Questions and Links for CHFT 21-22

From CHFT chapter 21: 1. Who was John C. Bennett? What did he do to help the Church? What did he do to hurt it? 2. Where in Illinois did the first anti-Mormon feelings begin and why? 3. What prominent Illinois Democrat became a friend to the Church? 4. Why and how did Governor Ford act to protect Joseph Smith? 5. Why did Joseph Smith run for president in 1844? List three planks of his platform that impress you. From CHFT chapter 22: 1. Name the two brothers who led the conspiracy against Joseph Smith in Nauvoo. How many followers did they have by early 1844? 2. What was the Nauvoo Expositor and how did it contribute to the death of Joseph Smith? 3. Why did Joseph and Hyrum willingly go to Carthage? 4. Why did the citizens of Carthage hold so much hatred toward Joseph Smith? 5. List some of Joseph Smith's accomplishments in the short 39 years of his life. Links:"The Martyrdom: The Prophet Seals His Testimony with His Blood" "The Path to the Martyrdom"

Links and Questions Relating to CHFT 17-18

This Thursday we will be discussing chapters 17-18 in Church History in the Fulness of Times: "Refuge in Illinois" and "The Mission of the Twelve." Many thanks to Shelley Stapley, who put together a worksheet for those who would like questions to go with their study this week. Please see her questions below. Here are a few related articles for those who want to study further on the topics for discussion this Thursday (click on titles to link): 1. "A Wall to Defend Zion: The Nauvoo Charter" (pdf) 2. "Sickness and Faith, Nauvoo Letters" (pdf) 3. "The Mission of the Twelve to England, 1840-41: Mormon Apostles and the Working Classes" (pdf) 4. "Among Family and Friends: John Taylor - Mission to the British Isles" (Ensign, Mar 1987) Worksheet Questions: After the Saints were expelled from Missouri (as a result of the extermination order), where were the following members of Church leadership to be found? Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, David W. Patten, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Thomas Marsh, William Smith, Orson Hyde, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball. What was the Committee on Removal? What led the saints to Quincy, Illinois? What did Lyman Wight do that threatened the peaceful reception saints were experiencing in Quincy? What did Wandle Mace do? Who was Drusilla Hendricks? What caused Joseph’s release from Liberty Jail? How did the saints end up with land in Iowa and Illinois? How far was Quincy from Nauvoo? From Far West? Who renamed Commerce/Commerce City “Nauvoo”? What does Nauvoo mean? Who was Ellijah Fodham? To which US Presidents did church appeal for help? What was Congress’s answer and why? Who drafted the Nauvoo Charter? What did the Nauvoo Charter grant?

TIMELINE: Ohio and Missouri 1836-38

Here is the timeline we used in our lesson on CHFT 15-16, as requested. Sorry for the delay! Click on the image to see the timeline in larger format (readable!).

Links and Questions Relating to CHFT 15-16

This Thursday, November 15, we will discuss Chapter 15, "The Church in Northern Missouri, 1836-38," and Chapter 16, "Missouri Persecutions and Expulsion" in the institute manual, Church History in the Fulness of Times. Here are a few study questions for this week's reading: (Ch. 15) 1. What five reasons were given from the citizens of Clay County for their opposition to the Saints? 2. Look at map 5 in your scriptures (Church History Maps), or click here to see the map online. Locate Far West, Adan-ondi-Ahman, Gallatin, DeWitt and Liberty on the map. What do the map notes say about Far West? 3. What caused discord between the stake presidency and the high council in Missouri? 4. What does "Adam-ondi-Ahman" mean? (Ch. 16) 1. Why was there conflict in Gallatin on election day, 1838? 2. How did Governor Boggs respond to the reports of mob rule in his state? 3. Who were the Danites? 4. How long were Joseph Smith and his companions incarcerated at Liberty Jail? Why is the jail at Liberty sometimes referred to as a "Prison Temple"? Here are a few extra resources for those who would like to read more about this period or the principles involved in this part of Church history: 1. "Eliza R. Snow Letter from Missouri" - pdf - BYU Studies 2. "The Test" - Ensign, October 2008 3. "The Haun's Mill Massacre" - pdf - BYU Studies 4. "Where is the Pavilion?" - Ensign, October 2012

Links and Questions Relating to CHFT 13,14

This Thursday, November 8, we will be discussing two chapters in Church History in the Fulness of Times, Chapter 13, Glorious Days in Kirtland, 1834-36; and Chapter 14, The Apostasy in Kirtland, 1836-38. These chapters are rich with stories of the Church during a critical period of development. If you are interested in other reading, take a look at "A Warning from Kirtland," Ensign, April 1989; "The Failure of the Kirtland Safety Society," BYU Studies, 1972; "Honorably Hold a Name and Standing," Ensign, May 2009; and "The Kirtland Diaries of Wilford Woodruff," BYU Studies, 1972. For those who would like to read with study questions, here are a few: (Chapter 13) 1. How long had members of the Church anticipated the formation of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles? Who (on earth) chose the original 12 in this dispensation? 2. What two notable families accepted the gospel in Canada in 1836? 3. Which standad work of the Church was first published in 1835? 4.How was Lorenzo Snow introduced to the Church? 5. In what year did work begin on the Kirtland Temple? When was it dedicated? (Chapter 14) 6. What was the Kirtland Safety Society Anti-Banking Company? 7. Why did the Kirtland Safety Society fail? 8. List the seven brethren called to serve missions to England, beginning in 1837. How many Saints were baptized through their efforts at this time? 9. What was the "Old Standard" and how many Saints did they draw away from the Church? 10. What was the "Kirtland Camp"? Why did they leave Kirtland?

Links and Questions Related to CHFT 12

This Thursday, November 1, we will discuss Church History in the Fulness of Times, Chapter 12: Zion's Camp. Only one chapter to study this week! I look forward to the discussion on this interesting period in the history of the Church. For those who would like to read further, here are a couple of links to related articles: 1. "Zion's Camp March from Ohio to Missouri, 1834," Ensign, April 1979 2. "Joseph Smith and Zion's Camp," Ensign, June 2005 Also, a few study questions for any who would like to ponder a little more: 1. How long had the Kirtland High Council been organized when they heard the report on violence in Missouri? 2. Read D&C 103. What were the purposes of Zion's Camp? 3. How old was Wilford Woodruff when he volunteered to join Zion's Camp? How old was Brigham Young? 4. How many people marched with Zion's Camp at its largest? 5. Read D&C 105:1-11. List reasons the Savior gave that Zion could not be redeemed at that time. The above links can also be found on the blog, http://churchhistorytoday.blogspot.com. Whether or not you have time to look through the material, please join us for a lively discussion and video clips this Thursday!

Links and Questions related to CHFT 10-11

This Thursday in institute class we will discuss chapters 10-11 in Church History in the Fulness of Times - Chapter 10: "Development of the Church in Ohio, 1831-34" and chapter 11: "Expulsion from Jackson County." Click on the chapter titles for links to these readings. If you are interested in more information on these topics, you may click on these links: "Joseph Smith's Missionary Journal," "Mormon Persecutions in Missouri, 1833" (PDF), and a broadcast on the Mormon Channel titled, "Education in Kirtland," wherein historian Milton Backman discusses the School of the Prophets. For those who enjoy study questions, here are a few to consider: 1. Who was Ezra Booth and why did he lose faith? 2. Why did Joseph Smith speak with a light whistle after 24 March, 1832? What happened to Sidney Rigdon that same night? 3. What was historic about Joseph's and Sidney's missionary journey to Canada? How many missions did Joseph undertake during the Kirtland era? 4. What was the job of the "Literary Firm"? 5. List difficulties among the Saints inJackson County prior to July, 1833. 6. List points of contention between Church members and their non-member neighbors in Missouri. 7. Why are the names Edward Partridge, Isaac Morley, John Corrill, John Whitmer, W. W. Phelps, and Sidney Gilbert held in honorable remembrance by the Church? 8. Who was Lilburn Boggs? Why was he allowed power?

Many thanks to Joan Fisler for finding this talk by Marion G. Romney regarding the Law of Consecration. The title of the talk is "Socialism and the United Order Compared." Click on the title to link to the text of the talk, which was originally given in April Conference, 1966. This talk gives a good definition for Socialism, then compares it with Communism, the United Order, and the Law of Consecration. I have included a picture of President Romney so he will not be confused with the Romney in today's news. Good reading!

Links and Questions related to CHFT 8-9

Just a reminder we will not meet this Thursday, October 11, for institute classes. Next Thursday, October 18, we will discuss chapters 8-9 in Church History in the Fulness of Times, "Gathering To Ohio" and "Gathering to the Land of Zion." For those who are interested in reading more about this period in church history, here are a few articles with links: "The First Road West: From New York to Kirtland, 1831," Ensign, Jan. 1979 "'Steadfastness and Patient Endurance': The Legacy of Edward Partridge," Ensign, June 1979 "To Prepare a People," Ensign, Jan. 1979 "Independence, Missouri, and the Mormons, 1827-1833," (pdf) BYU Studies, 1972 And here are a few study questions related to these chapters: 1. Which section of the Doctrine and Covenants was received by revelation at the third conference of the Church on Jan. 2, 1831? What was promised in this revelation? 2. What miracle of migration did Lucy Mack Smith record? 3. List challenges encountered by Joseph Smith and the early saints in northern Ohio. Why would the Lord allow members of the Church to experience these problems when he commanded them to go and extended great promises to them? 4. Who was the first bishop of the Church? What were his responsibilities? 5. What was noteworthy about the Newel K. Whitney store in Kirtland? 6. What three groups traveled from Kirtland to Missouri? Why did they go? How far was it? 7. What was the cost of an acre of land in Independence, MO, in 1831? 8. Who dedicated the temple site in Independence, MO? When was it dedicated? 9. Name the periodical published in Independence, beginning in 1832.

Links and Questions related to CHFT 6-7

This Thursday, October 4, we will discuss two chapters in Church History in the Fulness of Times: Chapter 6, Organization of the Church of Jesus Christ; and Chapter 7, The Infant Church Expands. Here are a few articles for those who wish to read further on the topics for this week: "Fayette: The Place the Church Was Organized," Ensign, Feb. 1989; "I Have a Question: Who were the six who organized the Church on 6 April 1830?", Ensign, June 1980; "How We Got the Book of Moses," Ensign, Jan. 1986; "The 'New Translation' of the Bible, 1830-1833..." BYU Studies. And here are a few questions for consideration as you read this week's lessons: How many people gathered at the Peter Whitmer, Sr. home on 6 April 1830 to witness the formal organization of the Church? What happened at the first meeting? Look at the Chronological Order of Contents page at the beginning of the Doctrine and Covenants. How many sections of the Doctrine and Covenants were written in Manchester, NY? How many in Harmony, PA? How many in Fayette, NY? When was the first chapter of the Book of Moses translated? How far did Samuel H. Smith travel on his mission to sell copies of the Book of Mormon? Who were the four men selected to take the gospel to Native Americans? List some of the successes that came from the mission to the Lamanites.

Schedule Change

Please note the class schedule has changed. We will NOT meet for either class on Thursday, October 11, because of an auxiliary training meeting at the stake center that evening. The schedule has been adjusted to accommodate the loss of one class. We will still be on track to finish our study May 16. Please alert me if you know of any other Thursdays on which a stake conflict or school schedule might be an issue!

Links and Questions related to CHFT 4-5

According to the Ensign article, "I Have a Question," Jan. 1988, it took Joseph Smith only about 65 working days to translate the Book of Mormon. Amazing! This Thursday we will look at the period in Church history that covers the time between Joseph's First Vision and the publication of the Book of Mormon (1820-1830). Lesson material can be found in Church History in the Fulness of Times, chapters 4 and 5 (click here for html of the student manual). If you are interested in other reading, here are some links to Ensign articles that relate to this subject matter: (1) "Book of Mormon Personalities Known by Joseph Smith," Ensign, Aug. 1978; (2) "Moroni's Message to Joseph Smith," Ensign, Aug. 1990; (3) "Prepared for the Restoration," Dec. 1984; (4) "By the Gift and Power of God," Ensign, Jan. 1997; (5) "The Book of Mormon Goes to Press,"Dec Ensign, Dec. 1972; (6) "A New Prophet and a New Scripture: The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon," Ensign, Jan. 1988; (7) "The Restoration of the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods," Ensign, Dec. 1996. For those who want a few study questions, please consider the following: (1) How much time elapsed between Joseph Smith's First Vision and the first visitation of Moroni to the Smith's log house? How much time between Moroni's first visit and Joseph's receipt of the plates of Mormon? (2) Why wasn't Joseph able to obtain the plates on his first visit to Cumorah? (3) Who went with Joseph when he was finally able to receive the plates? (4) What was going on in Joseph's personal life when Martin Harris lost the first 116 pages of manuscript? (5) What question did Joseph and Oliver ask that resulted in their receiving the blessings of the priesthood?(6) How did Joseph become acquainted with the Whitmer family? How were the Whitmers blessed because of their association with the prophet?

Online Resources

This Thursday, September 20, we will look at two websites related to our study. The first is the Church's Joseph Smith website, www.josephsmith.net. There are links and resources here on the life and mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith, along with historic sites, photographs, maps, and virtual reality tours relating to the prophet. The second website is The Joseph Smith Papers, http://josephsmithpapers.org. On this site you can find documents, diaries and manuscripts written in the prophet's hand. Also, event descriptions, charts, images, and other resources. Reading for this week includes chapters 2 and 3 in Church History in the Fulness of Times, Joseph Smith's New England Heritage and The First Vision. Additionally, you may want to read Joseph Smith-History 1:1-26 in the Pearl of Great Price. Other articles and related materials are linked in the "Additional Resources" list below right on this blog. Whether or not you have time to read the lesson material, please join us Thursday at either 11am or 8pm.

Video Link Related to CHFT 1

Thanks to Alan Bird for sending this link to "Fires of Faith," a documentary series on the publishing of the King James Bible in 1611. Alan wrote: Here's a link to the BYUTV series "Fires of Faith" on the coming forth of the King James version of the Bible. It's available to watch online. http://byutv.org/show/123d4a82-3d47-488e-beda-2496a5a1ff2c (Click on link) Here's a description from another page: Originally airing on BYUtv last October, the documentary is the first U.S. television film series on the making of the King James Bible, coinciding with the 400th anniversary of its translation into English. "Few milestones in history have had greater influence and significance than the translation of the Bible into English,” said Derek Marquis, executive producer of Fires of Faith and managing director of BYUtv. “The director, writer, actors, scholars and religious leaders in our film combined to create an extraordinary chorus that transcends any one religion to truly celebrate the most influential book of all time." Fires of Faith chronicles the cast of characters that were central to the Reformation, including John Wycliffe, Martin Luther, King Henry VIII and “Bloody” Queen Mary I, ultimately culminating with King James I and his commissioned translation of the Bible. The film crisscrosses a tumultuous Europe at the birth of religious freedom during a time that seemed to consistently involve the burning of something or someone. In one corner or another, an entire continent was on fire. So tune in to BYUtv each Sunday for the next three weeks at 5pm MT to watch. And if you can't wait until then, click here to watch the entire Fires of Faith miniseries online.

Questions Related to CHFT 2-3

Here are some questions to enrich your study in the first chapter of Church History in the Fulness of Times, "Prelude to the Restoration." (These are both linked - simply click on the title to find the site.) • What were some of the causes and consequences of the Apostasy? • What are the various factors discussed in the student manual that opened the way for the Restoration of the gospel? • How should Latter-day Saints regard the contributions of reformers like Luther and Calvin? • What is the relationship between the establishment of religious freedom in America and the Restoration of the gospel? Why would it have been more difficult for the gospel to have been restored elsewhere?

Link and Quote Related to CHFT 1

From Milton V. Backman's article describing the advent of religious freedom in America as part of a prelude to the restoration ("Preparing the Way: The Rise of Religioius Freedom in New England," January, 1989 Ensign): "During this American reformation, many beliefs were brought into harmony with the teachings of the still-future restored Church. These changes in belief would later make it easier for many to receive the fulness of the gospel. For example, the Unitarians, Eastern Christians, and some Universalists replaced the traditional view that God was three persons of one essence with a belief that the Father and Son were two separate and distinct entities."

From Thomas Jefferson's letters ----- To Van der Kemp, 1820 "The genuine and simple religion of Jesus will one day be restored: such as it was preached and practised by himself. Very soon after his death it became muffled up in mysteries, and has been ever since kept in concealment from the vulgar eye. To penetrate and dissipate these clouds of darkness, the general mind must be strengthened by education." ----- To S. Kercheval, 1810 "But a short time elapsed after the death of the great reformer of the Jewish religion, before his principles were departed from by those who professed to be his special servants, and perverted into an engine for enslaving mankind, and aggrandizing their oppressors in Church and State: that the purest system of morals ever before preached to man has been adulterated and sophisticated by artificial constructions, into a mere contrivance to filch wealth and power to themselves: that rational men, not being able to swallow their impious heresies, in order to force them down their throats, they raise the hue and cry of infidelity, while themselves are the greatest obstacles to the advancement of the real doctrines of Jesus, and do, in fact, constitute the real Anti-Christ." ----- To John Adams, 1813 "It is too late in the day for men of sincerity to pretend they believe in the Platonic mysticisms that three are one, and one is three; and yet that the one is not three, and the three are not one . . . But this constitutes the craft, the power and the profit of the priests. Sweep away their gossamer fabrics of factitious religion, and they would catch no more flies. We should all then, like the Quakers, live without an order of priests, moralize for ourselves, follow the oracle of conscience, and say nothing about what no man can understand, nor therefore believe."

Timeline Related to CHFT 1

Timeline: Some Significant Events Leading up to the Restoration -Christ is born- 30 AD Christ begins his formal mortal ministry; 33AD the Savior is crucified; 42AD Apostles spread Christ’s gospel; 43AD the Church under Bishop Linus has deteriorated (see Romans 1), Paul ordains Deacon Linus; 64AD Nero kills Deacon Linus, Bishop Linus takes Christians to catacombs; 70AD Jerusalem destroyed by Romans; 75AD Bishop Linus decides to call the church Catholic (universal); 96AD by this time, all apostles are killed except John; 320AD Constantine calls first Nicene Council to decide what God is; start of dark ages; 785AD Empress Irene calls second Nicene Council, canonization of saints begins; 1200AD Sale of indulgences initiated to help fund three wars; printing press surfaces; 1300AD Renaissance begins, sparked by advent of printing press; 1381-84AD John Wycliffe translates the Bible into English from Latin; 1455AD Johannes Gutenberg prints the first book, the Bible, with movable type (Latin); 1492AD Columbus is a product of the Renaissance; 1515AD Martin Luther nails his 95 questions to the door at Wittenberg, wants to reform Catholic Church; 1523AD Martin Luther excommunicated, German princes protect him in order to deny payment to Rome; 1526AD William Tyndale begins smuggling his translation of the New Testament into England, where it is banned; 1534AD Henry VIII wants a divorce, creates the Church of England; 1540AD John Calvin – Presbyterians; 1575AD Catholics slaughter thousands of reformists in Paris; 1611AD The King James Bible is published; 1620AD Pilgrims land at Plymouth Rock; 1776AD A Nation is born – new ideas of freedom; 1781AD Revolutionary War ends; 1785AD Constitutional Convention begins; 1787AD Constitution signed and ratified – first written recognition of Freedom of Religion; 1805AD Joseph Smith born; 1812AD War of 1812, last war fought on American soil by foreign troops; 1820AD First Vision; 1830AD Latter-day Church organized.

Introduction to Study of Church History

Can we possibly cover nearly 6,000 years of the earth's history in 60 minutes? How about the nearly 2,000 years between Christ's establishment of his Church during the meridian of time and Joseph Smith's first vision? Certainly not; but in our first institute class we will look at events leading up to the restoration of the gospel in the latter days. We'll discuss the great apostasy, renaissance, reformation, the discovery and colonization of America, and religious freedom. Andrew C. Skinner wrote in his article, Forerunners and Foundation Stones of the Restoration, "Thousands of years before the actual events took place, Enoch was taught that in the last days righteousness would come down out of heaven and truth would be sent forth out of the earth prior to the Second Coming. President Ezra Taft Benson declared, 'We have seen the marvelous fulfillment of that prophecy in our generation. The Book of Mormon has come forth out of the earth, filled with truth. . . . God has also sent down righteousness from heaven. The Father Himself appeared with His Son to the Prophet Joseph Smith. The angel Moroni, John the Baptist, Peter, James, and numerous other angels were directed by heaven to restore the necessary powers to the kingdom.' (Ezra Taft Benson, A Witness and a Warning (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1988, 26.) The point to be emphasized here is that the key events of the Restoration were revealed by the Lord to His prophets many thousands of years before they happened. But it is also true that the preparatory events leading up to the Restoration were revealed long before they occurred. The prophet Nephi described some of the significant preparatory events he saw for himself, which had also been seen by his father, Lehi (1 Nephi 10:17 and 11:3). These events include the voyage of Christopher Columbus across the Atlantic Ocean (1 Nephi 13:10); the travails and travels of the Puritans and Pilgrims (1 Nephi 13:13); the colonization of America (1 Nephi 13:15–16); the American Revolutionary War involving Great Britain (1 Nephi 13:17); God’s direct intervention in the affairs of the fledgling country of America (1 Nephi 13:18–19); the country’s prosperity (1 Nephi 13:20); and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon (1 Nephi 13:35–40)." Our first institute class will be an overview of the coming year and discussion centering on the prelude to the Restoration. Dr. Skinner's article in its entirety is linked above and in the "Links" section to the right, where the Institute Manual: Church History in the Fulness of Times is also linked. Chapter 1 in the manual treats this subject and would make excellent reading prior to class. Unlike years past, there will be no study guide each week. Unless, of course, there is a clamoring!

The spread of early Christianity. By the end of the first century A.D.the Apostles had taken the gospel north into Syria and Asia Minor; west to Macedonia, Greece, Italy, and the isles of the Mediterranean; then to northeastern Africa, and Egypt. A century later Christian communities existed in Gaul (France), Germany, and the Iberian Peninsula (Spain) as well as in northwestern Africa.