You’ll Know the Answer If You’ve Read This Month’s Ensign

Today in seminary the course of study rotates through the Old Testament, New Testament, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Book of Mormon. Trust me; I remember the Old Testament study year well. So does Patsy Hudson. Not so much from what we learned, but more so from a scripture chase mishap. Patsy and I were on the same team. The scripture clue was read and shortly everyone on the team had it except me. The other team beat us out. Patsy got up out of her chair, walked to mine and paged through the open Old Testament on my lap to where the scripture was located. Now, to appreciate what happened next, you need to realize that the Old Testaments that we used for seminary back in those years were hard bound books. As soon as she turned to the page with the correct scripture I immediately raised my Old Testament with vigor into the air, but in the process of doing this, caught Patsy just under the nose. The end result wasn’t good.  One of my less stellar moments in seminary. Anyways, her Stake President Dad still permitted me to go on a mission is spite of my seminary sins. Now to the question. Prior to 1949 which course of scripture was not taught during seminary?

A)     The Old Testament

B)     The Doctrine and Covenants

C)     The Book of Mormon

D)     The New Testament

Yesterday’s answers:

1.      (D)   A ward fence.

During the middle of February 1849, while the Saints were still cramped in their pioneer fort, President Brigham Young directed the organization of the Saints into nineteen Latter-day Saint (LDS) wards or congregations. Five days later, as the people began leaving the fort to settle on their homesites, Young was quick with additional instructions. Two-man teams should be organized to visit regularly each ward family. Young also directed that ward schools be built. And In a move both practical and symbolic, he required each congregation to fence its boundaries. That way meandering cattle might be controlled, and wards could begin to develop within their boundaries a neighborhood feeling.

Journal History, 13, 14, 16, 19, and 22 February 1849, Library Archives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah

2.      (B)   The Salt Lake City 13^th Ward during the 1860’s

The Thirteenth Ward population reflected its geography. Several years after its founding, it claimed seventy-six families or about six hundred members. These figures doubled by 1858, and two years later the ward had one hundred sixty families or about thirteen hundred people. During the 1860s it added twenty more families. Throughout the pioneer period, the congregation was the largest not only in Salt Lake City but probably in Mormondom as well.

 Minutes of Bishops’ Meetings, 22 November and 6 December 1860 and 1 September 1870

3.      (A)   A ward flag

Have you asked your bishop lately where your ward flag is?

     July 1849: Like other congregations, members of the Thirteenth Ward marched to the square as a unit, sat and ate together, and hoisted their own ward flag.

Historical Record, 5 July 1849, Tenth Ward Papers, LDS Archives.