriter was totally worn out; it was nearly impossible to fix, because no one uses typewriters in this computer age. So I junked it. Now, however, I frequently read something that does not fit in any existing paper, but is too good to lose. It occurred to me recently that I could still collect information and sources by opening a 3×5 card file as a separate computer “paper.” This is the beginning of that new system. Hopefully, if I have enough time left, I can use the information on papers yet to be organized. If not, my sons (if they develop an interest) can use this file, plus the thousands of typed cards, to look up just about anything they might want to research.
I believe this information to be extremely valuable, and virtually impossible to duplicate in its entirety. It represents what I’ve extracted from my reading of several thousand books and journals. I hope you enjoy it! Reed Wahlquist, March 1, 2007.
Was it a deliberate lie, or added to D&C by mistake? Either way, it presents problems for the
Church. A short consideration of the issues. Size: 2 pages.
Adam ondi Aman Background, history and future role of Adam-ondi-Ahman, including reports of work being conducted there by labor missionaries. Size: 6 pages.
Babies Who Die All children are saved in Celestial kingdom; earlier theories of resurrection; are some ordained to die; issues involving babies who die early; babies not carried full-term; can righteous parents save wayward (adult) children? Size: 8 pages.
Benson, Ezra Taft Earlier events in his life; belief in homeopathic medicine and use of electro-dermal devices; took plural wife for eternity—an aunt who had died without marrying; service while Secretary of Agriculture; speaking at Baptist church in Moscow; financial sacrifice to serve as apostle; increasingly controversial; encounter with forces of evil; very conservative positions; strong advocacy of John Birch Society; opposition to civil rights movement; warnings about communism; rebuke by other apostles; George Wallace asked him to run as VP to Wallace; service as Church President; attention to Book of Mormon; lengthy period of incapacity. Size: 33 pages.
Bible Abominations Requiring Death A look at quotations from the Bible re: homosexual activities, and the Church’s emphasis on those while basically ignoring all the other abominations requiring death. Size: 6 pages.
Bible Errors A listing of dozens of contradictions, and obvious errors and inconsistencies in the King James Version of the Bible. Great value still placed on the Bible by the Church. Size: 8 pages.
Bibliography (Race and the Priesthood)
Birth Resurrection Dates of Christ A short listing of various dates given by LDS authorities and scholars for the birth and resurrection dates of Christ. Size: 1 page.
Blood Atonement This is a chronological compilation of all the reports of blood atonement and vigilante justice I have run across in a lifetime of reading Mormon journals, articles and books. It includes about 250 different reports or comments, showing that clearly, blood atonement was practiced, and frequently preached, in the early days of the Church. Size: 78 pages.
Book of Mormon Evidence (Pro and Con) This is an attempt to move beyond statements of faith or derision in the Book of Mormon, to substantive issues raised by responsible scholars and writers, both in favor of the book’s claims, and significant challenges to statements in the book. They are listed alphabetically in two separate sections, stating conclusions in support of, and in opposition to the Book of Mormon. A separate section includes statements from many readers of the Book of Mormon about the impact of the book on their lives, both pro and con. Size: 75 pages.
Book of Mormon Fact Sheet Numerous specifics about the Book of Mormon, including each of the foreign language transla-tions; number of copies printed; value of first editions; use of “and it came to pass”; grammar and punctuation; limited vocabulary; quotes from Isaiah; pronouncing vocabulary; scribes; sealed portion; Marriott Hotel placements; Book-of-the-Month Club survey; footnote dates; and how long to read. Size: 5 pages.
Bullion, Beck, and Champion Mine
Brigham Young’s Selection as President Discusses the problems with the accounts of the transformation of Brigham Young as Joseph Smith, so often reported in faith-promoting accounts. Many of the accounts, including that of President Wilford Woodruff, were written decades later by people who apparently did not attend the meeting where it was said to occur. Young’s appointment was to be temporary until Joseph Smith III grew up to lead the Church. Includes quotes of BY and others who said that JS III had the right to lead. Size: 11 pages.
BYU Athletics Program Reports on the profitability of BYU’s athletic program; efforts to increase the program’s funds and build a sizeable endowment; contract with Nike; those giving substantial donations; profits from selling BYU logo clothing; athletic scholarships, and other considerations. Size: 11 pages.
Calling and Election Sure Definitions, descriptions, reports of diarists; historical development; issues involved; how recent; how frequent; is it conditional; role of women. Size: 12 pages.
Censorship of Church history; books altered when republished; early talks altered; William Clayton’s journals; Journal of Discourses; BYU Studies; Mountain Meadows Massacre; members instructed to burn all copies of Joseph Smith’s History, by his mother; attempted castration of Joseph Smith; Masonic influence in temple ceremony; problems with Joseph Smith’s History, and hundreds of changes made; censoring references to polygamy; Joseph’s 30+ wives; Manifesto largely untrue; plural marriages after Manifesto, and children born; Quinn: more than 250 plural marriages after Manifesto with consent of First Presidency; Madame Mountford almost certainly married President Woodruff after he issued Manifesto; is polygamy required for celestial kingdom; lesson manuals never mention polygamy; dramatic change with publication of Joseph Smith Papers; censorship of Church doctrine: Section 81, Adam-God, blood atonement, Section 109, Section 137, Kinderhook Plates, Book of Commandments, Civil War prophecy, 1886 “Revelation,” Book of Abraham, two Elijah Ables; censorship at BYU: student newspaper, BYU bookstore, forum speakers, academic freedom, Phi Beta Kappa, Reynolds Forum; miscellaneous topics: 1932 conference talk never published; active homosexual ordained Church patriarch; unstable Argentine missionary who tried to kill his companion; biography of George Albert Smith; stopping LDS play on Helmut Heubner; 16-volume sesquicentennial history authorized, then stopped; race issue in Brazil; secret files on members; historian Arrington removed; books and authors banned from mention in Church publications; conference talk and video altered; 16 LDS historians called in after they published in Dialogue, Sunstone, Journal of Mormon History, etc.; growing censorship in the 1980s; Correlation Committee; archives severely restricted; access to genealogical records involving polygamists; Hofmann forgeries; Salamander letter; Calvin Grondahl cartoons; pervasive censorship saddens Arrington; spying at BYU; First Presidency vault; resignations at BYU; Teachings of President Brigham Young manual; only lesson manual to be used by teachers; Arrington’s papers at USU; Church handling of evolution; Joseph F. Smith’s papers during the Reed Smoot hearings still unavailable; silencing BYU faculty; Kimball’s biography by his son— son denied access to his office files; unhireability of Michael Quinn; one-word change to intro to Book of Mormon; missionary department records closed to researchers; Church no longer able to control its history; more candid Church history manual for seminary printed in 2014. Size: 75 pages.
Church Patriarch Historic survey of problems faced filling this office, which was originally established to be held by direct heirs to Joseph Smith, Sr., the first Patriarch. William Smith was rejected by the membership for “unchaste and unvirtuous” conduct. John Smith, selected at age 22, served for over 40 years, but continued smoking heavily throughout his tenure, even after some presidents warned him that he would be removed if he continued. He often smoked right in his office, just before giving blessings. President Joseph F. Smith moved the line of succession to the Presidency so that the Patriarch ranked ahead of the apostles, thereby guaranteeing that the President would always be from the Smith family. This angered the apostles and set up a long period of conflict over the office. Hyrum F. Smith was passed over because he was a user of tobacco and was separated from his wife. Eldred Smith was only 25, not married and without a college degree, when he was first considered as a new Patriarch. Then-LDS President Heber J. Grant felt he was not ready for the position, so the office went vacant for a full decade while the President and the apostles fought over the successor. Finally, Joseph F. Smith II was named Patriarch in 1946. But, unknown to the authorities, he was an active homosexual currently carrying on an affair with a young man. Eldred G. Smith was finally appointed in 1947, but was unpopular with some of the authorities. In 1979, the office was eliminated, with Eldred being totally unaware he was about to be released. He had the last laugh, however, living to age 106, and reporting for work in an office provided in the former Hotel Utah building, continuing to draw his salary. Size: 11 pages.
Columbus, Christopher 41 extracts from The Log of Christopher Columbus, translated by Robert H. Fuson, International Marine Publishing Company, Camden, Maine, 1987. They show his conviction that he was being led by God (and the Virgin Mary) on his epic journey to the New World. Size: 6 pages.
Commitment Stories of faithful members who stayed true during trying circumstances. Includes stories of Brigham Young and others as they left Nauvoo with their families destitute, to serve missions in England; Hosea Stout’s diary entries about losing members of his immediate family on the journey to Utah; Elizabeth Kane’s observations of the hardships of the early pioneers as she and Thomas L. Kane traveled with Brigham Young on their way to St. George; settlers in Goshen reacting to Brigham Young’s criticism of the lack of trees and improvements in that pioneer village; John Taylor saying goodbye at general conference just prior to leaving to go “on the underground” because of the polygamy prosecutions; James H. Moyle, a missionary in North Carolina in 1879, taking on mobbers who interrupted a meeting with intent of harming or killing the Mormons; Pres. Grant’s efforts to learn how to throw a baseball when a young man; Arthur Gaeth’s missionary service in Germany, and including being asked to be mission president in new mission in Czechoslovakia at the end of his German mission. Stayed until he was 31, when John A. Widtsoe said he should take a break, go home and get married, and then return. Widtsoe even provided a candidate for wife. She wasn’t even a member, but Gaeth converted her and then married her and they went back to Czechoslovakia; story of the four Borgstrom brothers in World War II who were killed in battle. Army considered letting a fifth son return home, but father said he would serve just like all the others, until war won; several hundred Mexican saints waiting for first non-English temple ceremony in 1945 in Mesa—Elderly sisters wanted to look their best for their husbands, who were waiting in heaven for their temple marriage sealing; President Carter wanting information about the Mormon missionary program for fellow Baptists to consider; the trials of Sis. Vy, in Vietnam, who translated the Book of Mormon and then had to go into hiding in a cave for several years, posing as a Buddhist nun after the Americans left and the Communists took over; Pres. Monson’s story of missionaries in Canada who returned to a house where they had been dismissed, because they didn’t refute a man’s charge that they didn’t really believe story of Joseph Smith; Africans who simply demanded that the Church send in missionaries because they had a right to hear the gospel, since Christ instructed the apostles to go “into all the world,” and that included them; young Japanese convert’s comments to Pres. Hinckley that if the gospel is really true, “what else matters”; Pres. Packer remembering the dedication of Philippine family who managed to get to a stake conference hungry and worn out, but anxious to do what was expected of them; when asked at a stake conference if he would give his life for the gospel, Elder Holland responded: I am giving my life; powerful story of native missionaries in Liberia struggling to get out alive when rival tribes took over, and then insisting they be allowed to finish their missions elsewhere for their full terms; Elder Ballard noticing many men at a stake conference whose white shirts were stained brownish-red halfway down, learning that they had all forded a river, and then walked or hitched a ride long distances to get there. Size: 7 pages.
Constitution, U.S. Statements by Constitutional Convention participants indicating their conviction that Divine assistance made it all come together. Additional comments by historians who agree. Numerous statements by Church leaders and members that the Constitution will “hang by a thread,” and then be saved by actions by Church members. Quotations that say it was Joseph Smith who made the “hang by a thread” comment, and others that do not quote him directly. Also includes statements by non-American political leaders on the importance of the U. S. Constitution. Size: 10 pages
Devils and Evil Spirits This is a compilation of scores of printed reports of devils and evil spirits, as reported by missionaries and members, which the compiler has seen over the years. They cover the period from Joseph Smith’s initial experience in the Sacred Grove and continue through most of the twentieth century. Size: 23 pages.
Disciples of Christ, Being This is a brief compilation of stories of Latter-day Saints who showed by their actions their determination to be disciples of Christ. Included are stories of Anthon H. Lund, who was called on a mission at age 13 in his native Norway; L. Tom Perry’s experience as a marine in Nagasaki at the end of World War II; the ordeal of Cong Ton Nu Tuong-Vy (“Sister Vy”) who translated the Book of Mormon into Vietnamese, and then, after the Communist takeover and the fall of Saigon, had to hide in a cave for several years, disguised as a Buddhist nun; the story of Marek Vasilkov of Lithuania in 1993, whose simple act of kindness to a woman who could not pay for a loaf of bread, brought him a life-changing insight of recognizing the workings of the Spirit; Jacob Hamblin’s son trying to make a sharp deal with Indians in exchange for a pony; a young Japanese convert’s exchange with Gordon B. Hinckley regarding the consequences of his decision to be baptized and being disowned by his family; Joseph Millett dividing the last of his flour upon hearing that a neighbor was completely out. Size: 3 pages.
Diversified Wards This is a brief report on the existence of wards and branches, in 1995, specifically aimed to serve particular categories of members: college student units, foreign language units in the United States, units geared to those in prison, those with limited mental capacity, deaf members, those in retirement homes, military units, store-front churches, non-college singles, etc. It is limited to just 1995, but it may be of value showing the growth of atypical wards and branches. These units have multiplied dramatically since these early beginnings. Size: 2 pages
Early Temples This is a compilation of stories, some in considerable detail, and not widely known, about events and historical background from the Kirtland, Nauvoo, St. George, Logan, Manti, and Salt Lake Temples. Size: 29 pages.
Elias and Esaias This is an effort to clarify who these prophets are, and how the four names are used both by Latter-day Saints and the rest of Christianity. Joseph Smith wrote of seeing both Elias and Elijah together on the same occasion. For biblical scholars outside the Church, these two names are the same individual, using both the Hebrew name of the Old Testament and the Greek name of the New Testament. The text quotes a number of scholars and LDS Church writers, and includes the thoughts of the compiler [RW]. Size: 5 pages.
Elijah, Spirit of Statistical data on how many genealogical records exist; how many have been computerized; records in Church Vault still not processed; status of record collection all over the world; how many people have ever lived; how many were ever recorded; sources, books, digitized records available online; branch libraries around the world; Social Security Index, Ancestral File; oral genealogies available; temple work completed; problem of duplication; TempleReady as a solution to duplication; Jewish records and controversy over their availability; International Genealogical Index; microfilming and digitizing projects; rescuing German (and Jewish) records after World War II; summary of acquisitions each year, starting in 1991; repeated ordinances for celebrity names; records gathered in China, Russia, Asia in general—and Africa; British records, Roman Catholic parishes, RLDS archive; collection from “pandas” in India; projects for county records in the U.S.; Freedmen’s Bureau records, and collection of slave records from southern states; cost of the program; opposition in many areas; new tools for researchers; name extraction program; Utah State Penitentiary program and programs at other prisons; Vital Records Indexes; European and Scandinavian collections; Mexican and Latin American collections; Ellis Island immigrants; U. S. Census records, and censuses around the world; Personal Ancestral File; opening of FamilySearch Center; FamilySearch.org; Pedigree Resource File; digitizing earlier microfilms; 80 billion records to go online; “filming missionaries” called in many areas; Sorenson DNA collection; 1 billion records now indexed (2013); work rapidly speeding up; massive obituary file now online with 1 billion obituaries; records of 1.8 million slaves in U. S. now online; book preservation program underway in 15 locations to digitize books before they decay; over 1.1 billion people now included in FamilySearch Family Tree; photos and stories can now be added to genealogical records submitted. Size: 50 pages.
Emma in Hell Quotations from Brigham Young, Wilford Woodruff, Heber C. Kimball, Franklin D. Richards, and Benjamin F. Johnson on what was said about Emma Smith’s opposition to polygamy, and Brigham Young’s assertion that if Joseph wanted to reclaim Emma, he would have to go to hell to get her; Wendy Top’s thoughts on the topic; consideration of Brigham Young’s claim that Emma tried to poison Joseph, and modern physicians’ suggestion that a peptic ulcer was likely the source of his health problems. Size: 4 pages.
Evils Preached Against This is a mostly chronological collection of practices that Church leaders have warned the saints against over the years. They include: waltzes and round dancing (including Brigham Young’s opinion that waltzes were for brothels); card playing (face cards, and according to Harold B. Lee, Rook, Hearts, and bridge); polkas; checkers, chess and dominos; pool and billiards; dancing with same partner all night; sexes swimming together; “recreations” (aimed at places like Saltair); noisy revels; useless pleasure (such as girls playing the piano and singing when they didn’t even know how to cook); Erastus Snow and Joseph F. Smith warned about “masturbation, or self-abuse,” which led to “sanity and even Madness”; men cutting their hair; men not growing a beard; men not cutting facial hair (Spencer W. Kimball); Heber C. Kimball warned about pants with the fly in the front—he called them “hermaphrodite pantaloons,” and noted that tight pants were like “trees with the limbs crossing each other at various angles; and the consequence is that they are gnarly or diminutive in size, and very inferior in appearance, and perhaps they will never produce any fruit”; Brigham Young warned that the newly invented sewing machines were “a frill and a waste of time”; paying tribute to suicides; masquerade balls and surprise parties; marbles and Sunday baseball; several apostles, and Brigham Young, warned about eating pork—George Teasdale thought that eating pork was a more serious offense than drinking tea or coffee; Pres. George Q. Cannon warned about eating hot soup. On several occasions Brigham Young emphasized that instead of offering two candidates for election, the Saints should meet together and agree on a single nominee. The two-party system, he said, was Satan’s plan, inaugurated in the pre-existence when Lucifer rebelled against the authority of God and Jesus.” Other dangers: YMCAs; skating rinks; birth control; jazz; reading novels (Brigham Young preached: You let your children read novels until they run away, until they get so that they do not care—they are reckless, and their mothers are reckless, and some of their fathers are reckless, and if you do not break their backs and tie them up they will go to hell. That is rough, is it not? Well, it is a comparison. You have got to check them some way or other, or they will go to destruction.” Too much book-learning: At the April 1903 general conference, President Joseph F. Smith said: “We need manual training schools instead of so much book-learning and the stuffing of fairy tales and fables, which are contained in many of our school books of today.” Rock music, artificial insemination, Jesus Christ Superstar, men going without shirts, women wearing pant-suits, Halloween masks, tattoos, getting personal in funeral talks—which leads to humor and laughter. Sex only for procreation. Women unclean after pregnancy. Too frequent sex brings early death. No sex on temple days, or for ten days prior to being endowed. No temple privileges for those hiring attorneys. Opposition to vaccination. No earrings for men, and only one set for women. Church waited for two full decades before providing social security for church employees, because of opposition of several apostles. Opposed to old age pensions. Opposition to public high schools; labor unions; insurance —as late as 1976, the bishops’s handbook stated that Latter-day Saints had no need for insurance because the Church welfare system would care for the family upon the breadwinner’s death.” Ezra Taft Benson publicly warned against the United Nations and the Civil Rights movement. Various apostles preached against intermarriage, integration, evolution, and liberalism. Size 25 pages.
Evolution Numerous quotations from Church leaders on all sides of the debate. The official position is one of neutrality; however, many leaders have taken strong positions in favor or in opposition to evolution. Those favoring evolution include James E. Talmage, John A. Widtsoe, Joseph F. Merrill, Richard R. Lyman, Adam S. Bennion, Hyrum Smith, Orson Hyde, Brigham Young, B. H. Roberts. Those opposing evolution include George Q. Cannon, Rudger Clawson, Joseph Fielding Smith, Bruce R. McConkie, Sterling W. Sill, Marion G. Romney, Ezra Taft Benson, Boyd K. Packer. The paper shows how the issue has been handled throughout our history, with the growing acceptance by many that the earth is millions of years old. BYU’s Museum of Paleontology now openly dates fossils as being many millions of years old, and LDS magazines discuss the issue of dinosaurs and fossils. Size: 15 pages.
1. Numerous examples of twisting truth to the Church’s advantage: Real estate sales in Nauvoo, Joseph’s marriage proposal to Nancy Rigdon, pure air of Utah could kill pioneers, understating difficulties in Zion, discouraging gold seekers, need for members not to import goods, why Brigham Young wore fancy clothing, Brigham Young and the United Order, advertising liquor, profiteering from Brigham’s liquor business, manipulating city politics, avoiding subpoenas, the Manifesto, protecting an embezzler, Brigham Young’s wealth, manipulating state politics, concerns about business dealings, liquor sales at Saltair, reasons for reversal on round dancing.
2. Bribing public officials: Brigham Young openly announced in general conference in 1861 that he was bribing public officials, and sited one bribe of $1,300 he paid to an official; Wilford Woodruff noted that it had cost the church $330,000 to get the statehood bill passed; in 1892, the First Presidency informed the apostles that “our success in the Church suits was in a great measure due to the fact that we have a partner of Justice Field of the Supreme Court of the United States in our employ, who is to receive a percentage of the money if the suits go in our favor, and the property is returned to us”; In 1886, the federal court began hearings concerning efforts of two men to bribe U. S. deputy marshal E. A. Franks to give advance warning of efforts to arrest Mormon polygamists. In 1887, President John Taylor had $40,000 removed from the First Presidency’s safe to “bribe influential members of Congress to oppose the Edmunds-Tucker bills and support Utah statehood”; to encourage popular support for Utah statehood on a national level, Church leaders sought to “secure the press of the country” by placing large cash payments with major newspapers; according to Bp. Hiram Clawson’s memo, the newspapers sharing in the money were New York Times, $20,000; New York Sun, $25,000; New York Evening Post, $10,000; Philadelphia Times, $15,000; Chicago Times, $18,000; St. Louis Globe Democrat, $30,000; San Francisco Chronicle, $20,000; four other San Francisco papers had a total of $11,000; in 1893, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve agreed to bribe Utah’s non-LDS attorney-general to prevent indictment of general authorities for unlawful cohabitation.
3. “Lying for the Lord” to cover up polygamy (several dozen examples are cited where leaders lied in public about the issue of polygamy).
4. Lying about Church involvement in politics, denying it vigorously while sending out apostles to work for the election of more Republican officials, not just in Utah, but in Idaho and Wyoming as well. 5. More recent examples of expediency: running trains to Church-owned Saltair on Sundays; using prostitutes to spy on anti-Mormon officials; LDS ownership of brothels in Salt Lake City; falsely misquoting LDS documents in battle with RLDS over polygamy; removing mention of Danite activities from church records; tailoring opposition to repeal of prohibition so as not to lose elections in Salt Lake; Church-owned sugar factories needed to run on Sundays because they were so profitable; President Joseph F. Smith telling a general conference crowd why it was necessary for the Hotel Utah to offer liquor to its patrons; active homosexual Church patriarch was released in 1946 “due to ill-health,” but “slowly gaining strength”; why KSL had to start accepting ads for beer in 1951 to stay competitive; Church asked Dialogue: a Journal of Mormon Thought not to publish papyri photos, then printed them in BYU Studies; entrapment of gays at BYU through deceitful means; in 1970 the Deseret News announced that it would no longer carry advertisements for “R-” and “X-“ rated movies, but eleven years later, after substantial revenue loss and losses in circulation, they started printing them again; in 1983, the Deseret News began publishing on Sundays for the same reasons; rehabilitation of Emma Smith, after women’s issues grew dramatically; three apostles instructed Michael Quinn’s stake president to take away his temple recommend, but to tell him it was his decision, not theirs—but he said he would not lie about it; mission president Orville Gunther tells a missionary that he had taken letters from the First Presidency to various Utah state senators in legislative sessions requesting their votes on various bills, but not to let it become public knowledge, since the Church always denied doing that; Elder Paul H. Dunn’s faith-promoting stories, and the need not to expose them; BYU professor, with nine year’s tenure, fired for exposing Dunn’s stories, saying he had criticized one of the brethren, “even if the criticism is true”; with the rise of Las Vegas after World War II, the practice began of not allowing those working in casinos to obtain temple recommends. However, casino owners and attorneys (with their much higher salaries) were allowed to receive recommends, if they otherwise qualified; it was many years later that lower-level casino workers could qualify for temple recommends; did Elder Oaks stretch truth to cover for Elder Packer—Benson’s grandson insisted he did, and he and his family all left the church; despite numerous statements over the years by Church apostles and presidents that animals are not to be killed for sport, the Church operates three for-profit hunting preserves in Utah, staffed by senior missionaries, and catering to very wealthy hunters who pay, collectively, several hundred thousand dollars every year for the opportunity to bag trophy animals. Size: 31 pages.
This is a collection of touching stories of members exercising faith in difficult circumstances:
1. Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball leaving Nauvoo for missions in England when their families were destitute.
2. An account of Elizabeth Kane and her husband, Thomas L. and a young son, traveling from Salt Lake City to St. George with Brigham Young for the winter. They stop at a home of a faithful blind member on the way and hear him tell his son that before joining the Church, he, too, had nice things, such as the Kane’s child has.
3. 18-year-old Joseph Millett, on a mission in New England in 1852, jocularly calls out to a whaling crew, “Success to you. You must catch a whale!” Then he hears in the village that a Mormon missionary has assured the crew that they would catch a whale, and he realizes his casual greeting is being watched by many to see if Mormons can make it happen.
4. Emma Lee, young 17th wife of John D. Lee, is left with her children at Lonely Dell (at the remote Colorado River crossing site) when a group of native American Indians gathers and surrounds her little home. She gathers her children around her, with their sleeping gear, and tells the Indians that she is alone, and they will all camp outside where the Indians can protect them from any danger during the night. A few days later, the chief told the incident to Jacob Hamblin at Kanab, adding that Emma was a “heap brave squaw.”
5. The baptism of James E. Talmage, age 11, in England in the middle of the night, for protection from mobs who are violently opposed to the Mormons.
6. An account of Heber J. Grant’s struggle as a boy to learn how to throw a baseball. Others were calling him a sissy because he couldn’t throw a ball between bases. By determined effort and struggle he got good enough to play when his team won the Territorial championship.
7. The first ten missionaries sent to South Korea, then part of the Northern Far East Mission headquartered in Japan, arrived shortly after the Korean War had ended, and living conditions were drastic. When half of them came down with hepatitis, the mission president arrived from Tokyo to
counsel with them. He told them of the concern of their parents and the general authorities, and said he wondered if the mission district should be closed.
8. Secretary of Agriculture Ezra Taft Benson visited Moscow in 1959. As they were leaving for the airport, he mentioned to his guide how disappointed he was that they were not able to visit a church, as he had requested. The driver made a U-turn and drove to a Baptist church nearby. The building was filled with 1,500 worshippers. Brother Benson was invited to speak to the congregation. He later said it was one of the spiritual highlights of his life. He left a stirring account of what occurred.
9. Powerful story of the first Mormon representatives to arrive in Nigeria and Ghana in 1978 to contact scattered groups of people who had heard of the Mormons and wanted to learn more. An incredible story of faith and perseverance.
10. “Courage Under Fire” is the story of nine young black missionaries in the Liberia Monrovia Mission in 1990, trapped when a civil war broke out, and one tribal group began attacking all those from differing tribes. In a harrowing fight against time, the nine got into one small four-passenger Toyota, and tried to get to the border with neighboring Sierra Leone.
11. This is a story of Catharine Spencer, wife of Orson Spencer, who made the journey out of Nauvoo and headed for the Salt Lake Valley. Of frail health, she got weaker and weaker. Orson wrote to her parents to see if they would take her in until he had a chance to get to the Valley and build a home for them. But she had been disowned by her parents when she became a member. She quietly died one night in a rain storm while others held pans over her head trying to keep her dry.
12. This is an account of an incident during Matthew Cowley’s mission to New Zealand when he was just 17.
13. This story involves a young woman in England in 1964, when her branch was trying to build a chapel. She had decided to hold off paying tithing until they had a bit more money, so she could take care of Christmas for her young family. But she ran into the branch president at a grocery store, and gave him the money. She then returned home, wondering how she was going to manage. Someone knocked on her door. There was Santa Claus, representing a large soap company in England giving out gifts to those who could show three different products manufactured by them.
14. “Answering Mr. Pollard” is President Monson’s well-known story of two missionaries tossed out by Mr. Pollard, a man they had tracted out. One missionary insisted they go back and respond to his change that they didn’t know a thing about Joseph Smith. Nervous and frightened, they returned long enough for the missionary to answer that he did know.
15. In 1976, a terrible earthquake struck Guatemala, killing 22,000 people. It also sent a beam crashing down on Elder Randall Ellsworth, crushing his spine and paralyzing him. He was sent to the United States for treatment, but he vowed to return to finish his mission. It is a story of faith and courage against great odds.
16. This is the story of the Kiriakov family, living in Sophia, Bulgaria in 1963. As life under the Communist regime became more and more unbearable, the father, Kiril, applied for permission to fill an assignment in Algeria, where he hoped to defect. The story, with touches way beyond coincidence, follows the family to a vacation in France, where they meet the missionaries and convert. Years later, after the fall of Communism, Kiril is called as the first mission president in the new Bulgarian Mission. 17. The final story recalls the commitment of members who can only get to a priesthood meeting by wading across a large river. They show up at the meeting with their white shirts stained red by the river water. Size: 8 pages.
Faith Promoting History This paper looks at the various accounts of the First Vision; the Gold Plates (and were they used? Also, accounts of Joseph’s use of seer stones to look for gold, a room in the Hill Cumorah, and Joseph placing a seer stone in a hat, rather than using the plates; Aaronic Priesthood restoration by John the Baptist; Melchizedek Priesthood restoration; where was the Church organized?; name of the Church; transfiguration of Brigham Young; seagulls and crickets; was Brigham Young to be an interim President? patriots appearing in the St. George Temple; tithing and the “Windows of Heaven” film; post-Manifesto polygamy, including story of Madame Mountford; Civil War prophecy; 1886 “Revelation” on polygamy; Stephen A. Douglas prophecy; Rocky Mountain Prophecy; Nephi or Moroni?; Joseph’s own story; Legacy film inaccuracies; Egyptologists’ reaction to the Book of Abraham; loss of confidence in Church history. Size: 52 pages.
This lengthy paper (78 pages) calls into question the basic assumption made by many that the brethren are basically infallible, and can not lead us astray, because the Lord will not allow that to happen. It quotes various church authorities who prophesied of things that clearly didn’t happen. Here is a very abbreviated list of such prophesies: some present in 1831 will live to see Christ; wicked will be destroyed in Joseph Smith’s lifetime; Second Coming will occur in 1891; the wealth of Salem, MA awaits Joseph’s visit; Second Coming to occur during Wilford Woodruff’s lifetime; there will be no unbelievers in fifty years, or the Book of Mormon is false; Joseph Smith to visit Palestine; the Kinderhook Plates are authentic; not even a grease spot will remain of Congress if they don’t redress the Missouri grievances; those alive in 1832 will return to Jackson County; Atlantic Ocean to dry up within 15 years; queens of the earth to visit Nauvoo Relief Society; Nauvoo to become world’s greatest city; Church will stay in Nauvoo, and will need 150,000 bishops; “We must believe in slavery”; Church to be destroyed if blacks participate; black miscegenation required beheading; mud better than granite for temple; tides are the earth’s heartbeats; Adam is the Father of Christ; all mankind to be resurrected before Cain’s curse will be removed; Brigham Young to remain governor of Utah; no harm will befall the Willie Handcart company; thousands to be made eunuchs so they can be saved in the kingdom of God; the commencement of the downfall of the United States will begin in 1857; some present in 1857 will assist the ten tribes in getting their endowments; Christ to return in Brigham’s lifetime; wives can’t know more than their husbands; the North will never defeat the South (said one month before the South surrendered); the Church will never surrender polygamy to gain statehood; Brigham Young will be asked by U. S. to become U. S. President; God won’t allow a black/white mixture to survive very long; Eve was Adam’s daughter; no two temples will look alike; sin causes diphtheria deaths; the Great Pyramid’s measurements predict future events; nation will be overthrown before polygamy will; vaccination is a gentile scheme; temple work will not be done for blacks, Chinese or Hindus; blacks will never get the priesthood in this world; faithful blacks will be servants in Heaven; God favors segregation; men will never reach the moon; men won’t be permitted to travel through space; Communist dictatorship within ten years in U. S.; those using contraceptives may be denied the Celestial Kingdom. Size: 78 pages.
Fast Offerings This not-yet completed paper looks at the issue of fast-offerings, when and why fast days were moved from Thursdays; impact on the Welfare Program; amounts paid over the years by the entire Church, some individual stakes, and some wealthy and poor wards. Size: 4 pages.
Financial Crisis of the 1890s Not generally known by members today, the Church faced financial disaster in the 1890, and the Church faced financial ruin. There were massive losses to Church businesses. No funds to pay anyone, and no tithing coming in. In July 1893, no Church employee was paid, and the First Presidency and Twelve did not receive their usual allotment. Desperate measures to keep Church banks from failing. Attempt to raise funds from Rothschilds in Europe. First Presidency and Twelve pray not to be disgraced financially. Stake presidents called in and asked for help. Five apostles who purchased stock in Church sugar industry could be left penniless. Church checks did not clear bank. Gathering to Zion may need to be halted. One bank refused to honor a First Presidency note. Heber J. Grant was able to get $250,000 loan with 20% interest. Brigham Young Academy in Provo may go under. McCune gave Grant $10,000 to save his credit. Plan to mortgage Church Office Building. Very slowly, things began to turn around, and the Church and its credit were saved. Size: 11 pages.
For at least the first century of LDS history, members had great leeway in accepting or rejecting those being presented for a sustaining vote. Furthermore, Church leaders warned the membership not to follow them blindly, but to let dissenting voices be heard. Members frequently voted against those they were being asked to sustain. In more recent years, the sustaining of officers has become not just routinized, but essentially a test of loyalty; today, a ‘no’ vote is not just rare, but can lead to disciplinary action against those so voting. In addition, members are now frequently warned not to question the leadership, since leaders “cannot lead the Church astray.” This paper traces the shift from the earlier period of real choice to today’s practice of automatic consent. These are the main headings:
1. Considerable freedom to dissent initially. Lists dozens of instances where individuals were presented for sustaining, but the congregation refused to go along. Apostles were cautioned, when visiting stake conferences, to get input from local members before proposing names. On some occasions, proposed names were shouted down until another name was presented.
2. Gradual Shift to More Control. Includes numerous quotations where authorities moved to tighten up control over process. Talks were given on not opposing “the Lord’s Anointed.” Some protesters were removed from the building. As the civil rights movement and the feminist movements grew, leaders initiated a plan where tickets were needed to attend general conference, and bishops were counseled not to hand them out to those who might protest. On one occasion when about forty women attended the meeting to vote against those currently serving, it was decided quickly to wait until the last session of conference (Sunday afternoon) to sustain the brethren. TV cameras were fixed in place, so as not to show anyone voting in the negative. This soon led to people shouting out their dissension, which still happens occasionally. The last few years, those voting no have been directed to “see their stake president to express their reasons.”
3. Authorities Voting Yes Against Conscience. In order for an action to become binding on the
Church, it must receive a unanimous vote by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve. Many who are not in favor simply vote “yes” in order not to be seen as an obstructionist. Some have noted that this puts much power in the hands of a vocal apostle who lets his position become known early on in an effort to sway the group to his position.
4. General Authorities Sometimes Wrong. It is easy to show incidents when one of the brethren announced a prophecy that simply did not come to pass. Others took a stand that by hindsight proved to be a mistake. Numerous examples are listed here.
5. Statements by the General Authorities Attesting to their Fallibility. Over the years, many authorities have warned the Church not to look for infallibility in our leaders. This section includes several dozen such statements. Section 107 of the D&C even gives instructions on what to do should the President of the Church fall into transgression.
6. Leaders Can Never Lead Us Astray. This sections considers statements by Church leaders indicating the opposite conclusion: Leaders can never lead us astray. It includes about 25 statements that suggest that very thing.
7. Examples of Apostolic Pressure. This lists many examples of apostles and Presidents pressuring others to agree with their own personal views that did not express official positions of the Church. Included are numerous statements regarding evolution where the speakers went far beyond the official Church position that the Church has not position on evolution. 8. Concerns About Present Trends. This section starts with a statement by Apostle Dallin Oaks that Church leaders should not be criticized, “even if the criticism is true.” It moves from there to a consideration of trends among the apostles of showing special respect for apostles with greater seniority, even to the extent of not voicing opposition to ideas expressed by senior apostles, even when more recent apostles disagree with them. A few comments mention concerns about apostles’ secretaries assuming authority not theirs, and the impact of age and physical impairments on leaders, who were not fully functioning for lengthy periods of time. It ends with several examples of arrogance involving a few of the apostles. Size: 75 pages.
Forgiveness A brief collection of 25 quotations on forgiveness, from a wide variety of sources showing the need and benefits of being forgiving. Size: 2 pages.
Garments This historical survey considers the original garments, who designed them, how and when they were marked, what different styles emerged, fabrics used, where they could be purchased (including many department stores unaffiliated with the Church). A second sections looks at all the various changes made over the years, including instructions for endowed members in the military, various types available for different climates, consideration of two-piece garments, separation of street garments and temple garments, issues involving garments (including consideration of eliminating garments entirely except for while in the temple, use during love-making, garments manufactured outside the U.S., and the number produced. Size: 9 pages.
General Conferences A historical survey of all the conferences of the Church since the first one in 1830. Includes famous “firsts.” Initially, mission calls were often announced from the pulpit during conferences, with no other prior notification. Includes the official announcement of polygamy in 1852; the rescue of the handcart companies; Tabernacle organ powered by water from City Creek; moved out of Salt Lake to make round-ups of polygamists harder—and to punish non-Mormon merchants who were leading the opposition to polygamy; sacrament passed during conference during most of the 1800s; controversial sermons never printed, or else altered after delivery; efforts to amplify voices; financial report eliminated in 1959; foreign language translations; main floor of Tabernacle reserved for priesthood leaders; satellite broadcasts; a woman speaker in 1988; noting the death of Pope John Paul II in 1985; interrupted in 2002 for a war announcement; various humorous incidents over the years; first talks not in English (the first was in Mandarin). Other sections look at issues that arose: in 1911 President Joseph F. Smith quit a little early, so attenders could catch the train; people often called out comments from the audience; conference cancelled during influenza epidemic, and World War II; most popular scriptures quoted over the years; weather averages for Spring and Fall sessions; songs most frequently sung; who watches; conference talk subjects have changed; how many participate? Size: 23 pages.
Most present day Latter-day Saints have few questions about the Church’s teachings on the Godhead. It is bedrock doctrine that God the Father is Elohim, and His son is Jesus Christ, the Jehovah of the Old Testament. What is obvious to us, however, was a matter of considerable controversy for the first one hundred years of the Church’s existence in this dispensation. It was not until well into the twentieth century that today’s position on the Godhead became clearly defined and official. What follows is a survey of statements taken from our early scriptures and Church leaders concerning the Godhead. This paper is divided into various periods of time to show how the doctrine has evolved. Includes the need to alter scripture; the Adam-God controversy; praying to Christ; Mother in Heaven; God was once a Man; and how many Gods? Size: 25 pages.
Grant, Heber J. This is a biographical sketch of a man who went on to become a President of the Church. As a boy he frequently visited the home of Brigham Young, and was as much at home there as he was in his own home. His own father died when he was only nine days old, and he had a hardscrabble childhood. He tried to play various sports but really had to work at it because of his size. As a teenager he became addicted to both beer and coffee. He became a hardworking businessman. He served as stake president in Tooele. He was not a popular choice because he was brought in from Salt Lake, which offended many in Tooele, and he was only 23. He was called as an apostle at age 25, when he weighed only 140 pounds, and had many health problems. In 1901 he was sent to open a mission in Japan, partly to get him out of the Valley during the polygamy persecutions. Those were difficult times for the Church financially, and as a businessman before his call, he became a fundraiser for the Church, and negotiated loans, some of them as far away as London. His efforts kept the Church out of bankruptcy. Grant was the last President who had been a polygamist, yet he served until his death in 1945, long after polygamy had ceased to be a major concern for the government or the Church. Perhaps because of his own struggles earlier with beer and coffee, Grant made adherence to the Word of Wisdom a major thrust of his administration, upsetting many members who had become comfortable ignoring that doctrine. For much of his life, Grant was a Democrat, but with the arrival of Franklin D. Roosevelt on the national scene during the Great Depression, he became bitterly opposed to the New Deal, and considered Roosevelt a dangerous man. He pushed Church leaders to agree with him. The Deseret News actively opposed the re-election of FDR in 1936, publishing a front page editorial urging his defeat. By 1940, his outrage at FDR was so powerful it started to affect his health. On one occasion he pounded on the table and got so wrought up that his blood pressure went up from 150 to 180. When Roosevelt ran for a third term in 1940, Grant considered having every general authority sign an editorial opposing him. Since Utah had turned solidly Democratic during the Depression, other leaders convinced Grant that such a move might cause considerable alarm and difficulty. Due to a stroke, Grant was a semi-invalid the last five years of his life. Because of his business interests, his forceful insistence of complete adherence to the Word of Wisdom, and his attempts at political intervention in state and national affairs, one historian called Grant the most unpopular President in the history of the Church. Size: 12 pages.
Gratitude This is a short collection of stories of some who expressed gratitude for incidents in their lives: Richard L. Evans and John A. Widtsoe; a captured German soldier in World War II; an American officer finding a little LDS branch in Germany during World War II; President Howard W. Hunter and his parents; LDS donation to Ogden Trinity Presbyterian Church; President Monson in East Germany; Irving Berlin and the earnings from “God Bless America.” Size: 4 pages
Great Stories, I Great Stories, II Great Stories, III Great Stories, IV Great Stories, V Over many decades, I [RW] have run across a great many stories from the history of the Church that I felt needed to be preserved for ready reference. Some are very well known, such as Joseph’s comments about himself (“No man knows my history”) or incidents on the trail from Nauvoo to the Great Salt Lake Valley. Others were totally unknown to me, but touched me deeply and made me want to collect them for later use. It began as one paper, but after that grew to over 25 pages, I moved on to a second collection. Over time, it has grown to five papers. Many are stories about missionaries facing difficult situations; others are about the hardships endured by the early pioneers and settlers in Utah. Several come from accounts of those hiding out during the polygamy persecutions. Some come from the private journals of apostles, or tell of reactions of U. S. presidents or royalty to Mormonism. Size: The combined five papers cover some 90 pages, and include some 250 separate stories.
Growth 2000 Starting in the 1960s, I carefully went through the Church Directory each year, noting all the new wards and branches that had been created since the previous Directory. I compiled this into a brief report that I shared with friends and those attending whatever Church class I was teaching at the time (and most years I was teaching either Gospel Doctrine or the Elder’s Quorum or High Priests Group). This was long before computers, so my efforts never survived the distribution of the initial typed copies. In December 1988, I produced a short three-page paper, titled “Go Ye Into All the World . . .” which gave a summary of growth throughout the world during that year, and high-lighted some interesting (to me, at least) statistics about what was happening. That paper survived. Three years later, In December 1991, I issued the first of what eventually became an annual report, which I called “The Growth of the Church.” Each reported the latest membership figures by country, interesting developments Church-wide, and separate sections to show areas of growth and areas of concern. I freely speculated on what might be happening soon—and reading these now lets me see how far off the mark I was on some things, perhaps reflecting my personal optimistic views on areas of Church governance that bothered me at the time. Most of what I reported came from either the Church Directory for the year, orthe Deseret News Church Almanac on the years when it was published. Other items included news stories reported in the press, or increasingly, off the internet. Hopefully, they provide information on the historic growth of the Church, new programs and controversies facing Mormonism, and an indication of growth statistics available. Size: these papers vary from about eight pages to around twenty pages, depending on the news stories and available growth statistics available.
Handcart Pioneers This paper, not yet completed, tells the controversial story of the tragedy that befell the handcart companies that left too late to arrive in Salt Lake before snowfall in Wyoming. It considers promises made that weather would not be a problem; bickering that broke out after the fact as many leaders tried to shift blame from themselves to others; Brigham Young’s defense of the handcart leaders afterwards; includes statements of how many pioneers died from any cause, who was to blame, the 2006 BYU film that didn’t even discuss the controversy. Size: Currently 7 pages.
Hawaii, Church in This is a brief collection of statistics and quotations about Hawaii and Mormonism. It was the start of a paper I never got back to finishing. But it has some interesting facts, including the first missionaries, the baptism of Queen Liliuokalani, the mission of 15-year-old Joseph F. Smith who was kicked out of school in Salt Lake, and no one knew what to do with him; the treachery of Walter Murray Gibson; the colony of Iosepa, established for Hawaiians wanting a temple; and the Polynesian Cultural Center. Size: 2 pages, but never completed.
Healing the Sick- Early Practices This paper records instances of healing practices that are no longer used in the LDS Church: anointing body parts; drinking the consecrated oil; rebuking the devil; rebaptism for health; administrations in the temple; administrations by women; use of handkerchiefs and other objects; continuous administrations; anointing self; donning temple clothing before administration; continuous prayer circles; and administering to animals. Other sections consider concerns about “official” healers, remarkable healings, and “not always healed.” Size: 19 pages
Health of Church Presidents Starting with Joseph Smith and running to the start of Thomas Monson’s administration, this paper gives a detailed look at the health of the various presidents of the Church, taken from journal entries, historical accounts, and for the later presidents, newspaper accounts and unofficial comments by those associating with them. It becomes obvious that several of the presidents had long periods of decline and even complete inability to function in the role. Little of this has been reported by the Church media, and it is clear that much effort has been taken to keep this information from the public at large. The paper ends with comments on the effects of our system of seniority and service until death. Size: 65 pages.
Helping the Needy Starting with LDS scriptures warning about the dangers and risks of ignoring the poor among us, this paper looks at stories of good members in several countries who are barely surviving at the level of near-starvation. It then reports of efforts to alleviate suffering through use of medical missionaries, literacy programs, clean water projects, Enterprise Mentors, BYU Service and Learning Center, quilt projects, newborn baby projects, and other activities. Size: 5 pages.
Hill Cumorah- Where This paper collects quotations from Church leaders and scholars regarding the location of the Hill Cumorah. It begins with the traditional position that there is only one Hill Cumorah, and it is in New York. It concludes with statements by those who say that position is no longer tenable, and clearly, the hill where Mormon buried the plates cannot be in North America. Size: 6 pages.
Hinckley, Gordon This brief paper includes vignettes from his early life, his service as a general authority, the interview with Mike Wallace, the Perpetual Education Fund, and his comments on each president’s prophetic calling. Size: 5 pages.
Holy Week This very brief paper consists of a chart detailing the events that occurred on each day of the last week of Christ’s mortal life, and which of the four Gospels records them. Included are the “seven last words of Christ,” and where they are found. Size: 2 pages.
Homosexuality This is a chronological account of statements by Church leaders regarding homosexuality, and incidents that have become public regarding members involved in homosexual activities. It begins with various statements on the centrality of marriage, including a Deseret News editorial comment that perhaps we should reinstate the Spartan practice of flogging bachelors. It includes: bizarre 1902 incident of a blood atonement ritual killing, by a boy (son of a prominent member) of man who committed homosexual acts; a more relaxed position at BYU in the 1940s; missionary case in 1951; gay RLDS apostle forced to resign in 1954; special assignment given to apostles Kimball and Petersen in 1959, who counseled about one thousand gay members; no compassion from the pulpit; decision in 1962 that missionaries were not to share beds; decision in 1962 to ban homosexuals from BYU; reparative therapy at BYU; homosexual acts added to causes warranting excommunica- tion in 1968; BYU ‘witch hunt” in 1968, leading 5 students to commit suicide; in 1969 apostle Kimball said the statement that “God made me this way” is a diabolical lie of Satan; lines harden in the 1970s; “mercy must never rob justice”; wording changed in temple ceremony; Packer: “Only a temporary condition”; Affirmation organized in 1978; “none were born that way, ” 1981; drive to urge bachelors to marry reversed in 1987; campaign against same-sex marriage began in 1987; San Francisco singles ward organized in 1988; Church manual in 1991—no conclusive evidence people born homosexual; Pres. Faust: no evidence homosexuality is inherited or inborn, 1994; Church strengthens lobbying against same-sex marriage; Proclamation on the Family; membership records tagged since 1998 for those involved in homosexual acts; Pres. Hinckley: marriage is not a civil right; bishop released for refusing to excommunicate, 2006; Barlow Bradford resigned as Tab. Choir asst. conductor to marry a man, 2008; Proposition 8 campaign in California given huge push by Church—half of all donations by members, some $20 million; resulting protests at temples; Packer: “Unthinkable that God would give his children homosexual tendencies,” 2010; apostle Cook presided over stake with 17 AIDS deaths; children of couples in same sex relationship barred from membership, and cannot be given name and blessing, 2015; 1,500 leave Church at rally; many leave worldwide; 32 gay teen suicides reported since 2015 ruling. A second section reports on likely LDS gays in the past, including Patriarch to the Church. A third section considers more recent incidents, and considerations on where we go from here. Size: 47 pages.
Hosanna Shout This paper considers the origins of the famous Hosanna Shout, and records known occasions when it was given. Lists many occasions other than temple dedications, when it is always given. Paper includes account of Pres. Hinckley’s decision to give the Hosanna Shout on live television for the dedication of the Conference Center. Size: 8 pages.
House of Israel- Who and Where Over the decades there has been confusion as to which nationalities stem from the House of Israel. Typically, the lands providing the most converts have been declared to be of Israel. Since baptismal rates vary over time, there has been much confusion, as these statements indicate: possibly Tibet? Not much in Latin America; little in Mexico; only Anglo-Saxons; those from the better grade of nations; not in Brazil; not in southern Europe; those born in the U. S.; super abundance in Central America; Asians; not much in Catholic areas of Europe; blacks: certainly not; African blacks are of the House of Israel. Other issues addressed: when members of the same family are given different lineages; experience of one Salt Lake Valley patriarch; we are all mixtures; lines are not literal descent; we all descend from same people; blood strain irrelevant; recent trends in patriarchal blessings; entry in Encyclopedia of Mormonism; instructions to South African patriarch; God accepts all nations; gospel transcends nationality and color; no superior race or color; racial superiority an abhorrent and tragic theory; don’t assume too much from your blessing; statements affirming equality; community of faith, not of blood; all followers of Christ are Abraham’s seed. Size: 7 pages.
Humanitarian Aid Projects One of the earliest humanitarian aid outreach projects for the LDS Church was the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, when they sent nearly $100,000 and several dozen carloads of food and supplies for the victims. At that time, there were about 125 member living in the area. Since then, the projects have been multiplying dramatically. This paper mentions details of some of them: medical missionaries, literacy programs, hurricane in Tonga, famine relief in Ethiopia, Armenian earthquake, water storage in Africa, Middle East refugees, Iran, Zimbabwe, Peru, Russia, Indonesia, Somalia, Bosnia, Albania, China, Islamic Society, 1996 donation of $100,000 to black churches in U. S. South that were burned down, orphanage in India, Croatian war relief, and rice relief in Laos. More recent projects include the following: Mozambique, Vietnam, Enterprise Mentors, Kenya and Ivory Coast immunizations, Kosovar refugees (39,000 blankets); missionary emergency work in Australia; pig project in Croatia; German Red Cross; Boys and Girls Clubs; Turkey, Mexico; welding project in Mexico; East Timor; 70 nonprofit agencies in Utah in one year; earthquakes in El Salvador and India; Bolivian flooding; Ukrainian orphanages; medical supplies; 100,000 blankets; books to Africa; flood relief in Europe; over 100,000 wheelchairs in 91 nations; wells in Ghana; 200 tons of Atmit (for starving people) to Ethiopia; test-taking in Mexico; measles vaccinations for over 3 million African children; 5,000 student desks to Colombia; aid to Micronesia; Morocco and Brazil; $10 million to refugees in Iraq; $5 million to Ghana; half-a-billion in aid between 1985 and 2004; water tanks in Vanuatu; from 2002 through 2006 the Church provided clean water for more than 3 1/2 million people in 2,615 communities; $6 million to displaced persons in Uganda; 150,000 Blankets and 5,000 winterized tents donated after earrthquake in Pakistan; project to rebuild 114 homes destroyed in cyclone Ian in Tonga; $5 million for refugees in Syria and its Near East neighbors; 15 classrooms built and equipped in refugee camps; $2 Million to UNICEF to help eliminate neonatal tetanus; $3 million to UN for food for refugees in Cameroon, Chad, and Syria; tens of thousands of Helping Hands volunteers to assist in virtually every natural disaster in areas where we have congregations; $2 million for Catholic Charities in U.S.; $6 million for domestic refugee programs in the U. S. Size: 35 pages.
Hunter, Howard W. Howard W. Hunter had a more diverse background, arguably, than any other man who has served as an LDS president. He was not baptized until age 12; in high school he organized a dance band, where he played a saxophone. After graduating from high school he and his band were hired to play on a cruise ship, the SS President Jackson. They spent ten weeks performing aboard the ship and visiting ports in Japan, China, and the Philippines. He did not serve a mission. After becoming an apostle, he had a major assignment working with Islamic nations. He had disabling surgery to his back that left him unable to walk, and he used a wheelchair. On one occasion at a general conference, he was standing at the podium, but toppled over backwards; some of the other apostles helped him get back up. While speaking at a 19-stake BYU fireside at the Marriott Center, a man with a gun interrupted him, saying he had a bomb he would detonate, and demanded Hunter read a prepared statement. Hunter refused. The audience broke into singing “We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet,” which unnerved the man long enough that others were able to disarm him and lead him out. He was a very kindly, soft-spoken leader. He died of cancer only nine months after being named president. Size: 4 pages.
This paper considers the evidence pro and con, starting with official or semi-official statements attesting to their infallibility: statements by Francis M. Lyman, J. Reuben Clark, M. Russell Ballard, a printed ward teacher’s message in 1945, a 1978 Young Women’s Conference message delivered by general president Elaine Cannon, a 1979 First Presidency Message by Pres. N. Eldon Tanner: “When the prophet speaks the debate is over.” The institute manual, Teachings of the Living Prophets: Student Manual, Religion 333, includes this chapter heading: “The Lord Will Never Permit the Living Prophet to Lead the Church Astray.” This manual first appeared in 1982 and was still in use in 1997. The “Pro” side concludes with statements by N. Eldon Tanner and Dallin Oaks indicating the seriousness of criticizing the apostles, “even when the criticism is true.”
The “Con” argument is made by a look at Joseph Smith’s appointments; Brigham Young’s concerns that members have too much confidence in their leaders; responses to the ward teacher’s message quoted above; J. Reuben’s concern about the adulation of Church leaders; the requirement that all decisions among the apostles must be unanimous leads many to hide their opposition; and the evidence from scripture about the mistakes of prophets in the past. The next section considers statements made or placed in private journals by apostles of their concern about the teachings and actions of other apostles. Size: 4 pages.
Intelligences and Spirits These two very brief papers list statements made by general authorities, sometimes conflicting, concerning the definition of intelligences and spirits, followed by consideration of the implications of the statements, sometimes suggesting that there can be no choice in this life if those statements are accurate. Size: 4 pages.
Jesus- Married This paper includes statements by leaders trying to answer these questions: (1) Was Jesus married; (2) Was Jesus a Polygamist; (3) Is God the Father a polygamist?; (4) Did Jesus father children here on earth during his ministry? Size: 4 pages.
Joseph Smith- Glimpses What follows represents notes I’ve taken on my reading in Mormon history and doctrine over the last sixty years. I started my files in the 1950s—before the era of computers and easy access to information—when little was available outside of official Church sources or virulently anti-Mormon sources. This is not a fully balanced account: by design, I recorded mainly information that was new to me and generally outside the common core of readily available information about Joseph Smith. I believe it is an honest representation of the main scholarly output concerning the Mormon prophet during the last half-century. [RW] It includes consideration of the following issues: Joseph Sr.’s 1811 dream very close to Lehi’s dream; Joseph’s operation on his leg; father’s drinking problem; Joseph knew his Bible; when was the “1820″ revival; apparent conflict in dating of First Vision; use of seer stones for treasure digging; role of Alvin; Bainbridge trial of 1826; Joseph and Emma eloped; Joseph’s use of the Urim and Thummim; cave inside Hill Cumorah; differing accounts of the First Vision; “working with the rod”; translating with face in hat; appearance of Father and Son; Harvey Whitlock turns black; when did polygamy begin?; intended castration of Joseph; pure Adamic tongue; Civil War prophecy; lengthy speaking in tongues; Joseph’s casual compliance with Word of Wisdom; Joseph a Democrat; Joseph’s history sanitized in Utah; Zion’s Camp; Fanny Alger; Second Coming by 1891; papyri and the Book of Abraham; Kirtland speculation. Size 22 pages.
Kimball, Spencer W. Short biographical entries about his life; relationships; early life in Arizona; called as stake president; call to apostleship; fight against intolerance; was his family neglected for Church callings?; early signs of Kimball’s sensitivity to racial and ethnic slurs and difficulties; loved movies and saw 4 in one day and at least 38 in one year; tragic relationship with his son LeVan; concerns about Miracle of Forgiveness; throat cancer; named Church president; many health issues; priesthood revelation of 1978; new editions of scriptures; security concerns, and his insistence that he never be ransomed, if kidnapped; failing health and memory last four years. Size: 9 pages.
Kinderhook Plates This paper starts with seven separate accounts, by various sources, suggesting that Joseph Smith, if given a chance, could translate the newly found Kinderhook Plates. This is followed by two other accounts clearly showing that the Plates were a fraud, and that it was set up as a trap for Joseph Smith. Following the Civil War, the Kinderhook Plates were lost for nearly one hundred years. When they resurfaced in 1962, conflicting comments were made about their legitimacy. Finally, Stanley B. Kimball was allowed by the Chicago Historical Society to work with the plates. His tests showed conclusively that they were clearly fraudulent, and the Ensign Magazine published his findings in 1981. Size: 4 pages.
LDS Church Helping Others During 2016, quite a bit of media attention was given to determining if the LDS Church was doing enough, considering its considerable wealth, to assist charitable organizations and worldwide refugee assistance programs. Being caught up in the discussion, I [RW] decided to gather from several different papers, the information I had collected about charitable and humanitarian causes supported by the Church. This paper lists over 100 occasions when financial help was given to non-LDS programs by the Church. A few of those include: Red Cross given $100,000 during World War II; donation to fight polio; first welfare farm organized in Africa; chapel and supplies given to Salvation Army; $2 million given to humanitarian services fund; $30 million given to humanitarian aid in 1995, making a total over the past ten years of $300 million; reports on the huge welfare system of the Church, spread throughout the United States and abroad; giving $157 million through LDS Charities in 1997; $100,000 given to 3 black churches in the South that had been torched in 1996; nearly 14,000 tons of food donated to food banks in past ten years, up to 1997; donations to German Red Cross and a Krishna temple in 1998; donations to University Hospital, Snow College and polio research in 1999; employment centers opened in numerous locations; Thrasher Research Fund, operated by the Church to assist in children’s diseases, had assets of $68.5 million in 2002; aid for Road Home Shelter, community humanitarian organizations, eye center in Ghana, and $3 million for measles vaccinations in Africa in 2003; employment centers opened worldwide; estimated $500 million in fast offering aid given yearly; $5 million in aid to Uganda, 60,000 wheel chairs distributed, and $1 million to UN for World Food Program, 250,000 blankets to Chile in 2004; $5 million to tsunami relief in Asia, $5 million for medical supplies in earthquake relief in Pakistan, and Church operated 153 youth camps in 2005; LDS Social Services network expanded worldwide, 105,000 wheelchairs delivered in 59 countries, bishops’ storehouses opened throughout Latin America, and $20 million to Islamic Charities, 2006; welfare aid surpasses $1 billion by 2007; donation of $1.5 million for homeless shelter in Ogden, $1 million to Primary Children’s Hospital for building fund, in 2008; $300,000 for prisoner rehab in Philadelphia, $180,000 to New Zealand, $250,000 to Guam for desalination unit, over $1 million for Operation Smile (facial surgery in third world countries); $341,000 for Provo homeless shelter, wheelchair distributions exceed 300,000; $1 million to Syrian refugees, $200,000 for detox center in Utah, and another $1.9 million given to measles vaccinations in 2011, donation of $4 million to new Univ. of Utah Law Building; total for vaccinations in Africa now exceeds $16 million; 1 million pounds of food donated to food kitchens around U. S.; $5 million to Rotary Clubs in 31 nations for immunizations, wheelchairs, clean water, medical equipment for hospitals, and help for refugees; 42 rooms at Ronald McDonald House filled with Church-built furniture and supplies; $1 million to the Museum of the American Revolution; $1.8 million net proceeds from LDS film given to American Red Cross; $100,000 for Children’s Justice Center for Abused Children; $2,500 in food to Utah Pride Center; 1.1 million people obtained clean water in 31 countries in 2015; $5 million for relief of refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Syria in 2016; hundreds of thousands of blankets donated to refugees; Utah Symphony receives $1 million donation; $5 million for refugees in Europe; $125,000 to combat child abuse; $25,000 to Children’s Justice Center; $2 million to UNICEF to help eliminate neonatal tetanus; 15 classrooms and 14 brick and mortar latrines for refugee camps. Size: 39 pages.
From 1835 to 1921, the Lectures on Faith were included as part of the Doctrine and Covenants. Lecture Five, on faith, included this statement: There are two personages who constitute the great, matchless, governing and supreme power over all things— . . . They are the Father and the Son: The Father being a personage of spirit, glory and power: possessing all perfection and fulness: The Son, who was in the bosom of the Father, a personage of tabernacle . . .” (Lecture Five, V:2. This statement seems clearly at odds with the First Article of Faith. Yet Elder Bruce R. McConkie strongly endorsed the Lectures, and others have taken various stances. This paper looks at the issues involved, and considers the authorship of the Lectures. The paper was not finished, but contains useful information. Size: 5 pages.
This paper consists of 30 statements about different incidents in the life of this former President of the Church. It includes his service as a stake president in the Pioneer Stake during the Depression, which became the genesis of the vast LDS welfare program. It includes some of his statements on race and equality that now seem out of step. It notes his opposition to Social Security, and to the Watergate investigation. He counseled some members about his abhorrence of oral sex in marriage. He opposed enrolling blacks at BYU, and became estranged from Pres. Hugh B. Brown over Brown’s efforts to change the Church position on the priesthood. He was heavily involved in the correlation movement, and began area conferences worldwide. Size: 7 pages.
Masonic Most members are unaware of just how much the Masonic Order and Mormonism have in common. As the decades have rolled on, both organizations have changed and revised some of their earlier practices, making the similarities less noticeable. But in Nauvoo, it must have been striking. Dr. Reed C. Durham, Jr., director of the LDS Institute of Religion at the University of Utah at the time, spoke at the Mormon History Association Convention in Nauvoo, on April 20, 1974, and noted: “I am convinced that in the study of Masonry lies a pivotal key to further understanding Joseph Smith and the Church. . . . I believe that there are few significant develop-ments in the Church, that occurred after March 15, 1842, which did not have some Masonic interdependence . . . . Can anyone deny that Masonic influence of Joseph Smith and the Church, either before or after his personal Masonic membership? The evidence demands comments.” (Reed C. Durham, “Is There No Help for the Widow’s Son,” 1980, 6.) The paper includes evidence for a Masonic connection with many things Mormon: The Book of Mormon, prayer circles, sunstones on temples, temple clothing, including aprons, temples facing East, Celestial rooms, Relief Society. The paper mentions these incidents: first members given endowments were all Masons; Brigham Young used Masonic Code, and wore a Masonic pin; the original weathervane on the Nauvoo Temple showed an angel in clearly Masonic clothing, and a square and compass; Joseph gave the Masonic distress signal at Liberty Jail; the All-Seeing Eye, beehives, “Industry,” (which is written on the Utah state flag; Joseph and Masonry shared a fascination with Abraham in Egypt; 1,500 members in Nauvoo were Masons, including first five presidents of the church; Kirtland, Nauvoo, and early temples in Utah used Masonic architecture, with stands at both ends of the assembly room; first Relief Society building in Utah was dedicated with Masonic rites; in 1840 only 2,072 men in the United States were Masons. By the time of the exodus to Utah in 1846-47, approximately 1,366 Mormon males in Nauvoo had been initiated into the Masonic order. In 1911, the First Presidency formally announced: “Because of their Masonic characters, the ceremonies of the temple are sacred and not for the public.” The paper concludes with the full text of Dr. Reed C. Durham, Jr.’s address in Nauvoo. Size: 32 pages.
This paper looks at one of the most colorful and controversial figures in Mormonism. Elder Bruce R. McConkie’s book, Mormon Doctrine, used to be seen by most members as the final, ultimate source when proving a doctrinal point. As the son-in-law of President Joseph Fielding Smith, McConkie had support in high places. He was dogmatic to the point of arrogance, and few would question him. Yet he was often wrong, as time eventually proved. He insisted blood atonement was never preached by the Church; that blacks would never get the priesthood in this life; that there was no death in the world prior to the Fall of Adam. Two apostles who made a report on Mormon Doctrine, found over 1,000 errors, leading the leaders to want the book removed from circulation.
The book’s index, under “Catholicism,” says: “See Church of the Devil.” Evolution was“spawned and sponsored by Satan.” “Salvation by Grace: . . . one of the most damnable doctrines of an apostate Christendom.” The paper also looks at examples of his colorful personality, his admini-strative style, his calls to be a seventy and an apostle, and his final battle with cancer. Size: 27 pages.
This President of the Church was born into humble circumstances in Huntsville, Utah. At age 13, a patriarch told him, “It shall be thy lot to sit in council with thy brethren and preside among the people.” That statement was later basically repeated to him by his mission president, during an emotional meeting while he was serving as a missionary in Great Britain. While still a young man he was named president of Weber Academy, which ultimately became Weber State University. He was named an apostle while still young. While driving down Ogden Canyon during spring runoff, he missed seeing a rope strung across a bridge where the road had washed out. He drove into the rope. “The rope smashed through the window, catching him on the chin and gashing his lip, knocking out his lower teeth, and breaking his upper jaw. As senior apostle in 1951, he became President of the Church. Of all the Presidents, he was the one most likely to include quotations from the great British and Americans poets and authors in his talks. Dr. Sterling McMurrin recorded this encounter with President McKay: “I had occasion to take Walter Reuther, the great labor leader, to meet President McKay in the 1950s. We had a long and pleasant discussion with him in the president’s conference room. As we left the building, Walter said to me, ‘I have met with major leaders all over the world, including kings and presidents; but I have never in my life met a person who made such an impression on me as this man has.” Following World War II, he commenced a building program that dwarfed anything done before, and saw church buildings erected throughout the world. It occurred so quickly that for a time, the financial burden on the Church became a cause for considerable alarm. He was very conservative politically, an ardent anti-communist, and for a time supported Sen. Joseph McCarthy. Two mottos became the hallmark of the McKay administration: “Every Member a Missionary,” and, “No other success can compensate for failure in the home.” He traveled over two million miles while visiting members all over the world. He was the first President to visit South Africa and Latin America. While he lived to age 96, the last five years of his life saw him virtually removed from decision making as he became senile. Size: 7 pages.
Members Worldwide 2017 Starting in 2007, I compiled a series of tables listing the number of reported members in each country, including the one-year gain over the previous year, and the average growth per mission in countries with more than one mission. In later years, I included the number of wards and branches in each country, the activity rate, etc. These papers depended mainly on figures released by the LDS Church, either in a Church Almanac or posted online. While the year was easy to figure out, the month and day were not, so it is not always a twelve-month space between papers. At the end of each table, I listed a few pages of material that summarized the information: countries with the most growth; low growth or even loss of members; countries with highest percentages of members; countries decreasing in wards and branches but showing large membership gains—thereby indicating new members were not staying, and/or long time members were removing their names, etc. Size for each paper: aprx. 7-8 pages.
Mission Size This paper quotes printed sources, usually newspapers, telling facts about the number of missionaries in missions, and occasionally other information, such as the ethnic and gender breakdown of missionaries, ethnicity of converts, etc. Most of the comments are from sources appearing from 2000 to 2011. Size: 7 pages.
Missionary Program This paper includes considerable information about the LDS missionary program, over many decades, from printed sources as well as from people in a position to know. It includes: Statistical profile of missionaries (numbers, percent serving missions, reasons for not going, impact on later activity, pressures to serve, those not eligible, effectiveness, how called, physical, mental, emotional and weight standards, etc). Various missionary groups (singles, youth, older, couple, those called for specific assignments, those from outside the U.S., financial arrangements, etc.); Missionary activities (Provo MTC, foreign-based MTCs, community service, those learning a language, use of media, tracting, discussions no longer memorized, getting along with companions, safety issues, including consideration of ransoms. Types of mission calls historically: proselyting, gold missions, art missions, sugar beet, midwives, obstetricians, genealogical, mining camps, medical training, labor missionaries around the world, health missionary corps, agricultural, welfare service, education, physicians and nurses, railroad building, law school, world’s fairs, rag mission. Mission calls in the past: volunteers in Nauvoo, calls made from Tabernacle during general conferences; terrible privations of early (and not so early) missionaries; leaving for missions pulling hardcarts; some called on missions to get rid of them. Health issues: physicals required after 1922, then vaccinations; significant problems in developing nations; 90% of those going home for medical reasons later return; humidity, malaria, AIDS, hepatitis and TB, housing, filth, mental health, breakdown, suicide (first verified suicide in 1904; 11 in 2001); missionaries returning early; about 2 percent ask to be sent home. Breaking mission rules: kissing the sisters, Word of Wisdom, visiting houses of prostitution, sex with mission president’s wife, excommunication, removing missionaries for their own safety (missionary in 1930s Germany who mocked Hitler; disrespecting a statue of Buddha. Hardships missionaries have faced: persecution, leaving with handcarts, sharing one suit between two elders, lack of shoes, rampant disease, smeared in paint and molasses and then feathered, political disruption, spending time in jail, hustled out of the country after a fatal accident, bread and water rations for 4 weeks, banishment, loneliness, fleas, rats, whipping, evacuation, exotic diseases, unimaginable walking, armed robbery, traffic accidents, meetings disrupted by thugs, mugging, assaults by terrorists, kidnapping and ransom demands, stripped naked by guerillas in front of congregation, electrocution, rape, earthquakes, homosexual advances, gunfire, hashish cookies, seduction, onerous mission regulations, unstable companions, P-day activities, spider bites, being mauled by lions. Dying on their missions: over 800 died by 2004 (but then over a million have served); Church pays expenses including shipping the body home. Missionaries who were murdered: Since 1831, there have been 31 missionaries who were murdered. The stories of each of them are briefly told. However, statistically, missionaries are safer serving than if they had stayed home. Those serving even in death. Size: 76 pages.
In the last eighteen months of his life, President Wilford Woodruff, by my count, referred to a certain “Madame Mountford” or “MM” or simply “M” 90 times in his personal journal. Historian D. Michael Quinn believes the 90-year-old President married her, probably on a ship outside San Francisco Harbor in 1898, eight years after he had issued the Woodruff Manifesto “officially” ending plural marriage for Mormonism. The story of Madame Mountford presents a dilemma for the Church. In the current more open climate concerning Mormon history and access to documents, it would seem natural to let this story just come out in bits and pieces as more sources are made available. But the Church has spent over a hundred years defiantly arguing with polygamists that plural marriage ceased in 1890, and there were no officially sanctioned polygamous unions after that date. If the President of the Church himself entered such a union, after signing the Manifesto and announcing it to the world, then most of the carefully crafted arguments against the Fundamen-talists crumble. The Manifesto itself is now printed in scripture, fully binding on Church members. Apparently, a top-level decision has been made to continue to defend it. Virtually any journal, letter, document or office log held by the Church that might prove a marriage occurred is unavail-able to researchers. However, Wilford Woodruff Journals, in nine volumes, edited by Scott G. Kenney, and published by Signature Books in 1985, was in private hands, and became available.
Woodruff himself mentions far too many details just to ignore, including an entry that “Madam Mountford called at the house this evening and gave me a sample of her massage treatment. . . .” In my opinion, If various Church leaders are correct, and there was no marriage between Wilford Woodruff and Madame Mountford, how does one explain the story outlined here? Denying the obvious leaves even more unsettling questions to be raised. If not a marriage, what was this? Size: 11 pp.
Old Testament This was used as an introduction to a gospel doctrine course of study for the year. Includes basic background; E. D. Hirsch, Jr.’s listing in Cultural Literacy of words and terms from the Old Testament that educated people are expected to recognize; Old Testament phrases that have become common outside religious discussions; things to consider while study the OT; using the Bible Dictionary and Topical Guide frequently; use of chapter headings and footnotes; using Archbishop James Ussher’s (1581-1656) chronology, based on a 6,000 year history of the earth, as still used in the Bible Dictionary on p. 635 of the English scriptures—Ussher’s original even included the hour and day of creation, but that has been quietly removed, in favor of starting Adam and Eve at about 4000 B.C., and skipping evolution entirely; approximate dating of each book of the OT. Size: 6 pages.
Omniscience of God How can our world, created by a perfectly loving and powerful God, be filled with so much evil, suffering, and heartache. Does God not care, or are their limitations on his power? This briefly states the issues regarding the omniscience and omnipotence of God. Some of our best scholars and thinkers have wrestled with the dilemma. This paper includes statements Joseph Smith, by Brigham Young, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, B. H. Roberts, George Q. Cannon, John A. Widtsoe, Joseph Fielding Smith, Bruce R. McConkie, Blake Ostler, C. S. Lewis, Eugene England and others. It includes statements by leaders designed to resolve the contradictions. Obviously, not all those addressing the issue agree on the answer. The “Three Omnis,” including Omnipresence—clearly not LDS doctrine—are each considered. Size: 11 pages.
This paper chronicles the gradual shift in Mormonism from a surprising liberality at the start to today’s conservative—some would say ultraconservative—stance on many political and social issues. Specific examples include: Joseph Smith’s concern about the treatment of Peteliah Brown;
David O. McKay announcing he would want to be present as a defender if a stake president decided to call a high council trial to consider excommunicating Sterling McMurrin for heresy; earlier acceptance of an earth millions of years old; B. H. Roberts’ acceptance of pre-Adamites; articles in the Improvement Era in the 1940s dismissing Noah’s Ark and the Flood as actual events; President Joseph F. Smith’s insistence, announced in general conference, that the Church-owned Hotel Utah needed to have alcohol available for its guests; casual acceptance initially that Joseph Smith translated with his face buried in a hat, not using the plates, and that it was appropriate for women to give priesthood blessings of health and healing; members were initially overwhelmingly Democratic; receiving endowments as early as twelve or fourteen; casual enforcement of the Word of Wisdom, including apostles continuing to use wine in the sacrament in their Salt Lake Temple meetings into the 1900s; easy acceptance officially that the temple endowment was a “Masonic ceremony”; smokers were allowed to get temple recommends as late as 1940; tithe paying not absolutely required for a temple recommend; temple garments sold in commercial stores; belief in “two Cumorahs”; use of the Book of Mormon almost non-existent prior to Ezra Taft Benson’s administration; as late as the 1930s, institute teachers were encouraged to attend the University of Chicago divinity school, with Church-assistance on tuition; in 1914, members instructed not to call the Church president “prophet,” since that title was to be reserved for Joseph Smith; well into the 1900s, homosexuality was not a major issue, and a few leaders quietly lived their lives without exposure; David O. McKay, J. Reuben Clark, and others believed that the spirit entered the body just before birth, which had implications on the abortion issue; McConkie’s Mormon Doctrine was considered by President McKay as an embarrassment to the Church; when the ERA came up in 1950, Pres. J. Reuben Clark advised the Relief Society presidency under Belle Smith Spafford not to oppose it because to do so would be divisive; there was a major retreat from feminism by the 1970s; grace was simply not a Church doctrine until quite recently; it was not until the 2000s that anyone really questioned that God’s love was unconditional. Today’s conservative stress was significantly aided by the Correlation program begun by Harold B. Lee. Manuals became much more scrutinized, and instructors were told not to bring in outside material. Magazines were consolidated, and every issue had to “pass correlation” before anything could be printed. Size: 20 pages.
Pearl of Great Price This lengthy paper surveys many issues and controversies that have been raised about the Pearl of Great Price, by both supporters and critics. It includes these headings: How the Pearl of Great Price Evolved; The Book of Moses; The Book of Abraham; Egyptian Alphabet and Grammar; The Three Facsimiles; Effect on LDS Scholars; Controversies Surrounding the Book of Abraham; Problem-atic Teachings from the Book of Abraham; The Book of Joseph; Joseph Smith—Matthew; Joseph Smith—History; The Articles of Faith; Size: 48 pages.
This paper of about 100 pages presents a close look at how much of a role politics has played in the
history of Mormonism. Major sections include the Joseph Smith era, including his run for the U. S. presidency; nineteenth century Utah, including LDS leaders’ opposition to Abraham Lincoln, initial attempts to undermine secret ballots, efforts to have members vote as a united bloc, and a territorial legislature in which three-fourths of those serving were general authorities; President Woodruff’s instructions in 1899 that Church-owned newspapers were not to criticize Republican candidates; importing voters to Salt Lake prior to the 1899 elections; hiring out of town members to work on public works projects until after election day; Brigham Young’s announcement that
the two-party system was “Satan’s plan.” Up until 1873, ten or eleven apostles served in the legislature each session; dividing into national political parties, with apostles sent out to recruit members to vote Republican, not just in Utah, but also in Idaho, Wyoming and Arizona; Pres. Joseph F. Smith’s campaign to make Utah “a Republican state”; tithing used for political purposes, to support Republican candidates; need to keep Church involvement secret; purchase of newspapers to switch them to Republican papers; Church leaders clearly intervened in the political process; First Presidency decision to support Republicans in Nevada and New Mexico; Pres. Joseph F. Smith: it is the will of the Lord for members to become Republicans; First Presidency decides to organize Republican Party in Utah; “you don’t have to be a Democrat to be a good LDS”; apostles express concern about apostles’ pushing Republican cause; in 1892, the First Presi-dency discussed whether or not to divide a stake in order to prevent the Democratic stake president from influencing the Mormons of the stake away from the Republican Party; increased political entanglement, mainly in support of Republicans; discussion of not allowing two apostles to attend dedication of Salt Lake Temple because they support Democrats; discussions on need to keep University of Utah president a Mormon—trustees given $60,000 by Church, and James E. Talmage became president; Democratic women told to resign Relief Society and Sunday School positions if they insisted on supporting Democrats; early twentieth century political issues; political issues after Pres. Joseph F. Smith; Pres. Heber J. Grant’s bitter opposition to FDR and “New Deal” leads Church to officially endorse Republican Hoover; Reed Smoot questioned by U. S. Senate; ultra-conservative J. Reuben Clark added to First Presidency; Richard L. Evans, in article in Era, compares FDR to Lucifer; mid-twentieth century: attempt in 1950 to assure Utah Senate would always be in LDS hands by having only one senator for each of Utah’s 29 counties, most of the rural and overwhelmingly LDS, with no weight for huge populations along Wasatch Front; John Birch Society; Pres. David O. McKay clearly supported Republicans; Ezra Taft Benson and Communist threat; Ernest L. Wilkinson at BYU; the Church Today, which takes up issues up to the present time. The final section is a look at numbers of LDS senators and representatives in Congress. Size: 98 pages
Polygamy This lengthy paper has the following sections: Beginnings; Statistical Survey; Why Was Polygamy Introduced?; The Darker Side of Polygamy; Persecution and the Underground; The Manifesto; Post-Manifesto Polygamy; Polygamy Issues After 1910; Censoring Polygamy; Polygamy Today. Size: 87 pages.
Priesthood Changes This paper includes the following sections: Changes in Structure; Aaronic Priesthood Assignments; The Law of Adoption; Role of the Seventies; Prayer Circles; Changes in Procedures; Blacks and the Priesthood. Size: 18 pages.
Progression Between Kingdoms The Church has no official position on whether or not people can continue to progress after death by moving from kingdom to kingdom. However, many leaders have expressed their personal opinions on the subject. This is a compilation of sixteen such statements I have run across in my reading. There is no clear line separating the beliefs between conservative and more liberal authorities. Size: 3 pages.
Prophets are Sometimes Wrong This lengthy paper has three major sections. The first is a compilation of statements made by each of the Presidents of the Church about doctrine and future events that clearly appear to have been wrong. The second section, over fifty pages in length, is entitled “Doctrines No Longer Taught,” including racial prohibitions on holding the priesthood and attending the temple; polygamy; law of adoption; women authorized to heal the sick; Adam is the Father of Christ; blood atonement; men are superior to women; women not to pray in sacrament meeting; those rejecting polygamy to be damned; moon and planets are inhabited; 1886 “revelation”; Savior to return by 1891; birth control one of the greatest sins; blacks not valiant in the pre-existence; amalgamation with blacks devilish; whites are a superior race, and all other races are inferior; all mankind to be resurrected before Cain’s curse removed; counsel concerning sex; members should not buy insurance. A third section, 15 pages in length is “Doctrinal Issues on which the Brethren Disagree.” They include evolution, who are of the House of Israel?, is God progressing; is there progression from kingdom to kingdom; only one Cumorah; Mary’s conception of Jesus; higher criticism of the Bible; is God’s love unconditional?; a personal relationship with Christ; Size: 123 pages.
Quotations I Like This is a collection of quotations on some 150 different topics, listed alphabetically, which have appealed to me over a lifetime of reading. They vary from serious to comical, logical to outrageous, secular to deeply spiritual. All are thought-provoking. Size: 30 pages.
Racial Implications of Mormon Teachings The full title of the paper (actually a book) is The Consequences of Mormon Teachings About Race: A Chronology. Part I looks at the actual teachings. The headings are: (1) All Non-White Nations Inferior to Whites; (2) Black Race Cursed; (3) Possible Reasons Why Blacks Denied Priesthood and Temple Access; (4) Choicest Spirits Assigned to House of Israel; (5) Sad and Wrong Conclusions Derived from Priesthood Ban. This section alone covers 32 pages. The numerous quotes are frequently offensive and crude in today’s world, but are carefully documented and were stated by high church leaders. Part II is Groups Affected. The first, and by far the largest, is Blacks, which looks at racial developments chronologically, up to 2017. It runs 250 pages, and is very comprehensive. Then follows, in order: Native Americans (27 pages); Polynesians and Orientals (11 pages); Latinos (11 pages); and Jews (15 pages). This section chronicles racial implications of Mormon teachings on each of these racial and ethnic groups in chronological order up to the present. Part Seven looks at LDS Scriptural References to Race and Ethnicity. This is followed by Part Eight: Patriarchal Blessings and the Blood of Israel. Part Nine is the Conclusion, and looks at such topics as: How could this have happened?; many members still hold racist views; leadership still very white and very American; God accepts all nations, and all are alike unto God; statements affirming equality; is the Church never wrong?; and many casualties of the exclusion. Size 365 pages
Rebaptism There are numerous references in Mormon literature to the practice of rebaptism, particularly in the nineteenth century. There were three main purposes: (1) for the remission of sins committed since baptism, (2) for renewal of covenants, and (3) for health. This paper surveys sources that refer to any of these three purposes of rebaptism. It contains these main headings: Earliest Period; Reformation Era; and Period After Brigham Young. Size: 7 pages.
Return to Jackson County After the Saints arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, it was widely assumed that the return to Jackson County was very near, even imminent. During President Lorenzo Snow’s presidency, he announced that many, perhaps most, of those present at a general conference session in 1901 would participate in that return. This paper looks at many of the statements made about when that would occur, who would participate, conditions they would find in Jackson County after the return, and many other considerations. Joseph F. Smith said that perhaps two or three hundred thousand people would make the trek back across the plains to Missouri. The paper concludes with statements about the temple that will be built there, including the fact that perhaps 24 separate buildings will be part of that temple. Size: 13 pages.
“Now this is not all, for you have another gift, which is the gift of working with the rod. Behold,
it has told you things. Behold, there is no other power save God that can cause this rod of nature to
work in your hands, for it is the work of God. And therefore, whatsoever you shall ask me to tell you by that means, will I grant unto you, that you shall know.” (Book of Commandments 7:3) This paper looks at the scriptural and historical background for this statement, citing various journal and diary accounts mentioning times when the rod was used, and how it functioned. Size: 6 pages.
Sacrament Initially, the sacrament was partaken as a meal, with warm loaves of bread and bottles of wine. While this practice ended early, it was continued by the apostles in their meetings in the Salt Lake Temple until 1906, long after wine had been discontinued elsewhere, and loaves of bread, broken into fist-sized portions were replaced with the small pieces of bread used today. Originally, it was suggested that the sacrament be taken once a month. Then for a period, it was passed to the congregation both in Sunday School and sacrament meeting. With the consolidated meeting schedule of the 1970s, it was offered only at sacrament meeting. Originally, the entire congregation knelt during both prayers. This was formally eliminated in 1906. Up until about 1912, one large goblet was passed to each person, who took a swallow and then passed it on to the next person. Individual sacrament cups then came into use; first, glass cups that had to be washed each week, and later, plastic and paper cups. Other early practices included: priests stood with outstretched hands; instructions for members to take off hats and gloves before the sacrament; the sacrament was served at general conferences while speakers continued speaking; taking the sacrament with only the right hand; considerations of whether or not children should be involved; valley-wide sacrament meetings; sacrament withheld when members “were not in tune”; music was played while the sacrament was passed, until the 1940s; initially offered only to members; substitutes for bread when bread not available. Size: 16 pages.
This 33-page paper lists all the references I have found in journals and diaries of Church leaders concerning the provisions made for supporting general authorities from the start of the Church to the present. By 2017, all general authorities, from the president to the apostles, seventies, and presiding bishopric members were paid the same, at $120,000 a year. Subsections of the paper look at early church practices; Brigham Young’s era; late nineteenth century; twentieth century; salaries beyond 1950; and a lengthy final section: considerations beyond salaries. Size: 33 pages.
Salvation- Nearly Universal This brief paper looks at statements by many leaders in the past, that perhaps 90 to 95 percent of all those for whom temple work is done will accept it, leading to considerations that ultimately, apparently, nearly all of those sent to earth will inherit the celestial kingdom. Size: 1 page.
Second Coming This paper considers each of the events Church leaders have said have to occur before the return of the Savior: (1) Indians to receive their promised blessings; (2) The Jews will return to their homeland; (3) The Jews will rebuild the temple in Jerusalem; (4) The Dead Sea to become fresh water; (5) The Gospel must be preached to all nations; (6) The leadership will gather at Adam-ondi-Ahman; (7) War to be poured out on all nations; (8) Great natural disasters will occur; (9) All things shall be in commotion; (10) The Ten Tribes will return; (11) The Battle of Armageddon; (12) The temple will be built in Jackson County; (13) No rainbow the year Christ will arrive; (14) Two prophets to be killed in Jerusalem; (15) Sign of the Son of Man to be seen; (16) Sun to be darkened and the moon turned to blood; (17) Great and abominable church to fall; (18) Sealing of the one hundred forty-four thousand; (19) Wicked to be burned; (20) Christ will return in glory; (21) Righteous shall be caught up to meet Christ; (22) City of Enoch to return; (23) Elements shall melt with fervent heat; (24) Millennium; (25) End shall come after Millennium; (26) No man knoweth when. Size: 11 pages.
Seerstone This is a compilation of 56 statements made about seer stones and the Urim and Thummin, starting in 1822 and continuing up until the present. A few of the statements are these: translation method described; two methods used; are the terms interchangeable?; Hiram Page’s stone; details avoided; seerstone(s) in the possession of the First Presidency. Size: 10 pages.
Sex and Mormonism This is close look at many of the issues and concerns about sex that have been addressed by Church leaders over the years. Sections include: (1) Sex outside marriage, including premarital sex, adultery, carnal knowledge with beasts, sexual transgression “next to murder,” living together before marriage; (2) the role of sex within marriage, including only for procreation, too much excessive indulgence, sexual side of marriage recognized, when is sex inappropriate?, what should Church dictate?, birth control, family size, birth rate, artificial insemination, vasectomy, sterilization, importance of sexual compatibility, oral sex, heavenly parents, messages are too negative; (3) sex education, including need for information, opinions about sexual issues, need for proper education, A Parent’s Guide, influence of parents; (4) homosexuality, including no biological mistakes, Church position: an ugly sin, free choice?, marriage not a solution, widespread problem for Church, preserving the family, San Francisco singles ward, Affirmation, homosexuals not more tempted, is AIDS God’s curse?, are “cures” possible?, notable Mormon homosexuals, other cases, little tolerance, celibacy possible, same-sex marriage, remarkable development in 2010, response to Church position from non-Mormon author; (5) diverse issues, including impotence, the primacy of chastity; rape; sodomy; abortion; marriage emphasis; sex guilt; masturbation; punishment for sex crimes; standards required for prospective missionaries; sex-change operations; child sexual abuse; is gender eternal?; modesty; sex reserved for celestial kingdom only; evolution of Church policies; sex drive powerful; excommunication. Size: 41 pages.
Singing Hymns (1) Singing of righteous men; (2) Subduing a violent woman; (3) The singing of angels; (4) Christmas in Bulgaria; (5) Mike Wallace; (6) The songs of Zion; (7) Called to Serve; (8) Marines in Nagasaki; (9) Evacuating missionaries from Europe prior to start of World War II; (10) An American officer; (11) Little children trapped in Haiti earthquake rubble; (12) President Grant’s singing; (13) George Q. Cannon helps his brother quit smoking. Size: 6 pages.
Smith, George Albert This is a collection of 19 short vignettes from the life of George Albert Smith, an apostle from the early 1900s who became Church president in 1945. He had very delicate health, and suffered a nervous breakdown early in life. His wife died, leaving him distraught and barely able to continue on. He didn’t remarry, however, and was the only president to spend his entire administration without a companion. He was mild-mannered and soft-spoken. Others were concerned that his daughter Emily was way too involved in decision making during his presidency. She had been dismissed from the Primary general board and became controversial by her outspokenness. George Albert was president during the centennial of the settlement of Utah, in 1947, and was featured on the cover of Time for the occasion. He dedicated the statue of Brigham Young in the Senate’s statuary hall in 1947 as well. A biographer was hired by the family, but Emily was unhappy with the way he reported her role in the Church, and the book remained unpublished until after her death. Size: 4 pages.
A son of Hyrum and Mary Fielding Smith, Joseph F. Smith served as a link between the earliest days of the Church and the tumultuous time following the Woodruff Manifesto, as the Church tried to move into public acceptance as polygamy slowly came to an official end. He was present as a boy when word arrived that Joseph Smith and Hyrum had been martyred at Carthage Jail. His mother died when he was fifteen leaving him an orphan. His rowdiness in school—he got in a fist fight with his teacher and was dropped—left leaders not knowing what to do with him. They solved the dilemma by calling him on a mission to Hawaii at the age of sixteen. He went over a year there without any letters from Utah. He started drinking and smoking on his mission. Upon returning, he quickly married a sixteen-year-old girl. The two did not get along well, and Joseph F.
was away from home on two missions, and left her alone for about five of their first six years of marriage. She had a nervous breakdown, and then divorced him. He had anger problems for much of his life. He was ordained an apostle by Brigham Young, and appointed to the First Presidency at age 27. He served there for 38 years before becoming president. During the Senate hearings on whether or not Reed Smoot, an apostle, should be allowed to serve in the U. S. Senate, President Smith was called on to testify. His sworn testimony, covering several days of hearings, was often less than forthright, and many good members were dismayed at his unwillingness to be more direct. Size: 9 pages.
Smith, Joseph Fileding This is a collection of 14 short vignettes into the life of Joseph Fielding Smith, son of President Joseph F. Smith. He would also serve as Church president, starting when he was 93. He was very conservative, both politically and theologically, and lived a quiet, unflashy life. He had 37 brothers and sisters. He served a mission in England, but did not have a single baptism, noting in his journal that most of the House of Israel had already been converted in England, and had immigrated to Utah. He compiled 25 Church books, and was one of the leading scriptorians of his age. His son-in-law, Elder Bruce R. McConkie, also considered one of the great scriptorians of Mormonism, used Joseph Fielding Smith as the source of over 70% of his citations in Mormon Doctrine. Size: 5 pages.
This short paper lists 14 brief statements concerning the life of Lorenzo Snow, who became president of the Church. As a missionary to England, he presented a Book of Mormon to Queen Victoria. He is the author of the couplet: As man now is, God once was. As God now is, man may be.” While on a mission assignment to Hawaii, he apparently drowned when a boat taking him to shore capsized. Unable to swim, he quickly sank. A frantic search was made to find him, and one of the natives brought him to the surface some twenty minutes later. He was placed over a barrel, and he was rolled back and forth repeatedly until the water he had swallowed finally came out. The rescuers received an impression to blow air into his mouth to fill up his lungs. Slowly, he regained life. In 1885, as a senior apostle, he was arrested in a polygamist round-up, and was sentenced to eleven months in the Utah State penitentiary, then located where Sugar House Park is now situated. A famous photo shows him, in striped prison garb, posed with many others incarcerated at the same time. He famously showed a granddaughter the place in the Salt Lake Temple where Christ appeared to him and told him he was to serve as president, even though he had begged not to have to take on that assignment. As president, he held a meeting in St. George and instructed members to start paying their tithing, and that the Church would get out of its financial crisis only when they did; he made that a major theme of his presidency, and rescued the Church from disaster. His youngest wife, Minnie Jensen, gave birth to a daughter when he was 82. She was still alive in SLC in 1967, which was 153 years after her own father’s birth. Size: 3 pages.
Spirit Entering Body This paper considers differing opinions as to when the spirit enters the body prior to or at birth. It includes these issues: (1) Stillborns; (1) Abortion; (3) Stillborn children will be resurrected; (4) No official position on when spirit enters body; (5) Vicarious sealing ordinances are performed for children prior to age eight (when baptism is first performed); (6) Brigham Young stated that he thought children who die within a short time after birth will likely have a chance to be born again in a different tabernacle. Size: 4 pages.
Stakes in the U.S. This is a table listing each of the states of the United States, together with (in most cases) all of the LDS stakes that have been organized in each. In six of the states, each with from 584 to 61 stakes, individual stakes are not listed, but are grouped by city, except for more recent years when every stake is listed. The states are ranked from the largest number of stakes (Utah) with 584, to Rhode Island and Vermont, with one stake each. The table is updated as each new stake is announced. Size: 7 pages.
This is a table listing every nation in the world with at least one LDS stake organized. Nations are ranked by LDS population, which is fairly closely coordinated with the number of stakes in each,
from the most stakes (the United States, with 1,575 stakes), to 21 nations with one stake each.
Stakes in the United States. Stakes in the top six countries are grouped by city, except for more recent years when every stake is listed. In all the other nations, the stake name is listed. This listing also includes the number of districts in each nation. The table is updated as each new stake is announced. Size: 8 pages.
This is a compilation of information which has been published about many aspects of Mormonism. Most entries are single entries, and not followed up each year. They cover many areas, grouped into these headings: (1) Activity in the Church, which has subsections for Single women, sacrament meeting attendance; status after baptism; Utah activity rate; males not sticking with Church; most members are inactive; activity in Eastern Europe; high convert dropout rate; lifetime activity rates; and those walking out. (2) Birth Control, including number of children women should have; belief in birth control at BYU in 1935 (89%); 1975 report that 96% of LDS couples used birth control; statement in 2000 handbook that decision on number of children was personal, and left up to each couple to decide; a 1995 survey that 5.2% of LDS couples had induced an abortion; (3) Book of Mormon, including 120 million copies total printed; 107 languages; sales by language; (4) Building boom, with reports from around the world; (5) Diversity; (6) Excommunications, including numbers, reasons, actions requiring it, those returning, restoration of blessings. (7) Growth; (8) Home teaching; (9) Marital status; (10) Membership; (11) Military and war, including LDS killed in wars since Spanish American War; (12) Missionaries, including over 96% were already Christians in 1996, and most of those were Catholics; converts are young (children 8-15 account for 40%); converts not staying (over 75% of foreign converts inactive after one year); suicide of missionaries—11 in 2001—five in first five months of 2002; over 500 have died on mission, and 23 have been murdered; (13) Mormon Tabernacle Choir, with 2 albums selling over 1 million copies each, and six have sold over 500,000 copies each; efforts to reach a broader audience paying off; (14) Political preference; exit polls in Utah in 1988 showed that, “Among very active Mormon voters between 18 and 24 years of age, Republicans outnumber Democrats by a margin of 8 to l”; Mormons most conservative of all religious groups; (15) Polygamy—over 1,300 Mormon men went to prison for polygamy; (16) Sex and Mormonism, including “a majority of Mormons did have sex prior to marriage,” including 60% of LDS women; (17) Temples, including nearness of temples; new temples; (18) Utah and the Church—with 15.4% of members worldwide living in Utah, state provides nearly 40% of all tithing collected, as well as huge numbers of missionaries and mission presidents; Utah leads nation in suicides of males ages 15-24; last state in the Union to have a majority of college graduates male; Utah has highest rate of volunteers; LDS males in Utah live 7.3 years longer than non-LDS males, and LDS females live 5.8 years longer, in 2005; Utah has highest birthrate, best state for raising children (in 1996), highest percentage of home owners (75.1 in 1991); fewest births to unwed mothers in 1997; lowest percent of military recruits in 1997; (19) Wealth, with numerous estimates; (20) Women, including women who work; women faculty at BYU; (21) Miscellaneous. Size: 36 pages.
Sugar Industry and the Church This is a collection of 50 observations about the sugar industry which was founded and promoted by the Church. Here are some typical sections: (1) Inspiration for Church to support the sugar industry; (2) Church to cover any losses of apostles who bought sugar stock; (3) Lord wants sugar industry established; (4) Not a Latter-day Saint unless you buy Lehi Sugar; (5) Anti-Trust legislation passed in Congress; (6) Federal government very suspicious; (7) Sugar company tried to destroy competition; (8) Presiding Bishop Nibley’s role criticized; (9) Enriched the Church and its leaders; (10) Became a monopoly; (11) Congressional Committee: Customers in Utah “Gouged”; (12) House of Representatives: LDS members “exploited”; (13) Huge profits made during World War I; (14) Presiding Bishop Nibley made millions; (15) Farmers didn’t share in profits: Church firms paid lowest of anyone; (16) New charges of collusion against Church; (17) Dept. of Labor: imported Mexican labor mistreated; (18) LDS leaders faced embarrassing publicity; (19) Price increased more than double, though illegal; (20) Bitter feelings among members; (21) Pres. Grant needs to go East, before possible arrest; (22) Department of Justice indictments; (23) Members upset with Church President; (24) Pres. Grant might be arrested; (25) Charges brought against Pres. Grant and Presiding Bp. Nibley; (26) Charged with illegal profiteering; (27) Pres. Grant ultimately excluded; (28) LDS leaders actions troubling; (29) Pres. Grant and Sen. Smoot seek federal assistance; (30) Surplus of millions, but unable to pay farmers; (31) Church broke; must stop building projects; (32) Sen. Smoot arranged for government to give Church $10 million; (33) U-I sold in 1980s; Records still “unavailable”; (34) Added significantly to Church debt; (35) Nibley was clearly “complicit”; (35) Disquieting conclusion; (36) Huge losses for Church. Size: 16 pages.
Sustaining Officers This paper is still a draft, not having been completed. Section headings include: (1) Initial practices; (2) Voting yes against conscience. Size: 5 pages.
Taylor, John This is a brief summary of events in the life of President John Taylor. It includes: Vital statistics; Carthage Jail; Going into hiding on the Underground; Numerous hideouts, frequently changed; Narrow escape. Size: 3 pages.
Temple Density This is a chart, using 2011 membership figures, that ranks states and nations on the following categories: Rank by number of members; Name of nation or U. S. state; Number of members; Number of Temples; Members per temple; Rank by need. At that time, Chile, with 571,000 members and two temples, ranked 6th in number of members, and had 285,417 members for each temple. That was the highest number of members per temple of any country or state, and ranked them #1 in Rank by need. The chart runs five pages, and ends with Denmark, where there were 4,378 members, and one temple. They ranked 121st in number of members, and last in need for an additional temple. Size: 5 pages.
Temple Districts This chart lists, in alphabetical order, each of the temples of the Church, including those under construction and those not yet started. It provides the following data for each: Date opened; Stakes assigned; Square feet; Cost (approximate); and Comments. Size: 7 pages.
Temple Proxy Work- How Many The Church no longer reports on the number of people for whom temple work has been completed. The last year was in 1996. Totals for the current year only were reported in 2006. Using these figures, together with some assumptions, some educated (?) guesses, and various calculations, I came up with a possible grand total of over half-a-billion as of 2014. This paper then looks at numbers ever born, those who received live endowments, and records available, and came up with a speculation that perhaps 1/56th of all those for whom records are now available have had the work completed. But, worldwide, some 267 people are born every minute, so we are falling behind by 93.5% every year. This is certainly not “official,” and may be grossly wrong, but it is fun speculation. Size: 4 pages.
Tmeple Work This is a collection of brief statistics concerning temples and temple work, as reported by various sources in many different stakes and temples throughout the Church. Major headings are: (1) Baptisms for the Dead; (2) Endowments; (3) Temples in General; and (4) Things to Think About. Typical entries (about 80 of them) within the four headings, are similar to these: First hint of the doctrine of baptism for the dead; One man in St. George has personally completed over one million baptisms for the dead; Temple work has not always been a high priority; Prior to 1923, the Salt Lake Temple was only open for one session a day, three days a week; A rough guestimate is that temple work for the dead has been completed for about half a billion people; A woman in Idaho Falls has personally completed 20,000 endowments for the dead; A Zuni Indian woman took out her endowment at the age of 114 in 1969; A couple in Chung Hsing, Taiwan, have traced their ancestry back almost 5,000 years, and have submitted more than 100,000 family names for temple work; In 2014, only 2.3% of all members submitted even one name to the temple—some of course, submitted a great many names; It was reported in 2017 that those submitting names to a temple had to wait an average of three years for males names and one year for female names for the work to be completed; The Hong Kong Temple now runs two sessions each Sunday for nannies from Asia who only get Sundays off; Church leaders have stated that 90-95% of all those for whom work for the dead is completed will accept it; Historically, about 104 males are born for ever 100 females: that would suggest, if one figures about 70 billion people have been born on Earth—and most anthropologists think it is likely closer to 110 billion—there will be about 1.7 billion more males need temple work than females—yet most temple workers are women. Size: 19 pages.
Temples- U.S. Cities This is a chart of the 50 largest cities/metropolitan areas in the United States. They are shown with their population, and whether or not a temple located there. Of the 50 largest cities, 17 do not currently have a temple. Size: 2 pages.
Temples- World Cities This is a chart of the 50 largest metropolitan agglomerations in the world. (Agglomerations are effectively “cities”, in the sense of being single urban centers, but are not necessarily bound by the political boundaries of a single city). Of the 50 largest cities, 30 do not have a temple. The largest without a temple is Bombay, India, with over 15 million population. The smallest of the 50 cities without a temple is Manchester, England, with just under 4 million population. Size: 2 pages.
Three Degrees of Glory This is a brief outline of the three kingdoms of glory: Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial, and the Conditions required for those attaining each. It also includes the Rewards those individuals will merit as a result of attaining that particular kingdom. Also included is a section concerning the Sons of Perdition, and what their status will be. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of whether or not there will be “Daughters of Perdition,” a very brief discussion of the development of this doctrine, and whether or not there will be advancement (or demotion) from kingdom to kingdom. Size: 3 pages.
Tithing This fairly lengthy paper considers the following major headings: (1) Historical Background; (2) Determining What One Owes; (3) Other Issues Involving Tithing; (4) History of Tithing Compliance; (5) Tithing Issues in the 20th Century; and (6) Estimates of Tithing Paid. An Addendum discusses Tithing and the Film, “The Windows of Heaven.” Size: 32 pages.
Tongues, Speaking in This is a chronological listing of some 214 separate examples of speaking in tongues which I have run across in my reading of Church-related material. It starts with Lyman Sherman, in 1829, who was the first person known to have experienced this phenomenon in Mormonism. It ends with an account from Norway in 2008. There are undoubtedly other examples of this practice, which once had a significant impact on the Church, but these are the ones I am aware of. Size: 35 pages.
U.S. Presidents and Mormonism Every U. S. President has had some connection with Mormonism. (For the first six or eight, the connection came with work for the dead being performed, and for George and Martha Washington, they received their second anointings by proxy.) This lengthy paper is a growing compilation of incidents involving the presidents and Church leaders and/or members. Since William Howard Taft, nearly all have spoken in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. Taft went further, speaking in the Provo Tabernacle, which is now the Provo City Center Temple. They are listed in order, from Washington to Donald Trump. The most recent presidents have several pages each of connections with Mormonism. James A. Garfield attended school for a while in what had previously been the Kirtland Temple, after it passed out of LDS hands. Size: 60 pages.
Unfulfilled Prophecies by Apostles In an earlier paper mentioned above, the statements of Church presidents, which now can be seen as clearly wrong, were compiled. This paper goes beyond the statements of presidents and includes unfulfilled prophesies by a great many apostles. All together, there are some 40 or 50 statements by apostles that clearly fall short of prophesy. Size: 11 pages.
Using Church Funds for Private Purposes Over many decades of reading Mormon history and studying numerous diaries and journals of high Church officials, I have been surprised at how often Church leaders have apparently used LDS Church funds for themselves or the benefit of friends. This is a compilation of some 75 situations I have learned about. Size: 29 pages.
War This paper looks at LDS statements on war, the participation of members in various wars, and related issues. Main headings: (1) LDS Views of War; (2) Early Military Activities; (3) Civil War; (4) Spanish-American War; (5) First World War; (6) Second World War; (7) Korean War; (8) Vietnam War; (9) Persian Gulf War; (10) War with Iraq; (11) Conscientious Objectors; (12 Conclusions. Size: 29 pages.
This is an alphabetical listing of LDS members whose published salaries, net worth, or financial dealings have shown incomes from around $10 million up to about $100 million. There are currently 537 people on the list. Additional names are added fairly frequently as news sources print additional details. I have no way of knowing what Church positions these [mainly] men have held, unless a news article mentioning their wealth also mentioned any callings they have received. [And since most of the articles are from national newspapers or magazines, it is unlikely church positions would be mentioned.] Even so, counting each man only once, at the highest church calling attained, of these LDS men, 46 were listed as general authorities (at least two Church presidents, three First Presidency counselors, six apostles, 35 seventies,), one (a former seventy) was named Presiding Bishop in 2012, 8 were area seventies, three were listed as regional representatives, 49 were listed as stake presidents, one as a counselor in a stake presidency, 52 were listed as mission presidents, and at least 32 others are or have been bishops. One was named to the Sunday School General Presidency. Three others held high executive positions in LDS corporations, and one was a stake patriarch. I end this paper with two
assumptions: (1) Wealth is Staggering. This list includes twelve billionaires, ten more with assets over $500 million dollars, and about twenty-five others with assets over $100 million. Impressive as this is, the greatest source of wealth for the Church comes from the millions of full tithepayers, most of them contributing fairly modest amounts. With contributions ranging from the widow’s mite to those with vast fortunes, estimates of $8 billion a year in tithing alone were made in 2012. (2) Expense No Longer an Issue. What all of this suggests is that, for all practical purposes, no expenditure of Church funds is really unthinkable any longer. Whatever the brethren really desire to accomplish is now financially possible. I try to justify that statement with some 20 examples. Size: 250 pages.
Welfare Program This is a 62-page summary of all the various segments of the Church welfare program, including individual entries for most of the units within the program worldwide. These are the major headings covered: (1) History of Church Welfare; (2) Farm and Ranch Land Holdings in the U.S., which lists and briefly discusses each one; (3) International Operations; (4) Facilities and Programs; (5) Canneries; (6) Deseret Industries stores; (7) Transport Fleet; (8) Central and Regional Bishops Storehouses; (9) Employment Centers; (10) Central and Regional Bishops Storehouses; (11) Donations to Charity; (12) More Recent Donations and Projects; (13) Summary Statements; (14) Summary of Church Welfare Facilities (a chart). Size: 62 pages.
Why U.S. Mormons Are Often Republicans In Joseph Smith’s day, virtually all of the members were what is now called Democrats. Near the time of statehood for Utah, Church leaders made a concerted effort to swing the members into the Republican fold. Apostles were given specific assignments to go to the various stakes, not just in Utah, but in Idaho, Wyoming, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico, to give quiet (and no so quiet) instructions to leaders to make the entire Mountain West Republican. Section headings include: (1) Church Was Initially Strongly Democratic; (2) Church and State Joined Together; (3) Increasing Church Involvement in Political Process; (4) Dividing into National Parties; (5) Church Leaders Clearly Intervened to Aid Republicans; (6) Problems Arise as Push for Republicans Continues; (7) Increased Political Entanglement Favoring Republicans; (8) Church Campaign to Elect Republicans Picks Up Speed; (9) Political Issues After Statehood; (10) Push for Republicans Continues in Early Twentieth Century. Size: 61 pages.
Wilford Woodruff Journals Wilford Woodruff was likely the greatest journal keeper in the history of the Church. From his conversion and baptism in 1833 to his death (while President of the Church) in 1898, he made almost daily entries in his journal. Fortunately for future generations, he was present at most of the great events in early Church history, including Zion’s Camp, the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, the persecutions in Missouri, the first mission to Great Britain, the Nauvoo era, the pioneer trek West, and the tumultuous early decades in Utah during the struggles for statehood and the wrenching turmoil of the anti-polygamy crusade. Ordained an apostle in 1839, his viewpoint was that of an insider who served as Church historian, president of the first temple in the West (St. George), President of the Quorum of the Twelve, and finally, Church President. The Woodruff Journals were edited by Scott G. Kenney, and first published in 1983 by Signature Books in Typescript format. Their typescript alone runs to nine large volumes. The incidents listed below are necessarily a tiny fraction of the whole, but they will indicate the scope of the amazing experiences of this great man. Occasionally, particularly when recording sensitive material, Woodruff used a shorthand code he developed. His original punctuation and spelling (including dyslexic-like letter reversals) are retained, and any coded material is identified. The entries listed are among those I found most interesting. (In transcribing the information in my notes I have undoubtedly accidentally changed and corrected some spellings and abbreviations.) Size: 21 pages.
Wives of Joseph Smith There are few aspects of Mormonism less understood than polygamy. As the modern prophet who restored the practice, Joseph Smith ultimately married dozens of wives. Very little is known about many of these marriages. Some information can be obtained, however, from journals, reminiscences, and personal letters of some of the women he married. The summary that follows is based on sources that have been made public since the Nauvoo era. Note: There are many varying lists of Joseph Smith’s wives. For the purposes of this review, I have used the list compiled by George D. Smith, and published in Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Spring 1994 [Vol. 27, No. 1], pp. 13-16. This appears to be the most comprehensive and reliable yet published. Almost all of the commentary in this paper, however, has been taken from other sources, as cited following each entry. The dates shown for each marriage are usually taken from Smith’s list. On many entries, I have found little information other than the date listed by Smith or other compilers. Spelling has been left as it was originally written in the sources cited. Size: 38 pages.
Much more attention is now being shown for this topic, as it becomes a major issue for many within Mormonism. Headings for this paper are: (1) Women as Priesthood Holders, including six Old Testament women who are specifically designated “prophetess”; (2) Women Healing the Sick; (3) Women Share in Priesthood, a collection of quotations by leaders saying just that; (4) What Tasks Require Priesthood?; (5) What Roles Are Appropriate for Women?; (6) Bias and Discrimination; (7) More Recent Bias and Discrimination; (8) Gradual Change; (9) Will Women Be Given the Priesthood?
Size: 44 pages.
Women’s Progress in the Church This is a timeline, starting in 850 B. C. and continuing to the present, showing advances, large and small, in the position of women in society in general, and in Mormonism specifically. What started as infrequent advances becomes a floodtide of progress, particularly over the past five or ten years. Clearly, women’s concerns are finally being considered and addressed in today’s Church. Size: 28 pages.
Word of Wisdom Largely ignored until well into the twentieth century, the Word of Wisdom became one of the defining doctrines of the Church during Heber J. Grant’s administration. These are the section heads: (1) Antecedents; (2) What Was Covered by the Word of Wisdom?; (3) Compliance Slowly Evolved; (4) Observance in Early Utah Period; (5) Observance in Late Nineteenth Century; (6) Twentieth Century Observance; (7) Finally Cracking Down (starting in the 1940s); (8) Conclusions. Those who have experienced only the recent practices in Mormonism may be surprised to find out just how lax earlier enforcement really was. Includes numerous quotes from diaries and journals of Church leaders. Size: 29 pages.
World Languages This four-page chart shows the 100 languages spoken by the most people in the world, the number of speakers, number of LDS that speak each language, and whether or not the Book of Mormon is available in that language. Size: 4 pages.
World Religions This is a listing of each of the major categories of world religions, the number of adherents of each, and the possible prospects for the LDS Church in gaining members over the next fifty or so years. Size: 2 pages.
Young, Apostle John Willard This son of Brigham Young was ordained an apostle at age eleven. He was called into the First Presidency at age 32. At a time (1877) when the other apostles were receiving $2,000 a year from the tithing office for their living allowance, John W. Young was receiving $16,000. His father had the Church pay off his considerable debts several times. Yet from the start, his callings seemed to have very little interest for him, and he finally moved East and stayed there much of the time. He eventually, after the death of his father, requested that his name be removed as an apostle, and the others quickly agreed. Size: 6 pages.