Oxford is the site where many of the Bible Translators studied, and did actual work of translation. One significant Bible translator and martyr, William Tyndale, was educated at Magdalen Hall, Oxford (now part of Hertford College, Oxford). Tyndale was admitted to the Degree of Bachelor of Arts at Oxford University in 1512, the same year he became a subdeacon. He was made Master of Arts in July 1515, three months after he had been ordained into the priesthood. The MA degree allowed him to start studying theology, but the official course did not include the study of scripture. This horrified Tyndale, and he organized private groups for teaching and discussing the scriptures. In celebration of the 400th anniversary of the publication of King James Bible, the Bodleian Library of Oxford is holding an amazing exhibition honoring the various individuals who contributed to its translation. Highlights of the Oxford Bible Exhibition include: the sixteenth-century Bibles used in the making of the KJB ( such as the ‘Great’ Bible (1539), the Bishops’ Bible (1568), the Geneva Bible (1576) and Douai-Rheims (1582)); an Old English manuscript with verse renderings of Genesis and Exodus; surviving leaves from Tyndale’s translation of the Pentateuch or five books of Moses (1530); a velvet bound Bishops’ Bible that belonged to Queen Elizabeth I (1568); a 1602 Bishops’ Bible annotated by some of the translators of the King James Bible; a copy of the 1611 King James Bible owned by James’ son Prince Henry; contemporary copies of the working notes of John Boys, one of the Cambridge translators; reference works from the libraries of John Rainolds and Henry Savile used for the translation, and more. A Martyrs’ Memorial is also located in Oxford and commemorates the 16th-century “Oxford Martyrs”. The actual site of the execution is close by in Broad Street, located just outside the location of the old city walls. The site is marked by a cross sunk in the road. For more information about other amazing Bible Translator sites, visit our England & Wale’s 400th Bible Commemoration Tour...
Read MoreLDS Church Site of Week – PRESTON, England
Preston was the place that the church was officially established on British soil in 1837 & where this year (2011) a huge 400th Bible Anniversary Celebration is to take place which includes a 400-voice choir! Elder Heber C. Kimball and Orson Hyde went on the first England Mission and served from JULY 1837- APRIL 1838. When they arrived in Preston it was election day. Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, had ordered a general election for members of Parliament. As they exited the coach they saw a flag flying that had on it the following motto: ‘TRUTH WILL PREVAIL.’ They decided to take make this the theme of their mission. On July 30, 1837 (Sunday), in the River Ribble, nine souls were initiated into the kingdom of God. They were the first fruits of the Gospel in a foreign land. Starting out with only 9 members, Preston caught on fire and the gospel continued to spread, igniting city after city. The Preston Ward holds the honor of being the oldest continuously functioning LDS Church unit in the world. In 1840, all the Apostles where called to serve as a quorum on a second mission to England. During that time, they held several council meetings in Preston of which they set apart Willard Richards as an Apostle, agreed to choose and ordain a patriarch (Peter Melling, a native of Preston), made important decisions regarding Church publications, and discussed in some detail the all-important subject of emigration. For more information visit our England Tour Page. Learn about the 400th Anniversary Bible Translation...
Read MoreLDS Site of Week – LIVERPOOL, England
Liverpool was England’s chief port and also the port of embarkation through which practically every emigrant from England passed. Over a hundred thousand Saints sailed from Liverpool to gather in Zion. Situated on the east bank of the Mersey River, it was the exporting harbor for all the rest of Lancashire, the center of British manufacturing. Elders John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff and Theodore Turley, the first of the Apostle missionaries to arrive in England (on the 2nd Apostolic England Mission), met in a special council Friday, January 17, 1840, with Joseph Fielding and Willard Richards of the presidency of the British Mission, and decided on their fields of labor. It was agreed that Elders Taylor and Fielding should go to Liverpool. In Liverpool, Elder Taylor was the first LDS missionary to proselyte. Elders Taylor and Fielding raised up a branch of about thirty members before the arrival from America of the other brethren of the twelve. This number rapidly increased and at the beginning of the year 1841 numbered more than two hundred souls. In March, 1842, the headquarters of the mission were transferred to Liverpool. A few days after Christmas in 1840, Brigham Young went on to Liverpool where he remained through most of January and February and where, in January, he completed indexing and publishing the Book of Mormon. Tuesday, February 4, at 3:00 in the afternoon at the seashore was the time and place set for the first baptisms in Liverpool. Ten people were baptized that day in the chilly waters of the Irish Sea. For more information visit our England Tour Page. Learn about the 400th Anniversary Bible Translation...
Read MoreLDS Site of Week – KIRTLAND Temple
Far more amazing visions and miracles took place in Kirtland than all other LDS sites combined! There is so much information that we have had to dedicate an entire tour to this area with Kirtland renowned expert Karl Ricks Anderson. There is far too much information for one entry. This week marks the anniversary of a very important vision that took place at the Kirtland Temple which will be this week’s highlight. (See this weeks Glimpse of Past entry for more details) Kirtland Temple Kirtland was the first temple of the Church and was constructed 1833-1836, by just a few hundred poor saints under conditions of great sacrifice. “For thou knowest that we have done this work through great tribulation; and out of our poverty we have given of our substance to build a house to thy name” (D&C 109:5). There were tremendous manifestations of the Spirit during construction, at the dedication and thereafter. Lorenzo Snow enumerated blessings received in the temple during this period: There we had the gift of prophecy – the gift of tongues – the interpretation of tongues – visions and marvelous dreams were related – singing of heavenly choirs was heard, and wonderful manifestations of the healing power, through administrations of the Elders, were witnessed. The sick were healed – the deaf made to hear – blind to see and the lame to walk, in very many instances. It was plainly manifest that a sacred and divine influence – a spiritual atmosphere pervaded that holy edifice (KRA p 170). On January 21, 1836, Joseph Smith, his father, the First Presidency, the presidency of the Church in Missouri, the bishoprics in Kirtland and Missouri, and the Prophet’s scribe, Warren Parish, saw a vision of the Father and the Son as is recorded in D&C 137. In April 1836, Joseph and Oliver received Priesthood Keys from Moses, Elias, and Elijah (D&C 110). Also, there were at least four visits from the Savior (KRA p 174). For more information visit our Week in Kirtland Tour...
Read MoreLDS Church Site of Week – RICHMOND, Missouri
Richmond A most important place in Mormon Missouri history. Here, after their arrest at Far West, Joseph Smith and others were put on trial under Judge Austin King, who was no better than a mobster himself. The lawyer who defended Joseph was one of the truly great men in American history, Alexander Doniphan, whose statue is prominent in the town square. This same Doniphan, in an effort to stop the persecution of the Mormons, succeeded as a member of the Missouri legislature in having two counties created just for the Mormons. I.e. Caldwell (Far West area) and Davies (Adam-ondi-Aham). As a brigadier general in the Missouri Militia, he prevented the execution by firing squad of Joseph and Hyrum at Far West by refusing to carry out that order from the commanding general. He also represented Joseph Smith as his lawyer while he was in the Liberty Jail. After their arrest at Far West, Joseph Smith and others were taken to Independence and put on display in a most humiliating manner. This was before being tried or convicted of anything. They were then taken to Richmond and incarcerated while awaiting trial with a number of others arrested at the same time. This lead to the rebuking of the guards incident recorded by Parley P. Pratt in his autobiography and presented in Richmond as a part of our Missouri tour. The Richmond Old Mormon Cemetery has several important graves: Oliver Cowdery, Peter Whitmer Sr.; Mary Whitmer (only woman to see the plates), Jacob Whitmer (one of the eight witnesses). Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer came here to live after they apostatized from the church. Oliver practiced law in Richmond and is buried in the old Mormon Cemetery. David Whitmer is buried in the large city cemetery on Highway 10. For more Missouri Sites – See our Missouri/Nauvoo/Winter Quarter Tour...
Read MoreLDS Church Site of Week – PALMYRA, New York
PALMYRA Smith Family Cabin and Farm – The Smith family lived here at the time of the First Vision. Three years later (September 21, 1823), Moroni appeared here to Joseph Smith three times in the night and once the following day, prophesying, giving instructions, and telling him of the Book of Mormon plates. The cabin was recently re-built and dedicated. Martin Harris Farm – Owned by Martin Harris when he met Joseph Smith. Mortgaged for $3,000 to finance printing of the first 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon. Harris ended up having to sell part of the farm to pay it back. Grandin Press – Owned and operated by E. B. Grandin. Printed the first editions of the Book of Mormon. Alvin Smith Grave – Alvin Smith was the oldest of the Smith boys and much idolized by his younger brother Joseph. He died tragically in November of 1823, at the age of 25, as a result of an over-dose of calomel administered as a medicine for “bilious colic.” Alvin was obviously a great and noble soul – kind and caring, and a great support to Joseph in his work. It is a curious thing that of all of Smith sons, the only one still living when the Saints left Nauvoo was William, an excommunicated apostate. All the rest, Alvin, Hyrum, Joseph, Samuel Harrison, Don Carlos, who were faithful to the end and had made major contributions to the success of the early church, had died. In fact, of these, only Hyrum lived to see his fortieth birthday. For more New York Sites – See our Palmyra to Kirtland Tour...
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