Birth Control Among the Mormons: Introduction to an Insistent Question
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Moroni: Angel Or Treasure Guardian? 39
Mark Ashurst-McGee: Moroni: Angel or Treasure Guardian? 39 Moroni: Angel or Treasure Guardian? Mark Ashurst-McGee Over the last two decades, historians have reconsidered the origins of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the context of the early American tradition of treasure hunting. Well into the nineteenth century there were European Americans hunting for buried wealth. Some believed in treasures that were protected by magic spells or guarded by preternatural beings. Joseph Smith, founding prophet of the Church, had participated in several treasure-hunting expeditions in his youth. The church that he later founded rested to a great degree on his claim that an angel named Moroni had appeared to him in 1823 and showed him the location of an ancient scriptural record akin to the Bible, which was inscribed on metal tablets that looked like gold. After four years, Moroni allowed Smith to recover these “golden plates” and translate their characters into English. It was from Smith’s published translation—the Book of Mormon—that members of the fledgling church became known as “Mormons.” For historians of Mormonism who have treated the golden plates as treasure, Moroni has become a treasure guardian. In this essay, I argue for the historical validity of the traditional understanding of Moroni as an angel. In May of 1985, a letter to the editor of the Salt Lake Tribune posed this question: “In keeping with the true spirit (no pun intended) of historical facts, should not the angel Moroni atop the Mormon Temple be replaced with a white salamander?”1 Of course, the pun was intended. -
Find Your Family in Church History
Find Your Family in Church History The Church History Library houses the sacred and valuable historical records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints. If your family has been associated with the Workshop Outline Church in the United States or in other countries, these records can help bring your family’s story to life. 1. Overview of the Library’s records and collections Records and Collections 2. Online tools for researching in the Library The Church History Library holds millions of original, 3. Research strategies for authoritative historical records, including official church finding stories and records, diaries, memoirs, personal papers, letters, experiences about your photographs, oral histories, and local-unit Church records. ancestors The records are stored in climate-controlled vaults and are accessible to researchers in the reading room. Many records have been digitized and are also available online. About the Presenter Free Online Resources (ChurchHistoryLibrary.org) Dr. Keith A. Erekson serves as director of the Church History Library. Church History Catalog The Church History Catalog is the principal resource for searching the Library’s archive, manuscript, and print collections. Simple and advanced searches for names, places, and topics yield results that may be narrowed by material type, date, and language. Wildcard and Boolean searches are also supported. Millions of digitized images are added to the catalog each year and users may recommend sources for future digitization. Materials in the catalog come from a wide spectrum of sources and represent numerous points of view. Users of the catalog should not assume that the Church or the Library endorses every item in the collection. -
The Periodical Literature of the Latter Day Saints
Journal of His tory VOL. XIV, No. 3 INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI JULY, 1921 THE PERIODICAL LITERATURE OF THE LATTER DAY SAINTS BY WALTER W. SMITH The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was little more than a year old when by conference action a monthly periodical was provided for, as indicated by the fol lowing item from the minutes of a conference held at Hiram, Ohio, September, 1831. THE EVENING AND MORNING STAR A conference was held, in which Brother W. W. Phelps was in structed to stop at Cincinnati on his way to Missouri, and purchase a press and type, for the purpose of establishing and publishing a monthly paper at Independence, Jackson County, Missouri, to be called the "Eve ning and Morning Star."-Times and Seasons, vol. 5, p. 481. ·w. W. Phelps, ifl }larmony with the instructions, went to Cincinnati, Ohio, secured the press and type and proceeded to Independence, Jack son County, Missouri, where he issued a prospectus setting forth his in tentions; extracts from which indicate the attitude of Saints relative to the publication of the message of the Restored. Gospel. The Evening and the Morning Star will be published at Independence, Jackson County, State of Missouri. As the forerunner of the night of the end, and the messenger of the day of redemption, the Star will borrow its light from sacred sources, and be devoted to the revelations of God as made known to his servants by the Holy Ghost, at sundry times since the creation of man, but more especially in these last days, for restoration of the house of Israel. -
Though It Has Been Known by Different Names, the Young Women Orga
Though it has been known by different names, the Young Women Orga- nization has always sought to help young women improve themselves, de- velop their talents, serve others, and strengthen their testimonies of Jesus Christ. (© Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.) A Firm Foundation Janet Peterson 12 Young Women of Zion: An Organizational History The Young Women program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has grown from the desires of young women to im- prove themselves, develop their talents, serve others, and strengthen their testimonies of Jesus Christ. The various names of the organization are listed below: • The Young Gentlemen and Ladies’ Relief Society of Nauvoo, 1843 • The Young Ladies’ Department of the Cooperative Retrench- ment Association (Young Ladies’ Retrenchment Association), 1869 • Young Ladies’ National Mutual Improvement Association, 1877 Janet Peterson is a member of the Church Correlation Committee, Materials Evaluation Division. A Firm Foundation • Young Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Association (YLMIA), 1904 • Young Women’s Mutual Improvement Association (YWMIA), 1934 • Aaronic Priesthood MIA, Young Women, 1972 • Young Women, 1974 Though the name has changed several times over the years, the pur- poses have not. Marba C. Josephson, editor of the Improvement Era and general board member, described the goals as “aiding the LDS girl to gain a testimony of the gospel through wholesome lesson work and spiritualized recreation.”1 Church leaders have long recognized the vital role that this auxiliary fills in helping adolescent girls to develop testimonies of the Savior and to become faithful, covenant-keeping women. The programs and procedures have changed to meet the needs of an ever-growing Church population and to help young women face the chal- lenges of their particular eras. -
Cowdery, Oliver
Cowdery, Oliver Richard Lloyd Anderson Oliver Cowdery (1806—1850) was next in authority to Joseph Smith in 1830 (D&C 21:10—12), and was a second witness of many critical events in the restoration of the gospel. As one of the three Book of Mormon witnesses, Oliver Cowdery testied that an angel displayed the gold plates and that the voice of God proclaimed them correctly translated. He was with Joseph Smith when John the Baptist restored to them the Aaronic Priesthood and when Peter, James, and John ordained them to the Melchizedek Priesthood and the apostleship, and again during the momentous Kirtland Temple visions (D&C 110). Oliver came from a New England family with strong traditions of patriotism, individuality, learning, and religion. He was born at Wells, Vermont, on October 3, 1806. His younger sister gave the only reliable information about his youth: “Oliver was brought up in Poultney, Rutland County, Vermont, and when he arrived at the age of twenty, he went to the state of New York, where his older brothers were married and settled . Oliver’s occupation was clerking in a store until 1829, when he taught the district school in the town of Manchester” (Lucy Cowdery Young to Andrew Jenson, March 7, 1887, Church Archives). While boarding with Joseph Smith’s parents, he learned of their convictions about the ancient record that their son was again translating after Martin Harris had lost the manuscript in 1828. The young teacher prayed and received answers that Joseph Smith mentioned in a revelation (D&C 6:14—24). -
The Salt Lake Tabernacle: a Witness to the Growth of God’S Kingdom
Chapter 5 The Salt Lake Tabernacle: A Witness to the Growth of God’s Kingdom Scott C. Esplin “ n great deeds something abides,” reminisced Joshua Lawrence IChamberlain, a famed Civil War colonel. “On great fields some- thing stays. Forms change and pass; bodies disappear, but spirits linger, to consecrate ground for the vision-place of souls. And reverent men and women from afar, and generations that know us not and that we know not of, heart-drawn to see where and by whom great things were suffered and done for them, shall come to this deathless field to ponder and dream; And lo! the shadow of a mighty presence shall wrap them in its bosom, and the power of the vision pass into their souls.”1 For Latter-day Saints, the historic Salt Lake Tabernacle has become one of those sacred sites—a consecrated hall where “something abides” and “spirits linger” and where modern visitors are wrapped in “the shadow of a mighty presence” while visions of the Restoration “pass into their souls.” President Gordon B. Hinckley summarized the influence the Scott C. Esplin is an assistant professor of Church history and doctrine at Brigham Young University. 69 Salt Lake City: The Place Which God Prepared Tabernacle has had on the Church: “The Spirit of the Lord has been in this structure. It is sacred unto us.”2 With the construction of larger and more modern conference halls, the Salt Lake Tabernacle stands today as a silent witness to its pioneer past. Having undergone significant transformations throughout its life, the building serves not only as a monument to pioneer greatness but also as an example of changes in the Church’s history. -
THE BOOK of MORMON in the ANTEBELLUM POPULAR IMAGINATION by Jared Michael Halverson Thesis Submitted
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by ETD - Electronic Theses & Dissertations “EXTRAVAGANT FICTIONS”: THE BOOK OF MORMON IN THE ANTEBELLUM POPULAR IMAGINATION By Jared Michael Halverson Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Vanderbilt University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in Religion August, 2012 Nashville, Tennessee Approved: Professor Kathleen Flake Professor James P. Byrd TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter I. “A BURLESQUE ON THE BIBLE” . 1 II. “THE ASSAULT OF LAUGHTER” . 9 III. “MUCH SPECULATION”: FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE BOOK OF MORMON . 18 IV. ABNER COLE AND THE PALMYRA REFLECTOR . 27 MORE SERIOUS “REFLECTIONS” . 38 V. “BAREFACED FABLING”: THE GOLD BIBLE AS (UN)POPULAR FICTION . 43 “THE YANKEE PEDDLER” . 49 “THE BACKWOODSMAN” . 52 “THE BLACK MINSTREL” . 55 THE “NOVEL” BOOK OF MORMON . 59 VI. A RHETORIC OF RIDICULE . 64 ALEXANDER CAMPBELL . 67 EBER HOWE . 70 ORIGEN BACHELER . 74 POPULAR POLEMICS . 78 VII. CONCLUSION: THE LAST LAUGH . 84 BIBLIOGRAPHY . 92 ii CHAPTER 1 “A BURLESQUE ON THE BIBLE” Sometime in late August or early September, 1831, Robert Dale Owen, son of the Scottish utopian reformer Robert Owen, received a letter from his brother William, who had hurriedly written from an Erie Canal boat somewhere near Syracuse, New York. Just as hastily Robert published the correspondence in his New York City newspaper, the Free Enquirer, not knowing that he would receive another, longer letter from William within days, just in time to be included in his weekly’s next run. What proved to be so pressing was what William had discovered onboard the canal boat: “I have met,” he announced dramatically, “with the famous ‘Book of Mormon.’”1 Published in 1830, the Book of Mormon claimed to be nothing short of scripture, an account of America’s ancient inhabitants (themselves a scattered Hebrew remnant) and God’s dealings with them over a long and bloody history. -
The Quest for Religious Authority and the Rise of Mormonism.” Dialogue: a Journal of Mormon Thought, Vol
Mario S De Pillis, “The Quest for Religious Authority and the Rise of Mormonism.” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Vol. 1 No. 1 (1966): 68–88. Copyright © 2012 Dialogue Foundation. All Rights Reserved THE QUEST FOR RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY AND THE RISE OF MORMONISM by Mario S. De Pillis The editors believe this essay will help bridge the unfortunate gulf between Mormon and non-Mormon writers of Mormon history, which has allowed Mormons to be cut off from many useful insights and allowed non-Mormons to be blind to important elements such as the role of doctrine. Mario De Pillis teaches American social history and the American West at the University of Massachusetts. He has been trustee and historical consultant for the restor- ation of the Shaker community of Hancock, Massachusetts, and is presently the Roman Catholic member of a four-college ecumenical seminar of Protestant and Roman Catholic clergy and laity. Both Mormon and non-Mormon re- sponses have been arranged for the next issue. IF THERE IS TO BE ANY HONEST DIALOGUE WHATSOEVER BETWEEN educated members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and outsiders, the question of the historical origins of Mormonism must ever remain central. And in a way it has remained central. Nevertheless, no serious student of writings on the origins of this central issue can deny that the controversial "dialogue" of the past hundred and thirty-five years has been less than candid. It has long been true, however unfortunate loyal Mormons may find it, that the historians who write our generally accepted social and intel- lectual history have rarely consulted such standard Mormon his- torians as B. -
Joseph Smith and Diabolism in Early Mormonism 1815-1831
Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 5-2021 "He Beheld the Prince of Darkness": Joseph Smith and Diabolism in Early Mormonism 1815-1831 Steven R. Hepworth Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd Part of the History of Religion Commons Recommended Citation Hepworth, Steven R., ""He Beheld the Prince of Darkness": Joseph Smith and Diabolism in Early Mormonism 1815-1831" (2021). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 8062. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/8062 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. "HE BEHELD THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS": JOSEPH SMITH AND DIABOLISM IN EARLY MORMONISM 1815-1831 by Steven R. Hepworth A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in History Approved: Patrick Mason, Ph.D. Kyle Bulthuis, Ph.D. Major Professor Committee Member Harrison Kleiner, Ph.D. D. Richard Cutler, Ph.D. Committee Member Interim Vice Provost of Graduate Studies UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, Utah 2021 ii Copyright © 2021 Steven R. Hepworth All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT “He Beheld the Prince of Darkness”: Joseph Smith and Diabolism in Early Mormonism 1815-1831 by Steven R. Hepworth, Master of Arts Utah State University, 2021 Major Professor: Dr. Patrick Mason Department: History Joseph Smith published his first known recorded history in the preface to the 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon. -
Pres. Russell M. Nelson Elder David A. Bednar Elder Scott D. Whiting President of the Church Quorum of the Twelve Apostles General Authority Seventy
SAT SATURDAY MORNING SESSION 190TH SEMIANNUAL GENERAL CONFERENCE Pres. Russell M. Nelson Elder David A. Bednar Elder Scott D. Whiting President of the Church Quorum of the Twelve Apostles General Authority Seventy The world has been overturned Tests in “the school of mortality” are Latter-day Saints are commanded by in recent months by a global a vital element in eternal progression. the Savior to become “even as [He is].” pandemic, raging wildfires and Scriptural words such as “prove,” “ex- “Consider asking a trusted family mem- other natural disasters. amine” and “try” are used to describe ber, spouse, friend, or spiritual leader “I grieve with each of you who knowledge about, understanding of what attribute of Jesus Christ we are in has lost a loved one during this and devotion to the plan of happiness need of.” It is vital to also ask Heavenly time. And I pray for all who are and the Savior’s Atonement. Father where to focus efforts. “He has a currently suffering.” “The year 2020 has been marked, perfect view of us and will lovingly show Yet the work of the Lord moves in part, by a global pandemic that has us our weakness.” steadily forward. “Amid social proved, examined and tried us in many President Russell M. Nelson taught: distancing, face masks and Zoom meetings, we have ways. I pray that we as individuals and families are learning the “When we choose to repent, we choose to change!” learned to do some things differently, and some even more valuable lessons that only challenging experiences can teach us.” After committing to change and repent, the next step is to choose effectively. -
Traditional Religion and Political Power: Examining the Role of the Church in Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine and Moldova
Traditional religion and political power: Examining the role of the church in Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine and Moldova Edited by Adam Hug Traditional religion and political power: Examining the role of the church in Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine and Moldova Edited by Adam Hug First published in October 2015 by The Foreign Policy Centre (FPC) Unit 1.9, First Floor, The Foundry 17 Oval Way, Vauxhall, London SE11 5RR www.fpc.org.uk [email protected] © Foreign Policy Centre 2015 All rights reserved ISBN 978-1-905833-28-3 ISBN 1-905833-28-8 Disclaimer: The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors alone and do not represent the views of The Foreign Policy Centre or the Open Society Foundations. Printing and cover art by Copyprint This project is kindly supported by the Open Society Foundations 1 Acknowledgements The editor would like to thank all of the authors who have kindly contributed to this collection and provided invaluable support in developing the project. In addition the editor is very grateful for the advice and guidance of a number of different experts including: John Anderson, Andrew Sorokowski, Angelina Zaporojan, Mamikon Hovsepyan, Beka Mindiashvili, Giorgi Gogia, Vitalie Sprinceana, Anastasia Danilova, Artyom Tonoyan, Dr. Katja Richters, Felix Corley, Giorgi Gogia, Bogdan Globa, James W. Warhola, Mamikon Hovsepyan, Natia Mestvirishvil, Tina Zurabishvili and Vladimir Shkolnikov. He would like to thank colleagues at the Open Society Foundations for all their help and support without which this project would not have been possible, most notably Viorel Ursu, Michael Hall, Anastasiya Hozyainova and Eleanor Kelly. -
The Frontier Guardian: Exploring the Latter-Day Saint Experience
BYU Studies Quarterly Volume 49 | Issue 1 Article 6 1-1-2010 The rF ontier Guardian: Exploring the Latter-day Saint Experience at the Missouri, 1849–1851 Susan E. Black Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq Recommended Citation Black, Susan E. (2010) "The rF ontier Guardian: Exploring the Latter-day Saint Experience at the Missouri, 1849–1851," BYU Studies Quarterly: Vol. 49 : Iss. 1 , Article 6. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq/vol49/iss1/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the All Journals at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in BYU Studies Quarterly by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Black: The Frontier Guardian: Exploring the Latter-day Saint Experience The Frontier Guardian Exploring the Latter-day Saint Experience at the Missouri, 1849–1851 Susan Easton Black s the largest Mormon primary source from 1849 to 1851, the Frontier A Guardian is crucial to understanding the Latter-day Saint experi- ence at the Missouri River. Until now, historians have extracted only small sections of the paper, such as marriage announcements, obituar- ies, and advertisements,1 because of the Guardian’s size. Although it is only four volumes, the newspaper contains eighty-one issues, each span- ning four pages in length and divided into six columns. This translates into roughly four thousand single-spaced pages on 8.5" x 11" paper. Fortunately, the recent publication The Best of the Frontier Guardian along with its searchable dvd-rom of all eighty-one issues will help researchers explore the Mormon experience in Pottawattamie County, Iowa.