CHFT 40-41 Questions and Links

European Missions, 1938 (click to view larger) In Institute this Thursday, March 21, we will discuss chapters 40-41 in our manual, Church History in the Fulness of Times. These chapters cover the years 1939-1947 in Church history, and deal largely with the events in the Church during and following World War II. Please note, there will be no institute classes on March 28 and April 4, due to spring breaks in our school districts. Below are a few study questions and links to articles relating to our study for this week. Please also note a video link after the articles, for those who are interested. See you Thursday! -Wendy Chapter 40: The Saints during World War II 1. Why were copies of James Talmage’s “The Article of Faith” confiscated and certain hymns ripped from hymnals in pre-war Germany? 2. How did Nazi Germany inadvertently change the course of missionary work in Brazil? 3. How did Church leaders in Germany function during World War II without any communications from general authorities or missionaries? 4. List Church programs developed for LDS servicemen during World War II. 5. By the end of World War II, what percentage of Church members had served in the military? 6. List Church programs cancelled or curtailed for the duration of the war. Chapter 41: Postwar Recovery 1. How was George Albert Smith uniquely prepared to lead the Church after World War II? 2. Who was assigned to reopen the missions of Europe? Why? Who was assigned to the Pacific? 3. What problems faced the Saints in Europe after the war? 4. How many Church members were there in Japan in 1945? How many by 1949? 5. In what year was General Conference first broadcast on television? 6. Where and in what year were temple endowment sessions first presented in Spanish? Links: “War and Peace and Dutch Potatoes,” Ensign July 1978; “The Power of the Priesthood,” Ensign July 2012; “Blessings of the Temple,” Ensign Oct. 2010; “The Church Grows in Strength,” Ensign, Sept. 1999; “In Time of War,” Improvement Era Nov. 1939: “By Radio to Japan – George Albert Smith,” VIDEO

CHFT 39: Questions and Links

This Thursday (March 14) we will discuss chapter 39 in Church History in the Fulness of Times, “The Church during the Great Depression.” Here are a few study questions and links to related articles. 1. What kind of Church welfare system was in place before the stock market crash of 1929? How did Presiding Bishop Sylvester Q. Cannon build on that foundation? 2. What percentage of Church members were being supported by public relief in 1936? 3. When and why did Church leaders initiate the Deseret Industries program? 4. What steps were taken to strengthen priesthood holders during the 1930’s? 5. Name three beneficial by-products of the Depression. 6. What two fundamental truths were outlined by President J. Reuben Clark in his address, “The Charted Course of the Church in Education”? Links to related articles: “Inspired Church Welfare,” Ensign April 1999; “Guiding Principles of Personal and Family Welfare,” Ensign, Sept. 1986; “Physical Beginnings of the Church Welfare Program,” BYU Studies (PDF), 1974; “Education,” LDS Newsroom Topic; “The Charted Course of the Church in Education.”

CHFT 37-38 Questions and Links

James E. Talmage This Thursday, March 7, we will discuss chapters 37-38 in Church History in the Fulness of Times, covering roughly 1902-1930. Here are a few study questions and links to related articles. Also, note two additions to the class blog: (1) Two videos have been embedded, one with black and white video and images of Church leaders in the early 20th Century and one on Heber J. Grant’s life. (2) As promised, a list of all Internet resources we have viewed in class, with links to the sites. CHFT 37: Moving Forward into the New Century 1. List projects the Church began to develop after its financial situation was resolved. 2. How did a young David O. McKay’s ideas impact Church curriculum in the early 20th Century? 3. In what year did the First Presidency advise families to hold Family Home Evening? 4. List contributions of James E. Talmage in clarifying gospel doctrines. Where did he do most of his writing on Jesus the Christ? 5. What were the circumstances surrounding President Joseph F. Smith’s vision of the redemption of the dead? 6. When did Church leaders begin encouraging Saints to remain in their homelands? How did this strengthen the Church? CHFT 38: Change and Consistency 1. What distinguished Heber J. Grant among Church presidents? 2. When was the corporation of the President organized? 3. Why were David O. McKay and Hugh J. Cannon sent on a world tour in 1920? How many miles did they travel? How long were they gone? 4. When was South America reopened to missionary work? What was prophesied in the dedicatory prayer? 5. When and where was the first seminary established? When and where was the first institute organized? 6. When did the Tabernacle Choir begin its weekly radio broadcast? Related Articles: "Remembering Joseph F. Smith: Loving Father, Devoted Prophet," Ensign, June 1983; "Beyond the Veil: Two Latter-day Revelations," Ensign, Oct. 1985; "The Origin of Man," Ensign, Feb. 2002; "Members without a Church: Japanese Mormons in Japan from 1924-1948," (PDF) BYU Studies 1975.

Questions and Links for CHFT 35-36

REED SMOOT This Thursday (Feb. 21) in institute we will discuss chapters 35-36 in Church History in the Fulness of Times. Here are a few study questions for those who like to use them, and links to articles for extra reading on subjects related to the history of the Church during the early part of the twentieth century. Chapter 35: The Church at the Turn of the Century 1. What distinguished Lorenzo Snow among the prophets? How was he prepared to lead the Church? 2. How did President Snow know he should reorganize the First Presidency quickly after the death of Wilford Woodruff? 3. How much debt had the Church incurred by July 1898? Why had tithing donations waned? How many years of increased tithing participation by the Saints did it take before the Church was out of debt? 4. When were the first sister missionaries called and set apart? By what percentage did the number of missionaries increase during the decade 1890-1900? 5. What areas were opened to missionary work in the first decade of the twentieth century? Chapter 36: The Church in the Early Twentieth Century 1. Who was Brigham H. Roberts? Why was he asked to run for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives? Who led the movement to block his seating in Congress? 2. How old was Joseph F. Smith when he was ordained to succeed Lorenzo Snow? How had President Smith been prepared for this calling? 3. How old was Apostle Reed Smoot when he was elected to the U.S. Senate? Why was his election so controversial? How many years did he serve? 4. Which two world leaders defended the Church in the early twentieth century? 5. List some positive steps the Church took toward better public relations in an effort to educate people regarding the nature of the Church. Links to related articles: "The First Sister Missionaries," Ensign July 1980; "The Church in Japan," BYU Studies, 1973; "Mischievous Puck and the Mormons," BYU Studies, 1978; "Willard Bean: Palmyra's Fighting Parson," Ensign, June 1985.

Questions and Links for CHFT 33-34

This Thursday, February 14, ONLY THE MORNING CLASS will meet for institute. The evening class will not meet this Thursday, but will meet on Feb. 21. Both classes, on their respective dates, will discuss chapters 33-34 in Church History in the Fulness of Times. Here are a few study questions and links to related articles. Chapter 33: A Decade of Persecution, 1877-87 1. How was John Taylor prepared to lead the Church during a decade of persecution? BONUS: Read “Jubilee, Year of” and “Sabbatical Year” in the Bible Dictionary. Which aspects of the sabbatical year and the year of jubilee (7X7=49, 50 year celebration) were practiced during 1880? 2. When did Joseph Smith first receive the revelation on plural marriage? When did he teach this law to leading brethren? When was this revelation first read in general conference and published? 3. Who was George Reynolds and why did he go to prison in 1879? What did he do while incarcerated? 4. How did the Edmonds Act of 1882 change the face of Utah’s government and the lives of the Saints? What was the Edmonds-Tucker Act of 1887? 5. List areas where missionary work continued during the decade 1877-87 (as mentioned in this chapter). 6. Where did members of the Church go to avoid prosecution for polygamy? Chapter 34: An Era of Reconciliation (1888-98) 1. Why was Wilford Woodruff’s daily journal so important to the Church? 2. How many Utah citizens had been deprived of their right to vote by 1890? 3. How did President Woodruff know the time had come for the Saints to discontinue the practice of plural marriage? Who read the manifesto in general conference? 4. What had to happen before statehood could be granted to Utah? What was the Political Manifesto? 5. How long did it take to build the Salt Lake Temple? Give three promises prophesied during the Salt Lake Temple dedication. How many people attended dedicatory sessions? 6. How many new missions were opened by Wilford Woodruff? What other changes were made during his presidency? Related articles: “John Taylor: Defender of Truth” Ensign Jan. 2003; “Polygamy Then and Now” LDS Newsroom May 2008; “A Temple to Exalt” Ensign Aug. 1993; “Wilford Woodruff: Contending for the Faith” Ensign Jan. 2006 Videos on YouTube: “The Mountain of the Lord,” “Only a Stonecutter”

Questions and Links for CHFT 31-32

This Thursday, February 7, we will discuss chapters 31-32 in Church History in the Fulness of Times. Here are a few study questions, followed by links to relevant articles. Church History in the Fulness of Times, Chapter 31: The Quest for Self-Sufficiency 1. List reasons why leading public officials in the U.S. were eager to complete railroad lines across the continent. Where and when was the golden spike laid, uniting east and west railroad lines? 2. What were some elements of "home industry," or self-sufficiency, practiced by the Saints in Utah in the late 1860's? 3. Where and when was the first cooperative institution in Utah founded? Who supervised it? 4. Who was Joseph Ridges and what was his contribution to Church music? 5. Which nations enjoyed missionary success during the years 1864-1874? BONUS: How did the Salt Lake Tribune get its start? 6. Where was the first united order organized? Why there? Church History in the Fulness of Times, Chapter 32: Brigham Young's Presidency: The Final Decade 1. Name the three sisters assigned by Brigham Young to reestablish Relief Societies throughout the Utah Territory. List some early Relief Society projects. 2. What was the second auxiliary to take more permanent shape under the direction of Brigham Young? Who was the president of this organization? 3. What historic event prompted an organization for the young women of the Church? What was teh original name of this society? 4. Who were the Dusenberry brothers? Name the three educational academies opened by the Church in the 1870's-1880's. 5. What difficulties faced members of the Church in colonizing Arizona and Mexico? 6. Where were the first endowments for the dead performed? Who were among those to receive these sacred ordinances? BONUS: Of all the vast and varied accomplishments of Brigham Young, name one or two that impress you most. Links to related articles: "The Deseret Alphabet" (Friend, July 1985) "The Organ" (BYU Studies) "The Priesthood Reorganization of 1877: Brigham Young's Last Achievement" (BYU Studies) "Eight Presidents: A Century at BYU" (Ensign, Oct. 1975) "Eliza R. Snow: First Lady of the Pioneers" (Ensign, Sept. 1973)

Questions and Links for CHFT 29-30

This Thursday, January 31, we will discuss chapters 29-30 in Church History in the Fulness of Times. Here are a few study questions and a couple of links to articles on the subject matter in these chapters. Chapter 29 - "The Utah War" 1. What two issues were at the center of the Church's conflict with the federal government? 2. Why didi Church leaders declare martial law in Utah Territory in 1857? What other defensive measures were put in force? 3. Why was the Francher Train massacred at Mountain Meadow? Who participated in the massacre? What can we learn from this today? 4. Who were the "Mormon Raiders" and what was their role in the Utah War? 5. Why did settlers north of Utah Valley leave their homes in 1858 and "move south"? How long did it take? How many Saints were displaced? BONUS: What became of the Salt Lake Temple foundation as the Saints anticipated the arrival of Johnston's army? Chapter 30 - "The Civil War Period" 1. How were the Saints blessed in being driven from their homes in Illioinois? 2. What service did members of the Church render the Union cause during the Civil War? 3. What military leader became known as the "father of Utah mining"? 4. Who was Walter Murray Gibson and how did he exceed the bounds of his authority in the Hawaiian Islands? 5. How many European converts were brought to Utah between 1861-1868? What percentage of the population of Salt Lake City was foreign-born as of 1870? Links: "The Mountain Meadows Massacre" - Ensign Sept. 2007 "Abraham Lincoln's life is meaningful to Mormons" - Deseret News Feb.21 2011 "Abraham Lincoln, God's Humble Instrument" - Mormon Channel (audio)