[U.S. Religious History] Charles Darwin's The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection was first published. All 1,250 copies of the first printing were sold out on the very first day. (1)
-- 150 years ago - Nov 24, 1859
[Polygamy] Woodruff receives revelation of defiance
Wilford Woodruff, as church president, receives revelation, which continued the defiant discourse with the church's enemies. He says that Jesus Christ himself promised protection for the church's practice of polygamy: "I, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, am in your midst ... Awake, O. Israel, and have faith in God and His promises, and he will not forsake you. I the Lord will deliver my Saints from the domination of the wicked, in my own due time and way." (Stacker, p. XVII.) (2)
-- 120 years ago - Nov 24, 1889
[Uncannonized Post-Joseph Smith Revelation] Revelation to Wilford Woodruff at Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, on 24 November 1889
I Attended A meeting with the Lawyiers [Lawyers] at the Gardo [House] in the Evening. They wanted me to Make some Concessi[o]n to [the] Court upon Poligamy [Polygamy] & other Points and I spent Several Hours alone & Enquired of the Lord and received the following:
Revelation given to Wilford Woodruff, Sunday Nov 24, 1889.
Thus Saith the Lord, to my Servant Wilford [Woodruff], I the Lord have heard thy prayers and thy request, and will answer thee by the voice of my spirit. Thus Saith the Lord, unto my Servants the Presidency of my church, who hold the Keys of the Kingdom of God on this earth. I the Lord hold the destiny of the courts in your midst, and the destiny of this nation, and all other nations of the earth in mine own hands, and all that I have revealed, and promised and decreed concerning the generation in which you live, shall come to pass, and no power shall stay my hand.
Let not my servants who are called to the Presidency of my church, deny my word or my law, which concerns the salvation of the children of men. Let them pray for the Holy Spirit, which shall be given them to guide them in their acts. Place not yourselves in jeopardy to your enemies by promise. Your enemies seek your distruction [destruction] and the distruction [destruction] of my people. If the Saints will hearken unto my voice, and the counsel of my Servants, the wicked shall not prevail.
Let my servants, who officiate as your counselors before the courts, make their pleadings as they are moved upon by the Holy spirit, without any further pledges from the Priesthood. I the Lord will hold the courts, with the officers of government, and the nation responsible for their acts towards the inhabitants of Zion.
I, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, am in your midst. I am your advocate with the Father. Fear not little flock, it is your father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Fear not the wicked and ungodly. Search the Scriptures, for they are they which testify of me, also those revelations which I have given to my servant Joseph [Smith], and to all my servants since the world began, which are recorded in the records of divine truths. Those revelations contain the judgments of God which are to be poured out upon all nations under the heavens which include great Babylon.
These judgments are at the door. They will be fulfilled as God lives. Leave judgment with me, it is mine saith the Lord. Watch the signs of the times, and they will show the fulfillment of the words of the Lord.
Let my servants call upon the Lord in mighty prayer, retain the Holy Ghost as your constant companion, and act as you are moved upon by that spirit, and all will be well with you. The wicked are fast ripening in iniquity, and they will be cut off by the judgments of God. Great events await you and this generation, and are nigh at your doors. Awake, O, Israel, and have faith in God, and His promises, and he will not forsake you. I the Lord will deliver my Saints from the dominion of the wicked, in mine own due time and way. I cannot deny my word, neither in blessing nor judgments.
Therefore let mine Anointed gird up their loins, watch and be sober, and keep my commandments. Pray always and faint not, exercise faith in the Lord and in the promises of God; be valient [valiant] in the testimony of Jesus Christ. The eyes of the Lord and the Heavenly Hosts are watching over you and your acts. Therefore be faithful until I come. I come quickly to reward every man according to the deeds done in the body. Even so, amen.
(Scott G. Kenney, ed., Wilford Woodruff's Journal, 9:67-69, entry of 24 Nov. 1889) (3)
[Wilford Woodruff] Receives revelation on politics and polygamy (4)
1 - Cline, Austin, History of American Religion: Timeline, http://bit.ly/Fwgbe
2 - Tungate, Mel, Mormon Polygamy, http://www.tungate.com/polygamy.htm
3 - Marquardt, H. Michael, http://www.xmission.com/~research/central/revel2.htm
4 - Kenny, Scott (editor), Wilford Woodruff's Journals 1833-1898, Chronology Signature Books, Midvale, Utah
-- Tour through Mormon history: http://mormon-church-history.blogspot.com
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