Mormon History, May 14, 1845

-- May 14, 1845
The Twelve appoint the next Thursday (third week of the month) "as a day of public FASTING AND PRAYER to Almighty God." In Aug, it was the second Thursday, and Thursday remained fast-day for Utah Mormons until the 1890's. (1)

[Newspaper] - Announcement: "Fasting and Prayer" - Announcement of Fast Day -- Editorial -- Announces a day of fasting for prosperity and abundance.

- Story: Nauvoo Vigilance Committee -- Editorial -- Describes and encourages actions by vigilant citizens of Nauvoo.

- Announcement: Deposition of I.C. Howd - Attacked by Anti-Mormons -- I.C. Howd -- Howd, who is not a member of the Church but did business with members, describes being attatcked by Anti-Mormons.

- Story: "Spiritual Wife System in the Right Quarter" - Millerism -- Editorial -- Describes several published allegations about the kissing practices of Millerism.

- Letter: William Smith's Letter to the Nauvoo Church" -- William Smith -- Denies the "Spiritual Wife System," and seeks to find favor with the Nauvoo Saints.

- Letter to the Editor: Response to Being Called a Prophet -- Orson Hyde -- Elder Hyde states that he is not a Prophet, and possesses more of the qualities of a "jack-ass" than a Prophet.

- Letter to the Editor: Why Mob Violence is Tolerated, Yet the Saints Cannot Hint at Such -- Signed, "Americus" -- States that a dark spot is easiest to see on a pure white garment, and that the Saints should keep themselves unspotted because it is much easier for the world to notice the spots within the Church.

- Letter: Letter Describing Problems with the Rigdonites -- Signed, "R__s E___y" -- Letter which describes how superior the Nauvoo Church and people are when compared to the Rigdonites.

- Announcement: Deaths and Obituary -- W.D. Huntington -- Jepthah V. Holden (9 months, Lung Fever), Silas Tupper (77). (2)

-- May 15, 1845
[Anointed Quorum] Thursday evening prayer circle of "Holy Order" at Willard Richards's office, with Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, George A. Smith, Orson Pratt, Newel K. Whitney, Levi Richards, and William Clayton . (3)

-- May 15, 1845. Thursday.
[William Clayton Journal] Evening met at Dr. Richards for prayer, in company with President Young, H. C. Kimball, G. A. Smith, O. Pratt, N. K. Whitney and L. Richards. (4)

-- Tuesday, May 15th, 1845
[Apostle John Taylor diary] On the 15th of May, I with some others of my brethren had to secrete ourselves, to escape the hands of mobbers, who would have murdered us, if they had us in their power; they with the design of entrapping us, had made out writs against us to appear at this session of the Court to answer to charges preferred against us. We went to Brother Hunter's, and afterward to Bro. Pierce's to hide; and were employed in correcting and preparing Church history for the press. (5)

-- May 16, 1845
[Nauvoo Temple] William Player set the last star stone on the west side of the southwest corner. During this same time carpenters were raising the timbers for the first floor with a large amount of the walls and body of the building already up.

Brigham Young, representing the Twelve, wrote William Weeks directing him to prepare a stone in the west end of the temple with the inscription, "Holiness to the Lord," because it was the one thing lacking in the building. (6)

[Patriarchal Blessings] [Patriarchal Blessing of Israel Barlow on May 16, 1845]

--Patriarchal Blessing of Israel Barlow City of Joseph May 16th 1845 A Blessing of John Smith, Patriarch, upon the head of Israel Barlow, son of Annis & Jonathan, born, Sept. 13th 1806, Hampden [Hampshire] County, Mass.

Br[other]. Israel, I lay my hands upon thy head in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth & confer on thee a blessing of a father; thou art of the blood of Ephraim & an heir to the Holy priesthood which was sealed upon his head by Jacob, his father, & all other blessings according to the order & laws of the priesthood which has been handed down to thee through the lineage of thy fathers from generation to generation. The same is to be continued to thy posterity through all their generations & they shall be very numerous & hold high & exalted stations in the church & kingdom of Jesus Christ.

Thou art called to preach the gospel to this ungodly generation, to go forth in the power & spirit of the God of Elijah that try, whether they hear or forebear, shall know hat a prophet hath been among them. Thou shalt confound all that oppose thee which shall cause thine enemies to tremble & flee from thy presence & shame shall sieze [seize] those who seek thy destruction.

Thou shalt have the ministering of Angels. Thou shalt converse with them face to face as with thy familiar friends. This will enable thee to escape all dangers. Thou shalt gather thy thousands & lead them to Zion with much riches. Thou shalt have an inheritance among thy brethren, be satisfied with the riches of the earth & the riches of eternity, shalt not be withheld from them.

Thou shalt be a counselor in the house of Israel forever for thy name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life, never to be erased. Thou shalt have power & wisdom to magnify thy station at all times. Thou shalt live to see the end of this Gentile race & inherit all the blessings of the Redeemer's Kingdom if thou art faithful. These blessings shall not fail, either in life or death, for I seal them upon thee with eternal life. Amen. (7)


Footnotes:
1 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
2 - http://boap.org/LDS/Nauvoo-Neighbor
3 - Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Signature Books, 1994, Appendex: Meetings and Initiations of the Anointed Quorum, 1842-45, http://amzn.to/origins-power
4 - George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton
5 - 'The John Taylor Nauvoo journal, January 1845-September 1845,' BYU Studies 23:3 (1983) edited by Dean C. Jessee
6 - Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple
7 - Patriarchal Blessings


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