Tagged Stories
Displaying stories 1 - 15 of 23 in total tagged with "LDS History"
Opposition to Mormonism started early
Many critics of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claim the advent of the Internet and free access of information created their critical view of Mormonism. A new collection of early writings about the Book of Mormon, however, demonstrates that new technology isn't a prerequisite for...
Eleanor and Emma
The early years in the Salt Lake Valley were years of shortages. The seagulls may have beaten back the crickets and saved part of the crop, but no seagull – nor anything else – could prevent wear and tear to a laborer’s clothing, nor produce the fabric to make new clothing. Cloth was one of the...
Mormon-Catholic tolerance goes back to Brigham Young years
Mormon Life says: Some nice moments in LDS history to learn of.
During his forum address at Brigham Young University on Feb. 23, Francis Cardinal George, head of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, mentioned last year's participation by President...
Early newspaper accounts portrayed Mormons poorly
Stories printed in early 19th century newspapers did little to allay fears about the new Mormon church and the efforts of its members to lead peaceful, productive lives. In fact, judging by the headlines and story direction, Mormons were thought to be lawbreaking fanatics who could only bring...
Monumental story, the Mormon Battalion
When the Mormon Battalion finally reached the Pacific Ocean on Jan. 29, 1847 — their feet scarred and bloody, their rations depleted and their clothing tattered — they had completed a march of nearly 2,000 miles to what is modern-day San Diego. They endured one of the longest military marches in...
Fires of Faith in Great Britain, 1848
The year 1848 was one of tumult across Continental Europe – revolution broke out in France, followed soon by others in Germany, Austria, Italy, and Hungary. The French king, Louis Philippe, fled Paris as the people raised barricades in the streets and demanded electoral reform, a democratic...
Joseph Smith's memory of the First Vision
One of Steven C. Harper's most vivid memories happened when he was about 14 years old. This is, coincidently, about the same age Joseph Smith was when he had his First Vision. Harper's experience greatly changed his life. He was sitting at the breakfast table and talking with his dad about...
“Brigham Young” (1940): 20th Century Fox Studio Publicity
“I endorse it with all my heart,” Heber J. Grant said. “This is one of the greatest days of my life.” That’s oddly strong support for a commercial movie featuring a not-entirely-accurate version of Mormon history – but that’s probably because President Grant remembered 1922’s viciously...
Finding the Missing Pioneers: A Case Study
For a dozen years or so, dozens of church service missionaries (under the overall supervision of Mel Bashore, and for at least six years under the day-to-day development of missionaries Judy and David Wood) have worked to identify all Mormon pioneers who gathered to Zion, whether from east or...
Joseph Smith's scribes recorded his 'crooked, broken language'
Joseph Smith was a terrible writer. While that statement might sound foreign to members, considering his testimony and revelations have been spread around the world in more than 160 languages, it should come as no surprise when you realize the Prophet had no more than a third-grade...
Build Your Very Own Salt Lake City, ca. 1941
Mormon Life says: Perhaps a fun FHE activity...
Enlarge the patterns, then snip, snip, snip, fit slot A into slit B, maybe add a little tape, and build your own model of the LDS buildings in Salt Lake City as they appeared — more or less — in...
Gordon B. Hinckley Unexpectedly Finds Himself in a War Zone
Mormon Life says: A great story from the life of President Hinckley.
Since its established in 1948, the Republic of Korea, with its capital at Seoul, has survived a high level of volatility in its government. The Korean War of the early ’50s resulted in a division...
Researcher says Brigham, not Joseph, put Mormonism on path to success
Mormonism owes its continual rise much more to Brigham Young, the man who led the incipient movement across the Plains, than to Joseph Smith, who began it all with talk of angels and gold plates. At least that's how Utah researcher Richard Van Wagoner sees it after spending the past 15 years...
Christmas 1847 in Salt Lake Valley was full of warmth, gratitude
Mormon Life says: A little look back in history...
It was a warm Christmas, made even warmer by the day's activities. The Mormon pioneers spent their first Christmas in the Salt Lake Valley working. Some gathered sagebrush for fires. Others plowed...
Sugar Creek tested saints in Feb. 1846 during Nauvoo exodus
On his way to Carthage, Ill., Joseph Smith described the Saints as "the best people under the heavens." Then, with solemn foresight, he added, "Little do they know the trials that await them." But in 20 months' time, they were tasting those trials. It was February 1846. The Mormons began to cross...
