webbles Posted August 28, 2021 Posted August 28, 2021 In Elder Holland's talk, he said Quote a little bit like the builders of the temple in Nauvoo, who worked with a trowel in one hand and a musket in the other. I'm wondering what the source of that is. I found a talk from Elder Holland in 2006 (https://www2.byui.edu/Presentations/Transcripts/Graduation/2006_12_20_Holland.htm) where he says Quote Of course, in addition to the troubles in Missouri, were the threats and harassment by enemies of the Church in and around Kirtland itself. Elder George A. Smith recalled that "sometimes guards attended the temple day and night, working with a trowel in one hand and a gun in the other." Sidney Rigdon, then of the First Presidency, recorded walking the walls of the temple "by night and day, frequently wetting the walls with his tears praying for the completion of the temple." But in this talk, Elder Holland was talking about the Kirtland Temple, not the Nauvoo Temple. I also can't find the source for the quote from George A Smith. I found a quote from Elder Maxwell (https://faithandlearning.byu.edu/content/quotes/neal-a-maxwell) that says Quote In a way, LDS scholars at BYU and elsewhere are a little bit like the builders of the temple in Nauvoo who worked with a trowel in one hand and a musket in the other. But I have been able to find any references or sources for where Elder Maxwell got that. I also found a quote from "Life in Utah: or the mysteries and crimes of Mormonism" which was written in the 1800s. An online source is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/moa/AGU9634.0001.001?rgn=main;view=fulltext. The quote is Quote We finished our temple with the trowel in one hand and rifle in the other. I also noticed that Nehemiah 4:17 has a very similar vibe Quote They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon So, is the original source from the book "Life in Utah"? Where is the source for George A Smith's quote and is he talking about Nauvoo or Kirtland? Does anyone know of other sources for building the Nauvoo or Kirtland temple with a "trowel in one hand and a musket in the other"?
mfbukowski Posted August 28, 2021 Posted August 28, 2021 (edited) 7 hours ago, webbles said: In Elder Holland's talk, he said I'm wondering what the source of that is. I found a talk from Elder Holland in 2006 (https://www2.byui.edu/Presentations/Transcripts/Graduation/2006_12_20_Holland.htm) where he says But in this talk, Elder Holland was talking about the Kirtland Temple, not the Nauvoo Temple. I also can't find the source for the quote from George A Smith. I found a quote from Elder Maxwell (https://faithandlearning.byu.edu/content/quotes/neal-a-maxwell) that says But I have been able to find any references or sources for where Elder Maxwell got that. I also found a quote from "Life in Utah: or the mysteries and crimes of Mormonism" which was written in the 1800s. An online source is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/moa/AGU9634.0001.001?rgn=main;view=fulltext. The quote is I also noticed that Nehemiah 4:17 has a very similar vibe So, is the original source from the book "Life in Utah"? Where is the source for George A Smith's quote and is he talking about Nauvoo or Kirtland? Does anyone know of other sources for building the Nauvoo or Kirtland temple with a "trowel in one hand and a musket in the other"? They were just trying to keep out the Californians. The price for logs to make cabins were going through the roof. Can't make a cabin with palm trees. Edited August 28, 2021 by mfbukowski
JustAnAustralian Posted August 29, 2021 Posted August 29, 2021 (edited) All early church sources seem to be basically quoting Nehemia. "NECESSITY OF BUILDING TEMPLES, ETC", JoD Vol2 Num 6, Brigham Young, April 6, 1853 Quote Without revelation, Joseph could not know what was wanting, any more than any other man, and, without commandment, the Church were too few in numbers, too weak in faith and too poor in purse, to attempt such a mighty enterprise. But by means of all these stimulants, a mere handful of men, living on air, and a little hominy and milk, and often salt or no salt when milk could not be had; the great Prophet Joseph, in the stone quarry, quarrying rock with his own hands; and the few then in the Church, following his example of obedience and diligence wherever most needed; with laborers on the walls, holding the sword in one hand to protect themselves from the mob, while they placed the stone and moved the trowel with the other, (Neh. 4:17) the Kirtland Temple—the second House of the Lord, that we have any published record of on the earth, was so far completed as to be dedicated. And those first Elders who helped to build it, received a portion of their first endowments, or we might say more clearly, some of the first, or introductory, or initiatory ordinances, preparatory to an endowment. BY again repeated it in 1860, JoD vol8 num 2 Quote If they will not let us alone, we will take the musket and the sword in one hand, the trowel and the hammer in the other, (Neh. 4:17) and build up the Zion of our God; and they cannot prevent it. George Q Cannon in 1871, JoD Vol14 Num 43 Quote That foundation stone was laid, and the Saints, as I said, fled into Illinois, and there laid the foundation of a temple at Nauvoo, Illinois, the finest building then in the western country, and the admiration of everybody. The Saints erected it in the midst of poverty, destitution, sickness, death, and, I may say, with the sword or rifle in one hand and the trowel in the other, (Neh. 4:17) their enemies surrounding them on every hand. Edited August 29, 2021 by JustAnAustralian
Fair Dinkum Posted August 29, 2021 Posted August 29, 2021 On 8/28/2021 at 10:35 AM, webbles said: In Elder Holland's talk, he said I'm wondering what the source of that is. I found a talk from Elder Holland in 2006 (https://www2.byui.edu/Presentations/Transcripts/Graduation/2006_12_20_Holland.htm) where he says But in this talk, Elder Holland was talking about the Kirtland Temple, not the Nauvoo Temple. I also can't find the source for the quote from George A Smith. I found a quote from Elder Maxwell (https://faithandlearning.byu.edu/content/quotes/neal-a-maxwell) that says But I have been able to find any references or sources for where Elder Maxwell got that. I also found a quote from "Life in Utah: or the mysteries and crimes of Mormonism" which was written in the 1800s. An online source is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/moa/AGU9634.0001.001?rgn=main;view=fulltext. The quote is I also noticed that Nehemiah 4:17 has a very similar vibe So, is the original source from the book "Life in Utah"? Where is the source for George A Smith's quote and is he talking about Nauvoo or Kirtland? Does anyone know of other sources for building the Nauvoo or Kirtland temple with a "trowel in one hand and a musket in the other"? It wouldn’t be the first time Elder Holland repeated a faith promoting story that wasn’t true
mfbukowski Posted August 29, 2021 Posted August 29, 2021 12 minutes ago, Fair Dinkum said: It wouldn’t be the first time Elder Holland repeated a faith promoting story that wasn’t true Jesus did it all the time
CV75 Posted August 29, 2021 Posted August 29, 2021 12 minutes ago, Fair Dinkum said: It wouldn’t be the first time Elder Holland repeated a faith promoting story that wasn’t true That is the risk a fallible person takes when they act in good faith. See the transcript where he says, "I run a risk in citing any examples beyond my own but let me mention just one or two." I think there has been plenty of research done for you in the posts above. 1
Recommended Posts