September 2013 Ensign

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

September 2013 Ensign THE ENSIGN OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS • SEPTEMBER 2013 How Justice and Mercy Free Us from Bondage, p. 16 The Way God’s Grace Really Works, p. 34 Hearing the Voice of the Lord in the Doctrine and Covenants, p. 40 The Healing Balm of Hope, p. 62 “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him . springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:14 Contents September 2013 Volume 43 • Number 9 FEATURES 16 The Justice and Mercy of God Elder Jeffrey R. Holland If we can repent of our sins and be charitable with the sins of others, the living Father of us all will reach down to bear us up. 22 Take My Yoke upon You A useful tool for harnessing animals became a central image in the Savior’s invitation to come unto Him. 24 Today’s Young Men Need Righteous Role Models Hikari Loftus Having worked through his own troubled youth, Todd Sylvester strives to reach out to today’s young men. 4 28 Still a Clarion Call “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” acts as a modern title of liberty, providing clarity and MESSAGES guidance to families. FIRST PRESIDENCY MESSAGE 30 Christlike Mercy 30 Randy L. Daybell 4 Saints for All Seasons These scriptural President Dieter F. Uchtdorf accounts from the Savior’s life can teach us VISITING TEACHING MESSAGE ways to be merciful. 7 Self-Reliance 34 His Grace Is Sufficient Brad Wilcox The miracle of Christ’s grace is not just that we can return to heaven but ON THE COVER that we can change so The e nsign of T he ChurC h of Jesus ChrisT of LaTTer-day s ainT s • s epT ember 2013 Front: The Lost Lamb, we feel at home there. by Newell Convers Wyeth, reproduced by permission of 38 How Is Doctrine Established? the Colby College LaRene Porter Gaunt How Justice and Museum of Art. Mercy Free Us from Use this flowchart to understand more about how Back: Photograph Bondage, p. 16 The Way God’s Grace from iStockphoto/ Really Works, p. 34 God reveals doctrine to prophets and apostles. Hearing the Voice of the Lord in the Doctrine Thinkstock. and Covenants, p. 40 The Healing Balm of Inside front cover: Hope, p. 62 40 The Voice of Jesus Christ in the Doctrine and Photograph © iStock- Covenants photo.com/diephosi. Gordon B. Holbrook We can testify of Christ as we hear His voice in the Doctrine and Covenants. September 2013 1 72 DEPARTMENTS 8 April 2013 Conference Notebook 10 What We Believe: The Priesthood Must Be Used Worthily 52 12 Our Homes, Our Families: The Lord Never Shouted at Me Name withheld 46 Whither Shall We Go? 14 News of the Church Elder Kent D. Watson When we do our part, Heavenly Father is sure 72 Gospel Classics: to do His part in pointing the way. What Does Jesus Mean to Us Today? Elder David B. Haight 52 Rescued by the Gospel Lionel Hougnon 74 Teaching For the Strength of Youth: I was lonely and without hope, until I felt the Music and Dancing touch of the Master in my life. 58 1,000 Things to Be Thankful For 75 In Other Church Magazines Richard M. Romney The week we spent helping my daughter find 76 Latter-day Saint Voices things to be thankful for changed our family. 80 Until We Meet Again: 60 My Prayers of Gratitude The Longest Sacrament Meeting Christie Skrinak Okon Edet Effiong Our family was desperate for blessings. How could I be grateful amid such trials? 62 The Healing Balm of Hope 68 Vaughn E. Worthen Ten strategies for devel- oping hope in our lives. 68 Providing Care for Elderly Loved Ones Todd F. Cope The articles with this icon contain a sidebar or As we seek to assist in text that will help you answer questions from caring for elderly loved those not of our faith about the Church’s ones, here are some practices and beliefs. principles that can • How can personal revelation help me? guide us. p. 46 • What does it mean to be redeemed? p. 52 2 Ensign Family Home Evening Ideas This issue contains articles and activities that could be used for family home evening. The following are some examples. A MAGAZINE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS September 2013 Volume 43 • Number 9 The First Presidency: Thomas S. Monson, Henry B. Eyring, Dieter F. Uchtdorf The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: Boyd K. Packer, L. Tom Perry, Russell M. Nelson, Dallin H. Oaks, M. Russell Ballard, Richard G. Scott, Robert D. Hales, Jeffrey R. Holland, David A. Bednar, Quentin L. Cook, D. Todd Christofferson, Neil L. Andersen Editor: Craig A. Cardon Advisers: Shayne M. Bowen, Bradley D. Foster, Christoffel Golden Jr., Anthony D. Perkins Managing Director: David T. Warner Director of Member and Family Support: Vincent A. Vaughn Director of Church Magazines: Allan R. Loyborg Business Manager: Garff Cannon BY CRAIG DIMOND PHOTO ILLUSTRATION Managing Editor: R. Val Johnson Assistant Managing Editor: “Christlike Mercy,” page 30: Read the to keep track of their blessings during the LaRene Porter Gaunt article ahead of time and then highlight the week, and at your next family home evening Administrative Assistant: Faith S. Watson main points during family home evening. ask them to share what they found. To end Writing and Editing: Susan Barrett, Discuss with your family the lesson, you could sing Ryan Carr, David Dickson, David A. Edwards, what it means to extend “Count Your Blessings” Matthew D. Flitton, Mindy Raye Friedman, APPLYING LESSONS Lori Fuller, Garrett H. Garff, Jennifer G. Jones, Christlike mercy. Consider (Hymns, no. 241). Michael R. Morris, Richard M. Romney, Paul inviting family members While I was growing up, we VanDenBerghe, Julia Woodbury took turns teaching the family “The Healing Balm Editorial Interns: Allie Crafton, to tell about a time when Katherine Nelson someone showed mercy home evening lesson. I remem- of Hope,” page 62: Begin by asking family Managing Art Director: J. Scott Knudsen to them or when they ber when I was 9 or 10, I taught Art Director: Tadd R. Peterson showed mercy. You may a lesson on compassion. A members what hope Design: Jeanette Andrews, Fay P. Andrus, want to select one of the few days later, as I was doing means to them. You C. Kimball Bott, Thomas Child, Nate Gines, my chores, my older brother could then discuss the Kerry Lynn C. Herrin, Colleen Hinckley, five principles presented in Eric P. Johnsen, Susan Lofgren, Scott Mooy, the article, such as helping wouldn’t stop bothering me, definitions and benefits Brad Teare others in need, and talk and I yelled at him. Hearing of hope presented in the Intellectual Property Coordinator: about how your family me, my mother asked, “What article. Briefly summarize Collette Nebeker Aune did you just teach the family the author’s 10 strategies Production Manager: Jane Ann Peters can apply it. Production: Kevin C. Banks, Connie Bowthorpe about?” I was embarrassed to for cultivating hope and Bridge, Julie Burdett, Bryan W. Gygi, Denise “1,000 Things to Be say, “Compassion.” She used ask how these ideas Kirby, Ginny J. Nilson, Gayle Tate Rafferty Thankful For,” page 58: this opportunity to reinforce the could help strengthen Prepress: Joshua Dennis Read the article as a fam- your family. Then make Printing Director: Craig K. Sedgwick principles we had discussed. Distribution Director: Stephen R. Christiansen ily and then discuss how I am grateful that my parents a goal to practice one or © 2013 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All you might find “some- valued family home evening and two of the strategies in rights reserved. The Ensign (ISSN 0884-1136) thing each day to rejoice helped us make the lessons part your family during the is published monthly by The Church of Jesus in.” Invite family members next week. Christ of Latter-day Saints, 50 E. North Temple of our lives. Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84150-0024, USA. Lynelle Merritt, Utah, USA Periodicals Postage Paid at Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright information: Text and visual material in the Ensign may be copied for incidental, noncommercial church or home use. Visual material may not be copied if restrictions are indicated in the credit line with the artwork. SUBSCRIBE TO OR RENEW TO CHANGE ADDRESS DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO TELL? Copyright questions should be addressed to THE ENSIGN Send both old and new address We welcome donated submissions Intellectual Property Office, 50 E. North Temple Online: Visit store.lds.org. information to Distribution Services, showing the gospel of Jesus Christ at Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84150-0018; email: By phone: In the United States and P.O. Box 26368, Salt Lake City, UT work in your life. Please submit articles [email protected]. Canada, call 1-800-537-5971. 84126-0368, USA. Please allow 60 through ensign.lds.org. Authors POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS (see By mail: Send U.S. $10 check or days for changes to take effect. whose work is selected for publication DMM 707.4.12.5). NONPOSTAL AND MILITARY money order to Distribution Services, will be notified. FACILITIES: Send address changes to Distribution P.O. Box 26368, Salt Lake City, UT Services, Church Magazines, P.O. Box 26368, 84126-0368, USA. Salt Lake City, UT 84126-0368, USA. Canada Post Information: Publication Agreement #40017431. September 2013 3 FIRST PRESIDENCY MESSAGE By President Dieter F.
Recommended publications
  • The Book of Mormon Keystone of My Life!
    The Book of Mormon Keystone of my life! ¾ Keystone of Our Religion We all know the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion. As the Prophet Joseph Smith stated on the introduction page, “…. I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on the earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man (or woman) would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” In October Conference 1986, Elder Boyd K. Packer stated, “…true doctrine understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the Gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior.” ¾ A Remarkable Difference As I have grown in the gospel and also watched my children grow in the gospel I have noticed a remarkable difference as we have studied the Book of Mormon. Any study of Christ and his life will bring you closer to the Lord, but there is a power in the Book of Mormon like no other book. In 1980, when we were young parents Marion G. Romney in his April conference address said, “....I believe that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom.
    [Show full text]
  • MARY JANE WOODGER 275 E Joseph Smith Building Brigham Young University Provo, Utah 84602 (801) 422-9029 Work
    MARY JANE WOODGER 275 E Joseph Smith Building Brigham Young University Provo, Utah 84602 (801) 422-9029 Work PROFESSIONAL TRACK 2009-present Professor of Church History and Doctrine, BYU 2003-2009 Associate Professor of Church History and Doctrine, BYU 1997-2003 Assistant Professor of Church History and Doctrine, BYU 1994-99 Faculty, Department of Ancient Scripture, BYU Salt Lake Center 1980-97 Department Chair of Home Economics, Jordan School District, Midvale Middle School, Sandy, Utah EDUCATION 1997 Ed.D. Brigham Young University, Educational Leadership, Minor: Church History and Doctrine 1992 M.Ed. Utah State University, Secondary Education, Emphasis: American History 1980 B.S. Brigham Young University, Home Economics Education HONORS 2012 The Harvey B. Black and Susan Easton Black Outstanding Publication Award: Presented in recognition of an outstanding published scholarly article or academic book in Church history, doctrine or related areas for Against the Odds: The Life of George Albert Smith (Covenant Communications, Inc., 2011). 2012 Alice Louise Reynolds Women-in-Scholarship Lecture 2006 Brigham Young University Faculty Women’s Association Teaching Award 2005 Utah State Historical Society’s Best Article Award “Non Utah Historical Quarterly,” for “David O. McKay’s Progressive Educational Ideas and Practices, 1899-1922.” 1998 Kappa Omicron Nu, Alpha Tau Chapter Award of Excellence for research on David O. McKay 1997 The Crystal Communicator Award of Excellence (An International Competition honoring excellence in print media, 2,900 entries in 1997. Two hundred recipients awarded.) Research consultant for David O. McKay: Prophet and Educator Video 1994 Midvale Middle School Applied Science Teacher of the Year 1987 Jordan School District Vocational Teacher of the Year PUBLICATIONS Authored Books (18) Casey Griffiths and Mary Jane Woodger, 50 Relics of the Restoration (Springville, Utah: Cedar Fort Press, 2020).
    [Show full text]
  • Letter from David Whitmer to Nathan West Concerning Caldwell County, Missouri, Property Once Owned by King Follett
    Scott H. Faulring: David Whitmer Letter 127 Letter from David Whitmer to Nathan West Concerning Caldwell County, Missouri, Property Once Owned by King Follett Scott H. Faulring Filed away in the David Whitmer Collection at the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS) Archives is an inconspicuous, handwritten copy of a November 1849 letter from David Whitmer to Nathan A. West.1 In this carefully worded letter, Whitmer responded to West’s inquiry about a legal title to land once owned by the late Mormon elder King Follett.2 One senses from reading the letter that although David was trying to be helpful to his friend, he wanted to distance himself legally from liability in a decade-old property question. This letter is historically significant and interesting for a variety of rea- sons. First, there are few surviving letters from David Whitmer written dur- ing the first ten to fifteen years after he separated himself from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.3 Second, this retained copy, and most probably the dispatched original, was handwritten by Oliver Cowdery—just a little more than three months before he died. As such, it is the last-known handwriting of Mormonism’s Second Elder.4 Third, the letter’s cautious, legalistic wording is not from the mind of David Whitmer but was composed by Oliver Cowdery, the lawyer. As such, it is the only example of his legal writing from his fourteen-month stay in Richmond.5 Fourth, the items dis- cussed in the letter evidence the confused state of affairs existing in Far West, Missouri, at the time the Latter-day Saints were forced to flee the state in 1839.6 SCOTT H.
    [Show full text]
  • Narrating Jane: Telling the Story of an Early African American Mormon Woman
    Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU Arrington Annual Lecture Leonard J. Arrington Mormon History Lectures 9-24-2015 Narrating Jane: Telling the Story of an Early African American Mormon Woman Quincy D. Newell Hamilton College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/arrington_lecture Part of the History Commons, and the Religion Commons Recommended Citation Newell, Quincy D., "Narrating Jane: Telling the Story of an Early African American Mormon Woman" (2015). 21st annual Arrington Lecture. This Lecture is brought to you for free and open access by the Leonard J. Arrington Mormon History Lectures at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Arrington Annual Lecture by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. LEONARD J. ARRINGTON MORMON HISTORY LECTURE SERIES No. 21 Narrating Jane Telling the Story of an Early African American Mormon Woman by Quincy D. Newell September 24, 2015 Sponsored by Special Collections & Archives Merrill-Cazier Library Utah State University Logan, Utah Newell_NarratingJane_INT.indd 1 4/13/16 2:56 PM Arrington Lecture Series Board of Directors F. Ross Peterson, Chair Gary Anderson Philip Barlow Jonathan Bullen Richard A. Christenson Bradford Cole Wayne Dymock Kenneth W. Godfrey Sarah Barringer Gordon Susan Madsen This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution- NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/. ISBN 978-1-60732-561-1 (paper) ISBN 978-1-60732-562-8 (ebook) Published by Merrill-Cazier Library Distributed by Utah State University Press Logan, UT 84322 Newell_NarratingJane_INT.indd 2 4/13/16 2:56 PM Foreword F.
    [Show full text]
  • The Mormon Mission in Herefordshire and Neighbouring Counties, 1840 to 1841
    Open Research Online The Open University’s repository of research publications and other research outputs The Mormon Mission in Herefordshire and Neighbouring Counties, 1840 to 1841 Student Dissertation How to cite: Davis, Hilary Anne (2019). The Mormon Mission in Herefordshire and Neighbouring Counties, 1840 to 1841. Student dissertation for The Open University module A826 MA History part 2. For guidance on citations see FAQs. c 2019 The Author https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Version: Redacted Version of Record Copyright and Moral Rights for the articles on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyright owners. For more information on Open Research Online’s data policy on reuse of materials please consult the policies page. oro.open.ac.uk The Mormon Mission in Herefordshire and Neighbouring Counties, 1840 to 1841 Hilary Anne Davis BA (Hons.) Humanities with Religious Studies (Open) A dissertation submitted to The Open University for the degree of MA in History January 2019 WORD COUNT: 15,533 Hilary Anne Davis Dissertation ABSTRACT This study focusses on the Mormon mission to Britain in the nineteenth century, specifically the time spent in Herefordshire and on the borders of Worcestershire and Gloucestershire in 1840 to 1841. This mission was remarkable because of the speed with which an estimated 1800 rural folk were ready to be baptised into a new form of Christianity and because of the subsequent emigration of many of them to America. This investigation examines the religious, social and economic context in which conversion and emigration were particularly attractive to people in this area.
    [Show full text]
  • Show Notes & Transcripts
    “For the Salvation of Zion” Show Notes & Transcripts Podcast General Description: Follow Him: A Come, Follow Me Podcast with Hank Smith & John Bytheway Do you ever feel that preparing for your weekly Come, Follow Me lesson falls short? Join hosts Hank Smith and John Bytheway as they interview experts to make your study for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Come, Follow Me course not only enjoyable but original and educational. If you are looking for resources to make your study fresh, faithful, and fun--no matter your age--then join us every Sunday. Podcast Episode Descriptions: Part 1: Have you ever received an assignment yet didn’t have the skills to complete it? Join Dr. Susan Easton Black as we discuss Joseph, Hyrum, and others who were chastened for not building a temple and how the pattern for becoming like the Lord is established. Also, Dr. Black teaches how the temple amplifies our spiritual gifts and how the Saints can stop living beneath our privileges. Part 2: Were the early Saints required to observe their covenants by sacrifice? Dr. Black returns to explain how the Saints are preparing for temple covenants and how the Lord tempers their expectations of Zion. We also discuss how the Lord is anxious to bless the Saints with temple blessings, power, and protection. Timecodes: Part 1 ● 00:00 Welcome to followHIM with Hank Smith and John Bytheway ● 00:54 Introduction of Dr. Susan Easton Black ● 02:49 Background to Sections 94-97 ● 03:39 Kirtland Temple Building Committee established ● 07:23 Printing to happen in
    [Show full text]
  • Journal of Mormon History Vol. 31, No. 3, 2005
    Journal of Mormon History Volume 31 Issue 3 Article 1 2005 Journal of Mormon History Vol. 31, No. 3, 2005 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/mormonhistory Part of the Religion Commons Recommended Citation (2005) "Journal of Mormon History Vol. 31, No. 3, 2005," Journal of Mormon History: Vol. 31 : Iss. 3 , Article 1. Available at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/mormonhistory/vol31/iss3/1 This Full Issue is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Mormon History by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Journal of Mormon History Vol. 31, No. 3, 2005 Table of Contents CONTENTS ARTICLES • --The Case for Sidney Rigdon as Author of the Lectures on Faith Noel B. Reynolds, 1 • --Reconstructing the Y-Chromosome of Joseph Smith: Genealogical Applications Ugo A. Perego, Natalie M. Myres, and Scott R. Woodward, 42 • --Lucy's Image: A Recently Discovered Photograph of Lucy Mack Smith Ronald E. Romig and Lachlan Mackay, 61 • --Eyes on "the Whole European World": Mormon Observers of the 1848 Revolutions Craig Livingston, 78 • --Missouri's Failed Compromise: The Creation of Caldwell County for the Mormons Stephen C. LeSueur, 113 • --Artois Hamilton: A Good Man in Carthage? Susan Easton Black, 145 • --One Masterpiece, Four Masters: Reconsidering the Authorship of the Salt Lake Tabernacle Nathan D. Grow, 170 • --The Salt Lake Tabernacle in the Nineteenth Century: A Glimpse of Early Mormonism Ronald W. Walker, 198 • --Kerstina Nilsdotter: A Story of the Swedish Saints Leslie Albrecht Huber, 241 REVIEWS --John Sillito, ed., History's Apprentice: The Diaries of B.
    [Show full text]
  • Susan Easton Balck, Ed., Stories from the Early Saints: Converted by the Book of Mormon
    Review of Books on the Book of Mormon 1989–2011 Volume 4 Number 1 Article 40 1992 Susan Easton Balck, ed., Stories from the Early Saints: Converted by the Book of Mormon Daniel C. Peterson Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/msr BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Peterson, Daniel C. (1992) "Susan Easton Balck, ed., Stories from the Early Saints: Converted by the Book of Mormon," Review of Books on the Book of Mormon 1989–2011: Vol. 4 : No. 1 , Article 40. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/msr/vol4/iss1/40 This Review is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Review of Books on the Book of Mormon 1989–2011 by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Title Author(s) Daniel C. Peterson Reference Review of Books on the Book of Mormon 4/1 (1992): 13–19. ISSN 1050-7930 (print), 2168-3719 (online) Abstract Review of Stories from the Early Saints: Converted by the Book of Mormon (1992), edited by Susan Easton Black. Susan Easton Black, ed. Stories from the Early Saints: Converted by the Book 0/ Mormon. Salt Lake City: Bookeraft, 1992. xiii + 104 pp. $9.95. Reviewed by Daniel C. Peterson This volume represents a decade's of collecting stories concerning people who joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in its early days because of the Book of Mormon. Like Eugene England's fine earlier anthology, Converted to Christ through the Book of Mormon, its completion was inspired by the October 1988 conference address in which President Ezra Taft Benson "challenge[d] our Church writers, teachers, and leaders to tell us more Book of Mormon conversion stories that will strengthen our faith and prepare great missionaries."1 Fittingly, each book is dedicated to President Benson, a prominent and prophetic advocate of the Book of Mormon.
    [Show full text]
  • Dialogue 47 2.Indb
    SECTION TITLE DIALOGUE a journal of mormon thought is an independent quarterly established to express Mormon culture and to examine the relevance of religion to secular life. It is edited by Latter-day Saints who wish to bring their faith into dialogue with the larger stream of world religious thought and with human experience as a whole and to foster artistic and scholarly achievement based on their cultural heritage. The journal encour- ages a variety of viewpoints; although every effort is made to ensure accurate scholarship and responsible judgment, the views expressed are those of the individual authors and are not necessarily those of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or of the editors. i ii DIALOGUE: A JOURNAL OF MORMON THOUGHT, 47, no. 2 (Summer 2014) Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought is published quarterly by the Dialogue Foundation. Dialogue has no official connection with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Contents copyright by the Dialogue Foundation. ISSN 0012-2157. Dialogue is available in full text in electronic form at www.dialoguejournal.com and is archived by the University of Utah Marriott Library Special Collections, available online at www.lib.utah.edu/portal/site/marriottlibrary. Dialogue is also available on microforms through University Microfilms International, www.umi.com, and online at www.dialoguejournal.com. Dialogue welcomes articles, essays, poetry, notes, fiction, letters to the editor, and art. Submissions should follow the current Chicago Manual of Style. All submissions shouls be in Word and may be submitted electroni- cally at https://dialoguejournal.com/submissions/.
    [Show full text]
  • Sanctuary on the Mississippi: St. Louis As a Way Station for Mormon
    Sanctuaryon the Mississippi: St. Louis as a Way Station for Mormon Emigration BY THOMAS L. FARMER AND FRED E. WOODS A Mormon artist, Frederick Piercy, chronicled his journey to Utah in beautiful drawings and sketches. Piercy made this view of St. Louis in 1853 on his way to Utah. (Image: History Library, The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints) 42 | The Confluence | Spring/Summer 2018 When people study Mormon interactions with the State of Missouri, they often encounter only negative information—the expulsion of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints (Mormons) from the Independence area and Missouri governor Lilburn Boggs’ 1838 “extermination” order that forced thousands of Mormons to flee from northwest Missouri to Illinois for safety. But there is another aspect of the story, one that is documented on a commemorative marker on the side of the Missouri Athletic Club in downtown St. Louis.1 It is a story that includes a welcoming attitude toward Mormon emigrants and a safe haven for the thousands who used St. Louis as a way station on the trail to Utah. A few of the Mormon emigrant families who resided in nineteenth-century St. Louis included the Udalls, Romneys, Marriotts, and others whose descendants later played significant roles in the history of the United States. St. Louis was first introduced to Mormons in 1831 when church leaders passed through the city on their way to Jackson County in western Missouri. Upon arrival, church founder and president Joseph Smith, Jr., received a revelation that Independence, Missouri, was to be the center place of Zion, a Latter-day Saint gathering place, a “New Jerusalem.” Members of the church from the eastern states migrated west to populate the new community.
    [Show full text]
  • The Confusing Case of Zacharias
    Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel Volume 14 Number 2 Article 8 6-2013 The Confusing Case of Zacharias Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/re BYU ScholarsArchive Citation "The Confusing Case of Zacharias." Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel 14, no. 2 (2013): 106-123. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/re/vol14/iss2/8 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. The Confusing Case of Zacharias lynne hilton wilson Lynne Hilton Wilson ([email protected]), PhD and mother of seven, directs and teaches in the Menlo Park California Stake institute program. he most frequently occurring personal name in the Bible is Zechariah (also Tspelled Zachariah or in the New Testament as Zacharias). At least thirty kings, princes, priests, prophets, servants, sons, trumpet players, and gatekeep- ers claim this name, which means “Jehovah remembers.”1 We should not be surprised to find some confusion about the biblical Zechariahs given that the name spans over a thousand years and fifty-five separate verses. It appears that the Gospel of Matthew may have confused two Zechariahs. Chapter 23 men- tions the ninth-century high-priestly martyr Zechariah but incorrectly assigns him a different father—Barachias, the father of thesixth-century prophet. Where Matthew mixed up the two Zechariahs, the parallel account found in Luke 11:51 did not.
    [Show full text]
  • Mormonism's New England Ministry of the Forgotten E
    Barney: The Forgotten Eli P. Maginn 157 “There is the Greatest Excitement in This Country That I Ever Beheld”: Mormonism’s New England Ministry of the Forgotten Eli P. Maginn Ronald O. Barney Ronald O. Barney is editor of Mormon Historical Studies. He is past Associ- ate Editor of the Joseph Smith Papers, and an archivist and historian for the LDS Church History Department for thirty-three years. The story of Eli P. Maginn is an unusual Mormon story that speaks of activities conducted in the periphery of Mormonism, away from the puls- ing complexity that often characterized the center of Mormon gravity in its formative years. This outlying circumstance elevates the story’s importance because Eli P. Maginn (ca. 1818–1844) reminds us that much of the broad scope of the early church remains be mined, that more remains to be un- derstood and disseminated about the Mormon past for us to make sense of the genesis of the religion and its people. Maginn’s life not only augments what we already know about the early Saints but also adds angles and di- mensions requiring us to reconsider ensconced traditions. This is a story illustrating the early missionary work of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in North America.1 In the absence of Maginn’s personal records and institutional compilations of the church’s missionary records, which were not kept at this time, Maginn’s role during the formative period of Mormon history survives through a few items of 1 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, referred to hereafter in this study as the church or LDS Church, was founded as the Church of Christ and known as the Church of Latter Day Saints at the time of Maginn’s affiliation, ob- taining its current appellation in 1838.
    [Show full text]