The Mormon Apocrypha

Of all the latter-day saints in history, perhaps not are as hilarious as J. Golden Kimball, the swearing apostle. He was born on June 26, 1853, to Heber C. Kimball. At the age of fifteen, his father died. TO make ends meet, he became a Mule driver, where he picked up his wearing habit. In 1881, he went to what is know BYU for two years, and after that went on a two-year mission to the American South. After that mission, he married Jennie Knowlton and in 1887 moved to Logan. They had six children, three boys and three girls. In 1892, Kimball was called to be the mission president of the American South mission. During that mission he was called to the seventy. Buring his years in the seventy, J. Golden became well known for his swearing habit, causing him to be one of the favorite general authorities in the church. Kimball died on the 2nd of September 1938 in a driving accident. In April 1909, J. Golden Kimball gave a talk about the importance of Honesty, discussing how God cannot help u...

  The belief that man can become God is one of the most unique doctrines in latter day saint Theology. Within the pages of the eighth volume of the Journal of Discourses is a sermon that goes in depth on this controversial belief. Created by John Taylor, it discusses how men are "as a God in embryo." I am always pleased to hear brother Joseph Young speak, because, as the Indian says, “he talks good talk;” and I always like to hear people talk good talk, and things that are calculated to make one feel pleasant and comfortable. A passage of Scripture which he quoted attracted my attention. It is one of the sayings of David— “ What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? ” In one point of view, man appears very poor, weak, and imbecile, and very insignificant: in another point of view, he appears wise, intelligent, strong, honorable, and exalted. It is just in the way that you look at a man that you are led to form your opinions concerni...

Elder Melvin J. Ballard has been a recurring character on this blog, so I wanted one of 2026's first general conference talks to be from him. In this one, he talks about the importance of the church. Elder Melvin J. Ballard Of the Qurom of the Twelve Apostles I desire, my brethren and sisters, to read two short extracts from a revelation of the Lord, given one hundred years ago to the Church. The first is from the eighty-sixth section: " Therefore, thus saith the Lord unto you, with whom the priesthood hath continued through the lineage of your fathers — " For ye are lawful heirs, according to the flesh, and have been hid from the world with Christ in God — " Therefore your life and the priesthood have remained, and must needs remain through you and your lineage until the restoration of all things spoken by the mouths of all the holy prophets since the world began. " Therefore, blessed are ye if ye continue in my goodness, a light unto the Gentiles, and through ...

Next year, in 2027, the Salt Lake Temple will be opened to the public for the first time in over seven years. To celebrate this occasion in advance, I want to share a sermon from the eleventh volume of the Journal of Discourses. Delivered by Brigham Young in Salt Lake City, it goes over the building of the Salt Lake Temple. I want your attention. I do not know how long it will be prudent to continue our meeting, but we would like to say a great deal more to the people. I will talk to you a little with regard to building the Temple. When br. Heber asks you to come and join us in drawing rock, you turn round and say, “I have paid my tithing; what more do you want? Do you want any donations or extra help? What do you do with the tithing?” This is in the minds of the people, and it is something that I think about, too, but I confess to you that, although I am Trustee-in-Trust and have the management of all this, I know but little about what is done with the tithing. Br. Hunter is Bishop, a...

As tomorrow is the spring equinox, I wanted to share a poem by Orson F. Whitney about the beauty of Spring. Monody . Gone from my heart is the sunlight of gladness,  Y Gone from my soul is the music of yore;  For mine eyes are oft dim with the warm dews of sadness,  And I sigh for the presence of one gone before. In the springtime, and spring of her life was she taken,  When the pitying tears of young April were shed O'er the slumbering germlets of May, to awaken  The sentinel flowers to vigil the dead. And the loveliest blossom that e'er fell from Eden,  The fairest, most fragrant in purity's wreath, When the spring-heralds welcomed the life-giving season,  Was slain by the frosts of the winter of death. Ah! many to spare were our hearts better willing.  Than the soul in whose beauty all others were blest But "death loves a bright mark," and ever is filling  His graves with the spirits of those we love best. Their spirits? Not so; tis but cl...

 In 1895, the LDS Church released a manifesto saying that General Authorities must require approval from the First Presidency before they could seek office. This was done in a possess to keep the church politically neutral. Not everyone agreed with the manifesto. Moses Thatcher did not agree with the document and was released from the Qurom of the Twelve the following year. B.H. Roberts too did not agree but signed it under the threat of losing his position. TO THE SAINTS: To the officers and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in General Conference assembled. DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: Every Latter-day Saint will recognize the value of union, not only in action but in matters of faith and discipline. As to the rights and authority of the Priesthood of the Son of God, it is of the highest importance that there should be no difference of opinion among the officers and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Feeling the necessity of a corre...