Diaries of Mormon apostle made available

November 5, 8:33 AMSalt Lake City Mormon History ExaminerClair Barrus

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Apostle John Henry Smith (Signature Books)

The content of the diaries of Mormon Apostle John Henry Smith have been made available on-line.

John Henry Smith served as an apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the presidencies of John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow and Joseph F. Smith (1880-1910).  The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is the second highest governing body of the LDS church.

He also served in the church's highest quorum, The First Presidency, as a counselor to Joseph F. Smith (1910-1911).

His diaries are rich with details of the inner-workings of the church hierarchy including such topics as:

• The Quorum of the Twelve and it's working relationship with the First Presidency
• Debates over the use of tithing money
• Response to anti-polygamy legislation
• The relationship between the church and local political leadership
• Personal relationships among members of the hierarchy
• Attitudes toward sexual indiscretion
• Church leadership salaries
• Strategies toward achieving statehood
• The investigation & excommunication of a member of the First Presidency
• Legal and practical issues surrounding polygamy
• Evading arrest

(see excerpts of his diary regarding these topics)

 Many other topic are discussed making his diaries a wealth of information.  The diaries provide a detailed look at the inner workings of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and First Presidency during a period of  change and transition for the LDS church. 

The diaries were first published by Signature Books in 1990 under the title Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, edited by Jean Bickmore White.  The Diaries were used by permission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Signature Books has now made this work available on-line.

From the introduction:

Throughout his adult life John Henry was deeply involved in church and community affairs. In 1872, at the age of twenty-four, he began his public service as an assistant clerk in the territorial legislature. He would later serve as a member of the legislature and as a Salt Lake City Council member. In 1874 he went to England as a Mormon missionary, beginning an active career in the LDS church that he would continue as European Mission president, apostle, and finally counselor in the First Presidency.

The diaries can be accessed here.