Item Detail
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17294
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0
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0
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English
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Diary
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Mormon Diaries, Journals, and Life Sketches (Transcriptions) [Microfilm]
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Washington, D.C.
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Library of Congress
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Reel 1, Item 4
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January 1, 1875 to June 5, 1899. In part three, Arthur gathers donations for the St. George Temple, and organizes the local co-op. He remarries, having lost his wife, Caroline. Although dead before the diary commences, Caroline is constant presence. He later takes two plural wives. Wife Elizabeth and plural wife Marion do not get along and Arthur moves Marion into a separate house. She becomes estranged from him, although the two eventually reconcile. He attends the dedication of the St. George Temple, including comments made publicly by Brigham Young on temple and the unworthiness of those present, as well as private comments about changes to the interior. Arthur offers his opinion that the prophet was unsatisfied with the temple. He is called as the bishop of Cedar City and ordained as a Seventy. He relates his brother Joshua's death and correspondence from Elias Smith regarding Joshua. Part three ends with his third wife, Jane, in exile to avoid prosecution for polygamy and Arthur attending the April 1880 General Conference in St. George. In part five, the former postmaster of Cedar City, Utah is accused of stealing $2,500 through a bond scheme. Arthur is involved as a surety for the bonds. Many entries record his attempts to clear the town of any wrongdoing and, when that fails, to reduce the amount the federal government is seeking and secure credit for the remaining debt. Arthur also has personal legal problems, as he is dodging US Marshals, who intend to arrest him for unlawful cohabitation. He moves to a remote cabin to avoid arrest. Arthur decides to give himself up, and travels to Beaver to attend court, where he is sentenced to six months in prison. Arthur serves his time at the Utah State Penitentiary. His final entries record family celebrations, his ordination as Patriarch of Cedar City, and his appointment as supervisor of the local co-op.