Today in Mormon History - Jul 31

[Brigham Young] --31-- Met in council with the Twelve, when the following resolutions, among others, were unanimously passed:--

"That we sustain Joseph Smith as Trustee-in-Trust for the Church, and advise him to have all lands belonging to the Church deeded in his name as Trustee. That Elder Lorenzo Barnes proceed on his mission to England without delay, that Harrison Sagers go to Jamaica, Joseph Ball to South America, and Simeon Carter to Germany." (1)
-- 170 years ago today - Jul 31, 1841

[Thomas A. Clawson Diary] "Had a call from Mr Pots who who ask (Sic) me to see Bro Geo. Gibbs about his retaining his little cnady stand opposite the Lafayette School. I went with him to the Presidents (Sic) office and had quite a long talk with bro Gibbs but failed to accomplish any thing as he had made up his mind to let some one else have the place." (2)
-- 100 years ago today - Jul 31, 1911

Owing to the peculiar circumstances in which we are placed, there has been some confusion and delay connected with the sending of recommends to the House of the Lord, to be endorsed by me. To obviate this difficulty, we desire you to instruct the Saints who intend to have Temple work done, to procure their recommends sufficiently early, that they can receive them properly endorsed by me, at their own homes, before they start, instead of going to the Temple and awaiting the receipt of the recommend there by mail. If they have them in their possession before they start, they can make their arrangements for going, and for the time they will remain, and for their return, and the expense they will be at, with some degree of certainty. We therefore urge this upon your attention, and desire that you represent the advantages of this system to all the Saints in your Stakes and Wards. [John Taylor, circular letter, July 31, 1886] (3)
-- 125 years ago today - Jul 31, 1886


1 - Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844, ed. Elden Jay Watson (Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968).
2 - Diary Excerpts of Thomas A. Clawson, Signature Books Library, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
3 - Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship

125 years ago today - Jul 31, 1886

Owing to the peculiar circumstances in which we are placed, there has been some confusion and delay connected with the sending of recommends to the House of the Lord, to be endorsed by me. To obviate this difficulty, we desire you to instruct the Saints who intend to have Temple work done, to procure their recommends sufficiently early, that they can receive them properly endorsed by me, at their own homes, before they start, instead of going to the Temple and awaiting the receipt of the recommend there by mail. If they have them in their possession before they start, they can make their arrangements for going, and for the time they will remain, and for their return, and the expense they will be at, with some degree of certainty. We therefore urge this upon your attention, and desire that you represent the advantages of this system to all the Saints in your Stakes and Wards. [John Taylor, circular letter, July 31, 1886]

[Source: Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

100 years ago today - Jul 31, 1911

[Thomas A. Clawson Diary] "Had a call from Mr Pots who who ask (Sic) me to see Bro Geo. Gibbs about his retaining his little cnady stand opposite the Lafayette School. I went with him to the Presidents (Sic) office and had quite a long talk with bro Gibbs but failed to accomplish any thing as he had made up his mind to let some one else have the place."

[Source: Diary Excerpts of Thomas A. Clawson, Signature Books Library, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

170 years ago today - Jul 31, 1841

[Brigham Young] --31-- Met in council with the Twelve, when the following resolutions, among others, were unanimously passed:--

"That we sustain Joseph Smith as Trustee-in-Trust for the Church, and advise him to have all lands belonging to the Church deeded in his name as Trustee. That Elder Lorenzo Barnes proceed on his mission to England without delay, that Harrison Sagers go to Jamaica, Joseph Ball to South America, and Simeon Carter to Germany."

[Source: Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844, ed. Elden Jay Watson (Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968).]

Today in Mormon History - Jul 30

[Apostle Franklin D. Richards Diary] The suit of yesterday by Trumbo and Badlam etal ves Directors of Bullion Beck & Co mine kept Geo[rge] Q. Cannon & M. Thatcher away. (1)
-- 120 years ago today - Jul 30, 1891

[Lucy Mack Smith] Lucy returns to Kirtland. (2)
-- 180 years ago today - late July 1831

Joseph Smith visited New York City. (3)
-- 175 years ago today - (Sat) Jul 30, 1836


1 - Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
2 - Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books, http://bit.ly/lucys-book
3 - Broadhurst, Dale R., Mormon Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/morchrn2.htm

175 years ago today - (Sat) Jul 30, 1836

[General] Joseph Smith visited New York City.

[Source: Broadhurst, Dale R., Mormon Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/morchrn2.htm]

180 years ago today - late July 1831

[Lucy Mack Smith] Lucy returns to Kirtland.

[Source: Anderson, Lavina Fielding, Editor, Lucy's Book: A Critical Edition of Lucy Mack Smith's Family Memoir, 2001, Signature Books, http://bit.ly/lucys-book]

120 years ago today - Jul 30, 1891

[Apostle Franklin D. Richards Diary] The suit of yesterday by Trumbo and Badlam etal ves Directors of Bullion Beck & Co mine kept Geo[rge] Q. Cannon & M. Thatcher away.

[Source: Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

Today in Mormon History - Jul 29

In San Francisco, California, Church members and others gather to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the arrival of the Saints on the Brooklyn, which docked in San Francisco Bay on July 31, 1846. (1)
-- 15 years ago today - Jul 29, 1996

[President Wilford Woodruff Journal] 29 My Children returned from the Canyon this Morning And turned the waggon over on the Mountain Canyon & all Came near being killed through the Carelessness of an other Driver in trying to run by them. Ovando was badly bruised up & Clara his wife with a sprained wrist & others were hurt.

I Met in the Morning with several of the Brethren. I met with the Bank Board and attended to the business thereof. (2)
-- 120 years ago today - Jul 29, 1891

En route to Massachusetts. On his way to Massachusetts, Joseph Smith took the line boat on the Erie Canal to Utica, the railroad car for Schenectady, and a luggage car to Albany, New York. (3)
-- 175 years ago today - Jul 29, 1836


1 - The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com
2 - Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
3 - BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://amzn.to/BYUStudies-JSChron

175 years ago today - Jul 29, 1836

En route to Massachusetts. On his way to Massachusetts, Joseph Smith took the line boat on the Erie Canal to Utica, the railroad car for Schenectady, and a luggage car to Albany, New York.

[Source: BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://amzn.to/BYUStudies-JSChron]

120 years ago today - Jul 29, 1891

[President Wilford Woodruff Journal] 29 My Children returned from the Canyon this Morning And turned the waggon over on the Mountain Canyon & all Came near being killed through the Carelessness of an other Driver in trying to run by them. Ovando was badly bruised up & Clara his wife with a sprained wrist & others were hurt.

I Met in the Morning with several of the Brethren. I met with the Bank Board and attended to the business thereof.

[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

15 years ago today - Jul 29, 1996

[General] In San Francisco, California, Church members and others gather to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the arrival of the Saints on the Brooklyn, which docked in San Francisco Bay on July 31, 1846.

[Source: The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com]

Today in Mormon History - Jul 28

The PBS series Searching for God in America features an interview with Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. (1)
-- 15 years ago today - Jul 28, 1996

[President Wilford Woodruff Journal] 28 Prest Cannon returned from Brigham City Conference. I met with several Parties to day. (2)
-- 120 years ago today - Jul 28, 1891

Concerning U.S. Civil War Brigham Young says: "Will it be over in six months or in three years? No; it will take years and years and will never cease until the work is accomplished. . . and it will spread and continue until the land is emptied." His remarks echo Joseph Smith's "Civil War" prophecy rather than the common feeling of the day. (3)
-- 150 years ago today - Jul 28, 1861


1 - The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com
2 - Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
3 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com

150 years ago today - Jul 28, 1861

[General] Concerning U.S. Civil War Brigham Young says: "Will it be over in six months or in three years? No; it will take years and years and will never cease until the work is accomplished. . . and it will spread and continue until the land is emptied." His remarks echo Joseph Smith's "Civil War" prophecy rather than the common feeling of the day.

[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]

120 years ago today - Jul 28, 1891

[President Wilford Woodruff Journal] 28 Prest Cannon returned from Brigham City Conference. I met with several Parties to day.

[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

15 years ago today - Jul 28, 1996

[General] The PBS series Searching for God in America features an interview with Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

[Source: The Woodland Institute 'On This Day Historical Database,' http://www.woodlandinstitute.com]

Today in Mormon History - Jul 27

Saturday, Brazilian Mormons in Sao Paulo celebrate Utah Pioneer Day. (1)
-- 65 years ago today - Jul 27, 1946

Senator John Sherman, of Ohio, General Benjamin Harrison, of Indiana, Judge Strong and Albert Bierstadt, the landscape painter, visited Salt Lake City. (2)
-- 130 years ago today - Jul 27, 1881 (Wednesday)

[U.S. Religious History] Decided: O'Bannon v. Indiana Civil Liberties Union

The Supreme Court refused to hear a case about a large monument in Indiana which would have included the Ten Commandments. What was the original 7th Circuit Court decision, and why did they reach that conclusion? What does this mean for future cases? (3)
-- 10 years ago today - Jul 27, 2001


1 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
2 - Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology
3 - Cline, Austin, History of American Religion: Timeline

10 years ago today - Jul 27, 2001

[U.S. Religious History] Decided: O'Bannon v. Indiana Civil Liberties Union

The Supreme Court refused to hear a case about a large monument in Indiana which would have included the Ten Commandments. What was the original 7th Circuit Court decision, and why did they reach that conclusion? What does this mean for future cases?

[Source: Cline, Austin, History of American Religion: Timeline]

130 years ago today - Jul 27, 1881 (Wednesday)

Senator John Sherman, of Ohio, General Benjamin Harrison, of Indiana, Judge Strong and Albert Bierstadt, the landscape painter, visited Salt Lake City.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

65 years ago today - Jul 27, 1946

[General] Saturday, Brazilian Mormons in Sao Paulo celebrate Utah Pioneer Day.

[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]

Today in Mormon History - Jul 26

At the funeral of Apostle Abraham H. Cannon, President Wilford Woodruff speaks upon the topic of "the plurality of wives and to the plurality of families that men possess in this Church. It is a subject I have left alone as a general thing in all my observations and instructions before the public. . . . We have had a plurality of wives and families. The principle was introduced to this people by the revelation of God through the Prophet Joseph Smith." Cannon had taken a secret post-manifesto plural wife, with Woodruff's permission, a few months before his death. After the funeral Apostle John Henry Smith attends a meeting concerning Apostle Moses Thatcher, "It was stated by Moses Thatcher [Jr.] that he was adicted to the Morphine habbit and part of the time insane and that they must do something for him. . . . It was finally agreed to get him if possible to go of his own free will to a sanatarium in California, if he refused to do so then to insist on sending him any way." (1
)
-- 115 years ago today - Jul 26, 1896

The steamship Nevada sailed from Liverpool, England, with 93 Saints, under the direction of Lot Smith. The company arrived at New York Aug. 7th, and in Salt Lake City Aug. 16th. (2)
-- 140 years ago today - Jul 26, 1871 (Wednesday)

[Brigham Young] --26-- Elders Kimball, O. [Orson] Pratt, Richards, Taylor, Geo. [George] A. Smith and myself, wrote an epistle to the churches. (3)
-- 170 years ago today - Jul 26, 1841


1 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
2 - Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology
3 - Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844, ed. Elden Jay Watson (Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968).

170 years ago today - Jul 26, 1841

[Brigham Young] --26-- Elders Kimball, O. [Orson] Pratt, Richards, Taylor, Geo. [George] A. Smith and myself, wrote an epistle to the churches.

[Source: Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844, ed. Elden Jay Watson (Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968).]

140 years ago today - Jul 26, 1871 (Wednesday)

[General] The steamship Nevada sailed from Liverpool, England, with 93 Saints, under the direction of Lot Smith. The company arrived at New York Aug. 7th, and in Salt Lake City Aug. 16th.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

115 years ago today - Jul 26, 1896

[General] At the funeral of Apostle Abraham H. Cannon, President Wilford Woodruff speaks upon the topic of "the plurality of wives and to the plurality of families that men possess in this Church. It is a subject I have left alone as a general thing in all my observations and instructions before the public. . . . We have had a plurality of wives and families. The principle was introduced to this people by the revelation of God through the Prophet Joseph Smith." Cannon had taken a secret post-manifesto plural wife, with Woodruff's permission, a few months before his death. After the funeral Apostle John Henry Smith attends a meeting concerning Apostle Moses Thatcher, "It was stated by Moses Thatcher [Jr.] that he was adicted to the Morphine habbit and part of the time insane and that they must do something for him. . . . It was finally agreed to get him if possible to go of his own free will to a sanatarium in California, if he refused to do so then to insist on sending him an
y way."

[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]

Today in Mormon History - Jul 25

Algernon Sidney Gilbert: Arrived in Independence with wife about 25 July 1831. While in Missouri, appointed by revelation to locate in Jackson County and serve as bishops agent. (1)
-- 180 years ago today - Jul 25, 1831

[Abraham H. Cannon Journal] A Catholic nun is converted and baptized in Nurnberg. (2)
-- 130 years ago today - July 25th 1881

Brigham Young's office journal states: "Pres[ident] Young had some conversation with his Br. Joseph about the form and principles of a Republican Government. The President remarked in a republican government the people have a right to interfere when the Officers of the Government are taking a wrong course; he also remarked that [Joseph] Morris the crazy prophet would give fight to this people if his numbers were strong enough." (3)
-- 150 years ago today - Jul 25, 1861


1 - Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith
2 - Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4
3 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com

150 years ago today - Jul 25, 1861

[General] Brigham Young's office journal states: "Pres[ident] Young had some conversation with his Br. Joseph about the form and principles of a Republican Government. The President remarked in a republican government the people have a right to interfere when the Officers of the Government are taking a wrong course; he also remarked that [Joseph] Morris the crazy prophet would give fight to this people if his numbers were strong enough."

[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]

130 years ago today - July 25th 1881

[Abraham H. Cannon Journal] A Catholic nun is converted and baptized in Nurnberg.

[Source: Abraham H. Cannon Journal Excerpts, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]

180 years ago today - Jul 25, 1831

Algernon Sidney Gilbert: Arrived in Independence with wife about 25 July 1831. While in Missouri, appointed by revelation to locate in Jackson County and serve as bishops agent.

[Source: Cook, Lyndon W., The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, Seventy's Mission Bookstore, Provo UT, 1985, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith]

Today in Mormon History - Jul 24

Peter E. Olsen was discharged from the Penitentiary. (1)
-- 120 years ago today - Jul 24, 1891 (Friday)

[J.D.T. McAllister Diary] Flood at Pinto

arrived at 7. a dreadful flood had Swept through the Town moving, Sheds Binns Barnes. Stacks and fences about two hours before we arrived. Many fences swept away. Sheds and Binns left in the Street Bro C. Westovers House washed down. The water five feet deep washing through house carry away barrels. buckets and pan and etc. cellars full of water. School house full of people and goods for shelter. (2)
-- 130 years ago today - Jul 24, 1881

Brigham Young's office journal relates: "In the course of conversation Pres[ident] Young mentioned about one John Karl a man who had written a book against the Church, and Joseph Smith (Prophet) had cursed him for it, this man died a very miserable death wasting away, and nothing but the curse could be assigned as the cause of his sickness. This man confessed on his dying bed to his former Sectarian friends, that he had no confidence in their religion, and if any religion was true it was the religion of the Mormons." (3)
-- 150 years ago today - Jul 24, 1861


1 - Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology
2 - Diary Excerpts of J.D.T. McAllister, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
3 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com

150 years ago today - Jul 24, 1861

[General] Brigham Young's office journal relates: "In the course of conversation Pres[ident] Young mentioned about one John Karl a man who had written a book against the Church, and Joseph Smith (Prophet) had cursed him for it, this man died a very miserable death wasting away, and nothing but the curse could be assigned as the cause of his sickness. This man confessed on his dying bed to his former Sectarian friends, that he had no confidence in their religion, and if any religion was true it was the religion of the Mormons."

[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]

130 years ago today - Jul 24, 1881

[J.D.T. McAllister Diary] Flood at Pinto

arrived at 7. a dreadful flood had Swept through the Town moving, Sheds Binns Barnes. Stacks and fences about two hours before we arrived. Many fences swept away. Sheds and Binns left in the Street Bro C. Westovers House washed down. The water five feet deep washing through house carry away barrels. buckets and pan and etc. cellars full of water. School house full of people and goods for shelter.

[Source: Diary Excerpts of J.D.T. McAllister, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

120 years ago today - Jul 24, 1891 (Friday)

[General] Peter E. Olsen was discharged from the Penitentiary.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

Today in Mormon History - Jul 23

[President Wilford Woodruff Journal] 23d I set 2 Hours for My Model. Met with Mr Ellis. I met with the Twelve for Prayer. I met with many persons to day. (1)
-- 120 years ago today - Jul 23, 1891

Elder Gordon B. Hinckley is called as third counselor in the First Presidency due to the physical weakness of Presidents Spencer W. Kimball, N. Eldon Tanner, and Marion G. Romney. Hinckley is referred to in the press as the "acting president of the church" because Kimball, Tanner, and Romney are largely out of the public eye. (2)
-- 30 years ago today - Jul 23, 1981

W.W. Phelps writes a description of Missouri: "The inhabitants are emigrants from Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and the Carolinas, etc., with customs, manners, modes of living and a climate entirely different from the northerners, and they hate yankees worse than snakes, because they have cheated them or speculated on their credulity, with so many Connecticut wooden clocks, and New England notions. The people are proverbially idle or lazy, and mostly ignorant; reckoning nobody equal to themselves in many respects, and as it is a slave holding state, Japheth will make Canaan serve him, while he dwells in the tents of Shem" (3)
-- 180 years ago today - Jul 23, 1831


1 - Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies
2 - Wikipedia, 20th Century (Mormonism), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century_(Mormonism)
3 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com

180 years ago today - Jul 23, 1831

[General] W.W. Phelps writes a description of Missouri: "The inhabitants are emigrants from Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and the Carolinas, etc., with customs, manners, modes of living and a climate entirely different from the northerners, and they hate yankees worse than snakes, because they have cheated them or speculated on their credulity, with so many Connecticut wooden clocks, and New England notions. The people are proverbially idle or lazy, and mostly ignorant; reckoning nobody equal to themselves in many respects, and as it is a slave holding state, Japheth will make Canaan serve him, while he dwells in the tents of Shem"

[Source: On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]

30 years ago today - Jul 23, 1981

[General] Elder Gordon B. Hinckley is called as third counselor in the First Presidency due to the physical weakness of Presidents Spencer W. Kimball, N. Eldon Tanner, and Marion G. Romney. Hinckley is referred to in the press as the "acting president of the church" because Kimball, Tanner, and Romney are largely out of the public eye.

[Source: Wikipedia, 20th Century (Mormonism), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century_(Mormonism)]

120 years ago today - Jul 23, 1891

[President Wilford Woodruff Journal] 23d I set 2 Hours for My Model. Met with Mr Ellis. I met with the Twelve for Prayer. I met with many persons to day.

[Source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

More History?

Want more Mormon history? Check out LDS-Church-History, a topical approach to the history of the church. Topics from the past have included Tithing, the Word of Wisdom, Z.C.M.I. and Dreams in Latter-day Saint history. More info can be found here: http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/2009/01/lds-history.html