Thursday, November 15, 2012

They Were Sent Home


 Image result for lds missionaries 1850

Why did the Church call the majority of the Brethren on missions home in 1841?


A)                 To speed up work on the Nauvoo Temple

B)                 Manpower to dam the Mississippi River at Keokuk, Iowa

C)                 They needed more LDS votes to get the right politicians in power

D)                 Threat of war between the United States and England


Yesterday’s answer:


A)     The Deseret Alphabet


Conscious that the variety of languages converts brought with them to their new mountain homes made communication difficult and reading English periodicals a problem, President Young promoted for a time a new phonetic alphabet. He believed that this new alphabet would stimulate unity among the Saints. The president asked several of his associates to develop a new phonetic alphabet called Deseret. Drawing on Pitman shorthand as a source for the sounds and characters, these brethren soon accomplished their task. President Young then authorized the printing of the Book of Mormon and several school books using the new symbols. Orson Pratt transcribed the Book of Mormon into the new alphabet in 1869, and a small sized edition was produced.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church History In The Fulness Of Times (Salt Lake City: Published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), 398.

3 comments:

  1. Hi Dan,

    In reference to an article that was written by Trent Toone in Deseret News publication Mormon times it was written that Levi Hancock (I assume Levi Ward Hancock) was a descendent of John Hancock (signer of the Declaration of Independence) hate to be the one to break it to you but Levi Ward Hancock, one of the witnesses to the Book of Commandments, is not a direct descendent of John Hancock, the signer of the Declaration of Independence. I had the same question growing up as Levi Ward Hancock is my great-great-great grandfather through one of his wives Clarissa Reed. My dad informed me that Levi's father is Thomas Hancock (married Amy Ward) and that his grandfather was also named Thomas Hancock. This site verifies that http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/LHancock.html. Given the dates that Levi's father was born its improbable that John Hancock (signer of the Declaration of Independence) who was born in 1736 or 1737 (wikipedia) was Levi Ward Hancock's great-grandfather.

    Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. Thank-you! Yes, you're right. It was a bad choice of words on by part. Levi Hancock is a relative (3rd cousin, 1st removed) and not a descendant. I appreciate you bringing this to my notice. I have notified Cedar Fort and in the next print the correction will be made.

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  2. It's a wonder I don't hurt myself. Not 1st removed, I meant once removed.

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