Mormon Pioneer Centennial-- Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah.
The centennial of the arrival of the Mormon pioneers in Utah, July 24, 1847, was being celebrated with, among other activities, a centennial postal cachet which was offered either through L.D.S. Church headquarters or directly from the postmaster of Salt Lake City, Utah. (1)
Ward and stake fund-raising to be confined within their jurisdictions-- Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Local L.D.S. ward or stake fund-raising projects are not to be extended on a regional or Church-wide basis for reasons of justice and fairness and because of the confusion and chaos that would result from such action within the Church. (1)
-- Jul 17, 1947
"From the days of the Prophet Joseph even until now, it has been the doctrine of the Church, never questioned by any of the Church leaders, that the Negroes are not entitled to the full blessings of the Gospel. Furthermore, your ideas, as we understand them, appear to contemplate the intermarriage of the Negro and White races, a concept which has heretofore been most repugnant to most normal-minded people from the ancient patriarchs till now. God's rule for Israel, His Chosen People, has been endogamous. Modern Israel has been similarly directed. We are not unmindful of the fact that there is growing tendency, particularly among some educators, as it manifests itself in this area, toward the breaking down of race barriers in the matter of intermarriage between whites and blacks, but it does not have the sanction of the Church and is contrary to Church doctrine." -- First Presidency Letter to Dr. Lowry Nelson (2)
First Presidency letter states: "From the days of the Prophet Joseph even until now, it has been the doctrine of the Church, never questioned by any of the Church leaders, that the Negroes are not entitled to the full blessings of the Gospel. Furthermore, your ideas, as we understand them, appear to contemplate the intermarriage of the Negro and White races, a concept which has heretofore been most repugnant to most normal-minded people from the ancient patriarchs till now. God's rule for Israel, His Chosen People, has been endogamous. Modern Israel has been similarly directed. We are not unmindful of the fact that there is growing tendency, particularly among some educators, as it manifests itself in this area, toward the breaking down of race barriers in the matter of intermarriage between whites and blacks, but it does not have the sanction of the Church and is contrary to Church doctrine." (3)
-- Jul 21, 1947
TIME MAGAZINE features President George Albert Smith on its cover. (3)
Time magazine features President George Albert Smith on its cover and highlights the centennial of the arrival of the Mormon pioneers in the Great Basin. (4)
-- Jul 22, 1947
A caravan of wagon-canopied automobiles of the same number of people as the original pioneer company, arrived in Salt Lake City after following the Mormon Pioneer Trail. (5)
-- Jul 24, 1947
Church members celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Pioneers' arrival in Salt Lake Valley. The "This Is the Place" monument was dedicated by President George Albert Smith. (5)
This Is the Place Monument dedicated during pioneer centennial. (6)
-- July 24, 1947
[George Albert Smith] On July 24, 1947, he dedicated the newly-completed 'This Is The Place' monument. (7)
Footnotes:
1 - Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)
2 - LDS Quotations, http://www.advent-adam.com/jakestand.html
3 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
4 - The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com
5 - Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html
6 - Hemidakaota, "Church Chronology from 1800-2000," http://www.lds.net/forums/scripture-study-forum/12108-church-chronology-1800-2000-part-1-a.html#post214550
7 - LDSIndex.com
LDS History Chronology: George Albert Smith
Mormon History Timeline: The life of George Albert Smith
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
