You better hold on to it or Joseph will get it

Just prior to meeting the Prophet for the first time in Nauvoo, Jacob Hamblin was told to hang onto what or Joseph Smith would get it?

A)     His money

B)      His hat

C)      His time

D)     His horse

Yesterday’s answer:

(B)   Chairs

My friend told me these were the original chairs that were first placed in the endowment rooms of the Salt Lake Temple at the time of the temple dedication. He stated that the chairs had iron sides, but the seats of the chairs were wood that folded up. He noticed, during the tour, that some of the chairs were wider than others. He asked the tour guide why all the chairs were not the standard width, but rather there were two different sizes. It was explained that women wore the big dresses that poofed out. These wider chairs were for the women to accommodate the dress style at the time.

My friend also noted that as he exited the top of the spiral staircase that led to the balcony that he had to descend three or four stairs to access the seats on the balcony. It didn’t make sense why, when he exited the spiral staircase that the top stair would be at the same level as the first row of chairs. The tour guide explained to him that when the balcony was constructed, the contractor realized, due to the size of the chandeliers, that those sitting on the back balcony could not see the pulpit. The contractor explained the problem to Brigham Young and asked him if he had a solution. The chandeliers were already installed and couldn’t be raised any higher because of their size. Brigham gave it some thought for a few days then met with the contractor again. He said to get two hundred men under the back balcony, unattach the balcony from the back wall and then lowered the balcony to the desired position and then tie the balcony back into place. If only President Young had access to scissor lifts.

A Touch of the Salt Lake Temple in the Balcony of the St. George Tabernacle

I have a good friend at work who understands my fetish with facts and figures from Church history. He recently visited the St. George Tabernacle, took the tour, and then passed along to me his findings. For starters, every President of the Church other than Joseph Smith preached from its pulpit (he was quick to point out that even though Howard W. Hunter and Thomas S. Monson did speak in the building, that they were not Presidents of the Church at the time). He also told me the amazing story of how Brigham Young and the contractor put their heads together to resolve the issue of the balcony being too high, the chandeliers too large, and as a result, no one in the back balcony could see the pulpit ( I will share this story along with the answer tomorrow). There was something else interesting about the balcony. At a time when the Salt Lake Temple was renovated, some items were taken out and replaced with new. This item was not thrown away, but rather placed in the balcony of the St. George Tabernacle. What was the item?

A)     Handrails

B)     Chairs

C)     Lighting

D)     Stairs

Yesterday’s answer:

1.                  (B)   30 years

 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church History In The Fulness Of Times (Salt Lake City: Published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1993), 468.

2.                  (A)

 In 1964, during a meeting with President David O. McKay, U.S. president Lyndon B. Johnson asks the Church President for advice and indicates that he has felt inspired during previous visits with President McKay.

Richard Neitzel Holzpfel et al., On This Day In The Church (Salt Lake City: Eagle Gate, 2000), 23.

3.                   (A)   100 years

Elder Russell M. Nelson attends the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago, Illinois, on August 28, 1993; exactly 100 years after the body rejected a Latter-day Saint delegation headed by Elder B.H. Roberts.

Richard Neitzel Holzpfel et al., On This Day In The Church (Salt Lake City: Eagle Gate, 2000), 167.

4.                   (D)   80 years of age

 George Q. Morris is ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles at eighty years of age (April of 1954) making him the oldest man ordained an Apostle in this dispensation, replacing Matthew Cowley, who had died.

Richard Neitzel Holzpfel et al., On This Day In The Church (Salt Lake City: Eagle Gate, 2000), 70.

Sunday Tidbits- Prophets and Apostle Tidbits

1.      Reed Smoot served as an apostle for 41 years. How many of these years were in conjunction as United States Senator from Utah?

A.      5 years

B.      30 years

C.      17 years

D.     All 41 years

2.      During a 1964 visit with President David O’McKay, United States President, Lyndon B. Johnson said what?

A.      He felt inspired in previous meetings with the Prophet

B.      He wanted the Saints to leave Utah

C.      He wanted to become a member

D.     He wanted the Church to send more missionaries

3.      How many years did the Parliament of World Religions snub the Church after the initial rejection to a delegation led by apostle B. H. Roberts?

A.      100 years

B.      25 years

C.      150 years

D.     The Church has always been accepted

4.      George Q. Morris has the distinction of being the oldest apostle ordained to the Quorum of the Twelve. How old was he at the time of his ordination?

A.      90

B.      69

C.      77

D.     80

Yesterday’s answer:

(A)   The bible was printed there in 1542

The following from the journal of Jesse N. Smith, dated September 25, 1862:

. . . Saw at the hotel a copy of an ancient Bible, printed in Dutch, in 1542, which circumstance caused the hotel where we tarried to be called the Bible house, as it was printed there.

Oliver R. Smith, ed., The Journal of Jesse Nathaniel Smith-1834-1906 (Provo: Jesse N. Smith Family Assn., 1970), 85.

A Bible House Stay

(This is not the Bible House Hotel, but it might have been similar to it.)

While touring the European Mission in 1862, President Cannon and Jesse N. Smith stay at the Bible House in Amsterdam, Holland. Why was it named the Bible House?

A)                 The bible was read from this hotel every morning and evening in a devotional-type format

B)                 The Book of Mormon House was too long of a name

C)                 A marketing scheme to attract only the religious

D)                 The bible was printed there in 1542

Yesterday’s answer:

 B.   The Whig Party

During the Nauvoo years of the Church, the Whig Party was instrumental in forming the Anti-Mormon Party mostly due to the fact that the Saints supported the Democratic Party.

The Road to Carthage Leads West, Kenneth W. Godfrey, BYU Studies, Winter 68, p. 210-211.

If anyone wonders why the Saints preferred the Democratic Party, the following may be of interest:

   “At a meeting of the Democratic Association, held on Saturday evening the 23rd ultimo, Mr. Lindsay introduced a resolution setting forth, that the people called ‘The Latter-day Saints,’ were many of them in a situation requiring the aid of the citizens of Quincy, and recommending that measures be adopted for their relief; which resolution was adopted, and a committee consisting of eight persons appointed by the chair--of which committee J. W. Whitney was chairman. The association then adjourned to meet on Wednesday evening then next, after instructing the committee to procure the Congregational meeting-house as a place of meeting, and to invite as many of the people to attend the meeting as should choose to do so, in whose behalf the meeting was to be held, and also all others, citizens of the town. The committee not being able to obtain the meeting-house, procured the court house for that purpose.”

 I fail to read where it was the Whig Party that helped the destitute Saints after the Missouri fiasco.

“Facts Relative to the Expulsion of the Mormon’s or Latter-day Saints, From the State of Missouri, Under the ‘Exterminating Order,’” John P. Greene (Cincinnati: R.P. Brooks, 1839).

Some Things Never Change

One of the national political parties during the Nauvoo years of the Church was the Anti-Mormon Party. Who was responsible for forming this party?

A)                 Governor Ford, Illinois Governor

B)                 The Whig Party

C)                 The Democratic Party

D)                 Governor Boggs of Missouri

Yesterday’s answer:

(A)    Gold dust

The following from the journal of pioneer Arocet Hale:

In consequence of the scanty harvest of 1848, bread stuff and other provisions became very scarce. Many had to eat raw hides, dig segos and thistle roots for months. I was one of that number. The last of June, just before harvest, was the hardest time of 1849.

   I will relate a little incident to show to our children and the rising generation how their parents suffered in the early days of 1847, 1848 and 1849. Lucas Hoagland moved my sister Rachel Lavory Hale late in the fall of 1848. Our families then consisted of five in number, Lucas and wife, my brother, Alma Helaman Hale, age ten, my brother Solomon Elephlet Hale, age seven and myself. After Lucas married my sister Rachel, of course I had more help to sustain the family. It fell to my lot to attend to watering the wheat. We had two cows, luckily both giving milk. When I went to the field to water the wheat and fight the crickets, I used to drive one cow to the field with me at night, milk the cow, and strain the milk. As soon as it was cool, I would stir in two or three spoonfuls of moldy corn meal, set it over the campfire, make my porridge and go to bed. I did the same in the morning. This was better with the blessing of the Lord on it than boiled rawhide and thistle roots. For dinner, I would take my shovel and go out on the bench land and dig segos which were plentiful, thank the Lord.

   While I was tending the wheat, Lucas was working around where he could get a little provisions for the family. He used to go to the Provo River with fishing parties, catch fish, salt and dry them. They were very good and considered a rarity.

   I will relate a little incident to show how hard it was to get bread stuff. My wheat was heading out and commenced turning a little yellow. I thought I could glean a little out that would do to thresh and grind in a hand mill, which many did. I saw several going to Neff's Mill with small grists of corn that were rare in 1848. The thought struck me that I might be able to trade for some. I had a fine little saddle horse that Lucus Hoagland had told me to trade for bread stuff or edibles of any kind. I saddled up, went to the mill, and saw several there begging or trying to (some widows with families). I spoke to Neff and told him my situation. I offered him the horse, saddle and bridle (a new California Macheir [?] saddle for three pecks of corn meal, one peck to take home with me, one peck the next week, the third peck, the third week. Now for the answer. Said he, "You great booby, here trying to get three pecks of meal. There are women here begging for two quarts to take home with them to feed their little children." This anger hurt my feelings very badly. I thought of the situation I had left the family in in the morning, without a spoonful of anything to eat of bread stuff kind. Then I cried like a baby to be called a booby for trying to make an honest trade with the miller.

   I continued fighting crickets until nearly night, when I heard a noise towards the mouth of Emigration Canyon, a little north of me. I looked and to my surprise, I saw a train of four- and six-horse wagons coming out of Emigration Canyon. This proved to be a company of the gold emigration, the first that arrived in the valley. I sprung to my horse and went across the bench into their camp. I was the first Mormon boy in their camp. They appeared to be very much excited over gold and the mines and asked many questions. What news from the gold Mines? Is there any more of the battalion boys come in? What news do they bring? Have you seen any? Have you got any gold? I had very little that Hoagland had given me to try and get a little bread stuff with. I let them see what gold I had. They were all excited in a minute and all had to see the gold dust. While they were looking at the gold dust, an old gentleman touched me on the shoulder and beckoned me to one side. Said he, "I have a span of young American colts, four years old. They have been worked on lead, and have pulled themselves down very poor." Said he, "I will give you that span of young horses, their harness and lead bars for your pony, saddle and bridle." I told him that I would go with him and see the horses. We went, and he showed me the horses. They were as he reckoned them to me. I thought of the trade I had offered the Miller Neff a few hours before. I thought of my sister and the little boys at home without anything to eat but a little milk and segos for supper.

   Said I, "Could you spare me a few pounds of flour, a small piece of bacon, a quart of beans or any kind of vegetables?" "Come to the wagon and I will see what I can find." He got into the wagon, threw out a sack with eight or ten pounds of flour, ten pounds of bacon and by that time the boys had gotten supper. They invited me into the tent. There I ate the best supper that I ever ate, or relished the best. I had not tasted nice white bread and fried bacon for months. I led my horse to the city. When my sister Rachel saw tour and bacon, she wept for joy.

   Gold emigration continued to come and they were willing to trade their poor stock for those that were in better condition. The gray horses that I got for the saddle pony brought me two yoke of oxen and wagons and a nice suit of clothes. This reminds me of a prophecy of President Heber C. Kimball two months before the gold emigration came into the valley. He prophesied that clothing would be cheaper in Salt Lake City than it was in New York City. We saw this prophecy come to pass. They were loaded too heavy to continue their journey and all had something to sell or trade, horses, harnesses or wagons, clothing, provisions, cooking utensils, stoves, tents, guns and ammunitions. This was considered a God send.

Journal of Arocet Lucious Hale, Typescript, HBLL; htpp://www.boap.org/

A Gentile Curiosity

When Arocet Hale was working his wheat fields and saw, for the first time, a group of gold seekers entering the Salt Lake Valley on their way to California, he went to their camp. What was the first thing they desired to see?

A)                 The Book of Mormon

B)                 Gold dust

C)                 Brigham Young

D)                 The Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Yesterday’s answer:

(A)    Mary Whitmer

We know of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon and also the Eight Witnesses, nevertheless, what may not be familiar to some was the fact that there was another witness; and that witness happened to be the only female. The following is recorded by David Whitmer regarding a miraculous appearance by the Angel Moroni to his mother, Mary. This was at the time when Joseph, Emma, and Oliver moved into the Whitmer cabin at Fayette, New York to escape the persecutions in the Harmony, Pa. area.

   “My father and mother had a large family . . . the addition to it . . . of Joseph, his wife Emma and Oliver very greatly increased the toil and anxiety of my mother,” she was met by the Angel Moroni, who said to her, “You have been very faithful and diligent in your labors, but you are tired . . . it is proper therefore that you should receive a witness that your faith may be strengthened.” Thereupon, the messenger showed Mary the plates, turning them over leaf by leaf, that she might know that the work was true. He promised her that if she endured in faith to the end, her reward would be sure.

Millennial Star 40 (May 2, 1878): 772-73.

An Angel’s Verification

Which Latter-day Saint listed below did the Angel Moroni appear to?

A.      Mary Whitmer

B.      Emma Smith

C.      Lot Smith

D.     Warren Cowdery

Yesterday’s answer:

(D)   Utah

   William Paul Daniels was one of the first people of African descent to receive the gospel in Africa. He was born 28 August 1864 in Stellenbosch, South Africa, and served for 16 years as a deacon in the Dutch Reformed Church before being taught by the missionaries in 1913. Deeply impressed with the gospel message, he traveled with two of his sons to Utah in 1915 to observe Church members and more thoroughly study the gospel. During this eight-month visit, Brother Daniels was baptized. Prior to returning to South Africa, he received counsel from Elder David O. McKay of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who told him: “Don’t’ worry, Brother Daniels. If you don’t hold the priesthood on earth, you will hold it in heaven.” He also received a blessing from President Joseph F. Smith, which meant a great deal to him throughout his life.

   After Brother Daniels returned home he lived as a faithful Latter-day Saint, but the social atmosphere at the time made it difficult for his family to participate in Church meetings or activities. They usually held church in their home, and each Monday evening they studied Jesus the Christ. They called their family gatherings the “Branch of Love.”

Arnold K. Garr et al., Encyclopedia of Latter-day Saint History (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 2000), 274

Baptism Abroad

Baptism Abroad

 William Paul Daniels was one of the first individuals of African descent to hear the gospel while residing in South Africa. Where was he baptized?

A.      England

B.      Africa
C.      Australia
D.     Utah

Yesterday’s answer:

 (D)   A wigwam

In the summer of 1862, President Brigham Young came through Dixie. The people were so glad to see him that they took every means in their power to make everything as comfortable for him as possible. I remember too, when he stopped at Harrisberg at the time Dr. Pridy Meeks, my brother-in-law, and I, with our families were living in willow rooms that joined. The President stopped with us. He sat at the head of the table and had me sit down at his right. The President, when everything was ready, asked a blessing, then all began to eat. He asked for some buttermilk; then crumbed some bread in it and began to eat. He conversed freely on the situation of the Saints in the mountains, and said that he dreaded the time when the Saints would become popular with the world; for he had seen in sorrow, in a dream, or in dreams, this people clothed in the fashions of Babylon and drinking in the spirit of Babylon until one could hardly tell a Saint from a black-leg. And he felt like shouting, "To your tents, Oh Israel!" because it was the only thing that could keep the people pure. "I know that my families court the ways of the world too much," said he, "And our hope lies in the Lamanites. I hope that you brethren who labor among the Indians will be kind to them. Remember that someday they will take their position as the rightful heir to the principles of life and salvation, for they never will give up the principles of this Gospel. Many of this people for the sake of riches and popularity, will sell themselves for that which will canker their souls and lead them down to misery and despair. It would be better for them to dwell in wigwams among the Indians than to dwell with the gentiles and miss the glories which God wishes them to obtain. I wish my families would see the point and come forth before it is too late. For oh, I can see a tendency in my families to hug the moth-eaten customs of Babylon to their bosoms. This is far more hurtful to them than the deadly viper; for the poisons of the viper can be healed by the power of God, but the customs of Babylon will be hard to get rid of."

Autobiography of Mosiah Hancock, Typescript, BYU-S; htpp://www.boap.org/

A Prophetic Concern

On one occasion pioneer Mosiah Hancock ate at the same table with Brigham Young when President Young stated the Saints should live in what?

A.      A sod roof cabin

B.      An adobe hut

C.      The largest frame house affordable

D.     A wigwam

Yesterday’s answers:

1.      (D)   30 years of age (see Numbers 4:1-3)

2.      (D)   All of the above
It is true that Adam helped to form this earth along with Jesus Christ. Others involved could be Enoch, Noah, and possibly even Joseph Smith.

Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1956), 1:74-5.

3.      (B)   The American Revolution
In Old Testament times, the Mosaic Law stipulated the age of the soldiers. All able-bodied men twenty-years-old and up were eligible for military service. This standard continued into the American Revolution.

Old Testament Student Manual, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1980), 226.

4.      (A)   A person who devoted their life to the Lord
A Nazarite was a man or woman who took a voluntary vow to separate his life for the service of the Lord, or to live consecrated unto Him. Being a Nazarite had nothing to do with coming from the town of Nazareth.

C. F. Keil and F. Delitzsch. Commentary on the Old Testament. 10 bks. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., n.d.), 1:3:34.

5.      (B)   Abraham
Abraham’s vision of the Lord parallels Joseph Smiths experience at the time of the first vision, as it states that Abraham had “a horror of great darkness fell upon him.”

Genesis 15:12

6.      (C)   Is a celestial world
President Joseph Fielding Smith said: It is my opinion that the great stars that we see, including our sun, are celestial worlds; at least worlds that have passed on to their exaltation or other final resurrected status. This is in conflict, of course, with the teachings of scientific men, who declare that the sun is losing its energy and gradually cooling off and will eventually be a dead world. I do not believe the Lord has any such thing in his plan. The Lord lives in “everlasting burnings” we are informed. President Brigham Young had said that this earth when it is celestialzed will shine like the sun, and why not?
Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1956), 1:

Sunday Tidbits- The Bible and Church Teachings

1.      How old was a male when he first received the Aaronic Priesthood at the time of Moses?

A)     12

B)     75

C)     1

D)     30

2.      It is true that Adam (Michael) helped Jesus Christ in the creation of the world, but who are some other probable helpers in this endeavor?

A)     Enoch

B)     Noah

C)     Joseph Smith

D)     All of the above

3.      The Mosaic Law stipulates that 20 is the age when a man can first go to war. To what war was this the standard?

A)     World War II

B)     The American Revolution

C)     The Utah War

D)     The Civil War

4.      What is a Nazarite?

A)     A person that devotes his life to Heavenly Father

B)     A person from Nazareth

C)     A religious fanatic

D)     A sheep herder

5.      Prior to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ first appearing to Joseph Smith, he was over powered for a moment by Satan. What other Old Testament prophet had the same experience?

A)     Adam

B)     Abraham

C)     Enoch

D)     Jacob

6.      President Joseph Fielding Smith teaches that our sun is what?

A)     Slowly losing its energy and dying

B)     Made up of gases that keeps the earth warm

C)     Is a celestial world

D)     The place where Heavenly Father and Christ dwell

Yesterday’s answer:

(D) George Albert Smith

The church had gone full circle after being rejected by Martin Van Buren in 1839 to President George Albert Smith offering the prayer to open the U.S. Senate session (20^th May, 1947), the first Church leader to be so invited. President Hugh B. Brown repeated this same honor on 20^th May 1966 and then Elder Gordon B. Hinckley gave the invocation at the U.S. Congress on September 12, 1974.

Richard Neitzel Holzpfel et al., On This Day In The Church (Salt Lake City: Eagle Gate, 2000), 100, 177.