Misplaced Pages

#1998

24-612: The letter was written in response to Wentworth's inquiry on behalf of one of his friends, George Barstow , who was writing a history of New Hampshire . The letter was first published on March 1, 1842, in the Times and Seasons in Nauvoo, Illinois . A similar letter (with some slight revisions) was published by Daniel Rupp in 1844 in a book called An Original History of the Religious Denominations at Present Existing in

48-559: A book about New Hampshire's history. While writing the book, Barstow played a part in the history of the Latter Day Saint movement , when he contacted a friend, John Wentworth , asking for information about the Mormon faith. Wentworth then forwarded the request to the movement founder Joseph Smith , who sent a letter back to Wentworth which outlined the principles of the religion. This list of principles became known to Mormons as

72-623: A combination of the state's large population and a legislature that has not been expanded since the ratification of the 1879 Constitution , the Assembly has the largest population-per-representative ratio of any state lower house and second largest of any legislative lower house in the United States after the federal House of Representatives . Members of the California State Assembly are generally referred to using

96-546: A declaration of that which is most assuredly believed by the church, for one making earnest inquiry about the truth." "The combined directness, perspicuity, simplicity and comprehensiveness of this statement of the principles of our religion may be relied upon as strong evidence of a divine inspiration resting upon the Prophet, Joseph Smith.” (B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.2, Ch.47, p.131) And finally,

120-514: A mission statement for missionaries: “Our missionaries are going forth to different nations . . . the Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till

144-401: Is nominated by the caucus of the majority party and elected by the full Assembly. Other leaders, such as the majority and minority leaders , are elected by their respective party caucuses according to each party's strength in the chamber. The current speaker is Democrat Robert Rivas ( 29th– Hollister ). The majority leader is Democrat Cecilia Aguiar-Curry ( 4th – Winters ), while

168-716: The Articles of Faith . While living in Boston, Barstow was a failed Democratic candidate for the Massachusetts General Court and for the U.S. House of Representatives . He married his wife, Emily E. Shipley, in 1844. He then moved back to New Hampshire and then to New York City before he arrived in San Francisco in 1858 where he was a professor of medical jurisprudence at the University of

192-620: The Lord Jesus Christ; 2d. Repentance; 3d. Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; 4th. Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.” 2. The tenth article originally read, “that Zion will be built upon this continent . . .” It was later changed to "that Zion will be built upon this [the American] continent . . ." 3. The eleventh article originally read, "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to

216-549: The Pacific . He was elected to the California State Assembly from the 8th district as a Republican in 1861 and was elected Speaker of the Assembly in 1862, being California's first Republican Assembly Speaker. While he was Speaker, Barstow was known as "Little Ironsides" due to his short stature. Barstow left the Assembly in 1865, but was re-elected from the 10th district as a Democrat in 1877, holding

240-653: The United States . The Wentworth Letter is significant for several reasons. First, it connects the message of what Mormons believe to be the Restoration with the history of said Restoration: "By these things we know..." ( Doctrine and Covenants 20:1-17) Second, it emphasizes the First Vision as an essential part of Latter-day Saint message. Third, it contains the Standard of Truth , which has become

264-639: The Wentworth letter re-establishes Joseph Smith's teachings that the Lamanites are the principal ancestors of the American Indians. In the Wentworth letter we read, "They were principally Israelites, of the descendants of Joseph. The Jaredites were destroyed about the time that the Israelites came from Jerusalem, who succeeded them in the inheritance of the country. The principal nation of

SECTION 10

#1732772272002

288-527: The article so that it would convey clearly just what the Prophet intended. So now it reads: "We believe that the first principles and ordinances are," and in doing this we were perfectly within the bounds of propriety. Were the Prophet here, he would fully justify our action.” "We have no apology to make for this addition. We have in no sense destroyed the original meaning.” ( Answers to Gospel Questions 2:92) George Barstow (California politician) George Barstow (June 19, 1812 – September 9, 1883)

312-475: The criteria of the term limits described above. According to Article 4, Section 2(c) of the California Constitution , the candidate must have one year of residency in the legislative district and California residency for three years. The chief clerk of the Assembly, a position that has existed since the Assembly's creation, is responsible for many administrative duties. The chief clerk is

336-562: The custodian of all Assembly bills and records and publishes the Assembly Daily Journal , the minutes of floor sessions, as well as the Assembly Daily File , the Assembly agenda. The chief clerk is the Assembly's parliamentarian , and in this capacity gives advice to the presiding officer on matters of parliamentary procedure . The chief clerk is also responsible for engrossing and enrolling of measures, and

360-520: The dictates of our conscience,..." Joseph Fielding Smith wrote: “The reason for the adding of the word "principles," and that is the only change, was because the brethren considered when they were preparing the 1921 edition for publication of the D&;C, that the term ordinances did not fully cover the article completely. For instance, "faith" is not an ordinance, neither is "repentance," but they are principles. Therefore we felt fully justified in making

384-467: The minority leader is Republican James Gallagher ( 3rd – Yuba City ). Members are allowed, by current term limits , to serve 12 years in the legislature in any combination of four-year State Senate or two-year State Assembly terms. However, members elected to the Legislature prior to 2012 are restricted to three two-year terms (six years). Few, if any, legislators remain from this era, though

408-871: The office until 1879. Barstow died in San Francisco in 1883. California State Assembly The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature , the upper house being the California State Senate . The Assembly convenes, along with the State Senate, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento . The Assembly consists of 80 members, with each member representing at least 465,000 people. Due to

432-533: The purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.” (History of the Church 4:540) Fourth, it ends with the statements which later became the Articles of Faith. B. H. Roberts said of these, “These Articles of Faith were not produced by the labored efforts and harmonized contentions of scholastics, but were struck off by one inspired mind at a single effort to make

456-561: The restriction could affect future candidates running after a hiatus from office. Every two years, all 80 seats in the Assembly are subject to election. This is in contrast to the State Senate, in which only half of its 40 seats are subject to election every two years. The chamber's green tones are based on the House of Commons of the United Kingdom . The dais rests along a wall shaped like an "E", with its central projection housing

480-481: The rostrum. Along the cornice appears a portrait of Abraham Lincoln and a Latin quotation: legislatorum est justas leges condere ("It is the duty of legislators to pass just laws"). Almost every decorating element is identical to the Senate Chamber. To run for the Assembly, a candidate must be a United States citizen and a registered voter in the district at the time nomination papers are issued, and meet

504-559: The second race fell in battle towards the close of the fourth century. The remnant are the Indians that now inhabit this country. " (Wentworth Letter) The wording of some of the articles was modified by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , the largest denomination in the Latter Day Saint movement, in 1851 and 1902: 1. The fourth article of faith originally read, “We believe that these ordinances are: 1st. Faith in

SECTION 20

#1732772272002

528-466: The titles Assemblyman (for men), Assemblywoman (for women), or Assemblymember (gender-neutral). In the current legislative session, Democrats have a three-fourths supermajority of 62 seats, while Republicans control a minority of 17 seats. The speaker presides over the State Assembly in the chief leadership position, controlling the flow of legislation and committee assignments. The speaker

552-418: The transmission of legislation to the governor. The Assembly also employs the position of chaplain , a position that has existed in both houses since the first legislative session back in 1850. Currently, the chaplain of the Assembly is Imam Mohammad Yasir Khan, the first chaplain historically that practices Islam . The position of sergeant-at-arms of the Assembly has existed since 1849; Samuel N. Houston

576-536: Was a professor, lawyer, historian, and politician who served in the California State Assembly in the 1860s and 1870s. He was elected Speaker of the Assembly in 1862, becoming the first Republican to hold the post. He briefly left the legislature but returned in 1877, this time as a Democrat . Barstow was born in 1824 in New Hampshire and studied at Dartmouth College , before moving to Boston , where he studied law and wrote The History of New Hampshire ,

#1998