The Mormon Apocrypha

This Manifesto, published on  June 17, 1933, was the last manifesto released about polygamy. It once again denounces polygamy and those who practice it. A large portion of it is dedicated to discussing the previous manifestos against polygamy.   Official Statement From the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The First Presidency have recently received letters making inquiry concerning the position of the Church regarding the contracting of polygamous or plural marriages.  It is evident from these letters, as well as from certain published material—some of it distributed during our last General Conference—that a secret and, according to reputation, an oath-bound organization of misguided individuals is seeking to lead the people to adopt adulterous relations under the guise of a pretended and false polygamous or plural marriage ceremony. While the position of the Church since 1893 has been repeatedly set forth, namely, that polygamous o...

Patriarchal Blessings are a unique facet of the LDS Church. Patriarchal Blessings are blessings given by Patriarchs, an office in the Chruch Lay's  Melchizedek  Priesthood. The Patriarch would lay his hands upon the recipient's head. The Patriarch will then describe the recipient's character, delivers various blessings and warnings, and the envisions the percipients possible future.  Joseph Smith Sr. The first examples of Patriarchal Blessing are within the Old Testament and Book of Mormon. But their origin in this dispensation was in 1833, when Joseph Smith Sr, Joseph Smith's father, was appointed to the office of Patriarch over the whole church, followed by Hyrum Smith, John Smith and John Smith the Younger. In 1837, Issac Morley became the first local Patriarch ordained. Eventually more and more local patriarchs were ordained to the point that in 1979, the office of Patriarch over the whole church was retired.  I wanted to share a small sample of patriarchal bless...

The Book of Mormon is the keystone of the LDS church, so it is no surprise that there are many sermons and teachings on it. In April 1921, Anthony Ivins gave one such sermon in General Conference, discussing its importance and the new changes the Book of Mormon received over the previous year. President Anthony W. Ivins Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles I do not remember, my brethren and sisters, a period in my life's experience in the Church when I felt my dependence upon the Lord to a degree greater than I do this morning. Should I follow my own inclinations, I would not attempt to make remarks at all, but to gam wisdom and knowledge and understanding by listening to the remarks of my brethren and communing with the Spirit of the Lord which is here this morning. I feel the necessity of wisdom, of sound judgment, of the help of the Lord in expounding the scriptures, and teaching the Latter-day Saints, and in discharging the responsibility which has come to me, as I have never f...

Mainline Christian Churches have always been fighting again the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from its foundation to the present day. They believe that due to the LDS Churches beliefs it cannot be considered a Christian Church. Here is a sermon delivered in April 1926 by Anthony W. Ivins about why the LDS Church is a Christian One. President Anthony W. Ivins I sincerely desire, my brethren and sisters, during the few moments of time that I may occupy, that I may have the benefit of your faith, exercised in my behalf. I appreciate fully the responsibility which I assume, as I stand here professing to teach the doctrines of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The Advice of Gamaliel The scripture which I am about to read I have often quoted before, but it appears so appropriate to the subject which I desire briefly to discuss that it will bear repetition. The apostles who had been chosen by our Lord had been imprisoned by those who were opposed to the doctrines which they taught, and ha...