Monday, July 15, 2013

The Unofficial President



The Unofficial President

During the 1870’s, the Primary, Relief Society, and Young Womans were combined under one presidency. Even though the president of the three combined organizations was an unofficial calling, who was considered the president?

a.      Brigham Young

b.      Eliza R. Snow

c.       Anthon Lund

d.      Emmeline B. Wells

Yesterday’s answers:

1.      A.   Palmyra Episcopalian minister John A. Clark


Writings of the Episcopal minister of Palmyra, Reverend John A. Clark, also support some of the basic claims of Martin Harris. Reverend John A. Clark recalled that before Martin Harris went to New York City he showed him a transcript that contained “three or four lines of characters.” After returning from his consultation with Professor Anthon, Clark added that Harris again met with him. Clark reported that Martin Harris had become “a perfect believer” and “had no more doubt of Smith’s commission.” He also confirmed that Harris became a scribe for Joseph Smith and later mortgaged his farm to pay for the publication of the Book of Mormon.


Book of Mormon Reference Companion, Dennis Largey, ed. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 2003) 65.


2.      B.   The Community of Christ


The Anthon transcript provides further evidence to support the testimony of Martin Harris that Joseph Smith had a record containing genuine ancient characters. In his Address to All Believers in Christ (1887), David Whitmer declared that he had in his possession “the original paper containing some of the characters transcribed from one of the golden plates, which paper Martin Harris took to Professor Anthon, of New York.” This manuscript was given to the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Community of Christ) by heirs of David Whitmer fifteen years after Whitmer’s death. Although this manuscript does not include a translation of the text, it appears to be a copy of characters taken from the Book of Mormon plates.


Book of Mormon Reference Companion, Dennis Largey, ed. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 2003) 65.

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