[Apostle Rudger Clawson Diary] ...Meeting adjourned to Sacrament table. Benediction by Pres. Jos. F. Smith. The brethren repaired to the sacrament table; the bread and wine were blessed by Elder Clawson. Note: the Twelve did not hold their usual quarterly meetings on account of so few of the Twelve being at home, and other matters arising. (1)
-- Thursday, Apr 14, 1904
[Apostle Rudger Clawson Diary] ...There [was] some informal talk in regard to the policy of leasing Saltair and incidentally granting the privilege of selling liquor there. It was conceded that, if the Latter-day Saints were strong enough by their patronage to sustain Saltair, there would be no necessity of leasing; but their patronage is not sufficient, and the gentiles will not give their support without the liquor privilege, so it was considered good policy by the Beach Co. to lease the property and, if liquor were sold, the odium must rest upon the lessee. The price fixed for rental was $30,000â€"$18,000 for the railroad and $22,000 [$12,000] for the beach.... (1)
-- Apr 14,1904
[Utah] First Presidency and apostles decide to resume sale of liquor at church resort of Saltair due to need for non-Mormon patronage. (2)
-- Thursday, May 5, 1904
[Apostle Rudger Clawson Diary] ...Elder Hyrum M. Smith was in attendance at the Cache Stake Conference. Good attendance and general counsels were given. The bishop of the 2nd Ward informed him, just as he stopped on the train to return home, that there is a patriarch [Rasmus Rasmussen] in the Cache Stake in Logan, who visits the saloon and who is guilty of stealing whiskey in small bottles from the saloon. The empty bottles had ben found in his home, and yet he is sustained in his position as patriarch.... (1)
-- Thursday, May 12, 1904
[Apostle Rudger Clawson Diary] ...Letters
Pres. [Joseph] Morrell of Cache Stake wrote, explaining in relation to the matter of Patriarch [Rasmus] Rasmussen's visit to a saloon in Logan as reported at last meeting. The explanation given was that he had gone there to sell some eggs, and while there that the proprietor had slipped a bottle of whiskey into his pocket and later accused him of stealing it, and extorted money from himâ€"hush money. The brethren of the council didn't think the explanation very satisfactory and concluded to make further enquiries.... (1)
Footnotes:
1 - Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson
2 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-1996, http://amzn.to/extensions-power
LDS History Chronology: the Word of Wisdom
Mormon Timeline: the Word of Wisdom
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
