What's in the Secret Church Vault?

The catch-all forum for general topics and debates. Minimal moderation. Rated PG to PG-13.
_Mister Scratch
_Emeritus
Posts: 5604
Joined: Sun Oct 29, 2006 8:13 pm

What's in the Secret Church Vault?

Post by _Mister Scratch »

Over on the aptly named MADboard, a poster named erichard has posted a list of stuff which is supposedly held in the top-secret Church Vault, which is dug into the side of a mountain in Little Cottonwood Canyon, just outside Salt Lake City. (It is visible from the road, in fact.) I thought this was quite intriguing:

Incomplete List of Items in the First Presidency Vaults

Printed Works:

An Address by Way of an Abridged Account and Journal of My Life, Lyman Wight
An Address to Americans, James Mulholland
Almanacs (1859, 1860, 1861, 1863, 1864), William W. Phelps
The Amateur, Ogden, Utah, YMMIA
An Appeal to the American People, Sidney Rigdon
Articles of Association for the United Order (1870 & 1874)
Book of Mormon (Various Editions, including 1830)
Book of One Thousand Marks and Brands, William Clayton
Book of the Law of the Lord, James J. Strang
The California Star
Calumny Refuted and the Truth Defended, John Taylor
Celestial Marriage, and the Plurality of Wives, Jesse Haven
Central Route, The Emigrant’s Guide, Thomas B. H. Stenhouse
Circular to Bishop Edward Hunter, First Presidency
The City Charter of Nauvoo, Illinois
The City of the Mormons, Henry Caswall
A Collection of Sacred Hymns (1835, 1844, etc.)
A Concise History of the Mormon Battalion, Daniel Tyler
Constitution of the State of Deseret
A Correct Account of the Murder of Generals Joseph and Hyrum Smith, William M.
Daniels
Death of the Prophets Joseph and Hyrum Smith, John Gooch
Delusions..., Alexander Campbell
Deseret Almanac (1851, 1852, 1853, 1854, etc.,), William W. Phelps
A Dialogue between Joe Smith and the Devil, Parley P. Pratt
The Diamond, James J. Strang
A Dissertation on Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream, William I. Appleby
Doctrine and Covenants (1835, etc.)
Book of Commandments
Document Containing the Correspondence, Orders, &c. in Relation to the Disturbances
with the Mormons
Document Showing the Testimony Given Before the Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit
Elder’s Journal
The Evening and Morning Star
Evidence Taken on the Trial of Mr. Smith
Evidences in Proof of the Book of Mormon, Charles B. Thompson
The Far West: Or, A Tour Beyond the Mountains, Edmund Flagg
Y Farw Wedi Ei Chyfodi Yn Fyw, Dan Jones
A Few Plain Facts, George J. Adams
Frontier Guardian
General Courses and Distance from G.S.L. City to Fort Limhi, Jesse W. Fox
1847 General Epistle from the Council of the Twelve Apostles
General Joseph Smith’s Appeal to the Green Mountain Boys
General Smith’s Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States
The Gospel Reflector
Governor’s Message – Brigham Young (1850, 1851, etc.)
A Grammar of the Hebrew Language, Moses Stuart
He That Hath Ears to Hear, Orson Hyde
History of the Late Persecution Inflicted by the State of Missouri upon the Mormons,
Parley P. Pratt
History of the Persecutions, Charles W. Wandell
A History of the Priesthood, Benjamin Winchester
An Interesting Account of Several Remarkable Visions, Orson Pratt
James J. Strang, Weighed in the Balance, Reuben Miller
Journal of Discourses
Heber C. Kimball Journal
Late Persecution of the Church, Parley P. Pratt
Edinburgh Branch
The Latter Day Saints, A Poem, Omer
The Latter-day Saints’ Emigrants’ Guide, William Clayton
Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate
A Lecture on the Authenticity & Scriptural Character of the Book of Mormon, George J.
Adams
Letters of Oliver Cowdery to W.W. Phelps
List of Recorded Brands, William Clayton
Manifesto from William S. Godbe and E.L.T. Harrison
Hebrew Grammar, James Seixas
Marks and Brands, William Clayton
Melchizedek & Aaronic Herald – Isaac Sheen
The Millenium, Parley P. Pratt
The Mormon
Mormonism: Embracing the origin…, James Hunt
Mormonism Unvailed, Eber D. Howe
Mormonism Unveiled, Parley P. Pratt
The Mormons in Illinois, G. W. Westbrook
Narrative of Some of the Proceedings of the Mormons, Catherine Lewis
A Narrative of the Life of Solomon Mack
Nauvoo Expositor
Nauvoo Neighbor
The Olive Branch
The Only Way to be Saved, Lorenzo Snow
Oration Delivered by Mr. Sidney Rigdon
Ordinances of the City of Nauvoo
Ordinances, Passed by the Legislative Council of Great Salt Lake City
Ordinances Passed by the General Assembly of the State of Deseret
‘Pamphlet book’ - George Albert Smith
‘Pamphlet book of miscellaneous pamphlets owned by Wilford Woodruff
Pearl of Great Price (1851, etc)
Plain Facts, Showing the Falsehood and Folly of Rev. C.S. Bush, Parley P. Pratt
Political and Religious Detector, Noah Packard
Proclamation to the People of the Coasts and Islands of the Pacific, Parley P. Pratt
The Prophet
Prophetic Almanac (1845, 1846), Orson Pratt
Prophetic Controversy, James S. Strang
The Reflector
Le Reflecteur
Reply to Shall We Believe in Mormon, Charles W. Wandell
The Return
Various Revelations
Revised Laws of the Nauvoo Legion
Route from Liverpool to Great Salt Lake City, James Linforth
St. Louis Luminary
Edward L. Sloan works
The Seer
A Short Account of a Shameful Outrage, Parley P. Pratt
A Small Selection of Choice Hymns, C. Merkley
Strictures, on Dr. I. Galland’s pamphlet, David W. Kilbourne
Synopsis of Phrenology, O.S. Fowler
Synopsis of the Holy Scriptures, Benjamin Winchester
Testimonies for the Truth, Benjamin Brown
Third General Epistle of the Presidency
Times and Seasons
To the Public, William Smith
A Treatise on the Fulness of the Everlasting Gospel, Moses Martin
A True and Descriptive Account of the Assassination of Joseph & Hiram Smith, Thomas
A. Lyne
Utah Territorial Library Catalogue
A Vocabulary of the Snake or Shoshone Dialect, Joseph A. Gebow
The Voice of the Captives, Assembled at Zarahemla
The Voice of Truth, Joseph Smith
A Voice of Warning and Proclamation to All, Francis Gladden Bishop
The Wasp
The Western Standard
Why the “Latter Day Saints” Marry a Plurality of Wives, Benjamin F. Johnson
The Wonderful Prophecies of Robert Nixon, Robert Nixon
A Word of Consolation to the Scattered Saints, Jason W. Briggs
Yankee Story, Hiram Bradley Clawson
Zion’s Panier

Written Records:

Alberta Temple Dedication Services
Missionary Blessing of Truman O. Angell
Arizona Temple Dedication Services
George Bean Report
Ezra T. Benson Missionary Blessing
Carson Valley Mission List of Missionaries
Council of Fifty Minutes and Notes
Elder’s Licenses and Record of Ordinations (Independence and Kirtland)
Elk Mountain Mission List of Missionaries
Excommunication Records
Far West List of Members
Far West Record
Female Subscriptions, Nauvoo
1893 First Presidency Minutes
First Presidency Office Journal
Various First Presidency Minutes
Flat Head Mission List of Missionaries
Garden Grove, Iowa, History
1855-1856 General Conference Minutes
Hawaiian Temple Dedication Services
Idaho Falls Temple Dedication Services
Kirtland, Ohio, Township Record and record of Livestock Ear Marks
Kirtland Stake Minutes
Las Vegas Mission List of Missionaries
Liverpool Office Emigration Record (1840-1854)
Logan Temple Dedication Services
Los Angeles Temple Dedication Services
Mormon Battalion Record (1846-1848)
Nauvoo, Ill., City Council Proceedings
Nauvoo, Ill., Deed Records
Nauvoo, Ill., List of Members
Nauvoo, Ill., Marriage Records
Nauvoo, Ill., Municipal Court Docket
Nauvoo, Ill., Schools
Nauvoo, Ill., Seventies License Record
Nauvoo, Ill., Trustee in Trust Tithing and Donation Record
Nauvoo, Ill., Trustee’s Land Book
Nauvoo High Council Minutes
Nauvoo Legion Minutes
Nauvoo Library and Literary Institute Minutes
Nauvoo Masonic Lodge Minutes
Nauvoo Relief Society Minutes
New Zealand Temple Dedication Services
Oakland Temple Dedication Services
Pioneer Emigration List
Pottawattamie High Council Minutes
St. George Temple Dedication Services
Salt Lake Stake High Council Minutes
Salt Lake Temple Dedication Services
Salt Lake Temple Annex Dedication Services
Swiss Temple Dedication Services
Teacher’s Quorum Minutes (Far West, Kirtland, and Nauvoo)
George A. Smith Letter Book (1854) [Included in Nauvoo Marriage Record Book]
Various other Temple Dedications

Manuscript Materials:

Adam-ondi-Ahman Plat
Affidavits on Joseph Smith and Plural Marriage
Arabic manuscript
Berlin Mission, Confidential Report, 1963-1966
Bible, photocopy of Bernhisel copy of Inspired Version manuscript
Bible, manuscript in Deseret Alphabet
Bible, Matthew, Chapter 24
Book of Commandments, Law and Covenants
Book of John Whitmer
Book of Mormon manuscript, Copyright, and Course Taken by Nephites
Book of Mormon manuscripts in Arabic, Armenian, Bulgarian, Deseret Alphabet, Dutch,
Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Hindostanee (Urdu), Hungarian, Italian, Japanese,
Maori, Rumanian, Philippine (Ilicano Dialect), Russian, Slovak, Swedish,
Tongan, Turkish, Yugoslavian (Serbo-croatian)
Brands, Utah, manuscript, 1850
George Q. Cannon Journal [May have been moved]
George Q. Cannon letters (1871-1879)
Albert Carrington letter (1886)
Catechism for Children, by John Jaques, manuscript in Deseret Alphabet
Phebe Chase’s Temple apron
Church of the First-born of the Fulness of Times Minutes (1955)
City of Zion Plat
William Clayton letters (1869, 1871, 1874)
William Clayton’s manuscript for Emigrant’s Guide
Oliver Cowdery Account Books (1835-1836, 1839-1846)
The Hebrew Question, Oliver Cowdery
Oliver Cowdery Journal (1836)
Oliver Cowdery letter to Hyrum Smith (1831)
Oliver Cowdery Revelation (1829)
Warren A. Cowdery Ledgers and Cash Book (1816-1830)
Cypher Book (Telegraph Code Book)
State of Deseret Constitution (1849)
Deseret Alphabet (Punches used for printing)
Deseret First Book, first reader (Incomplete manuscript in Deseret Alphabet)
Deseret Phonetic Speller in Deseret Alphabet
Deseret Second Book, second reader, in Deseret Alphabet
Doctrine and Covenants, manuscript in Deseret Alphabet
Doctrine and Covenants, Kirtland Revelations
Doctrine and Covenants, Czechoslovak manuscript
Doctrine and Covenants (handwritten copies of revelations)
Documentary History of the Church, original manuscript
Various Dream Mine papers
Egyptian Alphabet and Grammar, and various manuscripts
Far West Missouri Plat
Fundamentalist Church Minutes (1951-1952)
John L. Ginn manuscript
Miles Goodyear map
Jacob Hamblin Journal and letters
Martin Harris, deeds and articles of agreement
Lansford W. Hastings map
Hebrew Grammar manuscript
John E. Hill’s manuscripts of hymns and tracts in Hungarian
Historian’s Office Journal (1858-1878)
Historical Notation manuscript (Guide for material used in compiling DHC, 1841-1857)
Orson Hyde manuscripts containing some sections of D&C
Orson Hyde Revelation (3/14/1846)
Independence, Missouri, Temple Plans
Indian Wars, manuscript by John L. Ginn
Inspired Version manuscript by James E. Talmage (cross referenced to Inspired Version)
List of Persons Driven from Jackson County, Missouri, in 1833
Andrew Jenson’s Temple garment
Kirtland, Ohio, Plat
Masonry Affidavits and article by William S. Paine
William McLellin Diary
Petition of Citizens of Carroll County, Missouri, 1838
John Moore’s Application to become a citizen, and trial in Bishop’s Court
Mormon Battalion Member List
Mountain Meadows Massacre manuscript, John L. Ginn
Nauvoo, Ill., Act to Incorporate the City (1840)
Nauvoo Municipal Court (impression on seal of wax, 1843)
L. John Nuttall Diary [May have been moved]
Obituary Notices of Distinguished Persons (1837-1872)
William S. Paine manuscript of “In Defense of Joseph Smith the Prophet”
Patriarchal Blessings, Vol. 2, Joseph Smith Sr., (includes transactions of the Twelve,
1835)
Pearl of Great Price, Book of Abraham manuscripts
Pearl of Great Price, Book of Moses manuscript
Pearl of Great Price, Egyptian manuscripts
LaMar Peterson’s manuscript for “Hearts Made Glad,” and his excommunication
minutes
William W. Phelps Journal (1835)
List of Original Pioneers
Various Portraits (Daguerreotype, tintype, ambrotype, and glass) of Old Tabernacle,
Temple Square, Joseph F. Smith, Isaac Hale, Polly Walworth Lambson, Joseph
Smith III, Eliza R. Snow, Charles E. Keetch, J.T. Ross, John W. Young, Nauvoo
Temple ruins, Brigham Young Jr., Robert Warner, Julia Earl Warner, John Smith,
Brigham Young, Emma and Bertha Howell Jenson, Mrs. W.C. Staines, Parley P.
Pratt, William Stewart Seeley, Lovina Smith Walker, Capt. James Brown, and
numerous unidentifiable persons
Parley P. Pratt’s Temple apron
George Reynolds letter (1888)
John W. Rigdon’s manuscript on the life story of his father, Sidney Rigdon
Brigham H. Roberts’ manuscripts of “Data of Verbal and Grammatical Errors in the
Book of Mormon,” “The Life Story of B. H. Roberts,” and “The Way, the Truth,
The Life”
Orrin Porter Rockwell, Affidavit by Milo Andrus (1934)
San Bernardino Ranch Deed (1857)
Paul G. Schettler’s Temple apron
Annie Smith letter in Deseret Alphabet (1869)
Hyrum Smith Journal (1838-1839)
Piece of Joseph Smith’s shirt and vest
Joseph Smith Journals (1832-1834, 1835-1836, 1839)
Joseph Smith Letter Book (1829-1835, 1838-1843)
Joseph Smith letters (1831, 1832, 1833, 1836, 1839-1844)
Joseph Smith petition of Saints to Congress of U.S. (1839)
Joseph Smith painting on tin
Joseph Smith Revelations (not included in D&C)
Joseph Smith wax seal (1844)
Joseph Smith’s “Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government” (1844)
Lucy Mack Smith’s manuscript of “Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith and His
Progenitors”
William Smith essay (notes written on Chamber’s Miscellany)
Eliza R. Snow’s Temple apron
Lorenzo Snow Revelations
James J. Strang’s 6/18/1844 letter (Purportedly from Joseph Smith)
John Taylor Diary [May have been moved]
Moses Thatcher’s High Council Trial Minutes (1897)
Twelve Apostle’s Minutes (1835, 1849-1870)
Utah Territory Census Statistics (1872)
Nelson Wheeler Whipple Journal
David Whitmer Testimony (1881)
Newel K. Whitney’s 1842 letter from Joseph Smith
Lyman Wight’s petition to the Honorable Senate of the United States
Frederick G. Williams’ manuscript on questions, characters on Book of Mormon, etc.
Wilford Woodruff’s handkerchief given to him by Joseph Smith
Wilford Woodruff Revelations
Charles S. Woodward letter and account of Dream Mine investigation
Brigham Young promissory note for $18.50 to be repaid in kitchen chairs (1830)
List of Zion’s Camp Members

Materials not listed in Manuscript Card Catalog:

Coins (Centennial coin issued by Reorganized Church; Deseret gold coins; Joseph
Smith’s coins [paid by Joseph just before martyrdom]; Joseph Smith penny
Coins (Dies for gold coins)
Coins from many countries
Council of Fifty Minutes, rolls (1845-1849, 1867-1868, 1880-1882)
Various Currencies (Kirtland Safety Society; Deseret currency; Deseret Currency
Association, cooperatives, mercantile institutions; Bank of Monroe; City of
Nauvoo; Nauvoo House Association; Nauvoo Legion; storehouse notes; Drover’s
Bank; First National Bank of Great Salt Lake City; GSLC Corp; Salt Lake City
Corp; Salt Lake City National Bank of Utah; Utah State National Bank; Utah
Territorial Mercantile Currency; ZCMI; etc.
Awards in the form of coins, issued by Deseret Agriculture & Manufacturing Society, etc.
Badges, for Pioneer Jubilee (1851); state celebrations; old folks day, etc.
Medals of Lorenzo Snow; Mormon Temple; Pony Express Diamond Jubilee; Brigham
Young, etc.
Obscene Material [I don’t know what this could be]
John Taylor Revelation (1882)
John Whitmer, photocopy of his original manuscript
Seer stones


"Obscene Material"? "$18.50 to be paid in kitchen chairs"??? I love how this list is a mixture of the obviously historically relevant, the mundane, and the absolutely whacked-out absurd. Who knows what else could be in the vaults? A research lab, where they are developing better equipment for spying on the membership, maybe? ; ) In any case, I always enjoy threads like these, since they rankle the hypersensitive TBMs to no end.
_Yoda

Post by _Yoda »

A Dialogue between Joe Smith and the Devil, Parley P. Pratt


I would LOVE to get my hands on a copy of this!

Damn, Scratch. Now I have to research this.

;)

Interesting stuff, indeed! Thanks for posting!
_Yoda

Post by _Yoda »

For anyone interested, I found this little vignette online:

http://mldb.BYU.edu/PPPRATDI.HTM

For those of you who have gone through the temple pre-1990, this really explains a lot about the "preacher" piece in the movie.

;)
_KimberlyAnn
_Emeritus
Posts: 3171
Joined: Thu Mar 22, 2007 2:03 pm

Post by _KimberlyAnn »

Hmmm...I'm wondering what the obscene materials could be that aren't on the list...

Perhaps there are piles of vibrators and edible panties confiscated by local Utah bishops during Passion Party raids? Or perhaps the "Uncut and Uncensored" version of the temple video?

If I remember correctly, Runtu once put on RfM a hilarious top ten list of things in the vault. I wish I'd saved it.

KA
_Yoda

Post by _Yoda »

KA wrote:Perhaps there are piles of vibrators and edible panties confiscated by local Utah bishops during Passion Party raids? Or perhaps the "Uncut and Uncensored" version of the temple video?


LOL!

I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall at one of those passion parties!

;)
_The Nehor
_Emeritus
Posts: 11832
Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2007 2:05 am

Post by _The Nehor »

KimberlyAnn wrote:Hmmm...I'm wondering what the obscene materials could be that aren't on the list...

Perhaps there are piles of vibrators and edible panties confiscated by local Utah bishops during Passion Party raids? Or perhaps the "Uncut and Uncensored" version of the temple video?

If I remember correctly, Runtu once put on RfM a hilarious top ten list of things in the vault. I wish I'd saved it.

KA


You're assuming the Bishops turned it in after the raid ;)
"Surely he knows that DCP, The Nehor, Lamanite, and other key apologists..." -Scratch clarifying my status in apologetics
"I admit it; I'm a petty, petty man." -Some Schmo
_Dr. Shades
_Emeritus
Posts: 14117
Joined: Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:07 pm

Re: What's in the Secret Church Vault?

Post by _Dr. Shades »

Wow, Mister Scratch, this is good stuff!

I saw quite a few things in there that I'd never heard of. Some of them are potential bombshells, I bet, especially the ones containing unpublished revelations. There must be reasons why they remain unpublished, I imagine!

As for the obscene material, perhaps it's vivid descriptions of the depredations that went along with polygamy?

But there was one noteworthy omission: Manuscript Found by Solomon Spalding. I guess they don't have it after all.
"Finally, for your rather strange idea that miracles are somehow linked to the amount of gay sexual gratification that is taking place would require that primitive Christianity was launched by gay sex, would it not?"

--Louis Midgley
_The Nehor
_Emeritus
Posts: 11832
Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2007 2:05 am

Re: What's in the Secret Church Vault?

Post by _The Nehor »

Dr. Shades wrote:But there was one noteworthy omission: Manuscript Found by Solomon Spalding. I guess they don't have it after all.


Nobody tell Uncle Dale.
"Surely he knows that DCP, The Nehor, Lamanite, and other key apologists..." -Scratch clarifying my status in apologetics
"I admit it; I'm a petty, petty man." -Some Schmo
_harmony
_Emeritus
Posts: 18195
Joined: Fri Oct 27, 2006 1:35 am

Re: What's in the Secret Church Vault?

Post by _harmony »

Mister Scratch wrote:Over on the aptly named MADboard, a poster named erichard has posted a list of stuff which is supposedly held in the top-secret Church Vault, which is dug into the side of a mountain in Little Cottonwood Canyon, just outside Salt Lake City.


1. If the seer stones are in the vault, why doesn't someone use them?
2. How does this guy, erichard, know what's in the vault?
3. Some things that are obviously missing: the gold plates, the urim and thummim, the breast plate.
_Who Knows
_Emeritus
Posts: 2455
Joined: Wed Nov 01, 2006 6:09 pm

Post by _Who Knows »

John W. Rigdon’s manuscript on the life story of his father, Sidney Rigdon


Is this something generally available? Has anyone read this?

Just curious...
WK: "Joseph Smith asserted that the Book of Mormon peoples were the original inhabitants of the americas"
Will Schryver: "No, he didn’t." 3/19/08
Still waiting for Will to back this up...
Post Reply