-- May 19, 1900; Saturday
Presidents [Lorenzo] Snow, [George Q.] Cannon and [Joseph F.] Smith were at the office. Mr. John W. Rigdon, son of the late Sidney Rigdon, called and met President Snow this morning in the Beehive House, and afterwards met Presidents Cannon and Smith in the office. The President reported that he had a very pleasant conversation with Mr. Rigdon who talked freely to him. During the conversation Mr. Rigdon admitted that he once had doubts concerning the authenticity of the Book of Mormon; but after talking with his father on his deathbed those doubts were removed partially, and his investigations and reflections since then had tended fully to confirm in his mind the truthfulness of his father's dying testimony. He, in talking with his father during his last hours said, "Father, you are now an old man, and I want you to tell me if you still believe the Book of Mormon to be what it represents to be, and if Joseph Smith always maintained that it was true and a genuine record?" His father answered in the most solemn manner that it was a true and genuine record, and that Joseph Smith always maintained its genuineness, and that he translated it by the gift and power of God from the gold plates shown to him by the angel. Mr. Rigdon said that for the last six years he had believed the Book of Mormon to be what it represents to be, but he said he was sorry to say his wife and children not only disbelieve it, but regard the Mormons as enemies, that they spoke very harshly of them, and they would sometimes talk against his own father, but which however, they had ceased to do in his presence. He said his father died an unhappy man, but in hopes and assurance of a glorious resurrection. (1)
-- May 21, 1900; Monday
Presidents [Lorenzo] Snow, [George Q.] Cannon and [Joseph F.] Smith were at the office. President Snow decided to adopt the recommendations of the Council of May 3rd, as to the purchase of a chapel at Bristol, England, and one at Copenhagen, Denmark. Letters were written to Liverpool [England] and Copenhagen accordingly. (1)
-- May 21, 1900
Presidents [Lorenzo] Snow, [George Q.] Cannon and [Joseph F.] Smith were at the office. President Snow decided to adopt the recommendations of the Council of May 3rd, as to the purchase of a chapel at Bristol, England, and one at Copenhagen, Denmark. Letters were written to Liverpool [England] and Copenhagen accordingly. I spoke to Bro[ther]. [Charles W.] Penrose about an article he wrote for the [Improvement] Era, calling the woman of Endor a witch. I told him Pres[ident]. John Taylor told me in spring of 1855, that the Prophet Joseph [Smith], said that woman was a prophetess of God, who dwelt in seclusion because of the edict of Sam[ue]l. against any one possessing a fermiliar spirit. Parley P. Pratt, when I mentioned the same thing to him, in fall of 1856, he said she was one of Samuels wives. (2)
Endnotes:
1 - First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes
2 - Journal History; Angus M. Cannon, Diary
LDS History Chronology: Lorenzo Snow
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Lorenzo Snow
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
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