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Modern History Articles
The Mormon religion has been growing substantially since its organization on April 6, 1830, in New York. In the last 180 years, its membership has grown to 14,131,467. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as the Mormon Church is officially known, now has more members outside of the United States than inside it, making it a truly worldwide religion.
The Mormon people are known for being happy and for serving others. They are taught to seek out the virtuous things of the world (Article of Faith 13) and to obey the laws of the land in which they live. The Mormon temples which now dot the earth now number more than 130. These beautiful buildings continue to capture the attention of the communities in which they are built. Each temple has an open house period of two to three weeks, before its dedication, in which members of the public are invited to walk through the building and to ask questions about the Mormon religion as well as Mormon temples.... Read the rest of this article »
photo by Michael Brandy
Though small, the 93-year-old LDS Church Administration Building (CAB) which sits on Temple Square (headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) in between the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and the Lion House is quite striking in both appearance and history. Built in the Grecian style, out of the same type of granite as the Salt Lake Temple, the building has 24 Ionic stone columns, has an entablature with many carvings, and measures 101 feet 11 inches wide by 165 feet 3 inches deep, by 80 feet high.
Opened on October 2, 1917, the building took three years to complete. The 4,517 granite stones used to build the CAB were taken from the walls of Little Cottonwood Canyon north of Salt Lake City. Collectively the stone work weighs more than 6,200 tons. The beauty of the building extends to the interior. Utah marble and onyx, in addition to rare wood from the United States, Honduras, and souheastern Russia, add... Read the rest of this article »
Sweden
Despite losing international missionaries, the Swedes were able to maintain nearly twenty full-time, native missionaries during the war. Their convert baptisms increased significantly during the war years even though they had far fewer missionaries. The Swedish Saints had an impressive 85 percent attendance in their Sacrament meetings. Even more astonishingly, their tithing payments increased by 300 percent and their fast offerings increased by 600 percent during the war years. These Saints truly understood the need to help one another and to turn to the Lord in their trials.
Holland
Mormon Potatoes
In an early meeting with Mission President Zappey, Elder Benson advised Zappey to find some land where the Dutch Saints could grow potatoes and alleviate some of their own needs. After finally finding land, the Dutch Saints turned a crop of 66 tons of potatoes the first year. Remarkably, President Zappey made a startling request of the Saints, which... Read the rest of this article »
After the end of World War II in 1945, many of the people in Europe were without homes, clothing, or food. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ leaders knew they had to do all they could to help the Saints now in dire straits. The First Presidency called Ezra Taft Benson, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, to serve a one-year mission touring Europe to reorganize the Church there after the devastating war. Frederick W. Babbel was called to escort him and be his aide. In addition, Chaplain Howard C. Badger was permitted to accompany them once they were in Europe to act as a military escort and help them in many ways.
Today Mormon Helping Hands
Elder Benson’s assignment included reorganizing and reopening the European missions, which had mostly been forced to shut down at the beginning of the war; assessing the physical and spiritual needs of the people and helping the Church meet those needs; and bringing the blessings... Read the rest of this article »
The power of the priesthood is the authority to act in God’s name and can only be given to those whom the Lord ordains. The ability to exercise the power of the priesthood, after one has been ordained to it, depends strictly upon one’s personal worthiness. In ancient times, only certain men were selected to hold the priesthood. In the days of Moses, Aaron was set apart as the high priest, and only his descendants were able to be ordained to the priesthood. During all the years that the Law of Moses was in force, only Levites held the priesthood, because the Lord declared it should be that way. It was the pattern of the Firstborn being dedicated to the service of God. Israel is the “firstborn” of the world, Levites are the “firstborn” of Israel, and Aaron’s descendants are the “firstborn” of the Levites. Christ became the Firstborn of God, and His sacrifice allows Him to choose worthy followers... Read the rest of this article »
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized on April 6, 1830, in New York. At this organization, the Lord revealed to Joseph Smith a commandment that the Saints should keep a record of the history of the Church (Doctrine and Covenants 21:1). Later it became a position in the Church —Church Historian — to be in charge of the record kept. This commandment applies individually as well. Church members are encouraged to keep personal journals of their lives and of the Lord’s hand in their lives.
New Church History Library
Today the Church Historian and Recorder is Elder Marlin K. Jensen of the Seventy. He said of the importance of keeping records, “The primary purpose of Church history is to help Church members build faith in Jesus Christ and keep their sacred covenants” (“Giving the Past a Future,” Ensign, October 2009, 42). The Church recently completed a new facility in which to store all these records.... Read the rest of this article »
This website focuses a great deal on the early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but what has happened in recent years is no less important. After the Saints’ arrival in Utah, and after many of their persecutions began to subside, the Church began to expand in every sense. This article will follow the administrations of the modern-day prophets from the time of John Taylor through the present, highlighting major accomplishments and the growth of the Church. As the Church grew, it had to adapt its leadership to better meet the needs of the people in a worldwide arena, rather than one focused in the United States. This is by no means a comprehensive history, but a summary to show the development of the Church as an organization, as well as a summary to show the Lord’s hand in the development of His kingdom on the earth today.
John Taylor 1880–1887
The height of the battle over polygamy; rights taken and property confiscated... Read the rest of this article »
Having only served as president of the Church for just over a year (as of the close of 2009), Thomas S. Monson has already accomplished much. He as already dedicated six temples, with eight more under construction since 2007, and more announced each year. The temples already completed include:
Rexburg Idaho Temple
Curitiba Brazil Temple
Panama City Panama Temple
Twin Falls Idaho Temple
Draper Utah Temple
Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple
President Monson bears powerful testimony of the Savior:
“Our Mediator, our Redeemer, our Brother, our Advocate with the Father died for our sins and the sins of all mankind. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the foreordained but voluntary act of the Only Begotten Son of God. He offered His life as a redeeming ransom for us all. His mission, His ministry among men, His teachings of truth, His acts of mercy, His unwavering love for us prompt our gratitude and warm our hearts. Jesus Christ, Savior of the world—even the... Read the rest of this article »
Gordon B. Hinckley was involved in Church leadership from the time he was very young. In 1935, at the age of 25, President Hinckley was called to serve on the Radio, Publicity, and Mission Literature Committee of the Church. He worked hard in this calling, making visual and audio materials for missionary use. Over the years his calling required him to write several radio and motion pictures scripts as well as pamphlets for the missionaries. This devotion to using modern technology to promote the Church stayed with President Hinckley and he became the first modern-day prophet to appear on national television. In 1996, he accepted the invitation for an interview with Mike Wallace on Sixty Minutes. Two years later, he accepted an interview with Larry King on Larry King Live. Both of these interviews were highly publicized and achieved the goal of getting national exposure to the Church to wipe away remaining prejudice and teach people the true character... Read the rest of this article »
Though he only served as president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for nine months before his passing, Howard W. Hunter left a profound impression on members of the Church with his challenges to them to be worthy of the temple blessings. He commanded, urged, and begged all adults to be worthy to hold a temple recommend, whether or not they were in an area which granted them easy access to a temple. President Hunter understood the blessings the temple brings and wanted all members to have those blessings.
“It is the deepest desire of my heart to have every member of the Church worthy to enter the temple” (Howard W. Hunter, Conference Report, Oct. 1994, 8).
“And now, my beloved brothers and sisters, through the power and authority of the priesthood vested in me and by virtue of the calling which I now hold, I invoke my blessings upon you. I bless you in your efforts to live a more Christlike life. I bless you with an increased desire... Read the rest of this article »
