Logan.

All well here.

Cold weather.

I went to the B.Y. College devotional services and addressed the student body of 800 or 900 students for about 40 minutes. Subject. Power of knowledge in attaining success & satisfaction. The help L.D.S. students may receive from the Lord if [p. 24] they seek it. Operations of the Spirit &c.

I spent the afternoon at Lucena’s and Mother, Ray & I took the 6:10 P.M. train for home arriving in Salt Lake at 10:20 P.M. We found Estella sick. Had been home all day alone. Joel & Georgina are with us while they have a new furnice installed.

Home.

This is wood chuck day and he could not see his shadow so according to the superstition he will stay out and we will have an early Spring. It has been continuous snow & winter weather since Christmas day. Mamie had a live wisdom tooth extracted yesterday and has lost much blood thereby and is feeling poorly. Estella has been out of school the last two days on account of cold, fever &c.

I had to shovel snow again this morning. Worked at my desk in the forenoon making checks in payment for bills &c. & mailed these out. Attended to some business down town. Attended Gen. Bds. of R. Classes and Y.M.M.I.A. also my Circle. Twenty one members present.

Geo & Joel & their families were with us in the evening and we [p. 25] had a good chicken supper with hot biscuits; mashed potatoes, turnips, mince pie &c. This is our home evening. We had a program of songs, recitations &c. Also played games.

Home.

All fairly well.

Thawing weather.

I was in temple from 10:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. Weekly Council meeting. I made further search for the Richards’ Endowment Record and from description given me by Cousin Carrie Richards I believe it is at her home and if so I will get it tomorrow. The loss of this record has detained us with our temple work for more than a year and caused me a great deal of trouble and anxiety.

I spent the afternoon & evening at my desk working & reading.

I learned from Cousin Edith R. Davis that she is to marry Bro. [blank] Harmon on Thur Feb 24th in the temple & requests me to perform the ceremony, which I have promised to do. Our children went to the ward M.I.A. Minstrel show at night.

Home.

All usually well.

Mild weather. Thawing

I went downtown and got a temple record used by Uncle Samuel W. since [p. 26] the death of my father, from Cousin Carrie R., and put it in the hands of Sister Cameron of the Utah Genealogical Society. Was disappointed that it was not the record kept by my father.

I went through the temple in the afternoon with Alice & my sister Nerva and for John Gill.

In the evening Joel & I went to the home of a brother Dixon on 2nd Ave, & administered to their sick baby girl about one year old.

Wrote letters to my daughters Nerva, Ruby & Lucena and to my son LeGrand in Holland.

We received a nice letter to-day from LeGrand dated Dec 31st It had been opened by Censor 970. Joel & Georgina who have been with us since Tuesday while their furnace was being put in, went home tonight.

Home.

All usually well.

Thawing weather.

I spent the forenoon at home reading &c. Attended to some business down town in the afternoon and took Mother & Sister Nerva to the Wilkes Theater Matinee, “Within the Lines.” I bought and perused the two books “Rational Theology” by John A. Widtsoe and, “The Case Against [p. 27] Mormonism” by Robert C. Webb, non-“Mormon,” and read several chapters in the latter retiring after 11 P.M.

Home.

All usually well.

Raining to-day.

Alice Sarah and I attended Temple fast meeting. Attended my own ward fast meeting at 2:00 P.M. and the evening Conjoint M.I.A. meeting at which my son George was the speaker and his subject, “Temple Work.” After meeting Mother & I went up to Joels and Geo & Edith joined us there and we spent the evening until after 11:00 P.M.

Home.

All well.

Mild weather.

Received letter from my brother Ezra and answered same.

I invited Pres. F. M. Lyman to go with me to the temple and we inspected it with a view to increasing the capacity of the temple as many people are turned away for want of capacity. I suggested lengthening the veil by running it along the north side of the Celestial room full length which would give us eight more veils the size of the [p. 28] present four. This need not be of a permanent character to the extent that pillars would have to be placed and the veil need not be above eight feet high so as to not shut off the light from the north windows.

I further suggested the taking of records Saturdays while the cleaning is being done and do the baptizing Monday and use Tuesday for endowments.

I also suggested having three companies daily instead of two as at present.

Pres. Lyman will no doubt present these suggestions to the Presidency as he seemed to indorse them and the Recorder Bro. McCallister says they are feasible.

I worked on my Temple records for hours. Listed sealing work as far as is possible until further endowment work for males be done. Recorded work done &c.

Home.

All well.

Mild weather.

Letters from LeGrand & Ina, Holland. Children have mumps, letter dated Jan 14th. I wrote LeGrand in answer. Worked at my desk & got out lists [p. 29] for sealings in the temple. Alice & I visited Bro & Sis Dixon & Bro Dixon and I administered to their baby Grace. We called at Joels.

I went down town and attended to some business at the temple and at Pres. Lyman’s office.

My sister Nerva spent the afternoon here with Alice and I read to her from Heart Throbs for a while.

Home.

All well.

Cloudy

Bro. Dixon called to say his baby is much improved giving the Lord the glory.

Alice, sister Nerva & I went through the temple for the dead. I paid for thirteen males being endowed this day. Attended M.I.A. Gen Board meeting, my Circle meeting and Ensign Stake Priesthood meeting. A busy day. I had nothing to eat after my breakfast until 9 P.M. This day Elder Heber J Grant presented me with a check of $500 to help make up for my loss in buying 15 shares of U.I.V. Co stock on his recommendation at $85.00 per share. He got this check in some way from C. W. Nibley. [p. 30]

Home.

All usually well, excepting colds.

Attended weekly Council meeting from 10 until 3:00 P.M.

Attended a meeting of the correlating Committee at 3:20 P.M. representing the R. Class Gen. Board & offered suggestions, for convention programs, by appointment of the board.

Attended a banquet of the General Boards of Y.M. & YW. M.I.A. held in Granite ward amusement hall in the evening.

I have quite a cold and have had for several days.

Home.

Weather moderated.

Colds about the same.

I should have left for Teton Stake on last night’s train but learned that trains are not running between Ashton & Driggs so we can not get into the valley. I did some plumbing. Had a visit from a Dutch brother who is in trouble, his wife & two children in Holland & the wife not a member of the Church and becoming alienated from him.

Alice & I went to the Temple also sister Nerva. I was endowed for Hugh Gill. [p. 31] At the temple 243 in forenoon and 297 in afternoon were endowed. A large company, much crowded. Alice & I called on my son George and family in the evening.

Home.

All usually well.

Pleasant weather.

Received letter from Frank Robinson of Albion, my nephew in answer to one I wrote him Jan 19th. I answered this letter urging him to change his course & put himself in harmony with his profession & faith and standards of the Church.

Received a letter from Robert Gill of Sugar House to whom I had written I learn that he is from Cumberland, Eng. Alice, sister Nerva & I went to the Matinee at the Wilks.

Home.

All well excepting colds.

Alice & I went to Farmington and I attended & spoke at the funeral services of Uncle James Wilcox. We visited with his family & with Alice’s widowed sister Anna Steed. Returned home leaving Farmington on 5:35 P.M. Car. Spent the evening at home. [p. 32]

Home.

All usually well.

At our last Thursday’s meeting Panguitch & Big Horn stakes received no appointments because of weather & snow conditions. This morning I called on Pres. Lyman & reminded him of the deplorable conditions of Panguitch stake and that I thought it could be reached now OK and suggested that the president Bro. Houston be conferred with.

I went down town & called on Pres. Lyman. Bro Geo F. Gibbs came in and said Pres. Wm Richards’ wife at Malad had died and is to be buried Sun Tues 2:00 P.M. and would like one of the brethren to go up & attend the funeral services. Pres. Lyman asked me to fill the appointment which I promised to do.

I called at the temple and[?] 22 sheets of finished temple work and took home and recorded same. I then finished listing for temple work those eligible to be sealed as husband & wife totaling 28 couples & those eligible for sealing parents, 78 children, twelve sheets. These I hope to have sealed up Feb 22nd. Children enjoying Valentine day. [p. 33] I wrote to my son LeGrand in Holland this evening.

Home.

Fine weather

Colds prevalent

Sarah & I have it in bad form. I went to Malad by appointment and attended the funeral services of Sister Catherine Richards, wife of Stake President Wm H. Richards, held in the Malad new stake tabernacle at 2:00 P.M. the house crowded. I occupied abt. 45 min with good liberty. Seven other speakers.

I staid at night with Pres. Lewis D. Jones. Traffic all by sleighs.

Malad.

Cold and much snow.

I returned to Salt Lake in the forenoon and Alice & I went to the temple in the afternoon. Sister Nerva & Cousin Anna Sonders were there also.

Attended my Circle meeting & later George, Joel & I with our wives went to the Wilks theater, “The Old Homestead.”

Home.

Cold bad. [p. 34]

I attended regular weekly Council meeting of the Presidency and the Twelve in the temple from 10:00 A.M. to about 2:00. At these meetings the Presiding Patriarch meets with us and we usually have to wait from 30 minutes to one hour for the Presidency. We have tried another hour but with no better results. We continue until the table is cleared of business except on some occasions when the President has other appointments and these are rarely ever made for an earlier hour than 3 P.M. We usually have lunch in another room about one o’clock. At these meetings we dress in our temple clothes and have prayr in Circle capacity.

At the meeting today I proposed the name of Wm H. Gibbs of Portage to receive the ordination of a Patriarch. Pres. Lyman seconded it and it was carried unanimously. I wrote Pres. Wm H. Richards informing him of our action.

Home.

Better of my cold.

Fine weather.

I spent the forenoon home. [p. 35] Worked on temple records. In afternoon my son Joel & I went through the temple with a company of 300 each for a Geo. Gill. By request of Bro. Adolph Madsen I married a couple the last of the day, [blank] B. Curtis and Martha Little Bevan daughter of Heber Bevan. They are from Teton, Idaho. My sister Nerva & cousin Anna Sanders went through also this afternoon. I spent the after evening at home & took the 11:45 P.M. train for Shelley, Idaho accompanied by Pres. C. H. Hart.

Shelley, Ida.

Arrived at 8:00 A.M. We were met by Pres. N. J. Mallory and taken to the home of Pres. Christensen where we staid while in Shelley.

Sat 10 A.M. conference meeting held in 2nd ward meeting house attendance 238. Stake population 2774. I occupied 35 min. Subject Practical matters. Get out of debt. Practice retrenchment & economy Care for vehicles, machinery &c. Bring your boys & girls to meeting with you. Cooperate to market your products & in purchase and use of machinery. [p. 36]

2 P.M. meeting attendance 335. I occupied 15 min closing. The gospel has in it all that is desirable, every known truth & is suited to the high & low, rich & poor, learned & unlearned & helpful to all. Likened the Gospel to crop raising. “Social Hall”

Shelley, Ida.

Throat sore

Cold generally

10 A.M. meeting, attendance 548. I occupied 35 minutes. “Honor Parents, earthly & heavenly, how?” Sacrament administered.

2:00 P.M. meeting attendance 631. Held in Social Hall.

I occupied 35 min. Subj. Requirements of Church members to live & obey the Gospel ordinances, principles & laws and to teach & preach same to others &c. Authorities sustained.

7:30 P.M. Conjoint M.I.A. (428). I occupied about 25 min. on marriage.

Attended Seventies meeting at 12:20 P.M.

Pres. Hart & I took train for I. Falls at 9:40 arriving at the Falls at 10:00 P.M. Took sleeper for Salt Lake.

Saturday I ordained and set [p. 37] apart a bishopric of Woodville ward. Joseph Peter Bishoff Bp.; Lorenzo Christensen & Geo. Henry Risenmay Counselors all ordained High Priests.

Home.

My throat is better.

Arrived in Salt Lake at 9:25 A.M. one hour 10 min late.

I spent the day securing proxies from members of the family to go to the temple tomorrow and listing some twelve besides myself including the witnesses in their places. We have 32 couples to seal and 92 children to seal to parents in 37 ceremonies. I will perform the ceremonies. This takes the sealing work up to date i.e. as far as we can go until we get some more males endowed.

Home.

All well as usual.

Snow & rain most of the day.

With twelve other family members I went to the temple and we sealed up thirty-two couples of the dead and in thirty-seven ceremonies sealed ninety-two children to parents [p. 38] I prepared the sheets, arranged the meeting and performed the ceremonies. We furnished our own witnesses and proxies within the family. We went in the temple at 10:30 and got through at 1:30 P.M.

Alice, Ray & I went to the Wilks theatre, most of the others went to some show.

In the evening we had our folks with us, Geo & wife, Joel & wife children & Mamie & Clarence. We had sherbet & cake.

Home.

My cold some better.

Beautiful day.

This is the 55th anniversary of my birth. I spent the forenoon at home. Attended Conjoint Gen’l. Board meeting of Y.M. & Y.L.M.I.A. at 4:00 P.M. and my Circle meeting at 6:30 P.M. and in the evening I was one of a theatre party at the Orpheum in honor of my 55th birth day anniversary, given by my son George. The party comprised the following: Mother & me, Geo. & Edith, Joel & Georgina, Clarence & Mamie. The performance was good in most features. [p. 39]

This day I delivered to Stayner Richards five temple sheets containing one hundred names of members of the Gills family, he having proposed to do the work or have it done for these endowments during this year. With Stayner I had a talk with Claude Richards and he promised to take a like number on same terms.

Home.

Ray had a bad night but is feeling better today.

Alice went through the temple with her sister Annie Steed who staid at our home over night last night. Ray staid at Edith’s. I delivered to Claude Richards the 100 names of males agreed upon yesterday.

Attended my weekly Council meeting in the temple from 10:00 A.M. to 1:15 P.M. Received appointment to Preston to Oneida Stake Conference for Mar 4th & 5th with Pres. R. S. Wells.

At conclusion of our meeting I brought Alice & Annie Steed through and performed the marriage ceremony of Levi N. Harmon and Edith R. Davis, my cousin. [p. 40]

Home.

Fine day.

I took 7:30 A.M. train to Tooele where I attended to some business i.e. talked over a business proposition with George & Nerva with a view of releasing the Mortgage of $900 from their home reducing the interest from ten to six per cent. Returned to Salt Lake on 3:37 P.M. train. Went to the theater with Mother & Sarah at Salt Lake Theater S.D.S. school play in the evening. Adm. to George L.

Home

Stormy day.

Folks as usually.

I borrowed at U.S.N. Bk $1250 on my note secured by 15 shares of U.I.V. Stock & 13 2/3 shares of Preferred & 5 shares of Common stock in the O.P.C. Co. Note on demand 6% int. I paid off $350. owing M. E. K. on which I was paying 8%. I also loaned to my son in law Geo L. Tate $900.00 on demand, 6% int. & $20. of prin payable each month.

Had a lengthy conversation with brother H. J. Grant on U.I.V. Co. business &c.

Worked at my desk wrote letters, worked on books, &c. [p. 41]

Home.

Stormy.

I attended home ward Sunday School and offered the closing prayr. Attended services in the Assembly Hall, presided over by Pres. A. H. Lund. Elder Seegmiller the speaker. I offered the closing prayr.

I met Pres. Lyman at the Pres.’ office at 6:00 P.M. intending to go with him to Pleasant Green to divide the ward & hold meeting but owing to the stormy weather and muddy roads, we decided to not go so returned to our homes.

I read from “Rational Theology” the evening. Received from the Church Liverpool Office Vol 77 of the Starr.

Home.

Folks better of their colds. Pleasant day.

I wrote Pres. Hyrum M. Smith acknowledging receipt of Vol 77 of the Millennial Starr & thanking him for same also for current numbers.

I continued the reading of “Rational Theology” by Widtsoe. I went down town in the afternoon and had a talk with Mr. Miller & Mr. Wood agents [p. 42] for the Continental Life Ass. Co. and was examined by Dr. Flood. I may take out another policy. I rode home with my son George.

Home.

Folks tolerably well.

I finished reading “Rational Theology as taught by the Church of J.C. of L.D.S.” by J. A. Widtsoe. A splendid & attractive book, I much enjoyed.

Alice & I went to the Wilks theatre in the evening.