-- Mar 27, 1836
[Brigham Young Sermon] President Brigham Young gave a short address in tongues, and David W. Patten interpreted. -- Kirtland, Ohio [History of the Church. 7 Vols. B. H. Roberts, ed. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, Co., 1902. 2:428] (1)
[Joseph Smith] The Kirtland Temple is dedicated. The doors to the temple are open at seven A.M. Joseph seats the people. Almost 1,000 enter, many others are turned away. Contributions in excess of $950 are given. At nine A.M. Sidney Rigdon opens the service and speaks for two and a half hours on the need for belief in "present revelation," at one point drawing tears from many. He says that in spite of the many houses of worship built on the earth, this is the only one built by divine revelation. Songs of hosanna are sung. The audience rises to sustain the First Presidency. The Twelve are sustained "as Prophets, Seers, Revelators, and special witnesses to all nations of the earth." (History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (7 volumes) 2:417.) The Presidents of the Seventy are sustained as "Apostles and special witnesses to the nations, to assist the Twelve in opening the Gospel kingdom among all people." Other officers are also sustained. "The vote was unanimous in every instance." (HC 2:418.) Another hymn is sung. Joseph offers the dedicatoryprayer, which was given by revelation. It is recorded as D&C 109.The dedication is then unanimously accepted and the Lord's Supper is administered. Others rise to speak. President Frederick G. Williams testifies that an angel entered the window. David Whitmer also testifies that he saw an angel. President Brigham Young gives a short speech in tongues, which David W. Patten interprets; Elder Patten then speaks in tongues himself. The meeting is adjourned at about four o'clock.In the evening 416 brothers meet for the ordinance of the washing of feet. George A. Smith begins to prophesy, and a noise "like the sound of a rushing mighty wind" fills the temple; all arise and feel the invisible power, and experience visions, angels, the gift of tongues. People in the neighborhood hearing unusual noises and seeing the bright light above the temple run toward it to see what is happening. (History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (7 volumes) 2:410-28.) (2)
[Joseph Smith Diary] 27th Sunday morning the 27th The congregation began to assemble /at the Chapel [Kirtland Temple]/ at about 7 o'clock, one hour earlier than the doors were to be opened. Many brethren had come in from the regions round about to witness the dedication of the Lord's House and Share in His blessings. Such was the anxiety on this occasion that Some hundreds (probably five or six) assembled collected before the doors were opened.
The Presidency entered with the door ke[e]pers and ar[r]anged them at the inner and outer doors, also placed our stewards to receiv[e] donations from those who should feel disposed to contribute something to defray the expenses of building the House of the Lord. /We also dedicated the pulpits and concecrated them to the Lord/ The doors were then opened.
President Rigdon, President Cowdery, and myself Seated the congregation as they came in. According to the best calculations we could make we received between 9 /hundred/ and 1,000 which is as many as can be comfortably situated. We then informed the door keepers that we could receive no more and a multitude were deprived of the benefits of the meeting on account of the House not being sufficiently capacious [spacious] to receive them.
I felt to regret that any of my brethren and sisters should be deprived of the meeting. I recommended them to repair to the School house and hold a meeting which they did and filled that house /also/ and yet many were left out.
The assembly were then organized in the following manner, viz:
President F. G. Williams, Presdt Joseph Smith, Sen father and Presdt W. W. Phelps occupied the first pulpit /in the west end of the house/ for the Melchisedec priesthood. Presdt S. Rigdon. myself, and Prest Hyrum Smith the 2nd. Presdt D. Whitmer, Presdt O. Cowdery, and Presdt John Whitmer the 3rd. The 4th was occupied by the preisdent of the high priests and his counselors and 2 choristers, 12 apostles on the right, the high council of Kirtland on the left. The pulpits /in the east end of the house/ for the Aaronic priesthood were occupied in the following manner: The Bishop of Kirtland and his counsellors in the 2nd, the presdt of the priest and his counsellors in the 3rd, the presdt of the Teachers and his counsellors in the 4th, the 7 presdt of the seventies. The high council of Zion on the right, the 7 presdt of the Seventies on the left.
West end of the House
Pres[i]d[en]t F[rederick] Williams, Pres[i]d[en]t Joseph Smith, Sen[ior], and President W[illiam] W. Phelps occupied the 1st pulpit for the Melchisedic Priesthood. Pres[i]d[en]t S[idney] Rigdon, myself, and Pres[i]d[en]t Hyrum Smith in the 2nd [pulpit]. Pres[i]d[ent] D[avid] Whitmer, Pres[i]d[en]t O[liver] Cowdery, and Pres[i]d[en]t J[ohn] Whitmer in the 3d [pulpit]. The 4th [pulpit] was occipied by the President of the High Priests and his counsellors, and 2 choiresters. The 12 Apostles on the right in the 3 highest seats, the Pres[i]d[en]t of the Eld[e]rs, his clerk, and counsellors in the seat immediately below the 12 [Apostles]. The High Council of Kirtland consisting of 12 [counsellors] on the left in the 3 first seats. The 4th seat below them was occupied by Eld[e]rs W[arren] A. Cowdery and W[arren] Parrish who served as scribes.
The pulpits in the east end of the House for the Aaronic Priesthood were occupied as follows: The Bishop of Kirtland and his counsellors in the 1st pulpit. The Bishop of Zion and his counsillors in the 2nd. The Pres[i]d[en]t of the Priests and his counsellors in the 3d. The Pres[i]d[en]t of the Teachers and his counsellors /and one choirester/ in the 4th. The High Council of Zion consisting of 12 counsellors on the right. The Pres[i]d[en]t of the Deacons and his counsillors in the seat below them. The 7 Pres[i]d[en]ts of the Seventies on the left. The choir of singers were seated in the 4 corners of the room in seats prepared for that purpose.
/Rec[eive]d by contribution $960.00
/9 o'clock A.M. the servises of the day were opened by Pres[i]d[en]t S[idney] Rigdon by reading 1st the 96th Psalm [and] secondly the 24th Psalm. The choir then Sung hymn on the 29th page of Latter day Saints' collection of hymns ["Ere long the veil will rend in twain," by Parley P. Pratt]. Prayer by Pres[i]d[en]t Rigdon. Choir then sung hymn on 14th page ["O happy souls, who pray," William W. Phelps]. Pres[i]d[en]t Rigdon then /read/ the 18[th], 19[th] and 20[th] verses of the 8th Chapter of Mat[t]hew and preached more particularly from the 20th verse. His prayer and address were very forcible and sublime, and well adapted to the occasion.
After he close his sermon, he called upon the several quorums commenceing with the Presidency to manifest by rising up their willingness to acknowledge me as a prophet and seer and uphold me as such by their p[r]ayers of faith. All the quorums in their turn cheerfully complyed with this request. He then called upon all the congregation of Saints also to give their assent by rising on their feet which they did unanimously.
After [an] intermission of 20 minutes the servises of the day were resumed by singing Adam-ondi-Ahman. I then made a short address and called upon the several quorums and all the congregation of Saints to acknowledge the Presidency as Prophets and Seers and uphold them by their prayers. They all covenanted to do so by rising.
I then called upon the quorums and congregation of Saints to acknowledge the 12 Apostles who were present as Prophets and Seers and special witnesses to all the nations of the earth, holding the keys of the kingdom to unlock it or cause it to be done among all nations them and [to] uphold them by their prayers, which they assented to by rising.* [see note bottom of manuscript page 176]
I then called upon the quorums and congregation of Saints to acknowledge the High Council of Kirtland in all the authorities of the Melchisedec Priesthood and uphold them by their prayers which they assented to by rising.
I then called upon the quorums and congregation of Saints to acknowledge and uphold by their prayers the Bishops of Kirtland and Zion and their counsellors, the Presidents of the Priests in all the authority of the Aaronic Priesthood which they did by rising.
I then called upon the quorums and congregation of Saints to acknowledge the High Council of Zion and uphold them by their prayers in all authority of the High Priesthood which they did by rising.
I next called upon the quorums and congregation of Saints to acknowledge the Presidents of the Seventys who act as their represent[at]ives as /Apostles and/ special witnesses to the nations to assist the 12 [Apostles] in opening the gospel kingdom among all people and to uphold them by their prayers which they did by rising.
I then called upon the quorums and all the Saints to acknowledge [the] President of Elders and his counsellors and uphold them by their prayers which they did by rising.
The quorums and congregation of Saints were then called upon to acknowledge and uphold by their prayers the Presidents of the Priests, Teachers, and Deacons and their counsellors which they did by rising.
* N.B. The Presidents of the Seventys were acknowledged first after the 12 Apostles.
The hymn on the hundred and 14 page ["How pleased and blessed was I," by Isaac Watts] was then sung, after which I offered to God the following dedication prayer:
[Dedicatory] Prayer
At the dedication of the Lord's House in Kirtland, Ohio, March 27th 1836 by Joseph Smith, Jr., President of the Church of the Latter Day Saints.
Thanks be to thy name, O Lord God of Israel, who keepest covenant and shewest mercy unto thy servants, who walk uprightly before thee with all their hearts. Thou who hast commanded thy servants to build an house to thy name in this place (Kirtland). And now thou beholdest, O Lord, that so thy servants have done according to thy commandment. And now we ask the[e], Holy Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of thy bosom, in whose name alone salvation can be administered to the children of men, we ask the[e], O Lord, to accept of this house, the workmanship of the hands of us, thy servants, which thou didst command us to build; for thou knowest that we have done this work through great tribulation; and out of our poverty we have given of our substance to build a house to thy name, that the Son of Man might have a place to manifest himself to his people.
And as thou hast said, in a revelation given unto us, calling us thy friends, saying, "Call your Solemn Assembly, as I have commanded you; and as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; Seek learning; even by study, and also by faith. Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house [of] fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God; that your incomings may be in the name of the Lord, that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord: that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands to the Most High."
And now, Holy Father, we ask thee to assist us, thy people with thy grace in calling our Solemn Assembly, that it may be done to thy honor, and to thy divine acceptance, and in a manner that we may be found worthy in thy sight to secure a fulfil[l]ment of the promises which thou hast made unto us thy people, in the revelatio[n]s given unto us; that thy glory may rest down upon thy people, and upon this thy house, which we now dedicate to thee; that it may be sanctified and consecrated to be holy, and that thy holy presence may be continually in this house; and that all people who shall enter upon the threshold of the Lord's House may feel thy power and be constrained to acknowledge that thou hast sanctified it, and that it is thy house, a place of thy holiness.
And do thou grant, Holy Father, that all those who shall worship in this house, may be taught words of wisdom out of the best books, and that they may seek learning, even by study, and also by faith, as thou hast said; and that they may grow up in thee and receive a fulness of the Holy Ghost, and be organized according to thy laws, and be prepared to obtain every needful thing and that this house may be a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of glory and of God, even thy house; that all the incomings of thy people, into this house, may be in the name of the Lord; that all their outgoings, from this house, may be in the name of the Lord; that all their salutations may be in the name of [the] Lord, with holy hands uplifted to the Most High; and that no unclean thing shall be permitted to come into thy house to pollute it.
And when thy people transgress, any of them, they may speedily repent and return to thee, and find favour in thy sight, and be restored to the blessings which thou hast ordained, to be poured out upon those who shall reverance thee in this thy house.
And we ask, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house, armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them, and from this place they may bear exceeding great and glorious tidings, in truth, unto the ends of the earth, that they may know that this is thy work, and that thou hast put forth thy hand, to fulfil that which thou hast spoken by the mouths of thy prophets concerning the last days.
We ask the[e], Holy Father, to establish the people that shall worship and honorably hold a name and standing in this thy house, to all generations, and for eterni/ty/ that no weapon formed against them shall prosper; that he who diggeth a pit for them shall fall into the same himself; that no combination of wickedness shall have power to rise up and prevail over thy people, upon whom thy name shall be put in this house: and if any people shall rise against this people, that thine anger be kindled against them: and if they shall smite this people, thou wilt smite them, thou wilt fight for thy people as thou didst in the day of battle, that they may be delivered from the hands of all their enemies.
We ask thee, Holy Father, to confound and astonish, and bring to shame and confusion, all those who have spread lying reports abroad over the world against thy servant or servants, if they will not repent when the everlasting gospel shall be proclaimed in their ears, and that all their works may be brought to nought, and be swept away by the hail, and by the judgements, which thou wilt send upon them in thine anger, that their may be an end to lyings and slanders against thy people: for thou knowest, O Lord, that thy servants have been innocent before thee in bearing record of thy name for which they have suffered these things, therefore we plead before thee a full and complete deliverance from under this yoke. Break it off O Lord; break it off from the necks of thy servants, by thy power, that we may rise up in the midst of this generation and do thy work!
O Jehovah, have mercy upon this people, and as all men sin, forgive the transgressions of thy people, and let them be blotted out forever. Let the anointing of thy ministers be sealed upon them with power from on high. Let it be fulfilled upon them as upon those on the day of Pentacost. Let the gift of tongues be poured out upon thy people, even cloven tongues as of fire, and the interpretation thereof. And let thy house be filled, as with a rushing mighty wind, with thy glory.
Put upon thy servants the testimony of the covenant that where they go out and proclaim thy word, they may seal up the law, and prepare the hearts of thy Saints for all those judg/e/ments thou art about to send, in thy wrath, upon the inhabitants of the earth because of their transgressions, that thy people may not faint in the day of trouble.
And whatever city thy servants shall enter, and the people of that city receive not their testimony let thy peace and thy salvation be upon that city, that they may gather out from that city the righteous, that they may come forth to Zion or to her stakes, the places of thine appointment, with songs of everlasting joy, and until this be ac[c]omplished let not thy judgements fall upon that city.
And whatever city thy servants shall enter, and the people of that city receive not their testimony of thy servants, and thy servants warn them to save themselves from this untoward generation let it be upon that city according to that which thou hast spoken, by the mouths of thy prophets; but deliver thou, O Jehovah, we beseech thee, thy servants from their hands, and cleanse them from their blood. O Lord, we delight not in the destruction of our fellow men; their souls are precious before thee, but thy word must be fulfilled. Help thy servants to say, with thy grace assisting them, thy will be done, O Lord, and not ours.
We know that thou hast spoken by the mouth of thy prophets, terrible things concerning the wicked in the last days, that thou wilt pour out thy judgements, without measure. Therefore, O Lord, deliver thy people from the calamity of the wicked. Enable thy servants to seal up the law and bind up the testimony, that they may be prepared against the day of burning.
We ask thee, Holy Father, to remember those who have been driven by the inhabitants of Jackson County, Missouri, from the lands of their inheritance, and break off, O Lord, this yoke of affliction that has been put upon them. Thou knowest, O Lord, that they have been greatly oppressed and afflicted, by wicked men, and our hearts flow out in sorrow because of their grevious [grievous] burdens. O Lord, how long wilt thou suffer this people to bear this affliction and the cries of the innocent ones to ascend up in thine ears, and their blood to come up in testimony before thee and not make a display of thy power in their behalf?
Have mercy, O Lord, upon that wicked mob, who have driven thy people, that they may cease to spoil, that they may repent of their sins, if repentance is to be found; but if they will not, make bare thine arm, O Lord, and redeem that which thou didst appoint a Zion unto thy people. And if it cannot be otherwise, [grant] that the cause of thy people may not fail before thee. May thine anger be kindled and thine indignation fall upon them that they may be wasted away, both root and branch from under heaven; but inasmuch as they will repent, thou art gracious and merciful, and will turn away thy wrath, when thou lookest upon the face of thine anointed.
Have mercy, O Lord, upon all the nations of the earth. Have mercy upon the rulers of our land. May those principles which were so honorably and nobly defended: viz, the Constitution of our land, by our fathers, be established forever. Remember the Kings, the princes, the nobles, and the great ones of the earth, and all people, and the Churches, all the poor, the needy, and the afflicted ones of the earth; that their hearts may be softened when thy servants shall go out from thy house, O Jehovah, to bear testimony of thy name, /that/ their prejudices may give way before the truth, and thy people may obtain favour in the sight of all, that all the ends of the earth may know that we thy servants have heard thy voice, and that thou hast sent us, that from among all these thy servants, the sons of Jacob, may gather out the righteous to build a holy city to thy name, as thou hast commanded them.
We ask thee to appoint unto Zion other stakes besides this one, which thou hast appointed, that the gathering of thy people may roll on in great power and majesty, that thy work may be cut short in righteousness.
Now these words, O Lord, we have spoken before thee, concerning the revelations and commandments which thou hast given unto us, who are i[de]ntified with the Gentiles. But thou knowest that we have a great love for the children of Jacob who have been scattered upon the mountains, for a long time in a cloudy and dark day.
We therefore ask thee to have mercy upon the children of Jacob, that Jerusalem, from this hour, may begin to be redeemed, and the yoke of bondage may begin to be broken off from the house of David, and the children of Judah may begin to return to the lands which thou didst give to Abraham, their father, and cause that the remnants of Jacob, who have been cursed and smitten, because of their transgression, to be converted from their wild and savage condition, to the fulness of the everlasting gospel, that they may lay down their weapons of bloodshed and cease their rebellions. And may all the scattered remnants of Israel, who have been driven to the ends of the earth, come to a knowledge of the truth, believe in the Messiah, and be redeemed from oppression, and rejoice before thee.
O Lord, remember thy servant Joseph Smith, Jun[ior], and all his afflictions and persecutions, how he has covenanted with Jehovah and vowed to thee O mighty God of Jacob, and the commandments which thou hast given unto him, and that he hath sincerely strove to do thy will. Have mercy, O Lord, upon his wife and children, that they may be exalted in thy presence, and preserved by thy fostering hand. Have mercy upon all their immediate connexions, that their prejudices may be broken up, and swept away as with a flood, that they may be converted and redeemed with Israel and know that thou art God.
Remember, O Lord, the Presidents, even all the Presidents of thy Church, that thy right hand may exalt them with all their families, and their immediate connexions, that their names may be perpetuated and had in everlasting rememberance from generation to generation.
Remember all thy Church, O Lord, with all their families, and all their immediate connexions, with all their sick and afflicted ones, with all the poor and meek of the earth, that the kingdom which thou hast set up without hands, may become a great mountain and fill the whole earth, that thy Church may come forth out of the wilderness of darkness, and shine forth fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners, and be adorned as a bride for that day when thou shalt unveil the heavens, and cause the mountains to flow down at thy presence, and the valleys to be exalted, the rough places made smooth, that thy glory may fill the earth. That when the trump shall sound for the dead, we shall be caught up in the cloud to meet thee, that we may ever be with the Lord, that our garments may be pure, that we may [be] clothed upon with robes of righteousness, with palms in our hands, and crowns of glory upon our heads, and reap eternal joy for all our sufferings.
O Lord, God Almighty, hear us in these our petitions, and answer us from heaven, thy holy habitation, where thou sittest enthroned with glory, honour, power, majesty, might, dominion, truth, justice, judgement, mercy, and an infinity of fulness, from everlasting to everlasting.
O hear, O hear, O hear us, O Lord, and answer these petitions, and accept the dedication of this house unto thee, the work of our hands, which we have built unto thy name; and also this Church to put upon it thy name. And help us by the power of thy spirit, that we may mingle our voices with those bright shining seruphs, around thy throne with acclamation of praise, singing hosanna to God and the Lamb! And let these thine anointed ones be clothed with salvation, and thy Saints shout aloud for joy. Amen and Amen.
Sung "Hosanah to God and the Lamb," after which the Lord's Supper was administered.
I then bore testimony of the administering of angels. Pres[i]d[en]t Williams also arose and testified that while Pres[i]d[en]t Rigdon was making his first prayer an angel entered the window and /took his/ [position] seated between Father Smith and himself, and remained their during his prayer. Pres[i]d[en]t David Whitmer also saw angels in the House.
We then sealed the proceedings of the day by shouting hosanah to God and the Lamb 3 times, sealing it each time with Amen, Amen, and Amen and after requesting all the official members to meet again in the evening we retired. Met in the evening and instructed the quorums respecting the ordinance of washing of feet which we were to attend to on Wednesday following. (3)
Endnotes:
1 - The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009)
2 - Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology
3 - Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1835-36, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Speaking in Tongues, Friday, the 22nd
-- Friday, the 22nd
[Oliver Cowdery] Copied blessings. At evening met in the president's room where were the presidents, the twelve, the presidents of the 70, the high councils of Kirtland and Zion, and the bishops and their counsellors. The presidents proceeded and annointed Thomas B. Marsh, the president of the twelve, and he annointed the other eleven. The twelve then proceeded, president Marsh taking the lead, and annointed the presidents of the Seventy. Elder Don Carlos Smith was ordained and annointed president of the high priesthood of the Melchisedek priesthood, by the presidents of the Church Church. Near the Close of the meeting, 2 O'clock in the morning, almost all present broke out in tongues and songs of Zion. (1)
-- Feb 6, 1836
[Joseph Smith Diary] Saturday, 6th Called the anointed together to receive the seal of all their blessings. The High Priests and Elders [met] in the council room as usual. The Seventy [met] with the Twelve [Apostles] in the second room and the Bishop in the 3rd. I laboured with each of these quorems for some time to bring [them] to the order which God had shown /to/ me which is as follows:
[The] first part to be spent in solemn prayer before God without any talking or confusion and the conclusion with a sealing prayer by Pres[ident] Sidney Rigdon when all the quorems are to shout with one accord a solemn hosannah to God and the Lamb with an Amen, Amen, and Amen. Then all take [their] seats and lift up their hearts in silent prayer to God and if any obtain a prophecy or vision to rise and speak that all may be edified and rejoice together.
I had considerable trouble to get all the quorems united in this order. I went from room to room repeatedly and charged each separately, assuring them that it was according to the mind of God. Yet notwithstanding all my labour, while I was in the east room with the Bishops' quorems, I felt by the spirit that something was wrong in the quorem of Elders in the west room.
I immediately requested Pres[ident] O[liver] Cowdery and H[yrum] Smith to go in and see what was the matter. The quorem of Elders had not observed the order which I had given them. [They] were reminded of it by Pres[ident] [Don] Carloss Smith and mildly requested to observe order and continue in prayer and [as] requested. Some of them replied that they had a teacher of their own and did not wish to be troubled by others. This caused the spirit of the Lord to withdraw. This interrupted the meeting and this quorem lost th[e]ir blessing in a great measure.
The other quorems were more careful and the quorem of the Seventy enjoyed a great flow of the Holy Spirit. Many arose and spok[e], testifying that they were filled with the Holy Spirit which was like fire in their bones, so that they could not hold their peace, but were constrained to cry hosannah to God and the Lamb and glory in the highest.
Pres[ident] W[illia]m Smith, one of the Twelve [Apostles], saw a vision of the Twelve and Seven[ties] in council together in old England. [He] prophecied that a great work would be done by them in the old co[u]ntries and God already beginning the work in the hearts of the p[e]ople. Pres[ident] Z[ebedee] Coltrin, one of the seven [Presidents of the Seventy], saw a vision of the Lord's Host. Others were filled with the spirit and spoke in tongues and prophecied. This was a time of rejoicing long to be remembered! Praise the Lord. (2)
Endnotes:
1 - Oliver Cowdery Sketch Book
2 - Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1835-36, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
[Oliver Cowdery] Copied blessings. At evening met in the president's room where were the presidents, the twelve, the presidents of the 70, the high councils of Kirtland and Zion, and the bishops and their counsellors. The presidents proceeded and annointed Thomas B. Marsh, the president of the twelve, and he annointed the other eleven. The twelve then proceeded, president Marsh taking the lead, and annointed the presidents of the Seventy. Elder Don Carlos Smith was ordained and annointed president of the high priesthood of the Melchisedek priesthood, by the presidents of the Church Church. Near the Close of the meeting, 2 O'clock in the morning, almost all present broke out in tongues and songs of Zion. (1)
-- Feb 6, 1836
[Joseph Smith Diary] Saturday, 6th Called the anointed together to receive the seal of all their blessings. The High Priests and Elders [met] in the council room as usual. The Seventy [met] with the Twelve [Apostles] in the second room and the Bishop in the 3rd. I laboured with each of these quorems for some time to bring [them] to the order which God had shown /to/ me which is as follows:
[The] first part to be spent in solemn prayer before God without any talking or confusion and the conclusion with a sealing prayer by Pres[ident] Sidney Rigdon when all the quorems are to shout with one accord a solemn hosannah to God and the Lamb with an Amen, Amen, and Amen. Then all take [their] seats and lift up their hearts in silent prayer to God and if any obtain a prophecy or vision to rise and speak that all may be edified and rejoice together.
I had considerable trouble to get all the quorems united in this order. I went from room to room repeatedly and charged each separately, assuring them that it was according to the mind of God. Yet notwithstanding all my labour, while I was in the east room with the Bishops' quorems, I felt by the spirit that something was wrong in the quorem of Elders in the west room.
I immediately requested Pres[ident] O[liver] Cowdery and H[yrum] Smith to go in and see what was the matter. The quorem of Elders had not observed the order which I had given them. [They] were reminded of it by Pres[ident] [Don] Carloss Smith and mildly requested to observe order and continue in prayer and [as] requested. Some of them replied that they had a teacher of their own and did not wish to be troubled by others. This caused the spirit of the Lord to withdraw. This interrupted the meeting and this quorem lost th[e]ir blessing in a great measure.
The other quorems were more careful and the quorem of the Seventy enjoyed a great flow of the Holy Spirit. Many arose and spok[e], testifying that they were filled with the Holy Spirit which was like fire in their bones, so that they could not hold their peace, but were constrained to cry hosannah to God and the Lamb and glory in the highest.
Pres[ident] W[illia]m Smith, one of the Twelve [Apostles], saw a vision of the Twelve and Seven[ties] in council together in old England. [He] prophecied that a great work would be done by them in the old co[u]ntries and God already beginning the work in the hearts of the p[e]ople. Pres[ident] Z[ebedee] Coltrin, one of the seven [Presidents of the Seventy], saw a vision of the Lord's Host. Others were filled with the spirit and spoke in tongues and prophecied. This was a time of rejoicing long to be remembered! Praise the Lord. (2)
Endnotes:
1 - Oliver Cowdery Sketch Book
2 - Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1835-36, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Speaking in Tongues, Jan 19, 1836
-- Jan 19, 1836
[Joseph Smith Diary] 19th Tuesday the 19th Spent the day at School. The Lord blessed us in our Studies. This day we commenced reading in our Hebrew Bibles with much success. It seems as if the Lord opens our minds in a marvelous manner to understand his word in the original language. My prayer is that God will speedily indu [endow] us with a knowledge of all langnages and toungs [tongues] that his servants may go forth for the last time to bind up the law and seal up the testimony.
Form of Marriage Certificate
I hereby certify that agreeably to the rules and regulations of the Church of Christ of Latter-Day Saints on matrimony, were joined in marriage Mr. William F. Cahoon and Miss Nancy M. Gibbs, both of this place, on Sabbath the 17th instant.
Joseph Smith, Jun[ior]
Presiding Elder of said Church
Kirtland, Ohio, January 18th 1836 (1)
-- Jan 21, 1836
[Joseph Smith Diary] ....
The heavens were opened upon us ... [I saw] Eld[e]r Brigham Young standing in a strange land in the far southwest, in a desert place, upon a rock in the midst of about a dozen men of colour who appeared hostile. He was preaching to them in their own toung [tongue] and the angel of God standing above his head with a drawn sword in his hand protec[t]ing him, but he did not see it. ... (1)
-- Jan 22, 1836
[Joseph Smith Diary] ...
We called [the meeting] to order and organized. The Presidency then proceeded to consecrate the oil. We then laid our hands upon Elder Thomas B. Marsh who is the President of the 12 [Apostles] and ordained him to the authority of anointing his brethren. I then pour[eld the consecrated oil upon his head in the name of Jesus Christ and sealed such blessings upon him as the Lord put into my heart. The rest of the Presidency then laid their hands upon him and blessed him each in their turn beginning at the eldest. He [Elder Marsh] then anointed /and blessed/ his brethren from the oldest to the youngest. I also laid my hands upon them and pronounced many great and glorious [blessings] upon their heads. The heavens were opened and angels ministered unto US.
The 12 [Apostles] then proceeded to anoint and bless the Presidency of the 70 and seal upon their heads power and authority to anoint their brethren. The heavens were opened upon Elder Sylvester Smith and he leaping up exclaimed, "The Horsemen of Israel and the chariots thereof." Br[other] [Don] Carloss Smith was also annointed and blessed to preside over the High Priesthood.
President Rigdon arose to conclude the servises of the evening by invoking the benediction of heaven upon the Lord's anointed /which he did/ in an eloquent manner. The congregation shouted a loud hosannah.
The gift of toungs [tongues] fell upon us in mighty pow[e]r, angels mingled their voices with ours, while their presence was in our midst and unseasing pra[i]ses swelled our bosoms for the space of half an hour.
I then observed to the brethren that it was time to retire. We accordingly /closed/ our interview and returned home at about 2 o'clock in the morning. The spirit and visions of God attended me through the night. (1)
Endnotes:
1 - Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1835-36, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
[Joseph Smith Diary] 19th Tuesday the 19th Spent the day at School. The Lord blessed us in our Studies. This day we commenced reading in our Hebrew Bibles with much success. It seems as if the Lord opens our minds in a marvelous manner to understand his word in the original language. My prayer is that God will speedily indu [endow] us with a knowledge of all langnages and toungs [tongues] that his servants may go forth for the last time to bind up the law and seal up the testimony.
Form of Marriage Certificate
I hereby certify that agreeably to the rules and regulations of the Church of Christ of Latter-Day Saints on matrimony, were joined in marriage Mr. William F. Cahoon and Miss Nancy M. Gibbs, both of this place, on Sabbath the 17th instant.
Joseph Smith, Jun[ior]
Presiding Elder of said Church
Kirtland, Ohio, January 18th 1836 (1)
-- Jan 21, 1836
[Joseph Smith Diary] ....
The heavens were opened upon us ... [I saw] Eld[e]r Brigham Young standing in a strange land in the far southwest, in a desert place, upon a rock in the midst of about a dozen men of colour who appeared hostile. He was preaching to them in their own toung [tongue] and the angel of God standing above his head with a drawn sword in his hand protec[t]ing him, but he did not see it. ... (1)
-- Jan 22, 1836
[Joseph Smith Diary] ...
We called [the meeting] to order and organized. The Presidency then proceeded to consecrate the oil. We then laid our hands upon Elder Thomas B. Marsh who is the President of the 12 [Apostles] and ordained him to the authority of anointing his brethren. I then pour[eld the consecrated oil upon his head in the name of Jesus Christ and sealed such blessings upon him as the Lord put into my heart. The rest of the Presidency then laid their hands upon him and blessed him each in their turn beginning at the eldest. He [Elder Marsh] then anointed /and blessed/ his brethren from the oldest to the youngest. I also laid my hands upon them and pronounced many great and glorious [blessings] upon their heads. The heavens were opened and angels ministered unto US.
The 12 [Apostles] then proceeded to anoint and bless the Presidency of the 70 and seal upon their heads power and authority to anoint their brethren. The heavens were opened upon Elder Sylvester Smith and he leaping up exclaimed, "The Horsemen of Israel and the chariots thereof." Br[other] [Don] Carloss Smith was also annointed and blessed to preside over the High Priesthood.
President Rigdon arose to conclude the servises of the evening by invoking the benediction of heaven upon the Lord's anointed /which he did/ in an eloquent manner. The congregation shouted a loud hosannah.
The gift of toungs [tongues] fell upon us in mighty pow[e]r, angels mingled their voices with ours, while their presence was in our midst and unseasing pra[i]ses swelled our bosoms for the space of half an hour.
I then observed to the brethren that it was time to retire. We accordingly /closed/ our interview and returned home at about 2 o'clock in the morning. The spirit and visions of God attended me through the night. (1)
Endnotes:
1 - Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1835-36, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Speaking in Tongues, Nov 12, 1835
-- Nov 12, 1835
[Joseph Smith Diary] ... But when you are endowed and prepared to preach the gospel to all nations, kindred and toungs [tongues] in there own languages you must faithfully warn all and bind up the testimony and seal up the law. ... (1)
-- Dec 29, 1835
[Patriarchal Blessings] Patriarchal Blessing of Lyman Wight given by Joseph Smith, Sr. on December 29, 1835 .... Thou hast labored much in the cause of thy God, even since the word was proclaimed in these regions, and great shall be thy rejoicing with those who were converted under thy ministry, in as much as they remain faithful, in the great day to come; yea, and great shall be thy reward in the Kingdom of God: for it is in thy power, by keeping the command-ments, to call thy thousands into the true fold, even among tongues and languages that thou knowest not: therefore, gird up thy loins like a man of God, lay aside every principle which is not ordained of him, seek humility and faith, that thy mind may be stayed upon the God of Jacob, who will deliver thee from the powers of darkness, and give thee power to do mighty works] ... (2)
-- During 1835
(Erastus Snow) Ordained a seventy during the Kirtland School of Prophets, and endowed in the Kirtland Temple with 360 others: "Then we all, like as did Israel when they surrounded Jericho, with one united voice gave shout of Hosannah, Hosannah, Hosannah to God and the Lamb; Amen, Amen, Amen. When this was done the Holy Ghost was shed forth upon us; some received visions of the Judgments that were to be poured out upon this generation; some spoke in tongues, some interpreted; others prophesied; others saw Zion in her glory, and the angels came and worshipped with us, and some saw them, yea, even twelve legions of them, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof." (3)
(Zina D. H. Young) After baptism by Hyrum Smith, Zina's entire family moved to Kirtland, Ohio, where she exercised the "gift of tongues and interpretation thereof." Eliza R. Snow and Zina often worked as a revelatory team, one speaking in tongues while the other interpreted. (3)
-- Jan 17, 1836
[Joseph Smith Diary] 17th Sunday morning the 17th Attended meeting at the schoolhouse at the usual hour. A large congregation assembled. I proceeded to organize the several quorums present. First the Presidency, then the Twelve [Apostles], and the Seventy, all who were present. Also the Counsellers of Kirtland and Zion.
President Rigdon then arose and observed that instead of preaching the time would be occupied by the Presidency and Twelve [Apostles] in speaking each in their turn untill they had all spoken. The Lord poured out his spirit upon us and the brethren began to confess their faults one to the other. The congregation were soon overwhelmed in tears and some of our hearts were too big for utterance. The gift of toungs [tongues] come upon us also like the rushing of a mighty wind and my soul was filled with the glory of God. ... (1)
Endnotes:
1 - Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1835-36, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries
2 - Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe
3 - Van Wagoner, Richard and Walker, Steven C., A Book of Mormons, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
[Joseph Smith Diary] ... But when you are endowed and prepared to preach the gospel to all nations, kindred and toungs [tongues] in there own languages you must faithfully warn all and bind up the testimony and seal up the law. ... (1)
-- Dec 29, 1835
[Patriarchal Blessings] Patriarchal Blessing of Lyman Wight given by Joseph Smith, Sr. on December 29, 1835 .... Thou hast labored much in the cause of thy God, even since the word was proclaimed in these regions, and great shall be thy rejoicing with those who were converted under thy ministry, in as much as they remain faithful, in the great day to come; yea, and great shall be thy reward in the Kingdom of God: for it is in thy power, by keeping the command-ments, to call thy thousands into the true fold, even among tongues and languages that thou knowest not: therefore, gird up thy loins like a man of God, lay aside every principle which is not ordained of him, seek humility and faith, that thy mind may be stayed upon the God of Jacob, who will deliver thee from the powers of darkness, and give thee power to do mighty works] ... (2)
-- During 1835
(Erastus Snow) Ordained a seventy during the Kirtland School of Prophets, and endowed in the Kirtland Temple with 360 others: "Then we all, like as did Israel when they surrounded Jericho, with one united voice gave shout of Hosannah, Hosannah, Hosannah to God and the Lamb; Amen, Amen, Amen. When this was done the Holy Ghost was shed forth upon us; some received visions of the Judgments that were to be poured out upon this generation; some spoke in tongues, some interpreted; others prophesied; others saw Zion in her glory, and the angels came and worshipped with us, and some saw them, yea, even twelve legions of them, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof." (3)
(Zina D. H. Young) After baptism by Hyrum Smith, Zina's entire family moved to Kirtland, Ohio, where she exercised the "gift of tongues and interpretation thereof." Eliza R. Snow and Zina often worked as a revelatory team, one speaking in tongues while the other interpreted. (3)
-- Jan 17, 1836
[Joseph Smith Diary] 17th Sunday morning the 17th Attended meeting at the schoolhouse at the usual hour. A large congregation assembled. I proceeded to organize the several quorums present. First the Presidency, then the Twelve [Apostles], and the Seventy, all who were present. Also the Counsellers of Kirtland and Zion.
President Rigdon then arose and observed that instead of preaching the time would be occupied by the Presidency and Twelve [Apostles] in speaking each in their turn untill they had all spoken. The Lord poured out his spirit upon us and the brethren began to confess their faults one to the other. The congregation were soon overwhelmed in tears and some of our hearts were too big for utterance. The gift of toungs [tongues] come upon us also like the rushing of a mighty wind and my soul was filled with the glory of God. ... (1)
Endnotes:
1 - Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1835-36, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries
2 - Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe
3 - Van Wagoner, Richard and Walker, Steven C., A Book of Mormons, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Speaking in Tongues, Feb 20, 1835
-- Feb 20, 1835
[Wilford Woodruff Journal] 20 Left Mr Snellin. Travled to Brother Wright Akemans. Spent the day in labouring with our hands. From thence to Mr Hubbel. Distance 3 miles. Spent the Evening in preaching the word to Mr Hubbels household. Brother Henry Spoke in tongues and interpeted the same. The Spirit of God rested upon us. (1)
-- May 22, 1835
[Quorum of Twelve] Freedom N. York, May 22, 1835. This morning agreeably to appointment, conference met in this place. The twelve apostles or travelling high council being present, after an agreeable salutation and rejoicing in each other's prosperity, Elder D. W. Patten being chairman conference was opened by singing and prayer by the president.
.... The representation of the church closed about 3 o'clock P.M. and the council then proceeded to give some general and particular instructions relative to the Â"word of wisdom", the gift of tongues and interpretation, prophecyings [sic] and of a proper use of all the spiritual gifts &c. after these remarks conference adjourned until tomorrow morning -- (2)
-- During June 1835
[Joseph Smith] The Messenger and Advocate publishes an article to the Missouri Saints outlining their duties: the high council is to administer the spiritual affairs of the Church, while the bishop should administer the temporal affairs. Joseph receives a brief visit from a Mr. Hewitt of the Irvingite Church in Scotland, which also believes in apostles, prophets, pastors, and gifts of tongues. (3)
-- Oct 25, 1835
[Joseph Smith Diary] Sunday, 25th [I] attended meeting. President Rigdon preached in the fore noon [and] Eider Lyman Johnson in the after noon. After which Elder S[eymour] Bronson [Brunson] joined Br[other] W[illia]m Perry and Sister Eliza Brown in matrimony and I blessed them with long life and prosperity in the name of Jesus Christ.
At evening I attended prayer meeting. Opened it and ex[h]orted the brethren and Sister[s] about one hour. The Lord pour[e]d out his spirit and some glorious things were spoken in the gift of toungs [tongues] and interp[r]eted concerning the redemption of Zion. (4)
-- Nov 3, 1835
[Wilford Woodruff Journal] 3rd Rode to Br Wests. Preeached at his house. Two persons had the gift of tongues. 2 mil. (1)
Endnotes:
1 - Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
2 - Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: Minutes of Meetings and Other Documents--Excerpts, 1835-1896, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
3 - Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology
4 - Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1835-36, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
[Wilford Woodruff Journal] 20 Left Mr Snellin. Travled to Brother Wright Akemans. Spent the day in labouring with our hands. From thence to Mr Hubbel. Distance 3 miles. Spent the Evening in preaching the word to Mr Hubbels household. Brother Henry Spoke in tongues and interpeted the same. The Spirit of God rested upon us. (1)
-- May 22, 1835
[Quorum of Twelve] Freedom N. York, May 22, 1835. This morning agreeably to appointment, conference met in this place. The twelve apostles or travelling high council being present, after an agreeable salutation and rejoicing in each other's prosperity, Elder D. W. Patten being chairman conference was opened by singing and prayer by the president.
.... The representation of the church closed about 3 o'clock P.M. and the council then proceeded to give some general and particular instructions relative to the Â"word of wisdom", the gift of tongues and interpretation, prophecyings [sic] and of a proper use of all the spiritual gifts &c. after these remarks conference adjourned until tomorrow morning -- (2)
-- During June 1835
[Joseph Smith] The Messenger and Advocate publishes an article to the Missouri Saints outlining their duties: the high council is to administer the spiritual affairs of the Church, while the bishop should administer the temporal affairs. Joseph receives a brief visit from a Mr. Hewitt of the Irvingite Church in Scotland, which also believes in apostles, prophets, pastors, and gifts of tongues. (3)
-- Oct 25, 1835
[Joseph Smith Diary] Sunday, 25th [I] attended meeting. President Rigdon preached in the fore noon [and] Eider Lyman Johnson in the after noon. After which Elder S[eymour] Bronson [Brunson] joined Br[other] W[illia]m Perry and Sister Eliza Brown in matrimony and I blessed them with long life and prosperity in the name of Jesus Christ.
At evening I attended prayer meeting. Opened it and ex[h]orted the brethren and Sister[s] about one hour. The Lord pour[e]d out his spirit and some glorious things were spoken in the gift of toungs [tongues] and interp[r]eted concerning the redemption of Zion. (4)
-- Nov 3, 1835
[Wilford Woodruff Journal] 3rd Rode to Br Wests. Preeached at his house. Two persons had the gift of tongues. 2 mil. (1)
Endnotes:
1 - Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
2 - Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: Minutes of Meetings and Other Documents--Excerpts, 1835-1896, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
3 - Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology
4 - Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1835-36, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Speaking in Tongues, Sep 8, 1834
-- Sep 8, 1834
New Portage, Ohio. At a conference of elders, Joseph Smith answered questions regarding the gift of tongues and told the brethren -"that it was particularly instituted for the preaching of the Gospel to other nations,-" and not for governing the Church. (1)
-- Sept. 8th, 1834
Minutes of a conference of the Elders of the Church of the Latter-Day Saints, held at New Portage Ohio. September 8th 1834. ...
Brother A. Palmer made a few observations, and proceeded to present a case which had previously occasioned some difficulty in the church. It was that a certain brother Carpenter had been tried for a fault before the church when the Church gave him a certain time to reflect whether he would acknowledge or not. Brother Gordon at the time spake in tongues and declared that brother Carpenter should not have any lenity. He, brother Palmer, wished instruction on this point, whether they had proceeded right or not, as brother Carpenter was dissatisfied &c.
Brother Joseph then proceeded to give an explanation of the gift of tongues: That it was particularly instituted for the preaching of the Gospel to other nations and languages, but it was not given for the government of the Church. He further said, if brother Gordon introduced the Gift of tongues as a testimony against brother Carpenter, that it was contrary to the rules and regulations of the Church, because, in all our decisions we must judge from actual testimony. Brother Gordon said the testimony was had and the decision given before the gift of tongues was manifest. Brother Joseph advised that [we] speak in our own language in all such matters, and then the adversary cannot lead our minds astray. Brother Palmer then gave a relation of a certain difficulty which took place in a conference He, brother Palmer presided, when several of the brethren spoke out of order and brother J. B. Bosworth refuses to submit to order according to his (brother Palmers) request. He now wished instruction on this point, whether he, or some one else should preside over this branch of the Church, and also whether such conduct could be approbated in conferences. Brother Gordon then made some remarks on the subjects which was at the time before the council.
Brother Joseph said, relative to the first question, that brother Gordons Tongues in the end, did operate as testimony, as, by his remarks in tongues, the former decision was set aside, and his taken. That it was his decision that brother Gordons manifestation was incorrect, and from a suspicious heart. He approved the first decision, but discarded the second. Brother Joseph Keeler said that in the former decision he had acted hastily himself in urging brother Carpenter to make acknowledgement without having time to reflect. He asked forgiveness wherein he had erred. Brother Gordon said he discovered that he was in an error, and was satisfied with this council, & was willing to ask forgiveness of the brethren and of the Lord. Decision was then given on the second question that brother J. B. Bosworth was out of his place in opposing brother Palmer, when he (brother Palmer) ordered the council. A vote was then taken whether the conference was satisfied with the two decisions. Passed by unanimous vote. A motion was then made and passed by unanimous vote that a letter be written to brother J. B. Bosworth informing him of the last decision, That he has acted out of place in opposing brother Palmer in a former council, when requested to take his seat, that the business might proceed according to order and that such letter be signed by the clerk of this conference, by the direction of the same The case of brother Milton Stow was then brought up when it was proven that he had delivered prophecies at two differnt times which were not true. At one time in saying that Zion was redeemed, and at another in saying that brother Carpenter was cut off forever, and also in saying, that sister Carpenter was dead. When it was decided by vote that brother Milton Stow be, and by the decision of this conference is suspended from the priveleges of the Church of the Latter Day-Saints and from acting in the authority of an Elder in said Church of the Latter Day-Saints till he appear before the Bishops council at Kirtland and make proper satisfaction. Conference closed by prayer of the Clerk.
Oliver Cowdery
Clerk of Conference
__________ (2)
Endnotes:
1 - BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu
2 - Kirtland Council Minute Book
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
New Portage, Ohio. At a conference of elders, Joseph Smith answered questions regarding the gift of tongues and told the brethren -"that it was particularly instituted for the preaching of the Gospel to other nations,-" and not for governing the Church. (1)
-- Sept. 8th, 1834
Minutes of a conference of the Elders of the Church of the Latter-Day Saints, held at New Portage Ohio. September 8th 1834. ...
Brother A. Palmer made a few observations, and proceeded to present a case which had previously occasioned some difficulty in the church. It was that a certain brother Carpenter had been tried for a fault before the church when the Church gave him a certain time to reflect whether he would acknowledge or not. Brother Gordon at the time spake in tongues and declared that brother Carpenter should not have any lenity. He, brother Palmer, wished instruction on this point, whether they had proceeded right or not, as brother Carpenter was dissatisfied &c.
Brother Joseph then proceeded to give an explanation of the gift of tongues: That it was particularly instituted for the preaching of the Gospel to other nations and languages, but it was not given for the government of the Church. He further said, if brother Gordon introduced the Gift of tongues as a testimony against brother Carpenter, that it was contrary to the rules and regulations of the Church, because, in all our decisions we must judge from actual testimony. Brother Gordon said the testimony was had and the decision given before the gift of tongues was manifest. Brother Joseph advised that [we] speak in our own language in all such matters, and then the adversary cannot lead our minds astray. Brother Palmer then gave a relation of a certain difficulty which took place in a conference He, brother Palmer presided, when several of the brethren spoke out of order and brother J. B. Bosworth refuses to submit to order according to his (brother Palmers) request. He now wished instruction on this point, whether he, or some one else should preside over this branch of the Church, and also whether such conduct could be approbated in conferences. Brother Gordon then made some remarks on the subjects which was at the time before the council.
Brother Joseph said, relative to the first question, that brother Gordons Tongues in the end, did operate as testimony, as, by his remarks in tongues, the former decision was set aside, and his taken. That it was his decision that brother Gordons manifestation was incorrect, and from a suspicious heart. He approved the first decision, but discarded the second. Brother Joseph Keeler said that in the former decision he had acted hastily himself in urging brother Carpenter to make acknowledgement without having time to reflect. He asked forgiveness wherein he had erred. Brother Gordon said he discovered that he was in an error, and was satisfied with this council, & was willing to ask forgiveness of the brethren and of the Lord. Decision was then given on the second question that brother J. B. Bosworth was out of his place in opposing brother Palmer, when he (brother Palmer) ordered the council. A vote was then taken whether the conference was satisfied with the two decisions. Passed by unanimous vote. A motion was then made and passed by unanimous vote that a letter be written to brother J. B. Bosworth informing him of the last decision, That he has acted out of place in opposing brother Palmer in a former council, when requested to take his seat, that the business might proceed according to order and that such letter be signed by the clerk of this conference, by the direction of the same The case of brother Milton Stow was then brought up when it was proven that he had delivered prophecies at two differnt times which were not true. At one time in saying that Zion was redeemed, and at another in saying that brother Carpenter was cut off forever, and also in saying, that sister Carpenter was dead. When it was decided by vote that brother Milton Stow be, and by the decision of this conference is suspended from the priveleges of the Church of the Latter Day-Saints and from acting in the authority of an Elder in said Church of the Latter Day-Saints till he appear before the Bishops council at Kirtland and make proper satisfaction. Conference closed by prayer of the Clerk.
Oliver Cowdery
Clerk of Conference
__________ (2)
Endnotes:
1 - BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu
2 - Kirtland Council Minute Book
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Speaking in Tongues, Feb 12, 1834 (Wednesday)
-- Feb 12, 1834 (Wednesday)
[Joseph Smith Sermon] (Location: Joseph Smith Home, Kirtland, Ohio, USA
Source: Orson Hyde Record in the Kirtland Council Minute Book....
Brother Joseph then proceeded to give an explanation of the gift of tongues: That it was particularly instituted for the preaching of the Gospel to other nations and languages, but it was not given for the government of the Church. He further said, if brother Gordon [the individual who had spoken in tongues] introduced the gift of tongues as a testimony against brother Carpenter, that it was contrary to the rules and regulations of the Church, because in all our decisions we must judge from actual testimony. . . . Brother Joseph advised that [we] speak in our own language in all such matters and then the adversary cannot lead our minds astray . . . Brother said . . . that brother Gordon's tongues in the end, did operate as testimony, as by his remarks in tongues, the former decision was set aside, and his taken. That it was his decision that brother Gordon's manifestation was incorrect and from a suspicious heart. (1)
-- February 26, 1834
[Greene M. Evan] On Tuesday 26 this evening had an appointment about two miles north of this in the morning met at Bro . . Segars and Baptised two in the evening filled our appointment just before meeting commenced a sister was taken with a distress in her stomach and called for us to lay hands on her we went out and prayed to know whether it was right for that people to have a sign and got the witness that she should be healed went in and laid hands on her and commanded the disease in the name of Jesus to depart from her and then I prayed that the cloud of darkness might be broke then I exhorted and contended for the gifts of the Church and for the first time the Lord poured out his spirit and gave the gift of toungs unto in pub* and we had a glorious time some were convinced of the power of God and the next morning (2)
-- March 5, 1834
[Greene M. Evan] it being Tuesday 5 in the evening they caried* me to Bro . S . to meeting here we had a powerful time it was a prayer meeting and lasted verry late after it was dismissed it seemed as though the people could not go away and we got to talking and a Bro. brooke* into the gift of toungs* and then an other Bro . and then the spirit of interpertation* came upon me it was a powerful exhortation their neighbors [-] came forward to be baptised and in the morning Bro. H . waited upon them it being soon after his ordination and in the place of his residence he was blesse[d] much in the afternoon we went to sister Woodworths to meet Bro J [Joseph Smith] and found him a starting for another place but we stoped* him there in the evening BroÂ's and Sisters* Winchester came here for a visit had a good one (2)
-- Jul 31, 1834
Samuel Brown's license is withdrawn for encouraging brethern to speak in tongues. (3)
Endnotes:
1 - The Woodland Institute, http://www.woodlandinstitute.com
2 - Greene, Evan Melbourne, 1814 –1882. Diaries, 1833 –1852
3 - Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology"
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
[Joseph Smith Sermon] (Location: Joseph Smith Home, Kirtland, Ohio, USA
Source: Orson Hyde Record in the Kirtland Council Minute Book....
Brother Joseph then proceeded to give an explanation of the gift of tongues: That it was particularly instituted for the preaching of the Gospel to other nations and languages, but it was not given for the government of the Church. He further said, if brother Gordon [the individual who had spoken in tongues] introduced the gift of tongues as a testimony against brother Carpenter, that it was contrary to the rules and regulations of the Church, because in all our decisions we must judge from actual testimony. . . . Brother Joseph advised that [we] speak in our own language in all such matters and then the adversary cannot lead our minds astray . . . Brother said . . . that brother Gordon's tongues in the end, did operate as testimony, as by his remarks in tongues, the former decision was set aside, and his taken. That it was his decision that brother Gordon's manifestation was incorrect and from a suspicious heart. (1)
-- February 26, 1834
[Greene M. Evan] On Tuesday 26 this evening had an appointment about two miles north of this in the morning met at Bro . . Segars and Baptised two in the evening filled our appointment just before meeting commenced a sister was taken with a distress in her stomach and called for us to lay hands on her we went out and prayed to know whether it was right for that people to have a sign and got the witness that she should be healed went in and laid hands on her and commanded the disease in the name of Jesus to depart from her and then I prayed that the cloud of darkness might be broke then I exhorted and contended for the gifts of the Church and for the first time the Lord poured out his spirit and gave the gift of toungs unto in pub* and we had a glorious time some were convinced of the power of God and the next morning (2)
-- March 5, 1834
[Greene M. Evan] it being Tuesday 5 in the evening they caried* me to Bro . S . to meeting here we had a powerful time it was a prayer meeting and lasted verry late after it was dismissed it seemed as though the people could not go away and we got to talking and a Bro. brooke* into the gift of toungs* and then an other Bro . and then the spirit of interpertation* came upon me it was a powerful exhortation their neighbors [-] came forward to be baptised and in the morning Bro. H . waited upon them it being soon after his ordination and in the place of his residence he was blesse[d] much in the afternoon we went to sister Woodworths to meet Bro J [Joseph Smith] and found him a starting for another place but we stoped* him there in the evening BroÂ's and Sisters* Winchester came here for a visit had a good one (2)
-- Jul 31, 1834
Samuel Brown's license is withdrawn for encouraging brethern to speak in tongues. (3)
Endnotes:
1 - The Woodland Institute, http://www.woodlandinstitute.com
2 - Greene, Evan Melbourne, 1814 –1882. Diaries, 1833 –1852
3 - Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology"
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Speaking in Tongues, Oct 28, 1833
-- Oct 28, 1833
[Joseph Smith Diary] 28th Appointed a meeting for this day Monday the 27th [28 October 1833] at the request of some who desires to be baptized. At candle lighting [we] held a meeting for confirmation. We broke bread [and] laid on hands for the gift of the Holy Spirit. [We] had a good meeting. The spirit was given in great power to some and the rest had great peace. May God carry on his work in this place till all shall know him. Amen.
Held [a] meeting yesterday at 10 o'clock. After [the] meeting two [people] came forward and were baptised. [We] confirmed them at the watter's edge.
Held [a] meeting last evening [and] ordained Br[other] E[leazer] F[reeman] Nickerson to the office of Elder. [We] had a good meeting. One of the sisters got the gift of toungues which made the Saints rejoice. May God incre[a]se the gifts among them for his Son's sake. (1)
-- Oct. 5-Nov 4, 1833
Joseph, Sidney Rigdon, and Freeman Nickerson leave Kirtland on a mission to Upper Canada and return to Kirtland. Their mission follows this itinerary: ... .Two are baptized and confirmed; the gift of tongues is experienced (Oct. 29).They leave for Kirtland (Oct. 29).... (2)
-- January 1834
[Publication: 'The Unitarian'] "They . . . claim for themselves and the members of their church the power of speaking with tongues and of working miracles. They jabber with some strange sounds, and call this the speaking with tongues. They assert it as a fact, that among them the dead have been raised and the sick healed. From these facts, as they call them, they draw the conclusion that they are the members of the true church of Christ." [The Unitarian. Conducted by Bernard Whitman. Cambridge and Boston: James Munroe and Company, Booksellers to the University, 1834.] (3)
-- February 5, 1834
[Greene M. Evan] Tuesday 5 this day we met at Brother Rud[d]s at the lake this evening we had a meeting and a powerful time it was [to?] there was quite a large company together and Brother Wm Ssmithe [William Smith] spake in the gift of tongues with much power. . Amen (4)
-- February 6, 1834
[Greene M. Evan] Wedneseday 6th this day we visited some of our Bretheren in Springfield in evening we held a meeting in the schooll house in that place and Brother Wm . . Smith . . [William Smith] spake on the subject of the order of Gods house or the church of Christ and also spake in the gift of tounges* and two men arose and began to make some disturbance in the assembly in talking in the most abusive maner* to Brother Wm and disturbed us considerable . . But through the grace of God we were able to overcome the devil and they at last left the house in peace and we had a verry good meeting and the Lord blest us much . . (4)
Endnotes:
1 - Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1832-34, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries
2 - Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology
3 - Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source
4 - Greene, Evan Melbourne, 1814 –1882. Diaries, 1833 –1852
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
[Joseph Smith Diary] 28th Appointed a meeting for this day Monday the 27th [28 October 1833] at the request of some who desires to be baptized. At candle lighting [we] held a meeting for confirmation. We broke bread [and] laid on hands for the gift of the Holy Spirit. [We] had a good meeting. The spirit was given in great power to some and the rest had great peace. May God carry on his work in this place till all shall know him. Amen.
Held [a] meeting yesterday at 10 o'clock. After [the] meeting two [people] came forward and were baptised. [We] confirmed them at the watter's edge.
Held [a] meeting last evening [and] ordained Br[other] E[leazer] F[reeman] Nickerson to the office of Elder. [We] had a good meeting. One of the sisters got the gift of toungues which made the Saints rejoice. May God incre[a]se the gifts among them for his Son's sake. (1)
-- Oct. 5-Nov 4, 1833
Joseph, Sidney Rigdon, and Freeman Nickerson leave Kirtland on a mission to Upper Canada and return to Kirtland. Their mission follows this itinerary: ... .Two are baptized and confirmed; the gift of tongues is experienced (Oct. 29).They leave for Kirtland (Oct. 29).... (2)
-- January 1834
[Publication: 'The Unitarian'] "They . . . claim for themselves and the members of their church the power of speaking with tongues and of working miracles. They jabber with some strange sounds, and call this the speaking with tongues. They assert it as a fact, that among them the dead have been raised and the sick healed. From these facts, as they call them, they draw the conclusion that they are the members of the true church of Christ." [The Unitarian. Conducted by Bernard Whitman. Cambridge and Boston: James Munroe and Company, Booksellers to the University, 1834.] (3)
-- February 5, 1834
[Greene M. Evan] Tuesday 5 this day we met at Brother Rud[d]s at the lake this evening we had a meeting and a powerful time it was [to?] there was quite a large company together and Brother Wm Ssmithe [William Smith] spake in the gift of tongues with much power. . Amen (4)
-- February 6, 1834
[Greene M. Evan] Wedneseday 6th this day we visited some of our Bretheren in Springfield in evening we held a meeting in the schooll house in that place and Brother Wm . . Smith . . [William Smith] spake on the subject of the order of Gods house or the church of Christ and also spake in the gift of tounges* and two men arose and began to make some disturbance in the assembly in talking in the most abusive maner* to Brother Wm and disturbed us considerable . . But through the grace of God we were able to overcome the devil and they at last left the house in peace and we had a verry good meeting and the Lord blest us much . . (4)
Endnotes:
1 - Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1832-34, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries
2 - Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology
3 - Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source
4 - Greene, Evan Melbourne, 1814 –1882. Diaries, 1833 –1852
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Speaking in Tongues, Jul 2, 1833
-- Jul 2, 1833
A Second Communication to the Brethren in Zion-- This communication to the Brethren in Zion (Missouri) ...
We received your letters of June 7th: one from Brothers William W. Phelps and Oliver Cowdery; one from Brother David Whitmer; and one from Brother Sidney Gilbert, for which we are thankful to our Heavenly Father, as also to hear of your welfare, and the prosperity of Zion. Having received your letters in the mail of today, we hasten to answer, in order that our reply may go with tomorrow's mail. ...
We are engaged in writing a letter to Eugene respecting the two Smiths, as we have received two letters from them; one from John Smith, the other from the Elder of the Church. As to the gift of tongues, all we can say is, that in this place, we have received it as the ancients did: we wish you, however, to be careful lest in this you be deceived.
Guard against evils which may arise from any accounts given by women, or otherwise; be careful in all things lest any root of bitterness spring up among you, and thereby many be defiled. Satan will no doubt trouble you about the gift of tongues, unless you are careful; you cannot watch him too closely, nor pray too much. May the Lord give you wisdom in all things. ... (1)
-- During July 1833
The Evening and Morning Star publishes an announcement titled "Free People of Color." So that any Mormon Negroes can migrate into Missouri without being captured as slaves, the announcement quotes the law that allows free Negroes to come and go unhindered. The southern settlers in Missouri, whose animosities toward the Mormons have been building all along, are infuriated by this announcement. They join together to form a secret constitution to rid themselves of the Mormons "peaceably if we can, forcibly if we must." They accuse the Mormons of (1) pretending to claim personal revelations, miracles, tongues, and thereby blaspheming God; (2) being deluded fanatics; (3) increasing in numbers daily; (4) being the very dregs of society; (5) raising sedition among the slaves; (6) inviting free Negroes and mulattoes of other states to become Mormons and move to Missouri; (7) declaring that God has given the state of Missouri to them. (History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (7 volumes) 1:374-76.) (2)
-- Sep 11, 1833
A council is held in Jackson County, Missouri. Bishop Partridge is acknowledged as head of the Church in Zion, and ten high priests are chosen to preside over the ten branches there. W. W. Phelps sings a song about the tribulations of the Nephites in tongues and Lyman Wight interprets the tongues. (2)
-- Oct 27, 1833-28
After visiting other villages in Upper Canada (Ontario), Joseph [Smith], Sidney [Rigdon], and Freeman [Nickerson] return to Mount Pleasant on the 24th. Joseph finds the people "very superstitious," but on Sunday, the 27th begin baptizing--twelve on Sunday, two on Monday. "One of the sisters got the gift of tongues which made the saints rejoice may God increse the gifts among them for his sons sake." (3)
Endnotes:
1 - Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)
2 - Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology
3 - Kenny, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
A Second Communication to the Brethren in Zion-- This communication to the Brethren in Zion (Missouri) ...
We received your letters of June 7th: one from Brothers William W. Phelps and Oliver Cowdery; one from Brother David Whitmer; and one from Brother Sidney Gilbert, for which we are thankful to our Heavenly Father, as also to hear of your welfare, and the prosperity of Zion. Having received your letters in the mail of today, we hasten to answer, in order that our reply may go with tomorrow's mail. ...
We are engaged in writing a letter to Eugene respecting the two Smiths, as we have received two letters from them; one from John Smith, the other from the Elder of the Church. As to the gift of tongues, all we can say is, that in this place, we have received it as the ancients did: we wish you, however, to be careful lest in this you be deceived.
Guard against evils which may arise from any accounts given by women, or otherwise; be careful in all things lest any root of bitterness spring up among you, and thereby many be defiled. Satan will no doubt trouble you about the gift of tongues, unless you are careful; you cannot watch him too closely, nor pray too much. May the Lord give you wisdom in all things. ... (1)
-- During July 1833
The Evening and Morning Star publishes an announcement titled "Free People of Color." So that any Mormon Negroes can migrate into Missouri without being captured as slaves, the announcement quotes the law that allows free Negroes to come and go unhindered. The southern settlers in Missouri, whose animosities toward the Mormons have been building all along, are infuriated by this announcement. They join together to form a secret constitution to rid themselves of the Mormons "peaceably if we can, forcibly if we must." They accuse the Mormons of (1) pretending to claim personal revelations, miracles, tongues, and thereby blaspheming God; (2) being deluded fanatics; (3) increasing in numbers daily; (4) being the very dregs of society; (5) raising sedition among the slaves; (6) inviting free Negroes and mulattoes of other states to become Mormons and move to Missouri; (7) declaring that God has given the state of Missouri to them. (History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (7 volumes) 1:374-76.) (2)
-- Sep 11, 1833
A council is held in Jackson County, Missouri. Bishop Partridge is acknowledged as head of the Church in Zion, and ten high priests are chosen to preside over the ten branches there. W. W. Phelps sings a song about the tribulations of the Nephites in tongues and Lyman Wight interprets the tongues. (2)
-- Oct 27, 1833-28
After visiting other villages in Upper Canada (Ontario), Joseph [Smith], Sidney [Rigdon], and Freeman [Nickerson] return to Mount Pleasant on the 24th. Joseph finds the people "very superstitious," but on Sunday, the 27th begin baptizing--twelve on Sunday, two on Monday. "One of the sisters got the gift of tongues which made the saints rejoice may God increse the gifts among them for his sons sake." (3)
Endnotes:
1 - Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)
2 - Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology
3 - Kenny, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Speaking in Tongues, After February 27, 1833
-- After February 27, 1833
["Mysteries of God, As revealed to Enoch, on the Mount Mehujah, and sung in tongues by Elder D[avid] W. Patton [sic], of the 'Church of Latter Day Saints,'" -- heavily modified version from the Kirtland Revelations Book] As revealed to Enoch, on the Mount Mehujah, and sung in tongues by Elder D. W. Patten, of the Â"Church of Latter Day Saints,Â" (who fell a Martyr to the cause of Christ, in the Missouri persecution,) and interpreted by Elder S. Rigdon.
Age after age has rolled away,
Since man first dwelt in mortal clay,
And countless millions slept in death,
That once supplied a place on earth.
According to the fate of man,
Which God has fixed, in his own plan,
So age must come, and age must go,
Till work complete is here below.
Which had been seen by saints of old,
And by the Prophets were foretold;
Which wondrous things are drawing hear,
That Enoch saw, and saints did cheer.
Enoch, who did converse with God,
Stood on the mount, and stretch'd abroad,
His soul, wide as eternity,
He rent the veil, and wonders see.
With mighty faith he did expand,
O'er heaven and earth, and sea and land,
Till things above and things below,
He did behold; yea, did then know.
His heart, he tun'd to notes above;
His soul o'erwhelm'd with boundless love;
He sang a song in heavenly lays,
While angels tongues joined him in praise.
With finger-end God touched his eyes,
That he might gaze within the skies;
His voice he rais'd to God on high,
Who heard his groans, and drew him nigh.
With joy and wonder, all amaz'd,
Amid the heavenly throngs he gazed;
While Heavenly music charm'd his ear,
And angel notes removed all fear.
Hosanna! he aloud did cry,
To God, who dwells amid the sky;
Again, hosanna did resound,
Among the heavenly host around.
His voice he rais'd in highest strains,—
Echoed and re-echoed again,
Till heaven and earth his voice did hear—
Eternity did record bear.
The trump of God around the throne,
Proclaim'd the power of God anon;
And sounded loud what should take place,
From age to age, from race to race.
Among the heavenly host he sand,
God's scheme of life for sinful man,
And for the Gospel's saving grace,
He prais'd the father, face to face.
The end of all his labors here,
Were all unfolded to him there;
His city raised to dwell on high;
With all the saints above the sky.
He saw before him all things pass,
From end to end, from first to last;
Yea, things before the world began,
Or dust was fashion'd into man.
The place of Adam's first abode,
While in the presence of his God,
Before the mountains raised their heads,
On the small dust of balance weigh'd.
With God he saw, his race began,
And from him emanated man;
And with him did in glory dwell,
Before there was an earth or hell.
From age to age, what e'er took place,
Was present there, before his face;
And to the latest years of man,
Was plain before him, Heaven's plan.
His eyes with wonder did behold,
Eternal glories yet untold;
And glorious things of later time,
Which Angels have to tell to man.
He then did hear, in days of old,
The message that to John was told,—
The angel, which the news did bring,
He heard him talk, and heard him sing.
He knew before the days of John,
What glories were on him to dawn;
The message which he did receive,
He heard, and saw, and did believe.
He knew full well, what John should hear,
Concerning times and latter years—
When God, again, should set his hand,
To gather Israel to their land.
The Gospel then, from darkest shades,
Should rise and go with rapid strides,
Till nations distant far and near,
The glorious proclamation hear.
The angel which this news proclaim'd,
Should come and visit earth again,—
Commit the gospel, long since lost,
To man, with power, as at the first.
AMEN.
(1)
-- During Jun 1833
Saints in Zion receive gift of tongues [per Wilford Woodruff]. (2)
Endnotes:
1 - Kirtland Revelations Book, 48-49, handwriting of Frederick G. Williams
2 - Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology"
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
["Mysteries of God, As revealed to Enoch, on the Mount Mehujah, and sung in tongues by Elder D[avid] W. Patton [sic], of the 'Church of Latter Day Saints,'" -- heavily modified version from the Kirtland Revelations Book] As revealed to Enoch, on the Mount Mehujah, and sung in tongues by Elder D. W. Patten, of the Â"Church of Latter Day Saints,Â" (who fell a Martyr to the cause of Christ, in the Missouri persecution,) and interpreted by Elder S. Rigdon.
Age after age has rolled away,
Since man first dwelt in mortal clay,
And countless millions slept in death,
That once supplied a place on earth.
According to the fate of man,
Which God has fixed, in his own plan,
So age must come, and age must go,
Till work complete is here below.
Which had been seen by saints of old,
And by the Prophets were foretold;
Which wondrous things are drawing hear,
That Enoch saw, and saints did cheer.
Enoch, who did converse with God,
Stood on the mount, and stretch'd abroad,
His soul, wide as eternity,
He rent the veil, and wonders see.
With mighty faith he did expand,
O'er heaven and earth, and sea and land,
Till things above and things below,
He did behold; yea, did then know.
His heart, he tun'd to notes above;
His soul o'erwhelm'd with boundless love;
He sang a song in heavenly lays,
While angels tongues joined him in praise.
With finger-end God touched his eyes,
That he might gaze within the skies;
His voice he rais'd to God on high,
Who heard his groans, and drew him nigh.
With joy and wonder, all amaz'd,
Amid the heavenly throngs he gazed;
While Heavenly music charm'd his ear,
And angel notes removed all fear.
Hosanna! he aloud did cry,
To God, who dwells amid the sky;
Again, hosanna did resound,
Among the heavenly host around.
His voice he rais'd in highest strains,—
Echoed and re-echoed again,
Till heaven and earth his voice did hear—
Eternity did record bear.
The trump of God around the throne,
Proclaim'd the power of God anon;
And sounded loud what should take place,
From age to age, from race to race.
Among the heavenly host he sand,
God's scheme of life for sinful man,
And for the Gospel's saving grace,
He prais'd the father, face to face.
The end of all his labors here,
Were all unfolded to him there;
His city raised to dwell on high;
With all the saints above the sky.
He saw before him all things pass,
From end to end, from first to last;
Yea, things before the world began,
Or dust was fashion'd into man.
The place of Adam's first abode,
While in the presence of his God,
Before the mountains raised their heads,
On the small dust of balance weigh'd.
With God he saw, his race began,
And from him emanated man;
And with him did in glory dwell,
Before there was an earth or hell.
From age to age, what e'er took place,
Was present there, before his face;
And to the latest years of man,
Was plain before him, Heaven's plan.
His eyes with wonder did behold,
Eternal glories yet untold;
And glorious things of later time,
Which Angels have to tell to man.
He then did hear, in days of old,
The message that to John was told,—
The angel, which the news did bring,
He heard him talk, and heard him sing.
He knew before the days of John,
What glories were on him to dawn;
The message which he did receive,
He heard, and saw, and did believe.
He knew full well, what John should hear,
Concerning times and latter years—
When God, again, should set his hand,
To gather Israel to their land.
The Gospel then, from darkest shades,
Should rise and go with rapid strides,
Till nations distant far and near,
The glorious proclamation hear.
The angel which this news proclaim'd,
Should come and visit earth again,—
Commit the gospel, long since lost,
To man, with power, as at the first.
AMEN.
(1)
-- During Jun 1833
Saints in Zion receive gift of tongues [per Wilford Woodruff]. (2)
Endnotes:
1 - Kirtland Revelations Book, 48-49, handwriting of Frederick G. Williams
2 - Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology"
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Speaking in Tongues, January 22-23, 1833
-- January 22-23, 1833
"[Joseph Smith] spoke to the conference in another tongue, and was followed in the same gift by Brother Zebedee Coltrin, and he by Brother William Smith, after which the Lord poured out His Spirit in a miraculous manner, until all the Elders spake in tongues, and several members, both male and female exercised the same gift. Great and glorious were the divine manifestations of the Holy Ghost. Praises were sung to God and the Lamb; speaking and praying, all in tongues, occupied the conference until a late hour at night, so rejoiced were we at the return of these long absent blessings. [History of the Church, 1:323] (1)
-- 22-Jan 23, 1833
[Lucy Mack Smith] At a conference of elders, Joseph Jr. speaks in tongues and institutes the ordinance of washing feet. Joseph Sr. gives him a blessing. Lucy describes a private family meeting about this time at which Joseph Jr. washes his brothers feet; they speak in tongues and send a messenger for Lucy. She abandons her bread unbaked to join them. (2)
-- Jan 23, 1833
On the second day of the "conference of High Priests" in Kirtland "Conference opened with prayer by the President [Joseph Smith] and after much speaking, praying and singing, all done in tongues, proceeded to washing hands, faces [and] feet in the name of the Lord, as commanded of God, each one washing his own, after which the President girded himself with a towel and again washed the feet of all the Elders, wiping them with the towel. His father presenting himself, the President asked of him a blessing before he would wash his feet, which he obtained by the laying on of his father's hands pronouncing upon his head that he should continue in his Priest[']s office until Christ come." (3)
-- Jan 24, 1833
The School of the Prophets commences in accordance with revelation of Dec. 27, 1832. One participant writes, "Much instruction received by the gift of tongues and the interpretation thereof. . . .[T]he science we engaged in for the winter was English grammar, of which we obtained a general knowledge." (3)
-- Feb 27, 1833 (same day as the Word of Wisdom)
"sang by the gift of tongues and translated:"
age after age has rolled away according to the sad fate of man countless millions forever gone at length the period of time has come that oft was seen by a prophetic eye and written too by all holy men inspired of the Lord a time which was seen by Enoch of Old at a time when he stood upon the mount which was called the Mountain of God as he gazed upon nature and the corruption of man and mourned their sad fate and wept and cried with a loud voice and heaved forth his sighs Omnipotence Omnipotence O may I see thee - and with his finger he touched his eyes and he saw heaven he gazed on eternity and sang an Angelic song and mingled his voice with the heavenly throng Hosanna Hosanna the sound of the trump around the throne of God echoed and echoed again and rang and reechoed until eternity was filled with his voice he saw yea he saw and he glorified God the salvation of his people his City caught up through the gospel of Christ he was the beginning the ending of men he saw the time when Adam his father was made and he saw that he was in eternity before a grain of dust in the balance was weighed he saw that he emanated and came down from God he saw what had passed and then was and is present and to come therefore he saw the last days the Angel that came down to John and the angel that is now flying having the everlasting gospel to commit unto men - which in my soul I have received and from death and bondage from the Devil I'm freed and am free in the gospel of Christ and I'm waiting and with patience I'll wait on the Lord hosanna loud sound the trump come eternity to ring hosanna forever I'm waiting the coming of Christ a mansion on high a celestial abode a seat on the right hand of God angels are coming the Holy Ghost is falling upon the saints and will continue to fall the Saviour is coming yea the Bridegroom prepare ye prepare yea the cry has gone forth go wait on the Lord the Angels in glory will soon be descending to join you in singing the praises of God the trump loud shall sound the dark veil soon shall rend heaven shall shake the earth shall tremble and all nature shall feel the power of God gaze ye saints gaze ye upon him gaze upon Jesus hosanna loud sound the trump His Church is caught up hosanna praise him ye saints they stand at his feet behold they are weeping they strike hands with Enoch of Old they inherit a city as it is written the City of God loud sound the trump they receive a celestial crown hosanna the heaven of heavens and the heaven are filled with the praises of God (4)
Endnotes:
1 - Dan Vogel and Scott C. Dunn, '"The Tongue of Angels": Glossolalia among Mormonism's Founders,' Journal of Mormon History Vol. 19, No. 2, 1993
2 - Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books, http://bit.ly/lucys-book
3 - Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower
4 - Kirtland Revelations Book, 48-49, handwriting of Frederick G. Williams
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
"[Joseph Smith] spoke to the conference in another tongue, and was followed in the same gift by Brother Zebedee Coltrin, and he by Brother William Smith, after which the Lord poured out His Spirit in a miraculous manner, until all the Elders spake in tongues, and several members, both male and female exercised the same gift. Great and glorious were the divine manifestations of the Holy Ghost. Praises were sung to God and the Lamb; speaking and praying, all in tongues, occupied the conference until a late hour at night, so rejoiced were we at the return of these long absent blessings. [History of the Church, 1:323] (1)
-- 22-Jan 23, 1833
[Lucy Mack Smith] At a conference of elders, Joseph Jr. speaks in tongues and institutes the ordinance of washing feet. Joseph Sr. gives him a blessing. Lucy describes a private family meeting about this time at which Joseph Jr. washes his brothers feet; they speak in tongues and send a messenger for Lucy. She abandons her bread unbaked to join them. (2)
-- Jan 23, 1833
On the second day of the "conference of High Priests" in Kirtland "Conference opened with prayer by the President [Joseph Smith] and after much speaking, praying and singing, all done in tongues, proceeded to washing hands, faces [and] feet in the name of the Lord, as commanded of God, each one washing his own, after which the President girded himself with a towel and again washed the feet of all the Elders, wiping them with the towel. His father presenting himself, the President asked of him a blessing before he would wash his feet, which he obtained by the laying on of his father's hands pronouncing upon his head that he should continue in his Priest[']s office until Christ come." (3)
-- Jan 24, 1833
The School of the Prophets commences in accordance with revelation of Dec. 27, 1832. One participant writes, "Much instruction received by the gift of tongues and the interpretation thereof. . . .[T]he science we engaged in for the winter was English grammar, of which we obtained a general knowledge." (3)
-- Feb 27, 1833 (same day as the Word of Wisdom)
"sang by the gift of tongues and translated:"
age after age has rolled away according to the sad fate of man countless millions forever gone at length the period of time has come that oft was seen by a prophetic eye and written too by all holy men inspired of the Lord a time which was seen by Enoch of Old at a time when he stood upon the mount which was called the Mountain of God as he gazed upon nature and the corruption of man and mourned their sad fate and wept and cried with a loud voice and heaved forth his sighs Omnipotence Omnipotence O may I see thee - and with his finger he touched his eyes and he saw heaven he gazed on eternity and sang an Angelic song and mingled his voice with the heavenly throng Hosanna Hosanna the sound of the trump around the throne of God echoed and echoed again and rang and reechoed until eternity was filled with his voice he saw yea he saw and he glorified God the salvation of his people his City caught up through the gospel of Christ he was the beginning the ending of men he saw the time when Adam his father was made and he saw that he was in eternity before a grain of dust in the balance was weighed he saw that he emanated and came down from God he saw what had passed and then was and is present and to come therefore he saw the last days the Angel that came down to John and the angel that is now flying having the everlasting gospel to commit unto men - which in my soul I have received and from death and bondage from the Devil I'm freed and am free in the gospel of Christ and I'm waiting and with patience I'll wait on the Lord hosanna loud sound the trump come eternity to ring hosanna forever I'm waiting the coming of Christ a mansion on high a celestial abode a seat on the right hand of God angels are coming the Holy Ghost is falling upon the saints and will continue to fall the Saviour is coming yea the Bridegroom prepare ye prepare yea the cry has gone forth go wait on the Lord the Angels in glory will soon be descending to join you in singing the praises of God the trump loud shall sound the dark veil soon shall rend heaven shall shake the earth shall tremble and all nature shall feel the power of God gaze ye saints gaze ye upon him gaze upon Jesus hosanna loud sound the trump His Church is caught up hosanna praise him ye saints they stand at his feet behold they are weeping they strike hands with Enoch of Old they inherit a city as it is written the City of God loud sound the trump they receive a celestial crown hosanna the heaven of heavens and the heaven are filled with the praises of God (4)
Endnotes:
1 - Dan Vogel and Scott C. Dunn, '"The Tongue of Angels": Glossolalia among Mormonism's Founders,' Journal of Mormon History Vol. 19, No. 2, 1993
2 - Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books, http://bit.ly/lucys-book
3 - Advent Adam website (defunct) - based on http://amzn.to/originsofpower
4 - Kirtland Revelations Book, 48-49, handwriting of Frederick G. Williams
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Speaking in Tongues, November 18, 1832
-- November 18, 1832
[Zebedee Coltrin] "18 the went to meating the Lord blest [blessed] us much and in the Eaving [Evening] had meatig [meeting] Br Green Speak in tongs [tongues] and Br Joseph Smith with tongs [tongues] also by the Holy ghost" (1)
-- Jan 4, 1833
LETTER to N. E. Seaton, Esq. KIRTLAND, January 4th, 1833. Mr. Editor-Sir, Considering the liberal principles upon which your interesting and valuable paper is published, myself being a subscriber, and feeling a deep interest in the causes of Zion, and in the happiness of my brethren of mankind, I cheerfully take up my pen to contribute my mite at this very interesting and important period.
For some length of time I have been carefully reviewing the state of things, as it now appears, throughout our Christian land; and have looked at it with feelings of the most painful anxiety. While upon one hand I behold the manifest withdrawal of God's Holy Spirit, and the veil of stupidity which seems to be drawn over the hearts of the people; upon the other hand, I behold the judgments of God that have swept, and are still sweeping hundreds and thousands of our race (and I fear unprepared) down to the shades of death. With this solemn and alarming fact before me, I am led to exclaim, "O that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night."
I think that it is high time for a Christian world to awake out of sleep, and cry mightily to that God, day and night, whose anger we have justly incurred. ... Have not the pride, highmindedness, and unbelief of the Gentiles, provoked the Holy One of Israel to withdraw His Holy Spirit from them, and send forth His judgments to scourge them for their wickedness? This is certainly the case.
Christ said to His disciples (Mark xvi: 17 and 18), that these signs should follow them that believe-"In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover;" and also, in connection with this, read 1st Corinthians, 12th chapter. By the foregoing testimonies we may look at the Christian world and see the apostasy there has been from the apostolic platform; and who can look at this and not exclaim in the language of Isaiah, "The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinances, and broken the everlasting covenant?"
The plain fact is this, the power of God begins to fall upon the nations, and the light of the latter-day glory begins to break forth through the dark atmosphere of sectarian wickedness... (2)
-- Jan 22, 1833 (Tuesday)
[Andrew Jensen, Church Chronology] Joseph Smith, jun., Sidney Rigdon, Frederick G. Williams, Newel K. Whitney, Hyrum Smith, Zebedee Coltrin, Joseph Smith, sen., Samuel H. Smith, John Murdock, Lyman E. Johnson, Orson Hyde, Ezra Thayer, Levi W. Hancock and William Smith assembled in conference at Kirtland, O. On this occasion the Prophet Joseph, Zebedee Coltrin and Wm. Smith spoke in tongues, "after which the Lord poured out his spirit in a miraculous manner, until all the Elders and several members, both male and female, spoke in tongues." Praises were sung to God and the Lamb, and speaking and praying in tongues occupied the conference until a late hour at night. (See History of Joseph Smith.) (3)
Endnotes:
1 - Zebedee Coltrin Journal
2 - Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)
3 - Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
[Zebedee Coltrin] "18 the went to meating the Lord blest [blessed] us much and in the Eaving [Evening] had meatig [meeting] Br Green Speak in tongs [tongues] and Br Joseph Smith with tongs [tongues] also by the Holy ghost" (1)
-- Jan 4, 1833
LETTER to N. E. Seaton, Esq. KIRTLAND, January 4th, 1833. Mr. Editor-Sir, Considering the liberal principles upon which your interesting and valuable paper is published, myself being a subscriber, and feeling a deep interest in the causes of Zion, and in the happiness of my brethren of mankind, I cheerfully take up my pen to contribute my mite at this very interesting and important period.
For some length of time I have been carefully reviewing the state of things, as it now appears, throughout our Christian land; and have looked at it with feelings of the most painful anxiety. While upon one hand I behold the manifest withdrawal of God's Holy Spirit, and the veil of stupidity which seems to be drawn over the hearts of the people; upon the other hand, I behold the judgments of God that have swept, and are still sweeping hundreds and thousands of our race (and I fear unprepared) down to the shades of death. With this solemn and alarming fact before me, I am led to exclaim, "O that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night."
I think that it is high time for a Christian world to awake out of sleep, and cry mightily to that God, day and night, whose anger we have justly incurred. ... Have not the pride, highmindedness, and unbelief of the Gentiles, provoked the Holy One of Israel to withdraw His Holy Spirit from them, and send forth His judgments to scourge them for their wickedness? This is certainly the case.
Christ said to His disciples (Mark xvi: 17 and 18), that these signs should follow them that believe-"In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover;" and also, in connection with this, read 1st Corinthians, 12th chapter. By the foregoing testimonies we may look at the Christian world and see the apostasy there has been from the apostolic platform; and who can look at this and not exclaim in the language of Isaiah, "The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinances, and broken the everlasting covenant?"
The plain fact is this, the power of God begins to fall upon the nations, and the light of the latter-day glory begins to break forth through the dark atmosphere of sectarian wickedness... (2)
-- Jan 22, 1833 (Tuesday)
[Andrew Jensen, Church Chronology] Joseph Smith, jun., Sidney Rigdon, Frederick G. Williams, Newel K. Whitney, Hyrum Smith, Zebedee Coltrin, Joseph Smith, sen., Samuel H. Smith, John Murdock, Lyman E. Johnson, Orson Hyde, Ezra Thayer, Levi W. Hancock and William Smith assembled in conference at Kirtland, O. On this occasion the Prophet Joseph, Zebedee Coltrin and Wm. Smith spoke in tongues, "after which the Lord poured out his spirit in a miraculous manner, until all the Elders and several members, both male and female, spoke in tongues." Praises were sung to God and the Lamb, and speaking and praying in tongues occupied the conference until a late hour at night. (See History of Joseph Smith.) (3)
Endnotes:
1 - Zebedee Coltrin Journal
2 - Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)
3 - Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
More History?
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Speaking in Tongues, Autumn 1832
-- Autumn 1832
Ohio disciples receive gift of tongues [per Wilford Woodruff]. (1)
-- Nov 8, 1832
[Brigham Young Sermon] During this visit a meeting was held in which Brigham spoke in tongues. ... -- Kirtland, Ohio [Diary of Charles Lowell Walker. Andrew Karl Larson, ed. Logan: Utah State University Press, 1980. 134] (2)
-- Nov 14, 1832
[Joseph Smith] In Kirtland Smith "speak[s] with Tongues and Sing[s] in Tongues also," having learned about speaking with "unknown tongues" from Young a week earlier. (3)
-- November 14, 1832
[Zebedee Coltrin] "came to Kirtland to Brothers Joseph Smith and heard him Speak with Tongues and Sing in Tongues" (4)
-- Nov 15, 1832
November 15, 1832 Zebedee Coltrin returns from mission, hears Joseph speak and sing in tongues. (5)
Endnotes:
1 - Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology"
2 - The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009)
3 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power
4 - Zebedee Coltrin Journal
5 - Kenny, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Ohio disciples receive gift of tongues [per Wilford Woodruff]. (1)
-- Nov 8, 1832
[Brigham Young Sermon] During this visit a meeting was held in which Brigham spoke in tongues. ... -- Kirtland, Ohio [Diary of Charles Lowell Walker. Andrew Karl Larson, ed. Logan: Utah State University Press, 1980. 134] (2)
-- Nov 14, 1832
[Joseph Smith] In Kirtland Smith "speak[s] with Tongues and Sing[s] in Tongues also," having learned about speaking with "unknown tongues" from Young a week earlier. (3)
-- November 14, 1832
[Zebedee Coltrin] "came to Kirtland to Brothers Joseph Smith and heard him Speak with Tongues and Sing in Tongues" (4)
-- Nov 15, 1832
November 15, 1832 Zebedee Coltrin returns from mission, hears Joseph speak and sing in tongues. (5)
Endnotes:
1 - Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology"
2 - The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009)
3 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power
4 - Zebedee Coltrin Journal
5 - Kenny, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Speaking in Tongues, Apr 14, 1832
-- Apr 14, 1832
Brigham Young (a carpenter and joiner) baptized, later receives the gift of tongues and interpretation; speaks in tongues. (1)
-- September 1832
[Heber C. Kimball diary] "In September, Brothers Brigham and Joseph Young and myself went up to Kirtland, Ohio, in my wagon, to visit the Prophet. * * * We saw Brother Joseph Smith and had a glorious time, during which Brother Brigham spoke in tongues before Joseph, this being the first time that Joseph had heard the gift of tongues. He rose up and testified that the gift was from God, and then the gift fell upon him and he spoke in tongues himself; he afterwards declared it was the pure or Adamic language which he spoke. * * * We had a precious season, and returned with a blessing in our souls. ..." (2)
-- Sep 8, 1832
[Brigham Young] September 8th, 1832, my wife died of consumption, leaving me two little girls, Elizabeth, born September 26th, 1825, in Port Byron, Cayuga County, New York, and Vilate, born June 1st, 1830, in Mendon, Monroe County, New York. In her expiring moments she clapped her hands and praised the Lord, and called upon Brother Kimball and all around to praise the Lord. After my wife's death I made my home at Brother Kimball's.
A few weeks after my baptism I was at Brother Kimball's house one morning, and while family prayer was being offered up, Brother Alpheus Gifford commenced speaking in tongues. Soon the Spirit came on me, and I spoke in tongues, and we thought only of the day of Pentecost, when the Apostles were clothed upon with cloven tongues of fire. (3)
-- After Sep 8, 1832
In September, 1832, Brother Heber C. Kimball took his horse and wagon, Brother Joseph Young and myself accompanying him and started for Kirtland to see the Prophet Joseph. We visited many friends on the way, and some branches of the Church. We exhorted them and prayed with them, and I spoke in tongues. Some pronounced it genuine and from the Lord, and others pronounced it of the devil. ...
In the evening a few of the brethren came in, and we conversed together upon the things of the kingdom. He called upon me to pray; in my prayer I spoke in tongues. As soon as we arose from our knees the brethren flocked around him, and asked his opinion concerning the gift of tongues that was upon me. He told them it was the pure Adamic language. Some said to him they expected he would condemn the gift Brother Brigham had, but he said, "No, it is of God, and the time will come when Brother Brigham Young will preside over this Church. The latter part of this conversation was in my absence. ..." [a later reconstruction from other sources] (3)
Endnotes:
1 - Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology"
2 - Whitney, Helen Mar, Jeni Broberg Holzapfel, and Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, A Woman's View: Helen Mar Whitney's Reminiscences of Early Church History, Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1997
3 - Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844, ed. Elden Jay Watson (Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968).
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Brigham Young (a carpenter and joiner) baptized, later receives the gift of tongues and interpretation; speaks in tongues. (1)
-- September 1832
[Heber C. Kimball diary] "In September, Brothers Brigham and Joseph Young and myself went up to Kirtland, Ohio, in my wagon, to visit the Prophet. * * * We saw Brother Joseph Smith and had a glorious time, during which Brother Brigham spoke in tongues before Joseph, this being the first time that Joseph had heard the gift of tongues. He rose up and testified that the gift was from God, and then the gift fell upon him and he spoke in tongues himself; he afterwards declared it was the pure or Adamic language which he spoke. * * * We had a precious season, and returned with a blessing in our souls. ..." (2)
-- Sep 8, 1832
[Brigham Young] September 8th, 1832, my wife died of consumption, leaving me two little girls, Elizabeth, born September 26th, 1825, in Port Byron, Cayuga County, New York, and Vilate, born June 1st, 1830, in Mendon, Monroe County, New York. In her expiring moments she clapped her hands and praised the Lord, and called upon Brother Kimball and all around to praise the Lord. After my wife's death I made my home at Brother Kimball's.
A few weeks after my baptism I was at Brother Kimball's house one morning, and while family prayer was being offered up, Brother Alpheus Gifford commenced speaking in tongues. Soon the Spirit came on me, and I spoke in tongues, and we thought only of the day of Pentecost, when the Apostles were clothed upon with cloven tongues of fire. (3)
-- After Sep 8, 1832
In September, 1832, Brother Heber C. Kimball took his horse and wagon, Brother Joseph Young and myself accompanying him and started for Kirtland to see the Prophet Joseph. We visited many friends on the way, and some branches of the Church. We exhorted them and prayed with them, and I spoke in tongues. Some pronounced it genuine and from the Lord, and others pronounced it of the devil. ...
In the evening a few of the brethren came in, and we conversed together upon the things of the kingdom. He called upon me to pray; in my prayer I spoke in tongues. As soon as we arose from our knees the brethren flocked around him, and asked his opinion concerning the gift of tongues that was upon me. He told them it was the pure Adamic language. Some said to him they expected he would condemn the gift Brother Brigham had, but he said, "No, it is of God, and the time will come when Brother Brigham Young will preside over this Church. The latter part of this conversation was in my absence. ..." [a later reconstruction from other sources] (3)
Endnotes:
1 - Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology"
2 - Whitney, Helen Mar, Jeni Broberg Holzapfel, and Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, A Woman's View: Helen Mar Whitney's Reminiscences of Early Church History, Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1997
3 - Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844, ed. Elden Jay Watson (Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968).
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Speaking in Tongues, January (?) 1832
-- January (?) 1832
[Heber C. Kimball diary] "Upon one occasion Father John Young, Brigham, Joseph and myself had gathered together to get some wood for Phineas H. Young; while we were thus engaged we were pondering upon the things which had been told to us by the elders, and upon the Saints gathering to Zion; and the glory of God shone upon us, and we saw the gathering of the Saints to Zion and the glory that would rest upon them, and many more things connected with that great event, such as the sufferings and persecutions which would come upon the people of God, and the calamities and judgments which would come upon the world. These things caused such great joy to spring up in our bosoms that we were hardly able to contain ourselves; and we did shout aloud, `Hosanna to God and the Lamb!' These things increasing our desires to hear more, I took my horses and sleigh and started for Columbia, Bradford County, Pennsylvania—distance one hundred and twenty-five miles; Brigham and Phineas Young and their wives went along with me. We stayed with the Church there about six days, attended their meetings, heard them speak in tongues, interpret and prophesy, which truly caused us to rejoice and praise the Lord. We returned home confirmed in the truth, but were not yet baptized, and as we were on our way we bore testimony to the truth of those things which we had seen and heard, and to our friends and neighbors; many received our testimony and became members of the Church. (1)
-- During January , 1832
[Brigham Young] In January, 1832, my brother Phinehas and I accompanied Heber C. Kimball, who took his horses and sleigh and went to Columbia, Pennsylvania where there was a branch of the Church. We travelled through snow and ice, crossing rivers until we were almost discouraged; still our faith was to learn more of the principles of Mormonism.
We arrived at the place where there was a small branch of the Church; we conversed with them, attended their meetings and heard them preach, and after staying about one week we returned home, being still more convinced of the truth of the work, and anxious to learn its principles and to learn more of Joseph Smith's mission. The members of the branch in Pennsylvania were the first in the Church who received the gift of tongues. (2)
-- circa March 1832
[Revelation] Sample of Pure Language, circa March 1832
A Sample of pure Language given by Joseph the Seer as copied by Br Johnson
Question What is the name of God in pure Language
Answer
Awmen.
Q The meaning of the pure word A[w]men
A It is the being which made all things in all its parts.
Q What is the name of the Son of God.
A The Son Awmen.
Q What is the Son Awmen.
A It is the greatest of all the parts of Awmen which is the Godhead
the first born.
Q What [DEL:is] is man.
A This signifies Sons Awmen. the human family the children of men
the greatest parts of Awmen Sons the Son Awmen
Q What are Angels called in pure language.
A Awmen Angls-men
Q What are the meaning of these words.
A Awmen's Ministerring servants Sanctified who are sent forth
from heaven to minister for or to Sons Awmen the greatest part of
Awmen Son. Sons Awmen Son Awmen Awmen (3)
Endnotes:
1 - Whitney, Helen Mar, Jeni Broberg Holzapfel, and Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, A Woman's View: Helen Mar Whitney's Reminiscences of Early Church History, Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1997
2 - Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844, ed. Elden Jay Watson (Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968).
3 - Book of Commandments and Revelations (Revelation Book 1) http://bit.ly/manuscript-revelations
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
[Heber C. Kimball diary] "Upon one occasion Father John Young, Brigham, Joseph and myself had gathered together to get some wood for Phineas H. Young; while we were thus engaged we were pondering upon the things which had been told to us by the elders, and upon the Saints gathering to Zion; and the glory of God shone upon us, and we saw the gathering of the Saints to Zion and the glory that would rest upon them, and many more things connected with that great event, such as the sufferings and persecutions which would come upon the people of God, and the calamities and judgments which would come upon the world. These things caused such great joy to spring up in our bosoms that we were hardly able to contain ourselves; and we did shout aloud, `Hosanna to God and the Lamb!' These things increasing our desires to hear more, I took my horses and sleigh and started for Columbia, Bradford County, Pennsylvania—distance one hundred and twenty-five miles; Brigham and Phineas Young and their wives went along with me. We stayed with the Church there about six days, attended their meetings, heard them speak in tongues, interpret and prophesy, which truly caused us to rejoice and praise the Lord. We returned home confirmed in the truth, but were not yet baptized, and as we were on our way we bore testimony to the truth of those things which we had seen and heard, and to our friends and neighbors; many received our testimony and became members of the Church. (1)
-- During January , 1832
[Brigham Young] In January, 1832, my brother Phinehas and I accompanied Heber C. Kimball, who took his horses and sleigh and went to Columbia, Pennsylvania where there was a branch of the Church. We travelled through snow and ice, crossing rivers until we were almost discouraged; still our faith was to learn more of the principles of Mormonism.
We arrived at the place where there was a small branch of the Church; we conversed with them, attended their meetings and heard them preach, and after staying about one week we returned home, being still more convinced of the truth of the work, and anxious to learn its principles and to learn more of Joseph Smith's mission. The members of the branch in Pennsylvania were the first in the Church who received the gift of tongues. (2)
-- circa March 1832
[Revelation] Sample of Pure Language, circa March 1832
A Sample of pure Language given by Joseph the Seer as copied by Br Johnson
Question What is the name of God in pure Language
Answer
Awmen.
Q The meaning of the pure word A[w]men
A It is the being which made all things in all its parts.
Q What is the name of the Son of God.
A The Son Awmen.
Q What is the Son Awmen.
A It is the greatest of all the parts of Awmen which is the Godhead
the first born.
Q What [DEL:is] is man.
A This signifies Sons Awmen. the human family the children of men
the greatest parts of Awmen Sons the Son Awmen
Q What are Angels called in pure language.
A Awmen Angls-men
Q What are the meaning of these words.
A Awmen's Ministerring servants Sanctified who are sent forth
from heaven to minister for or to Sons Awmen the greatest part of
Awmen Son. Sons Awmen Son Awmen Awmen (3)
Endnotes:
1 - Whitney, Helen Mar, Jeni Broberg Holzapfel, and Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, A Woman's View: Helen Mar Whitney's Reminiscences of Early Church History, Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1997
2 - Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844, ed. Elden Jay Watson (Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968).
3 - Book of Commandments and Revelations (Revelation Book 1) http://bit.ly/manuscript-revelations
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Speaking in Tongues, Mar 26, 1830
-- Mar 26, 1830
The Book of Mormon, translated by Joseph Smith is published. It describes the gift of tongues as the tongue of angels, a gift given through the Holy Ghost. For example, see 2 Ne. 31: 13-14; Morm. 9: 7, 24; 2 Ne. 32: 2; Omni 1: 25; Alma 29: 8; 3 Ne. 29: 6. (1)
-- Dec 1, 1830
Joseph Smith translates Moses 6:2-19 as part of his inspired translation of the Bible:
Moses 1:5-6 And a book of remembrance was kept, in the which was recorded, in the language of Adam, for it was given unto as many as called upon God to write by the spirit of inspiration; And by them their children were taught to read and write, having a language which was pure and undefiled. (2)
-- circa Mar 8, 1831
Revelation, circa 8 March 1831-A [D&C 46]
48th Commandment Marh concerning conformation & sacrament meetings &c ... And again it is given by the Holy Ghost to some to know the diversities of opperations whether it be of God or not so that the manifestations of the spirit may be given to evry man to prophet [profit] withall And again Verily I say unto you to some it is given by the spirit of God the word of wisdom to another it is given the word of Knowledge that all may be taught to be wise & to have knowledge & again to some it is given to have faith to be healed & to others it is given to have faith to heal And again to some it is given the working of miracles & to others it is given to prophecy & to others the decerning of spirits & again it is given to some to speak with tongues & to another it is given the interpretation of tongues & all these gifts cometh from [God] for the benefit of the children of God ... (3)
-- Oct. 24, 1831
[Ezra Booth] ... "Being carried away in the spirit" and "I know it to be so by the spirit," are well known phrases, and in common use in the Mormonite church. We will first notice the gift of tongues, exercised by some when carried away in the spirit. These persons were apparently lost to all surrounding circumstances, and wrapt up in the contemplation of things, and in communicating with persons not present. -- They articulated sounds, which but few present professed to understand; and those few, declared them to be the Indian language. A merchant, who had formerly been a member of the Methodist society, observed, he had formerly traded with the Indians, and he knew it to be their dialect. Being myself present on some of these occasions, a person proffered his services as my interpreter, and translated these sounds, which to me were unintelligible, into English language. One individual could read any chapter of the Old or New-Testament, in several different languages. This was known to be the case by a person who professed to understand those languages. In the midst of this delirium, they would, at times, fancy themselves addressing a congregation of their red brethren; and mounted upon a stump, or the fence, or from some elevated situation, would harangue their assembly, until they had convinced and converted them. They would then lead them into the water, and baptize them, and pronounce their sins forgiven. In this exercise, some of them actually went into the water; and in the water, performed the ceremony used in baptizing. These actors assumed the visage of the savage, and so nearly imitated him, not only in language, but in gestures and actions, that it seemed the soul and body were completely metamorphosed into the Indian. No doubt was then entertained but that this was an extraordinary work of the Lord, designed to prepare those young men for the Indian mission; and many who are still leaders of the church, could say, "we know by the spirit that it is the work of the Lord." And now they can say, "we know by the spirit that it was it is the work of the Devil." Most of those who were the principal actors, have since apostatized, and the work is unanimously discarded by the church. The limits, which my want of time to write, as well as your want of patience to read, compel me to prescribe for myself, will allow me only to touch on some of the most prominent parts of this newly-invented, and heterogeneous system. ... (4)
Endnotes:
1 - Book of Mormon
2 - Pearl of Great Price: Book of Moses
3 - Book of Commandments and Revelations (Revelation Book 1) http://bit.ly/manuscript-revelations
4 - Ezra Booth, The Ohio Star - October 27, 1831, MORMONISM -- No. III., Nelson, Portage Co.
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
The Book of Mormon, translated by Joseph Smith is published. It describes the gift of tongues as the tongue of angels, a gift given through the Holy Ghost. For example, see 2 Ne. 31: 13-14; Morm. 9: 7, 24; 2 Ne. 32: 2; Omni 1: 25; Alma 29: 8; 3 Ne. 29: 6. (1)
-- Dec 1, 1830
Joseph Smith translates Moses 6:2-19 as part of his inspired translation of the Bible:
Moses 1:5-6 And a book of remembrance was kept, in the which was recorded, in the language of Adam, for it was given unto as many as called upon God to write by the spirit of inspiration; And by them their children were taught to read and write, having a language which was pure and undefiled. (2)
-- circa Mar 8, 1831
Revelation, circa 8 March 1831-A [D&C 46]
48th Commandment Marh concerning conformation & sacrament meetings &c ... And again it is given by the Holy Ghost to some to know the diversities of opperations whether it be of God or not so that the manifestations of the spirit may be given to evry man to prophet [profit] withall And again Verily I say unto you to some it is given by the spirit of God the word of wisdom to another it is given the word of Knowledge that all may be taught to be wise & to have knowledge & again to some it is given to have faith to be healed & to others it is given to have faith to heal And again to some it is given the working of miracles & to others it is given to prophecy & to others the decerning of spirits & again it is given to some to speak with tongues & to another it is given the interpretation of tongues & all these gifts cometh from [God] for the benefit of the children of God ... (3)
-- Oct. 24, 1831
[Ezra Booth] ... "Being carried away in the spirit" and "I know it to be so by the spirit," are well known phrases, and in common use in the Mormonite church. We will first notice the gift of tongues, exercised by some when carried away in the spirit. These persons were apparently lost to all surrounding circumstances, and wrapt up in the contemplation of things, and in communicating with persons not present. -- They articulated sounds, which but few present professed to understand; and those few, declared them to be the Indian language. A merchant, who had formerly been a member of the Methodist society, observed, he had formerly traded with the Indians, and he knew it to be their dialect. Being myself present on some of these occasions, a person proffered his services as my interpreter, and translated these sounds, which to me were unintelligible, into English language. One individual could read any chapter of the Old or New-Testament, in several different languages. This was known to be the case by a person who professed to understand those languages. In the midst of this delirium, they would, at times, fancy themselves addressing a congregation of their red brethren; and mounted upon a stump, or the fence, or from some elevated situation, would harangue their assembly, until they had convinced and converted them. They would then lead them into the water, and baptize them, and pronounce their sins forgiven. In this exercise, some of them actually went into the water; and in the water, performed the ceremony used in baptizing. These actors assumed the visage of the savage, and so nearly imitated him, not only in language, but in gestures and actions, that it seemed the soul and body were completely metamorphosed into the Indian. No doubt was then entertained but that this was an extraordinary work of the Lord, designed to prepare those young men for the Indian mission; and many who are still leaders of the church, could say, "we know by the spirit that it is the work of the Lord." And now they can say, "we know by the spirit that it was it is the work of the Devil." Most of those who were the principal actors, have since apostatized, and the work is unanimously discarded by the church. The limits, which my want of time to write, as well as your want of patience to read, compel me to prescribe for myself, will allow me only to touch on some of the most prominent parts of this newly-invented, and heterogeneous system. ... (4)
Endnotes:
1 - Book of Mormon
2 - Pearl of Great Price: Book of Moses
3 - Book of Commandments and Revelations (Revelation Book 1) http://bit.ly/manuscript-revelations
4 - Ezra Booth, The Ohio Star - October 27, 1831, MORMONISM -- No. III., Nelson, Portage Co.
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Speaking in Tongues, Late January, 1800
-- Late January, 1800
THE GIFT OF TONGUES
"But this I well remember; that they were much abused and persecuted, Mother [Ann Lee] in particular. At one time, the worldly authority held a trial respecting her; when she was so endued with the spirit and power of God, that she spake before the court and a large concourse of people, in twelve different languages, to the astonishment of many present; particularly some of the learned, who understood her, when she spake in French, Hebrew, Greek, and Latin: also some being present who understood other languages." [p. 46;] "There were many operations by the power of God, and wonderful gifts; as speaking in unknown tongues, trembling, groaning, and sometimes turning round . . ." [p. 47 (testimony of Mary Hocknell, b. 1759, who joined the Shakers as a young woman in England, and with whom Brown conversed)]
On the third day after our arrival [thus, on about January 26, 1800], there came an elderly man (by name Seth Youngs) from Lebanon, . . . whom I had heard had the gift of speaking in unknown tongues, or in languages he did not understand . . . [p. 58;] . . . I was satisfied from the appearance of the man, and previous conversation, that he was not a man of learning. . . . [p. 59]
. . . After meeting, all the family sitting round the fire, as he was talking concerning the happiness of a religious life, suddenly his head shook, as if by a severe electric shock; he then closed his eyes and sung half an hour, in some language, said to be Hebrew. As soon as he ended, he said, "this was one of the songs of Zion;" . . .
The same evening he spake a few minutes in some Indian tongue, or it appeared such by the gesticulations, &c. He told us that, "he could only speak as he was inspired by the power of God, and then he had no will or power to stop; and that it often came upon him unexpected, and unthought of; and that he did not understand what he said, except when he had a sense of it given to him." I was informed of an illiterate sister at Lebanon, in the same order, that had the gift of interpretation of tongues; and that she sometimes could translate, or explain languages thus spoken: [Brown, Thomas (b. 1766) "An account of the people called shakers: Their Faith, Doctrines, and Practice, Exemplified in the Life, Conversations, and Experience of the Author During the Time He Belonged to the Society. To Which is Affixed a History of Their Rise and Progress to the Present Day."] (1)
-- 1817
In Germany, Gustav von Below, an aristocratic officer of the Prussian Guard, and his brothers, founded a charismatic movement based on their estates in Pomerania, which may have included speaking in tongues. (2)
Endnotes:
1 - Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source, Brown, Thomas (b. 1766) "An account of the people called shakers: Their Faith, Doctrines, and Practice, Exemplified in the Life, Conversations, and Experience of the Author During the Time He Belonged to the Society. To Which is Affixed a History of Their Rise and Progress to the Present Day."
2 - Wikipedia: Glossolalia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossolalia
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
THE GIFT OF TONGUES
"But this I well remember; that they were much abused and persecuted, Mother [Ann Lee] in particular. At one time, the worldly authority held a trial respecting her; when she was so endued with the spirit and power of God, that she spake before the court and a large concourse of people, in twelve different languages, to the astonishment of many present; particularly some of the learned, who understood her, when she spake in French, Hebrew, Greek, and Latin: also some being present who understood other languages." [p. 46;] "There were many operations by the power of God, and wonderful gifts; as speaking in unknown tongues, trembling, groaning, and sometimes turning round . . ." [p. 47 (testimony of Mary Hocknell, b. 1759, who joined the Shakers as a young woman in England, and with whom Brown conversed)]
On the third day after our arrival [thus, on about January 26, 1800], there came an elderly man (by name Seth Youngs) from Lebanon, . . . whom I had heard had the gift of speaking in unknown tongues, or in languages he did not understand . . . [p. 58;] . . . I was satisfied from the appearance of the man, and previous conversation, that he was not a man of learning. . . . [p. 59]
. . . After meeting, all the family sitting round the fire, as he was talking concerning the happiness of a religious life, suddenly his head shook, as if by a severe electric shock; he then closed his eyes and sung half an hour, in some language, said to be Hebrew. As soon as he ended, he said, "this was one of the songs of Zion;" . . .
The same evening he spake a few minutes in some Indian tongue, or it appeared such by the gesticulations, &c. He told us that, "he could only speak as he was inspired by the power of God, and then he had no will or power to stop; and that it often came upon him unexpected, and unthought of; and that he did not understand what he said, except when he had a sense of it given to him." I was informed of an illiterate sister at Lebanon, in the same order, that had the gift of interpretation of tongues; and that she sometimes could translate, or explain languages thus spoken: [Brown, Thomas (b. 1766) "An account of the people called shakers: Their Faith, Doctrines, and Practice, Exemplified in the Life, Conversations, and Experience of the Author During the Time He Belonged to the Society. To Which is Affixed a History of Their Rise and Progress to the Present Day."] (1)
-- 1817
In Germany, Gustav von Below, an aristocratic officer of the Prussian Guard, and his brothers, founded a charismatic movement based on their estates in Pomerania, which may have included speaking in tongues. (2)
Endnotes:
1 - Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source, Brown, Thomas (b. 1766) "An account of the people called shakers: Their Faith, Doctrines, and Practice, Exemplified in the Life, Conversations, and Experience of the Author During the Time He Belonged to the Society. To Which is Affixed a History of Their Rise and Progress to the Present Day."
2 - Wikipedia: Glossolalia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossolalia
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Speaking in Tongues, 14th century
-- 14th century
The Moravians are referred to by detractors as having spoken in tongues. John Roche, a contemporary critic, claimed that the Moravians "commonly broke into some disconnected Jargon, which they often passed upon the vulgar, 'as the exuberant and resistless Evacuations of the Spirit'". (1)
-- 17th century
The French Prophets: The Camisards also spoke sometimes in languages that were unknown: "Several persons of both Sexes," James Du Bois of Montpellier recalled, "I have heard in their Extasies pronounce certain words, which seem'd to the Standers-by, to be some Foreign Language." These utterances were sometimes accompanied by the gift of interpretation exercised, in Du Bois' experience, by the same person who had spoken in tongues. (1)
Early Quakers, such as Edward Burrough, make mention of tongues speaking in their meetings: "We spoke with new tongues, as the Lord gave us utterance, and His Spirit led us". (1)
-- mid-17th century
Roger Williams argued that true Christianity was lost under Constantine and that revelation was the means of authority (as opposed to a Baptist baptism or a Congrationalist covenant). This would open the 3rd dispensation (1. Primitive purity, 2. Transgression and apostasy, and -"There is a Time of purity and Primitive Sincerity, there in a time of Transgression and Apostacy, there is a time of the coming of the Babilonian Apostacy and Wilderness." This would be an age of spirit; in this "restauration of Zion . . . it may please the Lord againe to . . . powre forth those fiery streames againe of Tongues and Prophecie." (2)
-- 19th century
Edward Irving and the Catholic Apostolic Church. Edward Irving, a minister in the Church of Scotland, writes of a woman who would "speak at great length, and with superhuman strength, in an unknown tongue, to the great astonishment of all who heard, and to her own great edification and enjoyment in God". Irving further stated that "tongues are a great instrument for personal edification, however mysterious it may seem to us." (1)
Endnotes:
1 - Wikipedia: Glossolalia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossolalia
2 - Brooke, John L. The Refiner's Fire: The Making of Mormon Cosmology, 1644-1844. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1994
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
The Moravians are referred to by detractors as having spoken in tongues. John Roche, a contemporary critic, claimed that the Moravians "commonly broke into some disconnected Jargon, which they often passed upon the vulgar, 'as the exuberant and resistless Evacuations of the Spirit'". (1)
-- 17th century
The French Prophets: The Camisards also spoke sometimes in languages that were unknown: "Several persons of both Sexes," James Du Bois of Montpellier recalled, "I have heard in their Extasies pronounce certain words, which seem'd to the Standers-by, to be some Foreign Language." These utterances were sometimes accompanied by the gift of interpretation exercised, in Du Bois' experience, by the same person who had spoken in tongues. (1)
Early Quakers, such as Edward Burrough, make mention of tongues speaking in their meetings: "We spoke with new tongues, as the Lord gave us utterance, and His Spirit led us". (1)
-- mid-17th century
Roger Williams argued that true Christianity was lost under Constantine and that revelation was the means of authority (as opposed to a Baptist baptism or a Congrationalist covenant). This would open the 3rd dispensation (1. Primitive purity, 2. Transgression and apostasy, and -"There is a Time of purity and Primitive Sincerity, there in a time of Transgression and Apostacy, there is a time of the coming of the Babilonian Apostacy and Wilderness." This would be an age of spirit; in this "restauration of Zion . . . it may please the Lord againe to . . . powre forth those fiery streames againe of Tongues and Prophecie." (2)
-- 19th century
Edward Irving and the Catholic Apostolic Church. Edward Irving, a minister in the Church of Scotland, writes of a woman who would "speak at great length, and with superhuman strength, in an unknown tongue, to the great astonishment of all who heard, and to her own great edification and enjoyment in God". Irving further stated that "tongues are a great instrument for personal edification, however mysterious it may seem to us." (1)
Endnotes:
1 - Wikipedia: Glossolalia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossolalia
2 - Brooke, John L. The Refiner's Fire: The Making of Mormon Cosmology, 1644-1844. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1994
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Speaking in Tongues, 1st century
-- 1st century
The New Testiment refers to the gift of tongues as a sign of those who believe (1)
-- 2nd - 4th centuries
A number of early Christian references are made to speaking in tongues, including Tertullian (207 AD), Novatian (360 AD), Justin Martyr (150 AD), Eusebius (339 AD) Chrysostom (407), and Augustine of Hippo (430). (1)
-- 12th century
Bernard of Clairvaux, commenting on Mark 16:17 ("they will speak in new tongues"), asked: "For who is there that seems to have these signs of the faith, without which no one, according to this Scripture, shall be saved?" He explained that these signs were no longer present because there were greater miracles– the transformed lives of believers. (1)
Hildegard of Bingen is reputed to have spoken and sung in tongues. Her spiritual songs were referred to by contemporaries as "concerts in the Spirit." (1)
-- 1265
Thomas Aquinas wrote about the gift of tongues in the New Testament, which he understood to be an ability to speak every language, given for the purposes of missionary work. He explained that Christ did not have this gift because his mission was to the Jews, "nor does each one of the faithful now speak save in one tongue"; for "no one speaks in the tongues of all nations, because the Church herself already speaks the languages of all nations". (1)
Endnotes:
1 - Wikipedia: Glossolalia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossolalia
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
The New Testiment refers to the gift of tongues as a sign of those who believe (1)
-- 2nd - 4th centuries
A number of early Christian references are made to speaking in tongues, including Tertullian (207 AD), Novatian (360 AD), Justin Martyr (150 AD), Eusebius (339 AD) Chrysostom (407), and Augustine of Hippo (430). (1)
-- 12th century
Bernard of Clairvaux, commenting on Mark 16:17 ("they will speak in new tongues"), asked: "For who is there that seems to have these signs of the faith, without which no one, according to this Scripture, shall be saved?" He explained that these signs were no longer present because there were greater miracles– the transformed lives of believers. (1)
Hildegard of Bingen is reputed to have spoken and sung in tongues. Her spiritual songs were referred to by contemporaries as "concerts in the Spirit." (1)
-- 1265
Thomas Aquinas wrote about the gift of tongues in the New Testament, which he understood to be an ability to speak every language, given for the purposes of missionary work. He explained that Christ did not have this gift because his mission was to the Jews, "nor does each one of the faithful now speak save in one tongue"; for "no one speaks in the tongues of all nations, because the Church herself already speaks the languages of all nations". (1)
Endnotes:
1 - Wikipedia: Glossolalia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossolalia
LDS History Chronology: Speaking in Tongues
Mormon History Timeline: the gift of Tongues
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Speaking in Tongues
Speaking in tongues was an important aspect of Latter-day Saint spirituality. Heber C. Kimball remembered he and Brigham Young visiting a group of Mormons who spoke in tongues. Brigham and Heber were baptized shortly thereafter, and it was Brigham Young who introduced Joseph Smith to speaking in tongues. With the prophet's endorsement (including his singing in tongues), the practice spread.
It is important to recognize the connection between Joseph Smith's view of ancient languages and his views about the gift of tongues. Joseph Smith saw the "pure" language as being corrupted at the time of the Tower of Babel. A restoration of aspects of this Pure or "Adamic" language was a part of what he envisioned as part of the restoration. Certain words such as the name of God, keywords mentioned in the facsimiles of the Book of Abraham and aspects of the temple endowment ritual were tied to the Adamic tongue. Often, when one spoke in tongues, fellow Mormons thought they were speaking in the Pure or Adamic language.
Items having to do with the translation of ancient languages are not included here, except for a few references to translations of the characters from the Adamic or Pure language.
Speaking in tongues became an integral part of 19th century Mormon spirituality. Brigham Young would sometimes hold conversations with others in tongues. Perhaps because women could not exercise spirituality tied to priesthood, they readily engaged in the practice of speaking and singing in tongues, as well interpreting. Patriarchal blessings often promised the gift, sometimes in conjunction with preaching to American Indians (Lamanites). One interpretation of a song in tongues was included in a collection of revelations, and some blessings were given in tongues. After some time, caution was urged. Interpretation was to accompany the gift, and that which was said was not to be taken as doctrine.
The frequency of the gift slowed and eventually those who commonly spoke in tongues died off. Sometimes, manifestations of the gift in the 20th century were regarded with suspicion. Eventually church materials would define the gift of tongues primarily as the ability for missionaries or others to learn languages to preach the gospel.
-
Over the next couple of months, a few items having to do with speaking in tongues will be posted each day in chronological order. These are drawn from diaries, journals, meeting minutes, reminisces, autobiographies, patriarchal blessings, and other sources.
LDS-Church-History presents topical explorations of Mormon history. You can read more about it here. http://bit.ly/aboutldshist
The best way to follow LDS Church History is by subscribing via: Email, Twitter, Facebook or RSS. Subscription info is available at the site: http://bit.ly/ldshst.
To read through posts on this topic, click "newer post" below.
It is important to recognize the connection between Joseph Smith's view of ancient languages and his views about the gift of tongues. Joseph Smith saw the "pure" language as being corrupted at the time of the Tower of Babel. A restoration of aspects of this Pure or "Adamic" language was a part of what he envisioned as part of the restoration. Certain words such as the name of God, keywords mentioned in the facsimiles of the Book of Abraham and aspects of the temple endowment ritual were tied to the Adamic tongue. Often, when one spoke in tongues, fellow Mormons thought they were speaking in the Pure or Adamic language.
Items having to do with the translation of ancient languages are not included here, except for a few references to translations of the characters from the Adamic or Pure language.
Speaking in tongues became an integral part of 19th century Mormon spirituality. Brigham Young would sometimes hold conversations with others in tongues. Perhaps because women could not exercise spirituality tied to priesthood, they readily engaged in the practice of speaking and singing in tongues, as well interpreting. Patriarchal blessings often promised the gift, sometimes in conjunction with preaching to American Indians (Lamanites). One interpretation of a song in tongues was included in a collection of revelations, and some blessings were given in tongues. After some time, caution was urged. Interpretation was to accompany the gift, and that which was said was not to be taken as doctrine.
The frequency of the gift slowed and eventually those who commonly spoke in tongues died off. Sometimes, manifestations of the gift in the 20th century were regarded with suspicion. Eventually church materials would define the gift of tongues primarily as the ability for missionaries or others to learn languages to preach the gospel.
-
Over the next couple of months, a few items having to do with speaking in tongues will be posted each day in chronological order. These are drawn from diaries, journals, meeting minutes, reminisces, autobiographies, patriarchal blessings, and other sources.
LDS-Church-History presents topical explorations of Mormon history. You can read more about it here. http://bit.ly/aboutldshist
The best way to follow LDS Church History is by subscribing via: Email, Twitter, Facebook or RSS. Subscription info is available at the site: http://bit.ly/ldshst.
To read through posts on this topic, click "newer post" below.
More History?
Want more Mormon history? Check out Today-in-Mormon-History, three daily snippets of what happened on this day in Mormon Church History. More info can be found here: http://bit.ly/tdmh mh
A Curious Pioneer Blessing
Excerpts of A curious pioneer blessing, Worlds Without End
--
...… Elders William Hall, Rabins R. Strong, Llewellyn Mantle, Joseph Champlin, Martin Potter, and one more laid hands on the horse and commanded the unclean and foul spirits of every name and nature to depart and go to the Gentiles at Warsaw and trouble the Saints no more, when the horse rolled twice over in great distress, sprang to his feet, squealed, vomited and purged, and the next morning was harnessed to a load of about 12 cwt. and performed his part as usual. ...
The exorcism of the horse suggests the Elders may have been influenced by the story in Matthew 8. The loss of a horse was a serious matter for a pioneer, which contributed to the need for a spiritual solution in a worldview that blended the temporal and spiritual. A sense of spiritual innovation by these common men is apparent as they felt empowered by scripture and their priesthood to enact a new multi-purposed blessing/exorcism/cursing for the animal and the gentiles, as well as facilitate their mode of transportation. Their act apparently met the approval of Apostle Richards who records the account with its faith promoting conclusion.Also reflected in the account is the sense of anger at the loss of their prophet and their homes. They called for divine retribution over the dying horse, looking for biblical-styled vengeance. By laying hands on the horse, they exercised faith that their enemies in Warsaw might become possessed and perhaps even run down the banks of the Mississippi to drown like swine.
End of Topic: Unconventional Baptisms in Mormon History
This ends the topic of Unconventional Baptisms in Mormon History.
Stay tuned. A new topic will be available soon.
Stay tuned. A new topic will be available soon.
Rebaptism, February 25, 2012
-- February 25, 2012
Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert performs a mock posthumous conversion of Mormons to Judaism (1)
-- February 29, 2012
First Presidency letter on Baptisms for the dead
Feb 29, 2012: Letter to be read in Sacrament Meetings
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
We would like to reiterate the policies first stated in 1995 concerning the submission of names for proxy temple ordinances:
Our preeminent obligation is to seek out and identify our own ancestors. Those whose names are submitted for proxy temple ordinances should be related to the submitter.
Without exception, Church members must not submit for proxy temple ordinances any names from unauthorized groups, such as celebrities and Jewish Holocaust victims. If members do so, they may forfeit their New FamilySearch privileges. Other corrective action may also be taken.
Members are encouraged to participate in FamilySearch indexing which is vital to family history and temple work.
Bishops are asked to post this letter on their meetinghouse bulletin boards. Church members may seek the assistance of the family history consultants in their area for additional information, if needed. Name submission policies are also clearly stated onNew.FamilySearch.org.
We appreciate the faithful adherence to these policies by all members of the Church.
Sincerely yours,
The First Presidency
President Thomas S. Monson
President Henry B. Eyring
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (2)
-- May 14, 2012
There is public criticism in the Netherlands of the Mormon practice of baptism by proxy after a Dutch newspaper revealed May 9 that several members of the royal family were posthumously "baptized" into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, colloquially known as the Mormon church.
The daily newspaper Trouw quoted unpublished documents in the Mormon church's global genealogical database that show the late Queen Juliana, her husband Prince Bernhard and Queen Beatrix's late husband Prince Claus were all baptized as Mormons after their deaths. (3)
-- July, 2012
Endnotes:
1 - Comedy Central
2 - circular
3 - The Christian Century
LDS History Chronology: Unconventional Baptisms
Mormon History Timeline: Forms of Rebaptism in LDS History
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert performs a mock posthumous conversion of Mormons to Judaism (1)
-- February 29, 2012
First Presidency letter on Baptisms for the dead
Feb 29, 2012: Letter to be read in Sacrament Meetings
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
We would like to reiterate the policies first stated in 1995 concerning the submission of names for proxy temple ordinances:
Our preeminent obligation is to seek out and identify our own ancestors. Those whose names are submitted for proxy temple ordinances should be related to the submitter.
Without exception, Church members must not submit for proxy temple ordinances any names from unauthorized groups, such as celebrities and Jewish Holocaust victims. If members do so, they may forfeit their New FamilySearch privileges. Other corrective action may also be taken.
Members are encouraged to participate in FamilySearch indexing which is vital to family history and temple work.
Bishops are asked to post this letter on their meetinghouse bulletin boards. Church members may seek the assistance of the family history consultants in their area for additional information, if needed. Name submission policies are also clearly stated onNew.FamilySearch.org.
We appreciate the faithful adherence to these policies by all members of the Church.
Sincerely yours,
The First Presidency
President Thomas S. Monson
President Henry B. Eyring
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (2)
-- May 14, 2012
There is public criticism in the Netherlands of the Mormon practice of baptism by proxy after a Dutch newspaper revealed May 9 that several members of the royal family were posthumously "baptized" into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, colloquially known as the Mormon church.
The daily newspaper Trouw quoted unpublished documents in the Mormon church's global genealogical database that show the late Queen Juliana, her husband Prince Bernhard and Queen Beatrix's late husband Prince Claus were all baptized as Mormons after their deaths. (3)
-- July, 2012
Endnotes:
1 - Comedy Central
2 - circular
3 - The Christian Century
LDS History Chronology: Unconventional Baptisms
Mormon History Timeline: Forms of Rebaptism in LDS History
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Rebaptism, November, 2008
-- November, 2008
Talks shut down between Jewish group and Mormon church over Baptism for the dead
Chairman of the American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors, said talks with leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which were held as recently as last week, are over. He stataed the church has repeatedly violated a 13-year-old agreement barring the practice. "We ask you to respect us and our Judaism just as we respect your religion," he said. "We ask you to leave our six million Jews, all victims of the Holocaust, alone, they suffered enough." The church denied the charge. Church spokesman Mike Otterson said Michel's decision to publicly denounce the church seems like a unilateral termination of the discussion. (1)
-- Nov 11, 2008
washingtonpost.com
Around the Nation
Jewish Group Exhorts Mormons
NEW YORK -- Holocaust survivors said they are through trying to negotiate with the Mormon church over posthumous baptisms of Jews killed in Nazi concentration camps, saying the church has repeatedly violated a 13-year-old agreement barring the practice. Leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints say they are making changes to their massive genealogical database to make it more difficult for names of Holocaust victims to be entered for posthumous baptism by proxy, a rite that has been a common Mormon practice for more than a century.
But Ernest Michel, honorary chairman of the American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors, said that is not enough. "We ask you to respect us and our Judaism just as we respect your religion," Michel said in a statement. "We ask you to leave our six million Jews, all victims of the Holocaust, alone, they suffered enough." Posthumous baptism by proxy allows faithful Mormons to have their ancestors baptized into the 178-year-old church, which they believe reunites families in the afterlife.
-- From News Services (2)
-- September, 2010
Agreement between Mormons and Jews over unwanted baptisms for the dead
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a group of Jewish leaders released this joint statement. "Over the years, survivors of the Holocaust have pointed out to the Church that its practice of posthumous proxy baptism has unintentionally caused pain due to the inclusion of names of those who perished in the Holocaust. As a result of dialogue and extraordinary efforts of the Church, computer systems and policy initiatives have been put in place that resolve this issue which is greatly appreciated by the American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Their Descendants, the result of which will be felt throughout the world." (3)
-- February 04, 2012
Comedian Bill Mahr performs a mock un-baptism for the dead on his show (4)
-- February 15, 2012
Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel Shines said Mormon presidential candidate Mitt Romney "should speak to his own church and say they should stop... I hope that if he hears about this that he will speak up."
Wiesel was reacting to news this week that his name, and the names of his father and grandfather, were found on a genealogical database kept by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and used to select deceased souls for a Mormon practice known as proxy baptism. The Mormon church issued an apology and the first ever public rebuke of a responsible follower.
"These submissions were clearly against the policy of the church," said spokesman Purdy. "We consider this a serious breach of our protocol and we have suspended indefinitely this person's ability to access our genealogy records." (5)
-- February 16, 2012
In view of reported proxy baptisms of some prominent Jews, concerned Hindus have urged The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) to set-up a mechanism to avoid baptizing by proxy their deceased ancestors without their will. Hindu statesman Rajan Zed (President of the Universal Society of Hinduism) in a statement said that although they had not received any reports yet of such proxy baptisms of deceased Hindus by LDS, but they were simply concerned after learning of posthumous baptizing of parents of a well known Jew, whose names were not submitted for baptism. (6)
-- February 21, 2012
The Huffington Post story reports the recent baptism of Anne Frank. "Mormons have submitted versions of her name at least a dozen times for proxy rites and carried out the ritual at least nine times from 1989 to 1999." (7)
Church Statement on Violations of Proxy Baptism Policy, Mormon Newsroom
The Church keeps its word and is absolutely firm in its commitment to not accept the names of Holocaust victims for proxy baptism.
It takes a good deal of deception and manipulation to get an improper submission through the safeguards we have put in place.
While no system is foolproof in preventing the handful of individuals who are determined to falsify submissions, we are committed to taking action against individual abusers by suspending the submitter's access privileges. We will also consider whether other Church disciplinary action should be taken.
It is distressing when an individual willfully violates the Church's policy and something that should be understood to be an offering based on love and respect becomes a source of contention. (8)
Endnotes:
1 - Jewish group wants Mormons to stop proxy baptisms" by Deepti Hajela and Jennifer Dobner AP
2 - A chronicle of the Mormon-Jewish controversy; The LDS Agreement: A JewishGen InfoFile, http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/ldsagree.html
3 - Mormons and Jews reach agreement on posthumous proxy baptism , Kelly Marshall, CNN
4 - HBO, Bill Mahr, Feb 4, 2012
5 - Mormon Chronicles, February 15, 2012
6 - Hindus concerned at proxy baptism of Jews by Mormon Church, Baltic Review
7 - Huffington Post
8 - Mormon Newsroom
LDS History Chronology: Unconventional Baptisms
Mormon History Timeline: Forms of Rebaptism in LDS History
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Talks shut down between Jewish group and Mormon church over Baptism for the dead
Chairman of the American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors, said talks with leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which were held as recently as last week, are over. He stataed the church has repeatedly violated a 13-year-old agreement barring the practice. "We ask you to respect us and our Judaism just as we respect your religion," he said. "We ask you to leave our six million Jews, all victims of the Holocaust, alone, they suffered enough." The church denied the charge. Church spokesman Mike Otterson said Michel's decision to publicly denounce the church seems like a unilateral termination of the discussion. (1)
-- Nov 11, 2008
washingtonpost.com
Around the Nation
Jewish Group Exhorts Mormons
NEW YORK -- Holocaust survivors said they are through trying to negotiate with the Mormon church over posthumous baptisms of Jews killed in Nazi concentration camps, saying the church has repeatedly violated a 13-year-old agreement barring the practice. Leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints say they are making changes to their massive genealogical database to make it more difficult for names of Holocaust victims to be entered for posthumous baptism by proxy, a rite that has been a common Mormon practice for more than a century.
But Ernest Michel, honorary chairman of the American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors, said that is not enough. "We ask you to respect us and our Judaism just as we respect your religion," Michel said in a statement. "We ask you to leave our six million Jews, all victims of the Holocaust, alone, they suffered enough." Posthumous baptism by proxy allows faithful Mormons to have their ancestors baptized into the 178-year-old church, which they believe reunites families in the afterlife.
-- From News Services (2)
-- September, 2010
Agreement between Mormons and Jews over unwanted baptisms for the dead
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a group of Jewish leaders released this joint statement. "Over the years, survivors of the Holocaust have pointed out to the Church that its practice of posthumous proxy baptism has unintentionally caused pain due to the inclusion of names of those who perished in the Holocaust. As a result of dialogue and extraordinary efforts of the Church, computer systems and policy initiatives have been put in place that resolve this issue which is greatly appreciated by the American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Their Descendants, the result of which will be felt throughout the world." (3)
-- February 04, 2012
Comedian Bill Mahr performs a mock un-baptism for the dead on his show (4)
-- February 15, 2012
Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel Shines said Mormon presidential candidate Mitt Romney "should speak to his own church and say they should stop... I hope that if he hears about this that he will speak up."
Wiesel was reacting to news this week that his name, and the names of his father and grandfather, were found on a genealogical database kept by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and used to select deceased souls for a Mormon practice known as proxy baptism. The Mormon church issued an apology and the first ever public rebuke of a responsible follower.
"These submissions were clearly against the policy of the church," said spokesman Purdy. "We consider this a serious breach of our protocol and we have suspended indefinitely this person's ability to access our genealogy records." (5)
-- February 16, 2012
In view of reported proxy baptisms of some prominent Jews, concerned Hindus have urged The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) to set-up a mechanism to avoid baptizing by proxy their deceased ancestors without their will. Hindu statesman Rajan Zed (President of the Universal Society of Hinduism) in a statement said that although they had not received any reports yet of such proxy baptisms of deceased Hindus by LDS, but they were simply concerned after learning of posthumous baptizing of parents of a well known Jew, whose names were not submitted for baptism. (6)
-- February 21, 2012
The Huffington Post story reports the recent baptism of Anne Frank. "Mormons have submitted versions of her name at least a dozen times for proxy rites and carried out the ritual at least nine times from 1989 to 1999." (7)
Church Statement on Violations of Proxy Baptism Policy, Mormon Newsroom
The Church keeps its word and is absolutely firm in its commitment to not accept the names of Holocaust victims for proxy baptism.
It takes a good deal of deception and manipulation to get an improper submission through the safeguards we have put in place.
While no system is foolproof in preventing the handful of individuals who are determined to falsify submissions, we are committed to taking action against individual abusers by suspending the submitter's access privileges. We will also consider whether other Church disciplinary action should be taken.
It is distressing when an individual willfully violates the Church's policy and something that should be understood to be an offering based on love and respect becomes a source of contention. (8)
Endnotes:
1 - Jewish group wants Mormons to stop proxy baptisms" by Deepti Hajela and Jennifer Dobner AP
2 - A chronicle of the Mormon-Jewish controversy; The LDS Agreement: A JewishGen InfoFile, http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/ldsagree.html
3 - Mormons and Jews reach agreement on posthumous proxy baptism , Kelly Marshall, CNN
4 - HBO, Bill Mahr, Feb 4, 2012
5 - Mormon Chronicles, February 15, 2012
6 - Hindus concerned at proxy baptism of Jews by Mormon Church, Baltic Review
7 - Huffington Post
8 - Mormon Newsroom
LDS History Chronology: Unconventional Baptisms
Mormon History Timeline: Forms of Rebaptism in LDS History
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
Rebaptism, Dec 17, 2006
-- Dec 17, 2006
http:
www.wiesenthal.com
SWC Calls On Mormon Church To Immediately Remove Simon Wiesenthal's Name From Database
The Simon Wiesenthal Center called on the Mormon Church to immediately remove Simon Wiesenthal from its online International Genealogical Index (IGI), which is the Mormon database of posthumous ordinances.
We are astounded and dismayed that after assurances and promises by the Mormon Church that Mr. Wiesenthal's life and memory, along with so many other Jews, would be trampled and disregarded, said Rabbi Marvin Hier, the Wiesenthal Centers founder and dean.
Simon Wiesenthal was one of the great Jews in the post-Holocaust period. He proudly lived as a Jew, died as a Jew, demanded justice for the millions of the victims of the Holocaust, and, at his request was buried in the State of Israel. It is sacrilegious for the Mormon faith to desecrate his memory by suggesting that Jews on their own are not worthy enough to receive G-ds eternal blessing, added Rabbi Hier.
We therefore urge the Church to remove his name and the names of all other Holocaust victims immediately, Hier concluded. (1)
-- Winter 2006
XXI, 4, p67
Avotaynu: The International Review of Jewish Genealogy
By Aubrey Newman
(Emeritus) Professor of History
University of Leicester
England
Chastizes Mormons
I am annoyed at the waste of time and effort over this controversy which is once more being caused by the Mormon use of various genealogical records. .... I am even more concerned at the deliberate bad faith which has emerged following what seemed to have been agreed to some ten years ago. It seems to me that the Mormons have been guilty of deliberate bad faith, of calculated and deliberate obfuscation, and that they never intended to abide by the agreements they themselves made. I think that all those who are in any way concerned with historical truth should inform as widely as possible of these facts. I invite others to join with me in making these facts known in as many journals as possible.
I would suggest also that if those organizations which originally allowed the Mormons to microfilm their archives retained their copyright in them, they should now withdraw those materials from the Mormon Church and forbid any further use being made of them. (1)
-- Mar 1, 2008
[In a Jewish Times of Seattle article, a Mormon claimed that the Church has met their commitment to the Jews regarding posthumous baptisms. This is the response of Gary Mokotoff, leader of American-Jewish genealogy. [Ed.]]
jtnews.net
Letters
Gary Mokotoff
Bergenfield, N.J.
Acts of the church
Posthumous baptism of Jews by the Mormon Church, [that it was] was the act of just nine people out of 13 million Mormons is not true (The record keepers, Feb. 22). Until the Mormon Church signed an agreement with certain Jewish organizations in May 1995, the Church itself regularly acquired Jewish records often under the false pretense of record preservation and used them for their religious rituals, including posthumous baptism. An example was the records of the Hambro synagogue of London, England. All persons whose births were recorded in the synagogue in the 19th century were baptized. The Church did not limit itself to birth records. All the Jews murdered in the Holocaust who were recorded in a Dutch memorial book were posthumously baptized by an act of the Church, not the act of individual Mormons.
This practice stopped with the signing of the 1995 agreement.... When this was discovered in 2005, the Church claimed they had no way of stopping these baptisms. This seems unreasonable. A simple directive to all the local wards could have stopped the extraction of names.
[Mark] Paredes stated that Church rules make it clear that a person who adds a name to the baptism rolls must be able to prove that they are related. This is true. But it is also true that this rule, along with many other rules, are ignored by individual Mormons, and the Church makes no attempt to enforce the rules. For example, there is a rule that you cannot posthumously baptize any person who was born within the past 95 years without permission of the closest relative. Yet Anne Frank was baptized six times. ... (1)
-- May, 2008
The Catholic News Service reports the Vatican has ordered catholic parishes to block the church's Genealogical Society of Utah from their records, expressing "grave reservations" regarding proxy ordinances for the dead that occur in Mormon temples. The Vatican letter calls the church's genealogical practice "detrimental" and asks Bishops "not to cooperate with the erroneous practices of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." Father Massa, executive director of the U.S. bishops' Secretariat of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs said "we have to make very clear to them their practice of so-called rebaptism is unacceptable from the standpoint of Catholic truth." (2)
Endnotes:
1 - A chronicle of the Mormon-Jewish controversy; The LDS Agreement: A JewishGen InfoFile, http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/ldsagree.html
2 - Catholic News Service
LDS History Chronology: Unconventional Baptisms
Mormon History Timeline: Forms of Rebaptism in LDS History
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
http:
www.wiesenthal.com
SWC Calls On Mormon Church To Immediately Remove Simon Wiesenthal's Name From Database
The Simon Wiesenthal Center called on the Mormon Church to immediately remove Simon Wiesenthal from its online International Genealogical Index (IGI), which is the Mormon database of posthumous ordinances.
We are astounded and dismayed that after assurances and promises by the Mormon Church that Mr. Wiesenthal's life and memory, along with so many other Jews, would be trampled and disregarded, said Rabbi Marvin Hier, the Wiesenthal Centers founder and dean.
Simon Wiesenthal was one of the great Jews in the post-Holocaust period. He proudly lived as a Jew, died as a Jew, demanded justice for the millions of the victims of the Holocaust, and, at his request was buried in the State of Israel. It is sacrilegious for the Mormon faith to desecrate his memory by suggesting that Jews on their own are not worthy enough to receive G-ds eternal blessing, added Rabbi Hier.
We therefore urge the Church to remove his name and the names of all other Holocaust victims immediately, Hier concluded. (1)
-- Winter 2006
XXI, 4, p67
Avotaynu: The International Review of Jewish Genealogy
By Aubrey Newman
(Emeritus) Professor of History
University of Leicester
England
Chastizes Mormons
I am annoyed at the waste of time and effort over this controversy which is once more being caused by the Mormon use of various genealogical records. .... I am even more concerned at the deliberate bad faith which has emerged following what seemed to have been agreed to some ten years ago. It seems to me that the Mormons have been guilty of deliberate bad faith, of calculated and deliberate obfuscation, and that they never intended to abide by the agreements they themselves made. I think that all those who are in any way concerned with historical truth should inform as widely as possible of these facts. I invite others to join with me in making these facts known in as many journals as possible.
I would suggest also that if those organizations which originally allowed the Mormons to microfilm their archives retained their copyright in them, they should now withdraw those materials from the Mormon Church and forbid any further use being made of them. (1)
-- Mar 1, 2008
[In a Jewish Times of Seattle article, a Mormon claimed that the Church has met their commitment to the Jews regarding posthumous baptisms. This is the response of Gary Mokotoff, leader of American-Jewish genealogy. [Ed.]]
jtnews.net
Letters
Gary Mokotoff
Bergenfield, N.J.
Acts of the church
Posthumous baptism of Jews by the Mormon Church, [that it was] was the act of just nine people out of 13 million Mormons is not true (The record keepers, Feb. 22). Until the Mormon Church signed an agreement with certain Jewish organizations in May 1995, the Church itself regularly acquired Jewish records often under the false pretense of record preservation and used them for their religious rituals, including posthumous baptism. An example was the records of the Hambro synagogue of London, England. All persons whose births were recorded in the synagogue in the 19th century were baptized. The Church did not limit itself to birth records. All the Jews murdered in the Holocaust who were recorded in a Dutch memorial book were posthumously baptized by an act of the Church, not the act of individual Mormons.
This practice stopped with the signing of the 1995 agreement.... When this was discovered in 2005, the Church claimed they had no way of stopping these baptisms. This seems unreasonable. A simple directive to all the local wards could have stopped the extraction of names.
[Mark] Paredes stated that Church rules make it clear that a person who adds a name to the baptism rolls must be able to prove that they are related. This is true. But it is also true that this rule, along with many other rules, are ignored by individual Mormons, and the Church makes no attempt to enforce the rules. For example, there is a rule that you cannot posthumously baptize any person who was born within the past 95 years without permission of the closest relative. Yet Anne Frank was baptized six times. ... (1)
-- May, 2008
The Catholic News Service reports the Vatican has ordered catholic parishes to block the church's Genealogical Society of Utah from their records, expressing "grave reservations" regarding proxy ordinances for the dead that occur in Mormon temples. The Vatican letter calls the church's genealogical practice "detrimental" and asks Bishops "not to cooperate with the erroneous practices of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." Father Massa, executive director of the U.S. bishops' Secretariat of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs said "we have to make very clear to them their practice of so-called rebaptism is unacceptable from the standpoint of Catholic truth." (2)
Endnotes:
1 - A chronicle of the Mormon-Jewish controversy; The LDS Agreement: A JewishGen InfoFile, http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/ldsagree.html
2 - Catholic News Service
LDS History Chronology: Unconventional Baptisms
Mormon History Timeline: Forms of Rebaptism in LDS History
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
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