115 years ago today - Feb 2, 1900; Friday

[First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve minutes] Sisters Priscilla Jennings and Emily S. Richards called at the President's Office and had a talk with President [Lorenzo] Snow desiring to learn his mind and will in relation to them continuing their work in connection with the Utah State Council of Women organization. They explained that when this organization was first organized, members of the National society objected to Mormons being connected with it, but had since become friendly and quite cordial in their feelings towards the Mormon members, and they had invited the State society to send delegates to the convention to be held shortly in Washington, and Sister Richards had been appointed with Mrs. Gilmer to attend that convention as delegates. President Snow advised these sisters that it was his opinion that it would be politic for us to take advantage of every opportunity that would likely bring honor to Utah, and he encouraged Sister Richards in the desire to attend the National Woman's Suffrage Convention at Washington, D.C.

Presidents Snow, [George Q.] Cannon and [Joseph F.] Smith were at the office.

Elder James E. Talmage called at the President's office and had a talk with the Presidency regarding the edition of the Pearl of Great Price which he is to publish with foot note references. President Cannon suggested that it would be perfectly proper to make references to chapters and verses, but nothing should be done in the way of foot notes in this edition in the way of explaining the meaning of any passages as this might lead to difficulty.

Benjamin Cluff, Jr., who is organizing an expedition to go to Central and South America for the purpose of exploring Book of Mormon lands, called at the office in relation to the expedition. President Snow, who approved of the plan, authorized Brother Cluff to use his name to assist him to obtain contributions in the shape of financial help. Brother Cluff proposed that six young men be called on a mission to accompany the expedition with the understanding that they go for the purpose of learning the languages of the people and studying their myths, as he was of the opinion that the Maya people had traditions regarding the extraordinary physical disruptions of the earth at the time of the crucifixion of the Savior, as noted in the Book of Mormon. He had been impressed with this idea from the writings of [Augustus] LePlongeon, the author and explorer, and felt that a study of these people by a number of capable young men would confirm the writings of the Book of Mormon in various ways. Moreover, LePlongeon states that the Maya people were acquainted with the Egyptian language and the writings engraved on their temples go to show it. The Presidency consented to call young men for this purpose...

[Source: First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]

1 comment:

  1. included in Journal History, images 30-31, at the link below:

    https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE312936

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