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JFS, letter to Edward Bunker, 27 February 1902: "Adam-God theory: what is called the Adam-God doctrine may properly be classed among the mysteries. The full truth concerning it has not been revealed to us; and until it is revealed all wild speculations, sweeping assertions and dogmatic declarations relative thereto are out of place and improper. We disapprove of them and especially the public expression of such views."

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JFS, letter to Willard R. Smith, 12 August 1905: "Be careful not to overload your stomach after fasting, and try to avoid as far as possible, long continued fasting, as I believe it to be hurtful to the system. To fast one day once a month is all that the Lord requires, and the extreme that some Elders go to in fasting for one, two, or three days together is in my judgement not only hurtful, but entirely unnecessary."

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JFS, letter to Elias Wesley Smith, 17 May 1908: "If you have a fault it is in the fact that you are extremely companionable yourself. It is well to observe a certain amount of caution in becoming friendly and to trusting with your associates. Always hold a degree of reserve until you become well acquainted with strangers and too familiar with them."

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JFS, letter to Elmer Kneale, 9 March 1912: "I regard Charles Darwin as one of the most able and devoted students of Nature the world has known, and as an investigator whose labors have been of incalculable good to mankind. I do not accept, however, his hypotheses as facts, nor the many vagaries and unproved theories that less able men have tried to add to his teachings."

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23-25 August 1872: "Friday: hike to six lakes, beautiful scenery; Saturday: kill porcupine, catch trout; Sunday, we erected a good swing to help pass off the moments at camp. Attended to our prayers, and only violated the 'Word of Wisdom' by drinking coffee."

Scope and Contents 12 October 1880: "Council of Fifty met.... Were instructed by George Q. Cannon after affirming that they were in fellowship with every other person in the room, giving them the 'charge,' the 'name,' and 'key word,' and the 'constitution,' and 'penalty.' The penalty was objected to by Joseph Young. He said it was first suggested by the 'pagan prophet' but was not sanctioned by Joseph the Prophet.... George Q. Cannon read the minutes of the first organization, which did sanction the...

Scope and Contents Francis M. Lyman, letter to JFS, 3 September 1888: "Prayer circle: when they offered up the signs in forming the circle I notice a strange movement in connection with the first sign, a kind of wrenching or grabbing movement with the right hand in front of the mouth, as I learned after, representing the tearing out the tongue by the roots. I asked them who organized their circle and they said Bro. Heber C. Kimball. I asked if any of the Twelve had met with them lately. They said Bro. Joseph...

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David H. Cannon, president of the St. George Temple, letter to JFS, 11 April 1902: "Is it proper for a young woman, who is properly recommended, to be washed and anointed for the benefit of her health in the Temple when she has not had her endowments? 'No. Joseph F. Smith.--washing and anointing in the temple belongs to those who have had Endowments.'"

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Heber J. Grant, letter to the First Presidency, 11 June 1905, complaining of Professor Wolf (Brigham Young College) who had courted English girl; now sending anti-Mormon comments and Tribune editorials; also "a California paper containing the most accurate expose of the Endowment I have ever seen."

Scope and Contents Ferdinand F. Hintze, letter to JFS, 26 May 1907: "You intimated today at meeting that you would like my ideas relative to the Prophet Joseph Smith's translating the Book of Mormon from the Nephitish plates.... I do not agree with the [B. H.] Roberts theory in the [YMMIA] manual, nor the Ricks theory in the Juvenile [Instructor], nor in the old theory that the Prophet received the translation in English through the Urim and Thummim. From reading such as I...