Selections from the diaries of Mormon apostle John Henry Smith are included below. The diaries have recently been made available on-line. See here for more details about the diaries and here to see the entire set of published diaries.
June 26, 1882 - SLC
Prest John Taylor gave a revelation in regard to our course with the government.
Oct 27, 1882 - SLC
[Letter from First Presidency] ... You are hereby appointed and authorized to proceed to Liverpool, England, to relieve President Albert Carrington in the Presidency of the European Mission ...
April 27, 1881
My self and wives received our second annointings.
July 3, 1881 - Fillmore
J. V. Robison [spoke] ... on the celestial law of marriage, showing that a man who had one wife sealed to him by the Holy Spirit of promise had only gone part of the way.
After which Bro. F. M. Lyman spoke on the Celestial law of marriage laying down the rule that no man could get all of the blessings without keeping the whole law.
Nov 27, 1881 - Nephi
[At Stake Conference] ... J[oseph] F[ielding] Smith spoke 60 minutes and he dwelt largely on the celestial law and showed by the Revelation itself that every point bore directly on the marrying of more wives than one.
Jan 4, 1882 - SLC
Yesterday in the meeting of the Presidency and Twelve, President J. Taylor presented an article that he had written thanking all hands for what they had done in fixing up the Gardo House. J. F. Smith objected to its being published and Moses Thatcher and myself also concurred with him by speaking against certain items in the article. The other brethren were more non-committal but felt as we did. No vote was taken. The president asked the opinions of the brethren present.
2pm we met in Council. ...
President Taylor had his article on the Gardo House read again and with slight changes it was approved. Bro. Taylor then went for those who had spoken against his article the day before and he showed much feeling. The item was that at a meeting of the Twelve some years ago a resolution had been passed which gave to the President $2,500 a year according to J.F. Smithâ??s statement but the minutes of that meeting showed that the Resolution gave to President J. Taylor the power to draw from the tithing without limit. J.F. Smith, Wilford Woodruff, F.D. Richards, and Moses Thatcher spoke against any such power being placed in the hands of one man and that they wanted the Resolution rescinded when the men who passed it got together. President Taylor said he was in favor of it being withdrawn. Lyman and myself did not speak on that matter because it was an action taken before we were ordained apostles but I will not vote for the President to have an unlimited draw at the tithing. Some mutual explanations were
made and all felt well. When the party of brethren can be got together that Resolution must be taken under consideration. I was somewhat surprised to see the president attempt to bull down the Council after giving them the utmost liberty to speak and he will find such talk will never hold the present Council in awe.
Feb 19, 1882 - SLC
President Taylor decided that M. Thatcher and myself go East day after tomorrow and I was to pay my own expenses.
Feb 21, 1882 - SLC
Father Groesbeck gave me $500 to go to Washington with. I left the city Hall tonight. The new Council taking their seats.
April 5, 1882
10am the C.F. [Council of the Fifty] met and talked over minority representation and whether it should be put in the new constitution. This question was spoken upon by (several ... including JHS, JFS, FDR, F. Lyman and more). It was given as the sense of the Council that no minority representation should be allowed.
It was also decided that nothing should be done or said in regard to plural marriage.
Washington D.C. March 4, 1882
It is a beautiful day. We have visited the Capitol and was in the House of representatives. It seemed to me more like a mob than a dignified body of men.
After dinner we walked over to the new departmental buildings and spent considerable time in looking around. I took my first view of the White House and cannot say I regard it very highly.
March 8, 1882
Senator Edmunds has the face of a Monkey and looks to me as if he would take the cats paws to put in the fire. I am not fully satisfied with the appearance of the Senate. They do not fill my anticipation as to fine looks and while that body are much more dignified than the House the men themselves are no better looking. Members of the House are not up to my expectations. Today the Edmunds bill came up in the house ...
March 13, 1882
(the anti-polygamy Edmunds Bill has been introduced)
The Speaker made a most dastardly ruling, both cowardly and Wicked. It was strictly a party vote, the democrats standing by law and order and the Republicans by misrule and misgovernment. It was a manly fight on the part of the democrats in the face of popular clamor ... Today has been one of the most exciting of my life. The liberties of my people hanging on a thread and I powerless to do anything only sit and look on and ask the Lord to strengthen our friends and make them equal to the task.
March 14, 1882
(Edmunds bill passes 199-42 with 51 not voting)
The Republicans were filled with venom and were bent upon the acomplishment of their purpose. Haskell acted like a fiend, and I felt while he was talking down in front of the speakerâ??s desk, I should have been pleased to have been turned loose with him and fought in words or a manly fight. God our father must judge these men for their evil design and doubt not he will do so in his own due time. I did not get excited or worried but felt I would like to fight it out with Mr. Haskell and the Republicans single and alone
The work is done and all polygamists are disfranchised and turned out of office. Now we must wait and see whether persecution and all kinds of trickery is to follow the bill. Father thy will be done.
Oct 3, 1882
President John Taylor gave us his views on the duties of the first presidency and the duties of the Twelve and showed by statistics that it was the prerogative of the president of the Church to select candidates for the apostleship, and the Council of the apostles to confirm. I believe it is the twelveâ??s right to confirm or reject.
I do not believe in the doctrine that the president of the Church should select all candidates for civil office.
Oct 5, 1882 - SLC
(Most of the Twelve meet) ... Bro Johnson sent some names for us to call and by vote it was decided to present them to President Taylor to have them presented to the conference.
The Presidency and Twelve met and Bros Woodruff and E. Snow reported what the Twelve had done. President Taylor did not approve of what we had done.
Oct 6, 1882 - SLC
7 p.m. Prests John Taylor and George Q. Cannon were the speakers and they both held the doctrine of explicite obedience by the Latter-day saints in spiritual and temporal matters. I donâ??t quite agree.
Oct 13, 1882 - SLC
President Taylor presented a revelation he had received in which the Lord presented the names of George Teasdale and H[eber] J. Grant to fill the vacancies in the quorum of the Twelve and S. B. Young to fill a vacancy in the Seventies. The revelation embodies some nice doctrinal points.
I am not clear on one of these brethren proposed for position. Bro. Teasdale is distasteful to me in his sycophantic manner. H. J. Grant I love, but he should have the testimony of truth, and he is physically ruined. S. B. Young is choice in every way, but on the doctrine of celestial marriage [plural marriage] I am afraid he is lame.
Prest A. M. Cannon in my judgement got badly mudled and made some wild rulings. I would spank my boys for such lack of Justice and Judgement.
Oct 16, 1882
which they had been called by revelation.
I am satisfied that before another President over our Church is sus- tained The Twelve apostles will be compeled to have an understanding in relation to the duties of their respective quorums. The first President takes the whole business in his hands.
Dec 10, 1882 - Liverpool, England
Bro. R. R. Anderson says that Bro. A. Carrington cannot get within the neighborhood of a woman without fondling her and that the Housekeeper was petted and fondled by him, and familiarities taken that brought disgrace upon the house until the people across the way had threatened to mob the house. ... R. R. Anderson had warned the present Housekeeper against Bro. Carrington. It was reported that the people over the way saw him laying upon her in the prayer room.
Dec 26, 1882 - Liverpool
Jane Pond told me this morning that Mary J. Nowlan told her that she found Bro. Carrington laying on the lounge and Sarah Kirkman lying on top of him. On board of one of Guions steamers in the cabin and in the presence of [several others] Sarah Kirkman put her arms around Bro. Carrington neck and laid her head upon his bosom.
He took this same woman to London paying her way, and they were gone 9 days. She stoped in the prayer room evenings and they drank beer and had good times together. She bit his nose untill it was red for several days. They played on the floor like children and he kissed and cudled her. ... These last statements were given me by R. R. A. and must be taken with a grain of allowance.
Dec 23, 1882 - Liverpool
Jane Pond, a hired girl in 42 {The street address of the mission home was 42}, made a confession this morning that James Purdee and herself had been guilty of fornication. He admitted the same thing. They comenenced feeling of one another in September and have kept this up from time to time untill the night of Nov 18th when they had sexual intercourse and they have done the same thing three or four times since. I have their written statements signed and witnessed.
March 19, 1883 - Liverpool
Bro Lambert and myself visited the Anatomical Museum of Liverpool. It shows the effects of vanerial diseases upon the parents also upon the children born of diseased parents. It also shows the frightfull effects of masterbation on both men and women.
June 8, 1883 - Liverpool
Scott Anderson confessed that he was guilty of self polution [masterbation] and asked to be rebaptised. I instructed Bro. Parkinson to attend to it for him.
Oct 24, 1883 - Liverpool
Stormy. I wrote to J. Q. Cannon for him to send Jennings to England. G. D. Olsen confessed to me that when he was a young man he had sexual know- ledge of two women, Sam Sarrines wife and Leo Hawkins wife. This had troubled him lately and he had been out of his head.
Dec 2, 1883 - Liverpool
Last evening Elder Joseph H. Armstrong ... came to the office at Forty Two laboring under a mental strain. He confessed to me that he had been guilty of Feeling of the Privates of Females since he was a married man, that while he had never been guilty of sexual intercourse with them still he felt he was guilty of adultery. I comforted him as well as I could seeing his excited conditions. This morning he seems to feel much better. We went to meeting and Bro. Armstrong and others bore testimony.
Nov 2, 1885 - Logan
Pleasant. I visited the temple and spent a short time. Bro F. D. Richards told Bro M. Thatcher and I that a charge of adultery had been made against Bro. Albert Carrington.
Nov 3, 1885 - SLC
Cloudy. Bro J. W. Taylor, F. D. Richards, and I met together and Bro Richards read to us the evidence against Bro. Carrington and instructed Bro. Taylor and I to hunt up more testimony both for and against him.
Nov 4, 1885 - SLC
Bro. J. W. Taylor and I spent the day Searching for evidence.
Nov 5, 1885 - SLC
Bro Taylor and I continued our researches.
Nov 6, 1885 - SLC
G. F. Gibbs and I had an interview with Mary J. Nowlan and Jeanette Paton. The former gave some damaging testimony against Bro. Carrington. The latter was unwilling to say anything. (The twelve, including Carrington, gather together) Bro. Richard Bridge and wife Sarah K. made a charge of adultry in writing against Br. Albert Carrington. Bro. J. W. Taylor, to whom the complaint was made stated the case and I gave what evidence I had obtained. Bro. A. Carrington got up and Confessed to guilt with Janette Johnson, Ruth Worsdale, and Sarah K. Bridge. All of the Brethren but Bro. G. F. Gibbs spoke and could find no way to do but cut Bro. A. Carrington off from the Church. Bro. W. Woodruff decided that he be cut off and he was sustained by the vote of all present.
Nov 10, 1885 - SLC
The Following Notice in the Evening News
Excommunication
Charges having been preferred against Albert Carrington, a full and patient hearing was had before the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, where the following decision was unanimously adopted.
That Albert Carrington be excommunicated from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints for the crimes of Lewd and Lascivious conduct and adultry.
Feb 12, 1885 - Whitefield, NH
I received the following telegram: John Henry Smith Donâ??t come home until advised. George Reynolds
Feb 19, 1885 - Whitefield, NH
Cold. I received a letter G. Reynolds. Several brethren are under indictment for Polygamy.
April 2, 1885 - SLC
Pleasant. I called upon a number of friends who welcomed me home. Every body seemed much surprised to see me on the street. Terror seems to have seized upon many people over the present raid.
April 3, 1885 - Logan
Bro G. Q. Cannon reached home today from Washington. The U.S. Marshall made an effort to capture him but failed. It is said that 20 marshalls from Utah and Idaho are in Logan.
April 4, 1885 - Logan (General Conference)
2 p.m. Present on the stand of the Twelve: F. D. Richards, F. M. Lyman, H. J. Grant, J. W. Taylor, and myself.
April 5, 1885 - Logan (General Conference)
2 p.m. ... An Epistle from Presidents John Taylor and George Q. Cannon was read before the conference by B. F. Cummings.
April 15, 1885 - SLC
(Most of Twelve & GQCannon meet) Bro M. Thatcher gave us the result of his investigations in Mexico and favors the purchase of a large Tract of mountainous country covered with Timber and Grass.
April 30, 1885 - SLC
I spent most of the day with G. Q. Cannon. He is quite well. (after reading letter from Dinwoodey and Sears) ... so I wrote him telling him that my views were to stand our ground and not run.
May 23, 1885 - Blackfoot, Idaho
The Cohab cases against the following brethren came up. Bp. George Stuart was sentenced to pay a fine of $300 and four months in the Pen at Boise, J. L. Roberts and W. J. Pratt the same. They made no promise to the Court. Samuel Humphreys was found guilty and sentenced to 6 months and $300 fine but as he took an appeal to the supreme Court of the territory the Judge admitted him to bail, which he gave. W. D. Hendricks and S. H. Heale being surities. John Winn had his attorney say he was not a "Mormon" and that he would not live with his second wife any more and he was fined $300. J. Boison had put his second wife away and the Judge suspended sentence during good behavior. Charles Simpson said his wife had left him because he was not a good Mormon and that for the future he would live the law. He was fined $300. W. D. Hendricks and Walker were held over.
Fred Turner and Joe Rich are at Eagle Rock getting affidavits against Judge J. H. Morgan.
June 3, 1885 - SLC
President John Taylor spoke to us for a short time. Bros. Young and Thatcher reported their trip to Mexico. They had been well treated by all they had met. The Secretaries of state and the interior were very kind and desired our people to move into their country.
June 4, 1885 - SLC
(J Taylor, GQ Cannon, and most of the twelve meet at GQCâ??s farm, a number of the brethren stood guard outside.) It was decided we would form a colony in Old Mexico by unanimous vote of those present and that delegations should go to the City of Mexico and also to our brethren on the Casa Grande River.
July 2, 1885 - SLC
While working in front of my house this morning cleaning out the water ditch Deputy U.S. Marshall H. F. Collins put me under arrest for Illegal Cohabitation. (he was put on trial that afternoon and discharged after a several hours of testimony)
May 17, 1885 - Rexburg, Idaho (Stake Conference)
Bro. S. B. Young made some remarks to the people about the organization of a Seventies Quorum, and the people voted to have one.
At 2 p.m. meeting commenced, the Sacrament was administered. The General Authorities were sustained as also the local Authorities. The people of Lyman voted against the Bishop.
I spoke on a number of subjects and enjoyed a very free spirit.
May 18, 1885 - Rexburg, ID
Bros. Frances C. Gunnell myself and five other brethren went over to Lyman and held meeting. I presented Bp. Weeks to the Saints to be sustained. 14 voted in his favor and 18 against. He resigned and his resignation was accepted. The people voted unanimously to sustain Bro. George Arnold as a presiding priest.
June 10, 1885 - SLC
After our Council was over Prest. G. Q. Cannon said to Bros. F. D. Richards, B. Young, F. M. Lyman, H. J. Grant and I that Prest J. Taylor desired the Apostles to refrain from telling vulgar stories and all light mindedness as it grieved the spirit of the Lord.
July 4, 1885 - SLC
Very Hot. Fire crackers are poping, but few flags are raised. Flags were floating at half mast on many buildings. Much excitement gotten up over the matter. I went to the Theatre in the evening.
Oct 21, 1885 - Logan
After meeting I drove to the Temple and learned I could not do any work because I had no recommend from my Bishop.
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