5 years ago today - Oct 31, 2013

Meridian Magazine ("LDS Magazine") publishes an online article, "Are You a Liberal Mormon?" by Joni Hilton. Due to a large number of complaints, the article was pulled from Meridan's website. An official from Meridan Magazine called the artcle "extremely offensive" noting that "James E. Faust was a liberal Mormon too." Of liberal Mormons, Hilton said:

They decided which aspects of our faith to accept or reject, from honoring the Sabbath to wearing less than modest clothing. Basically, it described people who were members of convenience. When they didn't like something the Prophet said, they felt perfectly fine skirting around that one, and writing their own rules.

... Jack Mormons are obvious about it, too—you see them staggering out of a bar, or heading into the shopping mall on Sundays.

Liberal Mormons are more slippery. They often attend church, but they're the ones who dodge Gospel Doctrine class because the teacher is "so by-the-book." ... why should I attend a class taught by someone so narrow-minded?...

They disagree with several points in the Proclamation to the World (sic), say no to callings that insult their intelligence, and create their own spin on how God will ultimately judge us (very leniently, usually). ...

Invariably liberal Mormons do not read their scriptures every day. They do not attend the temple, they do not show up to help someone move, and they do not Home Teach or Visit Teach with regularity. They view those who do as quaint minions who never question authority and who follow the rules like mindless sheep. ...

Former Young Women President, Elaine Cannon, once said, "When the Prophet speaks, the debate is over." This is because the prophet is speaking for God and telling us what He would have us hear. He is not just the president of a corporation, giving us his personal views. ...

[Meridian Magazine (LDS Magazine), "Are You a Liberal Mormon"]

55 years ago today - Oct 31, 1963

The Missionary Training Institute president (a son-in-law of Apostle Harold B. Lee) expressed concern about covert efforts to convert LDS missionaries to the Birch Society. He indicated that "he will resist efforts on the part of some of the young zealots among the missionaries to indoctrinate their colleagues in political extremism."

[Reported in Richard D. Poll to Ralph Harding, 31 Oct. 1963. From D. Michael Quinn, Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992), also in Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3.]

100 years ago today - Oct 31, 1918

[James E. Talmage]
Today President Smith who is still confined to his home by illness, sent to the Brethren the account of a vision through which, as he states, were revealed to him important facts relating to the work of the disembodied Savior in the realm of departed spirits, and of the missionary work in progress on the other side of the veil. By united action the Council of the Twelve, with the Counselors in the First Presidency, and the Presiding Patriarch accepted and endorsed the revelation as the word of the Lord. President Smith's signed statement will be published in the next issue (December) of the Improvement Era, which is the organ of the Priesthood quorums of the church. [This would later be incorporated into the D&C as section 138.]

[The Journals of James E. Talmage—Excerpts, Compiled by J. Trevor Antley, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dOE6pgN6OkBJIq-X73JGpCdt0p5b8_UdfTfLREz4uTg/]

125 years ago today - Oct 31, 1893

First counselor George Q. Cannon "holds that [apostolic] seniority rests with Apostles who have not been of the Twelve as well as the Twelve." Second counselor Joseph F. Smith disagrees. By Cannon's definition, John W. Young outranks both Cannon and Smith. This would make Young the church's presiding apostle after President Snow's death in 1901, even though Young has never been a member of the Twelve. Lorenzo Snow rules in 1900 that apostolic ranking is by entry into the Twelve and not by ordination date as an apostle. This ends the possibility of Young's presidency, but not his hopes.

[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]

160 years ago today - Oct 31, 1858

[Wilford Woodruff]
We were informed that M. C. Donald who murdered Brother Cook while on duty as a policeman has been killed at Green River under the following Circumstances: A man Called Sooty a mountain [man] while going with the mail said if He saw MCDonald He Should take him. He was to go east to the Devils gate & return but he met the Eastern mail & returned with it. While at Green river stoped to Camp & said that MCDonald had Committed Murder & he should arest him. MCDonald herd of it & went to him & drew his revolver & shot at Sooty. The ball passed through the upper part of his sholder. Sooty then shot M. C. Donald through the neck & he fell dead.

It was said that Sooty scalped him & gave it to a Friend to keep as a testimony that he had done the deed. Some people who were in favor of MCDonald drove of[f] Scoties squaw & horses.

A man that was a Mormon was shot with 3 balls on dry Creek for his money. The murderer is still at large.

I Called upon President Young & spent the afternoon with him and H C Kimball D H Wells A Carrington G A Smith & others. Brothers Jeremiah Hatch & William Miles arived from Sanpete with word from Arrowpeen. He says that it was Tamoke a young Indian the son of Uinta who killed Brother Brown. Then Brother Josiah Call shot Tamoke through the hips who has since died. The indians followed Brother Call & shot him. The Indians said they did not wish us to be mad about it.

Arrowpeen wished to know if he must shake hands with the armey. He says that all the Indians want to fight with the army for they have killed one of our best men & the Indians are mad, and they are gathering together to fight & Arrowpeen wants to fight & he will not be Controlled by any man but Brigham Young. They say that Mr Hurt the Indian Agent & other officers have told them that the United States Armey have Concocked a plan to send all their teamsters among the Mormons & to distribute the soldiers among the Mormons and when the Snows fall to Block up the Canyons they will fall upon the Mormons & kill Brigham Young his Councellors The Twelve and all the Chiefs of the Mormons in all this Territory and if the mormons would not fight now they will fight when their Blood mingles with the Blood of the Indians and the indians want to go to war.

They all acknowledge Arrowpeen as their Chief & he will fight unless Brigham Stops him. All the tribes in this region will Come together hold a Council & Join in the war. He says the /Sanpitch Peo[...] parvantes/ Piedes, Utahs, Shushonies, & Navahoes will all Join together to fight the soldiers. This is what they want.

They say that men appear to them in their Meetings. Come up out of the ground & talk to them & tell them they must not kill the mormons for the mormons are good & will soon be one with the Indian. The persons who appear to the Indians say they are their Brother. They said one man had a red pistol & if he shot it it would blow the mountain to peaces.

The Indians said that Judge Eckels had advised Col Johnson to place a part of the armey at Bridger a part at Cedar valley & some south so that when they make an attack upon the Mormons they Could kill them & they could not get out of the valley. Col Johnson has done as Judge Eckles advised him. This is the Indians Statement.

President Young wrote a Letter to Arrowpene by Brother Hatch & told him it was not good to shed blood. This places President Young in a vary singular position. While President Buchannan with the Congress and Armies of the United States are all laying plans to take the Life of President Young and the Indian Agents are trying to stir up the Indians to kill him then when the Indians turn round & wish to fight the United States President Young through his influence has to hold back the instruments of Death from killing the vary men who are seeking his own life. But the Lord will reward him for his patience long suffering & forbearance & he will also reward all his Enemies.

Presidet Young said he believed this war Cloud would blow over. The time would Come when these things would Come to pass but he was satisfied the time was not now. Arrowpeen said that Forney was a Fool that he had a small heart but it was as black as night. President Young had a great heart & it was as white as snow. When the Lords time Come for war the Indians will not feel like holding back neither shall I but that time has not Come now.

I met with the Twelve in the prayer Circle. Brother C C Rich opened by Prayer. F. D. Richards was mouth in the Circle. We Consecrated a Bottol of Oil.

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

170 years ago today - Oct 31, 1848

[Wilford Woodruff]
... [July 9th letter from SLC states that] there Harvest of wheat came in full & heavy. They had wheat Enough Alone to last the Encampment two years. Also that they had large crops of corn & was doing well. That it was Also Healthy. This was certainly Glorious news to us.

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

180 years ago today - (Wed) Oct 31, 1838

In the evening George Hinkle persuaded Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight, Parley P. Pratt, and George W. Robinson to talk with the Missourians. They are seized and made to surrender to General Samuel D. Lucas.

That night Joseph Smith and Lyman Wight are sentenced by a court-marshall to be shot the following day by Alexander Doniphan's troops,

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

185 years ago today - Oct 31, 1833

A mob of 50 attacks houses west of the Big Blue River, whipping and stoning women, men, and children.

[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

35 years ago today - Oct 30, 1983

The Church News reports that 70 percent of Gallup Survey respondents have "a highly favorable" view of LDS, and only 10 percent have "a highly unfavorable opinion."

[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]

40 years ago today - Oct 30, 1978

First Presidency announces emeritus status for general authorities due to age, physical infirmity, or other reasons. Members of First Quorum of Seventy are first general authorities to receive this retirement.

45 years ago today - Oct 30, 1973-Tuesday

[Leonard Arrington]
This morning at 9:00 a.m. the executives of the Historical Department were invited to meet with the First Presidency on the matter of exchanging documents with the RLDS Historian's Department. ... Earl [Olson, RLDS] will furnish Brother McConkie with xeroxes of the Kirtland Book of Revelations and xeroxes of other revelations which have been printed but are not in the Doctrine and Covenants. ... Brother McConkie said, "This opens the door I have looked forward to; namely, the opportunity of considering additional revelations in a new edition of the Doctrine and Covenants." He specifically mentioned two or three that he knew about that he has long felt should be included in the D&C and this will give him an opportunity of making a recommendation of that to the First Presidency. ...

[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]

55 years ago today - Oct 30, 1963

Joseph Fielding Smith ... wrote to Senator Harding on 30 October: "I think it is time that Brother Benson forgot all about politics and settled down to his duties as a member of the Council of the Twelve." Smith concluded this letter, "He is going to take a mission to Europe in the near future and by the time he returns I hope he will get all of the political notions out of his system."

[Smith to Harding, 30 Oct. 1963, photocopy in folder 2, box 4, King Papers, and in folder 22, box 5, Buerger Papers. From D. Michael Quinn, Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992), also in Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3.]

55 years ago today - Oct 30, 1963

Student conflict erupted at the University of Utah over Ezra Taft Benson's speech to the New Orleans Stake against federal integration of schools. One of Benson's defenders accused the university's newspaper of an "anti-rightist crusade." For almost a month the Utah Chronicle's editorial page was dominated by the Benson controversy, until President John F. Kennedy's assassination in November finally superseded it.

[Clark King and Richard Littlefield in Daily Utah Chronicle, 30 Oct. 1963, 4, answered by Frank G. Adams and Gary Henrichsen (who used the phrase) in 4 Nov. 1963, 2, rebutted by King and Littlefield in 6 Nov. 1963,4, who were in turn rebutted by Corydon Hammond in 8 Nov. 1963, 4, who was answered by King and Littlefield in 14 Nov. 1963,: 2. Editorially, the Daily Utah Chronicle published a cartoon (31 Oct. 1963,4) which depicted Benson's mission assignment as a banishment by Uncle Sam, not the LDS church presidency, which Gary Henrichsen then criticized in his letter to the editor of 4 November. In response the editors published an even more insulting cartoon of Benson (21 Nov. 1963, 2). From D. Michael Quinn, Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992), also in Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3.]

120 years ago today - Oct 30, 1898 (Sunday)

Elders B.F. Duffin and Chas. A. Haacke were taken out of the Methodist Episcopal church at Henry, Coddington Co, S.D. (where they were sleeping during the night), by a mob of five men, led by Quin McMullen. The Elders were followed out of town, threatened with tar and feathers and otherwise abused. The night was a bitterly cold one, and the Elders nearly perished through exposure.

[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

175 years ago today - Oct 30, 1843

Brigham Young's diary states: "Monday evening Baptized Sisters Cuoub [Auga Adams Cobb] & Hari[e]tt Cook." Two days later Joseph Smith marries these two women to Young. Auga Adams Cobb married Henry Cobb of Boston, Mass., in 1822. She left him five of her seven children to join with the Mormons. Her husband divorced her in 1847- four years after she married Brigham Young.

He baptized Sister Cobb and Harriet Cook, possibly in preparation for his plural marriage to them two days later.

[Quinn, D. Michael, "The Practice of Rebaptism at Nauvoo," BYU Studies (1978), 18:2:226]

180 years ago today - Oct 30, 1838

Haun's Mill Massacre. At about four P.M. approximately 240 men ride up to the small community of Haun's Mill (which has fewer than 15 buildings) and open fire on a flag of truce. Many of the Saints gather in the blacksmith's shop; guns are stuck through the cracks in the logs and fired until most in the building are dead. A few escape across the river into the hills. By the end of the massacre, 1600 rounds of ammunition have been fired at 40 people; 18 or 19 have been killed, and about 15 wounded. Among those killed are boys under 10 and men over 75 years old.As soon as Governor Boggs's exterminating order is received, General Atchison withdraws from the army at Richmond, Mo. At evening a state militia force of about 2,000 approaches and surrounds the city of Far West. They are led by General Lucas. The Saints spend the night building up fortifications and preparing for a massive battle in the morning.

Thomas McBride, the oldest victim, is "cut to pieces with a corn cutter...literally mangled from head to foot." Sardius Smith, one of the youngest victims, begs for his life from a militiaman who put "his rifle near the boy's head, and literally blowed off the upper part of it." Although her son Sardius and husband are dead, Amanda Barnes Smith is preoccupied with one of her surviving sons, because "the entire hip joint of my wounded boy [Alma] had been shot away." She reports obtaining "a vision" from God about the way to care for the injury and tells her son that "the Lord will make you another hip." She would later write: "It is now nearly forty years ago, but Alma has never been the least crippled during his life."

[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology; Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]

65 years ago today - Oct 29, 1953

President McKay mentioned another matter which he said is one of great importance, and that is the new method of presenting the Endowment in our Temple that will be constructed in Europe. There will be no change in the endowment ceremonies but instead of having the members move from one room to another, we will bring the rooms to the people. He explained that that involves a great deal of study and preparation, and it will all have to be done here, undoubtedly in this [Salt Lake] temple before we introduce it there. The First Presidency feel that a committee should be appointed, who will be recommended by the Temple Committee ...

[Minutes, meeting of the First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve, Oct. 1, 1953, included in David O. McKay diary, Oct. 29, 1953, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

95 years ago today - Oct 29, 1923

[George F. Richards]
I spent the day at the Temple. Jos[eph] F. Smith Jr. & Stephen L. Richards spent two hrs. with me in the Temple going over the Temple ordinances, considering proposed changes. Adjourned until 2 P.M. tomorrow.

[George F. Richards diary, Oct. 29, 1923, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

120 years ago today - Oct 29, 1898

[J. Golden Kimball]
Bro[ther] [Heber J.] Grant told me how Rudger Clawson was called to the Apostleship. The Apostles handed in names to fill vacancy. The Presidency considered these names. It is thought that his name was not mentioned by the Apostles. Pres[ident] [Lorenzo] Snow suggested Bro[ther] Clawsons name and said it was the will of the Lord and all united in accepting him. I can readily see that if the Prophet of the Lord suggests a man to fill any vacancy, it is the will of the Lord, yet I am in doubt that a direct revelation was given.

[J. Golden Kimball, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]

125 years ago today - Oct 29, 1893

[James E. Talmage]
This is the appointed day for the organization of the Theological Class in connection with the Church University. ... So many applicants had to be denied admission that it was decided on the recommendation of Prest. Angus M. Cannon to adjourn the class at its close to meet next Sunday in the Stake Assembly Hall.

The work outlined for the class is the consideration of the "Articles of Faith" of our Church: the Presidency having directed that I present to the class in the form of lectures the matter which I am preparing with a view to eventual publication as a text book for the theological organizations of our church schools, and such classes. May divine blessings rest upon the effort.

[The Journals of James E. Talmage—Excerpts, Compiled by J. Trevor Antley, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dOE6pgN6OkBJIq-X73JGpCdt0p5b8_UdfTfLREz4uTg/]

130 years ago today - Monday, Oct 29, 1888

[John Henry Smith]
It was learned our brethren were withdrawing from the church in Idaho in order to vote. After consideration it was concluded we could do nothing and they better go on and vote.

[Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith]

175 years ago today - Oct 29, 1843

Brigham Young wrote that Thirza Cahoon, Lois Cutler, and Phebe Woodworth were "taken into the order of the priesthood."

[Brigham Young Diary, Weber State Archives, as quoted at http://ordainwomen.org/quotes. See Quinn, "Mormon Political Conflicts" for full cite and context.]

10 years ago today - 10 years ago - 10/28/2008

A surge of donations from Texas, New Mexico, Idaho and Illinois begins flooding into protectmarriage.com's bank accounts following a $1,000,000 donation by Mormon Alan Ashton (who contributed a sum to match Bruce Bastian's $1,000,000 earlier donation to the No on 8 side). [Aston and Bastian co-created the popular Wordperfect software.]

[Mormons for Marriage: A Prop 8 Timeline, http://mormonsformarriage.com/?page_id=68]

120 years ago today - Oct 28, 1898

Lorenzo Snow opposes plural marriage. President Cannon says "Prest Snow had decided that Plural marriages must cease throughout the entire Church and that was absolute and affected Mexico as well as elsewhere". President Snow almost always opposed plural marriages, but administratively it was very tough to stop.

[Exploring Mormonism: Polygamy Timeline, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/polygamy-timeline/]

55 years ago today - Oct 27, 1963

In an address to southern whites of the New Orleans Stake on 27 October, [Ezra Taft Benson] condemned U.S. presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy for sending federal troops to aid school integration of African-Americans in the South. Then the apostle praised the Birch Society to the Louisiana conference.

["Stake Conference Assignments," Deseret News "Church News," 19 Oct. 1963, 4; "Benson, Graham Rip Wheat Sale," Deseret News, 28 Oct. 1963, A-6; "Benson Says Black is Red," Daily Utah Chronicle, 29 Oct. 1963,1. From D. Michael Quinn, Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992), also in Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3.]

120 years ago today - Oct 27, 1898; Thursday

Elder Brigham Young feared that the business of running the College [in Logan] and the B[righam]. Y[oung]. Academy [in Provo] had been left too much with the Presidents of those institutions, and this had resulted in extravagance. He feared also that the spirit of rivalry between the two schools was indulged in to the detriment of the students and at a sacrifice of their faith. This was contrary to the spirit of the deed of trust given to those institutions. ...

[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]

180 years ago today - Oct 27, 1838

A funeral is held for David Patten. Joseph testifies, "There lies a man that has done just as he said he would—he has laid down his life for his friends." Governor Boggs's exterminating order is issued. Hearing the many rumors of the destruction and insurrection of the Saints, Boggs orders that "the Mormons must be treated as enemies and must be exterminated or driven from the state, if necessary for the public good. Their outrages are beyond all description."

[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

175 years ago today - Oct 26, 1843

Joseph Smith seals Dr. John M. Bernhisel to his deceased sister Maria Bernhisel.

40 years ago today - Oct 26, 1978

The Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, previously the Language Training Mission constructed in 1976, began training all missionaries.

[Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html]

10 years ago today - October 25

[Proposition-8]
Media reporting that due to criticism, the LDS church pulls the plug on out of state phone banks.

[Latter-Day Army: Details of Mormons and Prop 8, http://www.stopthemormons.com/?p=486]

55 years ago today - Oct 25, 1963

Hugh B. Brown warned a BYU audience against "extremists and self-styled patriots who label all those who disagree with them as Communists." Then in a more obvious allusion to Benson, he said that the First Presidency "deplore any attempt made by individuals to ascribe to the Church personal beliefs which they entertain." Newspapers observed that Brown's "remarks were taken as a rebuff to Mormon apostle Ezra Taft Benson who has repeatedly expressed his admiration for the John Birch Society and its founder, Robert Welch."

["Church Leader Rebuffs Self-Styled Patriots," Ogden Standard-Examiner, 26 Oct. 1963,9; also "President Brown Supports U.N., Hits Extremists," Deseret News, 26 Oct. 1963, B-l. From D. Michael Quinn, Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992), also in Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3.]

55 years ago today - Oct 25, 1963

U.S. under-secretary of state W. Averill Harriman asked Hugh B. Brown how long [Ezra Taft] Benson would be on this European mission. Brown reportedly replied: "If I had my way, he'd never come back!"

[Brown statement to Harriman and Richard D. Poll in Salt Lake City, 25 Oct. 1963, quoted in Poll's letter to D. Michael Quinn, 13 Aug. 1992. For the visit of Harriman, Brown, and Poll in Provo, see photograph in Provo Daily Herald, 27 Oct. 1963, 3. From D. Michael Quinn, Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992), also in Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3.]

115 years ago today - Oct 25, 1903

Issue of the New York Times: "The imprisonment of Jacob Cochrane [sic] checked the spread of his dogma, but as the time of his release drew near his disciples grew rampant and received a new command to take "spiritual wives"... There were a few divorces, some marriages, and several elopements of spiritual partners, and finally emigration to Salt Lake City. Cochrane returned to his legal wife, broken in health and spirit, a "back number." One of Brigham Young's first "plurals," Augusta Adams Cobb (1802-1886) was a former Cochranite, or was influenced by the teachings of that sect, prior to her 1843 elopement with Brigham. Other prominent early Mormons who were possibly influenced by Cochranism include Mary Bailey (1808-1841) who married Elder Samuel H. Smith, and (even more likely) Agnes Moultin (1811-1876) who married Samuel's brother, Elder Don Carlos Smith.

[Brooke, John L. The Refiner's Fire: The Making of Mormon Cosmology, 1644-1844. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1994. p.282; http://www.truthandgrace.com/1828polygamy.htm]

120 years ago today - Oct 25, 1898

[Eight and ten years after the Manifesto] Apostle George Teasdale, married 5th wife, Marion E. Scholes. 1900 May 17: married 6th wife, Letita Thomas. Marriage to Marion performed "upon the high seas" by Apostle Anthon Henrik Lund.

[Tungate, Mel, Mormon Polygamy, http://www.tungate.com/polygamy.htm]

125 years ago today - Oct 25, 1893

[Francis M. Lyman]
Pres[ident] Cleveland signed the Bill to return the personal property of the Church, $300,000. This sounds like a little justice ... At 7:30 P.M. attended the citizens rally at the Theatre. I was fairly good but not near enthusiastic as I thought it would be.

[Excerpts of Apostle Francis M. Lyman Diaries, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

180 years ago today - Oct 25, 1838

The Battle of Crooked River. Rumors spread throughout the state that the Mormons are fighting back in strength. Citizens organize a militia under Samuel Bogart, who rides to drive the Mormons from the southern part of Caldwell County. When Captain David Patten (known as Captain Fear-Naught) hears this, he assembles 70 elders [Danites] and marches to Bogart's camp on the Crooked River. At dawn they attack and Bogart's men flee across the river. The Saints take the supplies left behind by the Missourians, but seven Saints are wounded and three eventually die, including Patten himself, the first martyred apostle.

Apostle Parley P. Pratt kills a militiaman, and wounds another who (while unconscious on the ground) is mutilated by enraged Danites.

[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology; Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]

10 years ago today - October 24

[Proposition-8]
Salt Lake Tribune states "literature written by Proposition 8 proponents is freely distributed in Mormon wards, giving the impression the church approves it, but much of it is "misinformation," said Morris Thurston, an LDS attorney in Orange County. Thurston has circulated a point-by-point refutation to an anonymously authored document that has been widely disseminated by Mormons, "Six Consequences . . . If Proposition 8 Fails." Thurston argues that most of its arguments are either untrue or misleading."

[Latter-Day Army: Details of Mormons and Prop 8, http://www.stopthemormons.com/?p=486]

50 years ago today - Oct 24, 1968

The First Presidency announced they were assigning Benson to preside over the church's European mission in December. The media immediately described this as a "reprisal" or "exile" for Benson's virtual endorsement of the Birch Society at general conference.

[Meeting Minutes:] Reference was made to questions that have been raised by presidents of stakes and mission presidents in Germany, the British Isles, etc., and also by the [Improvement] Era, regarding talks that have been given in conference by the brethren of the Authorities such as the one given by Brother Benson at the recent General Conference regarding the responsibilities we have to oppose socialism, etc. ... He explains that over half of the members of his stake in England vote socialist and that members of the stake presidency, high council and bishoprics support that cause, that there is therefore some confusion in regard to how they should accept these statements.

... President Tanner mentioned that during the past three years we have had questions and complaints about talks given in General Conference that seem to be offensive to the German people or the British people, or whoever it may be, by just building up the United States of America and referring to things that are going on here...

[Summarized in David O. McKay Papers; verbatim report in Clare Middlemiss, Minutes of a Meeting of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, "Notes" as referenced in Gregory A. Prince and Wm. Robert Write, David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press (2005); "Elder Benson To Direct Europe Mission," Deseret News, 24 Oct. 1963, A-l; Improvement Era 66 (Dec. 1963): 1065; "Mormons To Send Benson Overseas," New York Times, 25 Oct. 1963,18; "Apostle Benson Denies Being Sent Into 'Exile' for Political Views," Ogden Standard-Examiner, 29 Oct. 1963, A-7; "Mormon Church Sends Benson to Europe," U.S. News and World Report 55 (Nov. 1963): 12; "Mormon Church Is Gaining in Strength Despite Tensions," New York Times, 27 Dec. 1965,18. From D. Michael Quinn, Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992), also in Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3.]

130 years ago today - Oct 24, 1888

Pres[ident] [Wilford] Woodruff signed a check on Zions Savings Bank & Trust Co for 20,000 payable to James Sharp which was handed to Bro[ther] Ja[me]s Sharp with instructions to get the money & have the amount telegraphed to Hon[orable] John T. Caine through Koontz Bros at New York as soon as possible'- [Telegram Caine to same effect:] 'You are requested to say to the proper parties that we are in on [no] way connected with nor in any manner responsible for the financial or political doings or obligations of John W. Young. They must understand he is action in his own behalf & his own responsibility, & not by our authority. ...'

This money was for bribing politicians to further Mormon interests, and to help elect Grover Cleveland.

[First Presidency Office Journal, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

135 years ago today - 1883. October 24

Hugh B. Brown: Born in Granger, Utah, the fifth of fourteen children. He married Zina Young Card, a granddaughter of Brigham Young, in 1908.

As a young boy he acquired the nickname "Dutch" because of a speech impediment. He later became one of Mormonism's most respected orators.

[Van Wagoner, Richard and Walker, Steven C., A Book of Mormons, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

160 years ago today - Oct 24, 1858

[Wilford Woodruff]
I met with my Prayer Circle at 10 oclok. J C. Little gave an account of a Row last night. Henry C. Phelps with several others knocked down a man in the streets & robed him of $165. Then a company Gathered & threatened to kill a policeeman if he did not go & releace a prisioner. He did so. Several policeemen Gatherd & the mob fired upon them & Bishop Wiler shot himself in the calf of the leg. Many shots were fired by the mob.

During this morning a man Caught Brigham H Young Horse by the bit & tried to steal his horse from him or the Bridel. Brother Pickston knocked him down with his policee stick.

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

180 years ago today - 1838. October 24

(David Patton) : Captain Samuel Bogard of the Caldwell County militia ordered a number of Mormon families to leave the state and took three men into custody. When word reached Far West, "Captain Fearnaught" Patten rallied seventy-five Mormons and set out to rescue the prisoners. Under cover of darkness, they attacked the encamped militia at Crooked River. In his white duster, Patten was an easy target. He was wounded in the bowels and died the next day at the age of thirty-eight.?

Patten's comrade-in-arms John D. Lee later wrote, "I admit up to this time that I frankly believed what the Prophet and his apostles had said on the subject. I had considered that I was bullet proof, that no Gentile ball could ever harm me, or any Saint, and I had believed that a Danite could not be killed by Gentile hands. I thought that one Danite could chase a thousand Gentiles, and two could put ten thousand to flight. Alas! my dreams of security were over. One of our mighty men had fallen, and that by Gentile hands!"

Erroneous intelligence communications, coupled with a Thomas B. Marsh-Orson Hyde affidavit confirming the existence of the Danites, led Governor Lilburn W. Boggs to believe reports that Patten's company had "massacred Captain Bogard and all his company," and that Richmond was "laid in ashes this morning." The governor issued his infamous "Mormon Extermination Order" on October 27: "The Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the state if necessary for the public peace—their outrages are beyond all description."

[Van Wagoner, Richard and Walker, Steven C., A Book of Mormons, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

180 years ago today - Oct 24, 1838

Thomas B. Marsh, President of the Quorum of the Twelve, having fled the violence in Daviess and Caldwell counties, testifies in Richmond, Ray county, that a company of Mormons under Apostle David Patten had burned Gallatin, that Danites planned to burn Buncombe and perhaps Liberty and Richmond; that Joseph believes his prophecies are superior to the laws of the land, and so forth. Orson Hyde states he knows most of Marsh's statements to be true and believes the rest. He accused Joseph of secretly backing the Danites in their many works of destruction, saying that Joseph claimed "he would be a second Mohammed to this generation, and that he would make it one gore of blood from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic ocean; that like Mohammed, whose motto in treating for peace was, 'the Alcoran or the Sword.' So should it be eventually with us, 'Joseph Smith or the sword.'"

Bogart and his troops harass Mormon settlers in Ray and Caldwell counties. They capture two Mormon spies and threaten to execute them.

[Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml; LeSueur, Stephen C., The 1838 Mormon War in Missouri, Appendix: Chronology of Events in Missouri, 1838-1839; Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

40 years ago today - Oct 23, 1978-Monday

[Leonard Arrington]
Saturday night Grace and I were invited to have dinner with Dean and Cheryll May. ... With respect to the revelation of June 9, Dean May mentioned an experience he had in England; or was this George giving the story? At any rate, he was present when Elder [Mark E.] Petersen made a visit to the European Mission. ... A new missionary asked him if he had ever seen the Saviour. The mission president was very embarrassed and started to explain to the missionary that that was not a proper question. But Brother Petersen calmed him and said he would be glad to give a response. Brother Petersen said no, he had never seen the Saviour, and this was not a source of disappointment to him. He said the Saviour had revealed himself to only a few people and that it was not necessary for an apostle to see the Saviour physically to be a witness for him. He did not know for certain the experience of all of the Brethren, but he knew that there were some of them who, like he, had never seen the Saviour. ...

Brother Durham said that he had been given an account of the June 1 experience from Jim McConkie, who had received it from Elder [Bruce R.] McConkie. It was very similar to the account that I had earlier heard. I had the impression that Jim McConkie had understood that the Holy Ghost had visited the Quorum of the Twelve and the First Presidency on June 1 and that there had been a rushing of winds, heavenly music, and some visions of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, and perhaps other personalities and scenes as well.

[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]

110 years ago today - Oct 23, 1908

[George F. Richards]
I spent about two hours with Pres[ident]. Francis M. Lyman at his home considering church history, most of which is not found in the regular history of the Church. I read a controversy had between B[isho]p. C[harles]. W. Nibley & B. H. Roberts over the latter's attitude toward Elder Reed Smoot's candidacy to succeed himself as U.S. Senator. Read a letter from Pres[ident]. Wilford Woodruff addressed to Elder H[eber]. J. Grant on Succession to the Presidency to the Church also minutes of a meeting of the First Presidency and the Twelve held in Pres[ident] Lorenzo Snows day in 1890 [sic; 1900] where the question of right of seniority between Jos[eph]. F. Smith and Brigham Young Jr. was decided. I also read a sermon in Millenial Star preached by Amasa Lyman in Scotland many years ago which lead to his excommunication from the Church. In this sermon Apostle Amasa Lyman denied the efficacy of the blood of the Savior to atone for sins repented of holding that repentance alone was necessary i.e. turning away from sin.

[George F. Richards Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

115 years ago today - Oct 23, 1903

The name of the Church academy in Provo is changed from Brigham Young Academy to Brigham Young University (BYU).

130 years ago today - Oct 23, 1888

The question of the propriety of Bro[ther] John W Young being considered as authorized to act for and in behalf of the Church in financial, state and political matters with the Leaders of the Democratic National Committy and others in the East [for bribes] was talked over by Pres[iden]t Woodruff & Jos[eph] F. Smith and it was decided to send to Hon[orable] John T. Caine at New York $20,000.00 by telegraph tomorrow morning also to request him to inform the proper parties, who sends this money, and of the position of Br[other]. John W. Young as not being authorized to act for the Church &c.

[First Presidency Office Journal, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

165 years ago today - Oct 23, 1853

You believe Adam was made of the dust of this earth. This I do not believe, though it is supposed that it is so written in the Bible; but it is not, to my understanding. . . . I do not believe that portion of the Bible as the Christian world do. I never did, and I never want to. What is the reason I do not? Because I have come to understanding, and banished from my mind all the baby stories my mother taught me when I was a child.

[J.D 2:6; Delivered in the Tabernacle, SLC, Utah; Brigham Young; October 23, 1853; "Concepts Quotations Dealing With the Origin, Identity Position of Adam Eve"]

175 years ago today - Oct 23, 1843

[Brigham Young]
With Elders H. [Heber] C. Kimball and Geo. [George] A. Smith I visited the Prophet Joseph, who was glad to see us. We paid him every cent of the means we had collected for the temple and Nauvoo House. He taught us many principles illustrating the doctrine of celestial marriage concerning which God had given him a revelation, July 12th [1843] [D&C 132].

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

180 years ago today - Oct 23, 1838

Albert P. Rockwood writes, "the Mob disperse by hundreds on the approach of the Danites (Brethren)."

[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]

185 years ago today - Oct 23, 1833

"A company of money diggers consisting of two men, a boy, and al old woman, armed with mining rods, crowbars, and the Bible, were employed on Saturday and Sunday nights in digging for money, over on Seavy's point."

"A huge misshapen ghost stood before him, as he says, at least 20 feet high. "... 'Dad,' said the courageous boy, 'maydn't I thow a stone at him?' But the old man silenced the boy, and with blanched lips and chattering teeth addressed the ghost in the name of the Lord Jesus and demanded to know how much he would take for interest in the money; the ghost replied in a very surly tone that he wouldn't soul out and was about to make a semonstration [sic] of his power when the money diggers gave way to their fears and fled, closely pursued by more than five hundred ghosts, leaving the Bible on the spot. The old man says next he'll have a 'clinch for it.' He begins to suspect the ghosts are made of tangible materials."

["Money Diggers," Eastern Argus, (Portland, ME), 23 October 1833, as quoted in A Topical Guide of Treasure-Seeking Rituals From the American Northeast during the 18th and 19th Centuries, Compiled by Joseph T. Antley (2010)]

25 years ago today - 25 years ago - Oct 22, 1993-Friday

[Leonard Arrington]
We have been saddened by the excommunications. We simply cannot regard Lavina [Fielding Anderson] and Mike [Quinn] as apostates. Both are splendid, honest writers and historians, both have been active believers. We can't see the justice of excommunicating someone who writes honest, sincere, history. We were counseled by Presidents [N. Eldon] Tanner, [Harold B.] Lee, and [Spencer W.] Kimball to write honest history, and now two of us are excommunicated for doing what the Prophets have counseled us to do. I keep thinking that Bill Nelson will pull out my file and send it to my stake president one of these days.

I am beginning to feel old. I don't have as much energy as I used to have. I am not as enthusiastic as I used to be. I get depressed every time I read the newspaper-so much conflict, so much cruelty, so much evil. Maybe that's why I like [television courtroom drama] Matlock-he always finds the culprit and wins. Or opera, where depth of emotion is expressed in music in a way that creates catharsis and healing.

[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]

50 years ago today - 50 years ago - Oct 22, 1968

The Church received official recognition in Spain. The first missionaries arrived in June, 1969.

[Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html]

115 years ago today - 115 years ago - Oct 22,1903

First Presidency and Twelve authorize purchase of twenty five acres of the original temple lot at Independence, Jackson County, Missouri. Purchase is complete on 14 Apr 1904. These purchases continue throughout twentieth century.

[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, Appendix 5, Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-1996, http://amzn.to/extensions-power]

115 years ago today - 115 years ago - Oct 22, 1903

LDS President Joseph F. Smith receives a letter from a non-Mormon stating: "I find that Christ in quoting to the people on this side of the water, the third and fourth chapters of Malachi, quotes, according to the Book of Mormon, in the identical text of King James' version, not missing a word. I find chapters of Isaiah quoted practically in the same way. I find that in many instances, in his talks with the people, and to his disciples here, he used the identical language of King James' version, not omitting the words supplied by the translators. Now, I know that no two parties will take the same manuscript and make translations of a matter contained therein, and the language of the two translators be alike; indeed, the language employed by the two parties will widely differ. These translations are from different manuscripts, and from different languages, and still it appears in the Book of Mormon as King James' translation. I can conceive of no other way in which such a coincidence could have occurred, within the range of human experience, except where one writing is copied from another, and then it takes the utmost care to get them exactly alike, word for word, and letter for letter as this is." The letter is referred to B. H. Roberts. Roberts begins his multi-page reply: "The difficulty which you point out of course has been recognized by believers in the Book of Mormon, but I do not know that I can say that the Church as yet has settled upon any explanation which could be regarded as an authoritative view on the subject. Each one has been left to settle the matter upon the lines which seem most reasonable to him."

130 years ago today - 130 years ago - Oct 22, 1888

[Wilford Woodruff to Willard G. Smith]
Your pencil memoranda, dated Oct[.] 18th, showing a list of names of persons in Morgan Stake deemed worthy to receive their second anointings, came duly to hand. There seems to be some misunderstanding in these matters by you in sending such a formidable list, and in such a manner as the one received. In such an important matter as second anointings it is not expected that the Stake or the Wards are to be hunted over to find names to recommend for such an ordinance. It is only contemplated that we be furnished with the names of those who are deemed worthy by the Presidency of the Stake, and who are quite aged, and whose life and labors in the Church have been such as to entitle them to this blessing. When such names are submitted[,] the ages of the parties should be noted, and you will be informed as to their acceptance before the parties receive any information or their recommends are endorsed to go to the Temple.

[Wilford Woodruff to Willard G. Smith, Oct. 22, 1888, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

160 years ago today - 160 years ago - Oct 22, 1858

[Wilford Woodruff]
I traveled to Lehi & spent the night at Bishop Evans. I Collected 10 bushels of wheat which was due me for trees. Brother Evans treated me vary kindly. He showed me 500 bushels of tithing potatoes. He had about 1,000 Bushels of wheat of his own.

He said he had not sold a Bushel of any Grain to the armey. An Officer told him that A Council of Doctors had decided that the army was in an unhealthy situation & most of the officers were going to the states on furlough ...

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

195 years ago today - 195 years ago - Oct 22, 1823

The WAYNE SENTINAL in Palmyra, New York publishes an account of a vision "seen and received by Asa Wild, of Amsterdam, (N. Y.)" In the vision "the Great Jehovah" appeared and "He also told me, that every denomination of professing christians had become extremely corrupt; . . .He told me further, that he had raised up, and was now raising up, that class of persons signified by the angel mentioned by the Revelator XIV. 6, 7, which flew in the midst of heaven; having the everlasting gospel to preach, that these persons are of an inferior [social] class, and small learning; that they were rejected by every denomination as a body; but soon, God will open their way, by miracles, judgments, &c. that they will have higher authority, greater power, superior inspiration, and a greater degree of holiness than was ever experienced before . . ."

45 years ago today - Oct 21, 1973

A First Presidency letter urges 78,800 Mormons in Washington state to vote against a referendum to allow nineteen-year-olds to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages.

[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]

170 years ago today - Oct 21, 1848

"Friends and brethren my name is Cowdrey, oliver Cowdery. . . . I wrote with my own pen the entire book of Mormon (save a few pages) as it fell from the lips of the prophet [Joseph Smith], As he trans=lated <<it>> by the gift and power of god, By [the] means of the urim and thummim, or as it is called by that book ["]holy Interpreters." I beheld with my eyes. And handled with my ha=nds the gold plates from which it was translated. I also beheld the Interpreters. That book is true.... I was present with Joseph when an holy angle [angel] from god came down from heaven and confered or restored the Aronic priesthood, And said at the same time that it should remain upon the earth while the earth stands. I was also present with Joseph when the Melchis=ideck priesthood was confered by the holy angles [angels] of god--<<this was the more [-] and in order that>> which we then confirmed on each other by the will and com=mandment of god. ...

{Editorial Note: At a special church conference held on 21 October 1848 at Council Bluffs, Iowa, and presided over by Apostle Orson Hyde, Oliver Cowdery spoke to the congregation expressing his desire for rebaptism....}

[Reuben Miller, Journal, 21 October 1848, 1:[12], LDS Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah.]

170 years ago today - Oct 21, 1848

[Wilford Woodruff]
Sister Tuttle recieved A Blessing by the laying on of hands. Most of her friends had expected she would die but she was healed by the laying on of hands. A number of Comforters like Jobs had called upon her And reproached her because she was sick inasmuch as she professed to believe in God And asked why [she] did not Call upon her Elders to heal her. This was done to reproach her. And she spoke out And said O that the Lord would send Br Woodruff here. It was but A few minutes before she recieve A note from me stateing that I was coming And when I laid hands upon her she was healed indeed And felt to Praise the Lord.

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

185 years ago today - (Mon) Oct 21, 1833

Kirtland Township Overseer of the Poor, Roswell D. Cottrill, began serving a writ of "warning out of town" upon 49 Mormon families in Kirtland. The process was not completed until Dec. 20. Among the first names on his list were Joseph Smith, Jr., Hyrum Smith, and Sidney Rigdon

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

10 years ago today - 10/20/2008

[Proposition-8]
Yes on 8 sends out letters to several businesses that had donated to the No on 8 campaign, explaining that unless those businesses donated a similar amount to the Yes on 8 campaign, the ProtectMarriage.com website would have to assume that "it would be a clear indication that you are in opposition to traditional marriage.... The names of any companies and organizations that choose not to donate in like manner to ProtectMarriage.com but have given to Equality California will be published. It is only fair for Proposition 8 supporters to know which companies and organizations oppose traditional marriage."

[Mormons for Marriage: A Prop 8 Timeline, http://mormonsformarriage.com/?page_id=68]

40 years ago today - Oct 20, 1978-Friday

[Leonard Arrington]
I sat across the aisle from a close friend, well along in years, and closely acquainted with high church and government officials. Here are some of his statements to me:

1. [Apostle] Jim Faust ... was a protege of President [Henry D.] Moyle, close to President [Hugh B.] Brown, to Franklin Richards, and to President [N. Eldon] Tanner. In short, well known by the Democrats. President Tanner, in particular, had proposed him for the apostle vacancy when Hugh Brown died, but Elder [Ezra Taft] Benson was opposed and Elder [David B.] Haight was sustained instead. This time, he was pushed again by Elder Tanner, and Elder Benson was not so vigorous, and so the appointment went through.

2. Elder Benson was brought into the Quorum [of Twelve] through the influence of President [J. Reuben] Clark, although President Clark did not like him, and distrusted him because of his support of [farm] cooperatives. He [Clark] regarded these as, somehow, one step in the direction of Communism. He was not close to Elder Benson and often argued with him. Elder Clark was a brilliant and persuasive man and, ultimately, may have won Elder Benson over to a conservative position. Brother Benson's swing to ultra conservatism after his service in the [Dwight D.] Eisenhower cabinet [as Secretary of Agriculture] was probably [due to] his disillusionment and disgust with the climate in Washington. He didn't like dealing with the blacks and the Jews, the Commies and ultra liberals and others. And thought their influence satanic and inordinately strong. He was deeply impressed with the revelations of the [Joseph] McCarthy era, and apparently believed most of the charges made by McCarthy, J. Edgar Hoover, and others. He'd seen enough of this sort of thing in Washington to believe it.

3. President Tanner says he is tired, tired, and would like to be released. My friend thinks there is good likelihood that Presidents Tanner and [Marion G.] Romney may be put on emeritus status at the next conference. [[Tanner remained a member of the First Presidency until his death in November 1982, Romney until two and a half years before his death in May 1988.]] Leave them in the Twelve to soften things a little.

[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]

110 years ago today - Oct 20, 1908

[George F. Richards]
... I attended the wedding reception of my niece May Grover and one Mr. Nott ... The marriage ceremony was performed by B[isho]p. Morris of the 11th Ward, the ward in which Bro[ther]. Nott has his standing. They had requested me to perform the ceremony but the First Presidency had recently ruled that the Twelve should not solemnize marriages outside the temples I had to excuse myself.

[George F. Richards, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]

115 years ago today - Oct 20, 1903

Death of Green Flake [in Idaho Falls], African-American slave who drove Brigham Young into the Salt Lake Valley on Jul 24, 1847. Green was owned by Mormon James M. Flake who lent him along with a wagon and two mules to the Church for the 1847 trek west. Upon the death of James M. Flake in 1850 his widow moved to California, a free state, but before leaving gave her "Negro slave Green Flake" to the Church as tithing. Green worked two years for Brigham Young and for Heber C. Kimball, and was then granted his freedom. After his wife's death he moved to Idaho. He returned to Salt Lake in 1897 to attend the 50th anniversary "jubilee" celebration of the arrival of the pioneers, where he received a certificate honoring him as a surviving member of the Brigham Young pioneer company. He is one of three slaves listed on the plaque on the Brigham Young monument in downtown Salt Lake City under the category of "Colored Servants."

120 years ago today - Oct 20, 1898

The first plural marriage is performed in Salt Lake City by Apostle Matthias F. Cowley by authorization of Counselor George Q. Cannon who allows him to perform plural marriages in the U.S. for high-ranking church officers not required to travel to Mexico.

[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]

125 years ago today - Oct 20, 1893

[Franklin D. Richards]
At 11-30 L[orenzo]. S[now]. F[ranklin] D R[ichards], F[rancis] M L[yman], J[ohn]. H[enry]. S[mith]. Geo[rge]. T[easdale]. A[braham] H Cannon'-met the 3 Presidency at their office. A telegram states that 5 persons therein named are reported up to the Attorney General with necessary proof offered of violation of Edmunds Tucker act & warning us to keep clear of any violation thereof. Decided to try & head off prosecutions even at heavy cost [bribing Utah's non-LDS attorney general to prevent indictment of general authorities] for varied & most important reasons of public importance. Spent till after 4. p.m. in considering condition & prospects of Mexican Colonies'-which number 2,008 souls.

[Franklin D. Richards Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

175 years ago today - Oct 20, 1843

William Clayton writes: "Joseph gave us much instruction, showing the advantages of the E[verlasting] C[ovenant]. He said there was two seals in the Priesthood. The first was that which was placed upon a man and woman when they made the covenant and the other was the seal which alloted to them their particular mansion. After his discourse B. F. Johnson and his wife were united in an everlasting covenant."

20 years ago today - 10/19/1998

BYU Prof Lynn Wardle writes memo to Elder Marlin K. Jensen (Chair, SGM Committee), David E. Sorensen, Loren C. Dunn, Lance B. Wickman (Office of Legal Services), and Richard B. Wirthlin regarding "A Proposal to Amend the U.S. Constitution to Prohibit Same-Sex Marriage" Wardle writes that hed attended a "strategic consultation" about same-sex marriage in which a bunch of anti-same-sex organizations were involved. "We heard very informative reports about the current situation in Hawaii (from Friz Rohlfing), Alaska (from Kevin Clarkson), Vermont (from Tom McCormick), and California (from Andy Pugno), and a summary of the pending lawuit[sic] in New York (from Bill Duncan). There were repeated expressions of appreciation from these persons for the leadership, support and efforts of the LDS Church in responding to the threat of same-sex marriage in those states." Wardle opposed the idea of a national amendment, but was not particularly well-received: "I was listened to politely, but little support (only from Andy Pugno) was expressed for my position." "If there is any bad news in November in Alaska (where things look very favorable at present, thanks largely to the Church's financial support) or Hawaii (where the matter was described as being very close),... or if same-sex marriage is legalized in any other state, some of our allies who oppose same-sex marriage may immediately call for a U.S. constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage. I thought that you should be aware of that and begin thinking about how the affected agencies and representatives of the Church might respond to that kind of a proposal."

[Mormons for Marriage: A Prop 8 Timeline, http://mormonsformarriage.com/?page_id=68]

130 years ago today - Oct 19, 1888

The following telegram was sent to him [i.e., John T. Caine] in cipher viz. 'John W. Young states leaders Democratic party think we should contribute twenty five thousand to the campaign. Pres[iden]t. [Wilford] Woodruff thinks he should have it direct from them or through one in whom he has more confidence regarding money matters. Pres[iden]t Woodruff absent will be home Monday, when conclusion might be reached. We think $25,000. is more than we can raise in present state of finances, owing to the suits, but are willing to do our best. Will you see what do they expect of us and let us know. Wait till Pres[iden]t Woodruff returns. Joseph F. Smith, James Jack.'

[First Presidency Office Journal, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]

175 years ago today - Oct 19, 1843. Thursday.

[William Clayton]
"[Joseph Smith] began to tell me that E[mma] was turned quite friendly and kind. She had been anointed and he also had been a[nointed] K[ing]. He said that it was her advice that I should keep M[argaret] [Clayton's plural wife who had become pregnant] at home and it was also his council. Says he just keep her at home and brook it and if they raise trouble about it and bring you before me I will give you an awful scourging and probably cut you off from the church and then I will baptise you and set you ahead as good as ever."

[George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://bit.ly/WilliamClayton]

25 years ago today - Oct 17, 1993

The First Presidency issues a statement concerning procedures for disfellowshipment and excommunication. The 1995-1996 Church Almanac states that this was in response to "extensive publicity given to six recent Church disciplinary councils in Utah." Coordinated by instruction from the Strengthening the Members Committee and Apostle Boyd K. Packer to their stake presidents, six scholars and feminists had been excommunicated or disfellowshipped in September.

[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]

50 years ago today - Oct 17, 1968

Belle Smith Spafford, general president of the Relief Society, is elected president of the National Council of Women in its eightieth anniversary year. She serves to 1970.

[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]

80 years ago today - Oct 17, 1938

[Heber J. Grant Presidency]
[Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark Jr., and David O. McKay to Stake and Mission Presidents, Oct. 17, 1938, in MFP, 6:60-61; emphasis in original] Some unfortunate and untoward incidents following the giving of endowments to wives of Church members who have not been through the temple, and to the wives of non-members, have brought this matter again in review by the Council of the First Presidency and the Twelve. ... Hereafter you will not give a recommend, under any circumstances, to a wife whose husband is not a member of the Church. ... You will give recommends to wives of members of the Church who have not had their endowments only if the husband is absolutely willing that the endowment should be given to his wife. You will therefore be expected personally to interview the husband in order to assure yourself that he has no objection whatever, and, in addition, he must express his willingness and consent in writing. This written consent must be attached to the recommend itself, which must be signed by the Bishop of the Ward and the President of the Stake, or, in the case of people living in the missions, by the President of the Branch and the President of the Mission. Unless these requirements are fully complied with, it will not be possible for the woman so recommended to go into the Temple. ...

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

120 years ago today - Oct 17, 1898

[Abraham Owen Woodruff]
Delivered the Seer-stone that was used by the Prophet Joseph [Smith] and handed down from him to Brigham [Young], John [Taylor] and then to my Father [i.e., Wilford Woodruff] to Pres[iden]t. Lorenzo Snow.

[Abraham Owen Woodruff Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

125 years ago today - Oct 17, 1893

[President Wilford Woodruff]
I Met with GQC. JFS with several of the Twelve & McCallister, D. H. Cannon M W Merrill who preside over the Three Temples & L Snow of Salt Lake Temple & spent three hours in harmanizing the Different M[ode?]s of Ceremonies in giving Endowments.

<I burned up> $10,000,000 Notes.

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

125 years ago today - Oct 17, 1893

The Democratic Salt Lake Herald (of which Apostle Heber J. Grant is vice-president) reportsthe meeting of an "Afro-American Club, recently organized here for the purpose of promoting the social and political interests of the colored people of this city." The club's leader comments that "the [anti-Mormon] Liberal party had always treated the Afro-Americans WITH DISDAIN."

[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]

180 years ago today - Oct. 17-19, 1838

A snowstorm hits Missouri. Col. Hinkle and his 100 men march to Adam-ondi-Ahman to join forces with Lyman Wight. There they hear that the nearby town of Millport has been attacked and several houses burned. General Parks of the state militia gives Lyman Wight official orders to disperse any mobs around Adam-ondi-Ahman and Millport. Lyman Wight and Captain David Patten each command a force of about 60 men, and Wight takes his and heads for Millport, while Patten heads for Gallatin. Patten's men find a cannon left by the mobs. Houses and stores are burned, the mobs blaming the Mormons and the Mormons saying the mobs burned their own houses in order to blame the Mormons.

[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

15 years ago today - Oct 16, 2003

Utah's Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, backed by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, announces his intention to investigate the Hildale police force and recommends decertification for all officers who have multiple wives.

[Gartner, Hana, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Timeline: History of Polygamy]

110 years ago today - Oct 16, 1908

[James Henry Martineau]
Attended a reunion of Temple workers, at which the wid. of W. W. Phelps was present and spoke in tongues.

[An Uncommon Common Pioneer: The Journals of James Henry Martineau 1828-1918, edited by Donald G. Godfrey XXX Rebecca S. Martineau-McCarty]

120 years ago today - Oct 16, 1898

[Heber J. Grant]
"Related special manifestations to me at the time of my son Heber's death, also my wifes'."

[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]

130 years ago today - Oct 16, 1888

[Heber J. Grant]
... Prest Cannon's atty had a private interview with him and he was decidedly in favor of our aiding in the election of Grover Cleveland for President.

[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]

150 years ago today - Oct 16, 1868 (Friday)

Zion's Co-operative Mercantile Institution commenced operation in Salt Lake City, with Brigham Young as president. Co-operative stores were shortly afterwards opened in most of the towns and settlements of the Territory.

[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

50 years ago today - Oct 15, 1968

[David O. McKay]
It was reported that requests have been received for permission to issue temple recommends to women to go to the temple to receive their endowments who are not divorced but have been separated from their husbands for some years and have not heard from them during that period of separation, nor do they know where they are. President [N. Eldon] Tanner said it was his feeling that where the law of the state where the parties reside says that a man who has deserted his wife and has not been heard of for a designated number of years is considered dead, that the woman in such a case should be given a recommend to the temple to receive her endowments. I concurred that under conditions of this kind the woman should be granted permission to go to the Temple to receive her endowments if she is otherwise worthy.

[David O. McKay diary, Oct. 15, 1968, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

115 years ago today - Oct 15, 1903

Brigham Young Academy became Brigham Young University.

[Ludlow, Daniel H. editor, Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Macmillan Publishing, Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Vol. 4, Appendix 2: A Chronology of Church History, http://amzn.to/eG0DIp]

120 years ago today - Oct 15, 1898

[Brigham Young Jr.]
Had a private and pleasant interview with Pres[ident]. L[orenzo]. Snow on U[nited]. O[rder]. I bel[ie]ve the Lord has something for us concerning this principle for Pres[ident]. L[orenzo]. is well qualified to be the medium to His people in begin[in]g to establish this order preparatory to 'Redeeming Zion' God grant we may have a little of this principle as we can stand it, and work into it understandingly. How I long for this day to come when Zion shall be redeemed. God grant I may grow with it and be with the Redeemed of the Lord.

[Brigham Young Jr. Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

130 years ago today - Oct 15, 1888

[Heber J. Grant]
This evening in company with Chas W. Penrose I called on Bro Joseph F. Smith and we talked with him regarding the necessity of our people paying $25,000 to the Democratic fund to aid in the election of Pres Cleveland. He was decidedly in favor of our doing so and suggested that I remain and make a second collection from our statehood funds instead of going to Emery County on Wednesday as per my former programme.

[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]

145 years ago today - Oct 15, 1873 (Wednesday)

A.H. Brown, chief of police in Provo, was shot by Harrison Carter, a notorious renegade, who escaped, but was afterwards caught in Nevada, brought to Salt Lake City and imprisoned.

[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

165 years ago today - Oct 15, 1853

[Hosea Stout]
News from Salt Lake says the indians have killed two whites & still hostile. Salt Lake being walled in

[Diaries of Hosea Stout]

175 years ago today - Oct 15, 1843

Joseph Smith preaches, "The only fault I find with the Constitution is, it is not broad enough to cover the whole ground. Although it provides that all men shall enjoy religious freedom, yet it does not provide the manner by which that freedom can be preserved, nor for the punishment of Government officers who refuse to protect the people in their religious rights, or punish those mobs, states, or communities who interfere with the rights of the people on account of their religion."

[Quinn, D. Michael, The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, Appendix 7: Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-47, http://amzn.to/origins-power]

180 years ago today - (Mon) Oct 15, 1838

Joseph Smith formed a military company which marched to Daviess County under command of David W. Patten. Parley P. Pratt and others.

Battle of Crooked Creek between Mormons and Samuel Bogart's troop of State Militia. Three Mormons (David W. Patten, Gideon Carter, and Patrick O'Banion) were killed trying to rescue captives. One of Bogart's men was killed.

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

120 years ago today - Oct 14, 1898; Friday

[Brigham Young Jr.]
The gentiles are awfully made angry at me for preaching at Con[ference]. "beware of the leaven of the gentiles." and gentile leaven is like ink poured in pure water to the faith of the saints. My, what a row my sermon has created. If the brethren will keep their hand off me as true as the Lord liveth I will preach what He gives me.

[Brigham Young Jr., Diary]

180 years ago today - 14-Oct 15, 1838

Joseph Smith made his "... religion by the sword" statement at Far West, MO. Rigdon said that any Mormon who refused fight the Missourians should be forced to do just that, in the front ranks of battle.

He and Sidney Rigdon call upon Mormon troops to ride to Diahman to protect the Saints. Four hundred soldiers march to Daviess County.

[LeSueur, Stephen C., The 1838 Mormon War in Missouri, Appendix: Chronology of Events in Missouri, 1838-1839;Broadhurst, Dale R., Mormon Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/morchrn2.htm]

10 years ago today - October 13

[Propisition-8]
Sacramento Bee reports "[Mormon] Church members have donated about 40 percent of the $22.8 million raised to pass the initiative since July, according to Frank Schubert, campaign manager for ProtectMarriage.com, the primary backer of the "yes" campaign." Some have said that this article, and the Mormon couple interviewed, was a "wake up call" to the No on 8 campaign about the depth of individual Mormon participation.

[Latter-Day Army: Details of Mormons and Prop 8, http://www.stopthemormons.com/?p=486]

10 years ago today - October 13

[Proposition-8]
Idaho television reports about organizing by the Mormon church in their area to operate phone banks to reach California voters.

[Latter-Day Army: Details of Mormons and Prop 8, http://www.stopthemormons.com/?p=486]

145 years ago today - Oct 13, 1873

The Salt Lake City School of the Prophets discusses the practice of Patriarch John Smith and others who ordain infant boys to priesthood. Second counselor Daniel H. Wells "said some had ordained children when they thought they would die-this had been a comfort to some parents, though there was no law or revelation given for or against it, consequently he could not see any harm or wrong in having it done, neither could he think there was any particular virtue in it."

[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]

175 years ago today - Oct 13, 1843

Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith allowed Dr. Turner, a phrenologist, to examine his head for about an hour.

10 years ago today - October 12

[Proposition-8]
Mormon Jyl Holiday makes comment on blog that in her congregation "they have us knocking doors to warn people about it. Calling like telemarketers, and EVERY talk is about Prop 8, every RS, priesthood class is based around the proposition, it is starting to deterr members from even going to church. I TOTALLY see why the general presidency is asking for us to fight here in CA, but some of the members feel that it is just too much of shoving down the throught for them to handle."

[Latter-Day Army: Details of Mormons and Prop 8, http://www.stopthemormons.com/?p=486]

25 years ago today - Oct 12, 1993-Tuesday

[Leonard Arrington]
Let me here record that I was told by an "insider" that Elder [Boyd K.] Packer, some time ago, had told Jon Huntsman, president of Monument Park Stake [Salt Lake City], that he must excommunicate a certain person. President Huntsman said he would not like to do it. They argued a little. Finally, insistent on having his way, Elder Packer told him, "Excommunicate that person or I will excommunicate you." President Huntsman held the trial and excommunicated him....

We had Mike Quinn for dinner at our house last evening and were assured that he will continue to work on his two books and on articles dealing with Mormon history. He did not seem to be upset particularly; he seemed to think it was inevitable. These excommunications are the worst examples of blaming the messenger for the message. What a perversion of apostasy, to regard as apostates individuals who are as loyal and believing as Mike, Lavina [Fielding Anderson], Paul [Toscano], and [Avraham] Gileadi. (I don't know [Lynne] Whitesides or Maxine Hanks enough to know what their beliefs are.) I feel like singing, "Oh Say What is Truth?"

[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]

55 years ago today - Oct 12, 1963

The Polynesian Cultural Center, located near the Church College of Hawaii and the temple in Laie, Hawaii, was dedicated.

[Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html]

60 years ago today - Oct 12, 1958

Regarding suggestions that Benson run for President, McKay said "A Just keep on as you are, and we'll wait for the Lord to tell us what the future holds." "A Do not seek the candidacy; let them come to you and if they do, we shall consider it."

[Gary James Bergera, "Weak-Kneed Republicans and Socialist Democrats": Ezra Taft Benson as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, 1953-61, Part 2, Dialogue : A Journal of Mormon Thought, (Winter 2008, vol 41)]

120 years ago today - Oct 12, 1898

[J. Golden Kimball]
At 6 P.M. met with the General Board of the Y.M.M.I.A. at the Presidents office. ... We got along very nicely, until Bro[ther Grant wanted his brother B[righam] F. Grant to be assistant manager of the 'Improvement Era,' and unintentionally said, if I can get him there, the Gen[era]'l Board will find him so useful that they will want him to be one of the General Board. B[righam] F. Grant was a wicked man about a year ago and because he has repented and is a brother to Heber J Grant we have to have him crowded on us, and hear of him on all occasions. My brother Solomon has repented for sixteen years and received no recognition at all.

[J. Golden Kimball, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]

130 years ago today - Oct 12, 1888

Wilford Woodruff and apostles vote to allow Idaho Mormons to be excommunicated in order to vote. They regret this decision within three weeks.

[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]

135 years ago today - Oct 12, 1883

[Wilford Woodruff]
This was a day of fasting and Prayer with the leaders of the Church. I took a Bath and wash in the Morning and went to the Endowment House at 9 oclok to receive the washing of feet as it was done in Kirtland 47 years ago By the Prophet Joseph Smith as an Initiatory ordinance into the school of the Prophets. Remarks were made By the Presidency & others. President John Taylor washed the feet of Zebedee Coltrin as He was the ownly man living that was in the first school of the Prophets organized by Joseph Smith in Kirtland /in 1833/. Then Zebedee Coultrin washed the feet of Presidet Taylor. Then Presidet Taylor washed the feet of his two Councillors & all the Twelve Apostles except C. C. Rich who was sick & John Henry Smith in England. He washed the feet of 38 in all. At the Close of this Ceremony we partook of Bread & wine as a sacrament as they did in the Temple in Kirtland which Closed the labor of the day.

[Heber J. Grant] At 9 A.M. met as per appointment in the Endowment House with the First Presidency, Twelve, Counselor Wells, Prests of Stakes & 4 others'we had met together fasting and for the purpose of organizing the School of the Prophets'Last evening or this morning all had taken a bath & put on clean cloth garments'excepting Bros Wells and Smoot, they knew nothing of this requirement. Prest Taylor requested them to bathe and change their garments.

[J.D.T. McAllister] President Taylor addressed us on the order of the School of the Prophets, and washed, our feet pronouncing us clean from the blood of this generation and sealing upon us all the rights powers and priveleges associated with this ordinance. we then partook of the Sacrement. bread and wine. enough to eat and drink. He went through the form of receiving the members of the School Himself Counselors G.Q. Cannon J F Smith chosen President. Teacher of the school and assistant retained to Moroni.

[George Q. Cannon diary, Church Historian's Press]: We all met fasting [148 words redacted relating to a sacred ritual]. The spirit of God was powerfully poured out, and all felt subdued and to rejoice. After this ceremony was finished, bread and wine were brought in. Prest. Taylor, myself, and Bro. Joseph F. Smith proceeded to break the bread, dividing a loaf into about three pieces, which Prest. Taylor invoked a blessing upon. Bro. Joseph F. Smith and myself distributed the bread to the brethren. After sitting [and] eating at the bread for a while, we then proceeded to distribute a gallon of wine for those who were present, there being thirty[-]eight of us. This gave each a small wine-glass-ful, upon which, also, President Taylor invoked a blessing. This is a day long to be remembered. I never had such feelings in my life. All felt the power of God to a wonderful extent. We felt linked together in the bonds of love, and that we were brethren united together by the holiest of covenants and the strongest of ties. After having partaken of the sacrament all the brethren withdrew into the celestial room with the exception of Prest. Taylor. We remained there about five minutes to give him time to offer up prayer, and then we proceeded up stairs and he delivered to us the salutation found in section 88 of the Book of Doctrine & Covenants with uplifted hands to heaven, and in response I, in behalf of the brethren, gave him the salutation with all our hands uplifted to heaven; after which we adjourned.

[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies;The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015;Diary Excerpts of J.D.T. McAllister, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies;The Journal of George Q. Cannon, Church Historian's Press, https://churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon]

175 years ago today - Oct 12, 1843

Date given by William Law (on May 23, 1844) when indicting Joseph Smith as the beginning of adulterous relations between him and his plural wife Maria Lawrence. (The reason for choosing this date is unclear according to current research.)

[Hales, Brian C., Joseph Smith's Polygamy: History and Theology, 3 vols., Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2013 (www.JosephSmithsPolygamy.com)]

185 years ago today - Oct 12, 1833

Perrysburg, New York. While at Freeman Nickerson's, Joseph Smith received Doctrine & Covenants 100, a revelation concerning his and Sidney Rigdon's missionary labors.

[BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]

25 years ago today - Oct 11, 1993

Steve Benson goes public concerning a conversation he had earlier with Apostle Dallin Oaks concerning Apostle Boyd K. Packer contacting Paul Toscano's stake president, Kerry Heinz, concerning Toscano's disciplinary council. Oaks had publicly stated that "if Elder Packer is having any conversation with" President Heinz, "it is contrary to what I know about Elder Packer and how he operates." Benson states that Oaks had previously told him that Packer had contacted Heinz and that, "You can't stage manage a grizzly bear," adding that "it was a mistake for Packer to meet with Heinz and a mistake for Heinz to ask for the meeting."

50 years ago today - Oct 11, 1968

Brother Garff [of the building commitee] mentioned that ... There are 30%, or 785,000 people who do not have access to a temple. ... Elder Garff said that he felt that what we should do is bring the temple to the additional membership of the Church. He said it was the committee's proposal that we buy a ship and outfit the ship and make it a temple ship and that we take this ship to the ports of the earth where our people are. He said that with a ship we could outfit a temple and take that temple to 30%. Included in the 30% would be people in the United States who are not accessible to the temple and those throughout the world. He said that this could be done for between a million and a half and two million dollars, that a ship could be purchased and remodeled and that we could get the crew and could sail the seas at about a half a million dollars a year. ... He said that such a ship could travel up the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers and that the entire inland part of the United States could be covered. ... He expressed the view that once every year or every eighteen or nineteen months we could touch all of these particular areas with the vessel. ...

Elder [Alvin R.] Dyer mentioned a matter that he said bothered him somewhat[,] and that was [that] in the very early days of the Church the Prophet Joseph had said that the waters would be cursed, that he did not know exactly what that might mean but that we should not be insensible to that. ...

The brethren said that they should not do this at the present time. The brethren were agreed that the matter was deserving of careful consideration.

[Alvin R. Dyer, minutes of a meeting with the First Presidency, President McKay's apartment, recorded in Elder Dyer's diary, Oct. 11, 1968, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

60 years ago today - Oct 11, 1958, at 8:00 am

Q: These interviews are important. In some instances while I was a stake president, applicants became very disturbed about the patriarch's interview and felt he was entitled to inspiration from the Lord. If there is anything to receiving inspiration, it seems to me that a patriarch should be careful of the questions he asks so he does not mislead them. Many times they came to me disturbed about the questions asked by the patriarch.

A: You don't need to question his morality. You can question about his family. If you know all about him, perhaps you don't need to interview him.

... Q: It seems a patriarch might be influenced by some of the answers to the questions.

A: He should be influenced. For instance, a man comes in for a blessing; he comes from the bishop who has given him a recommend for the blessing. That does not prevent the patriarch from asking him about his family or his ancestry. It does not prevent the patriarch from asking, if he holds the priesthood. There are many questions that the patriarch can ask. He doesn't have to quiz him regarding his conduct.

[Digest of the Minutes of the Meeting of the Patriarchs of the Church With the General Authorities Held in the Barratt Hall, Salt Lake City, Utah, Saturday, October 11, 1958, at 8:00 a.m.]

125 years ago today - Oct 11, 1893

[Apostle Francis M. Lyman]
I taught Sister Mary Ann Price Hyde that is was not a sin but a virtue for a man to live with and have children by his plural wife. There was nothing wrong about it only in being caught by the law. A man should be brave enough to run some chances. She acknowledged she had taken the wrong view of it and gladly stood corrected. I did the same for Aunt Bathseba Smith.

[Excerpts of Apostle Francis M. Lyman Diaries, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

130 years ago today - Oct 11, 1888

[John C. Whitmer]
"I have heard my grandmother (Mary M[usselman]. Whitmer) say on several occasions that she was shown the plates of the Book of Mormon by an holy angel, whom she always called Brother Nephi. (She undoubtedly refers to Moroni, the angel who had the plates in charge.) It was at the time, she said, when the translation was going on at the house of the elder Peter Whitmer, her husband. ... One evening, when (after having done her usual day's work in the house) she went to the barn to milk the cows, she met a stranger carrying something on his back that looked like a knapsack. At first she was a little afraid of him, but when he spoke to her in a kind, friendly tone, and began to explain to her the nature of the work which was going on in her house, she was filled with unexpressible joy and satisfaction. He then untied his knapsack and showed her a bundle of plates, which in size and appearance corresponded with the description subsequently given by the witness to the Book of Mormon. This strange person turned the leaves of the book of plates over, leaf after leaf, and also showed her the engravings upon them...

[Andrew Jenson, "Still Another Witness," Historical Record 7 (October 1888): 621, as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: John C. Whitmer Interview With Andrew Jenson And Edward Stevenson]

135 years ago today - Oct 11, 1883

[Heber J. Grant]
In the evening at 8 p.m. the First Presidency and our Quorum met in Prest Taylor's office and the revelation given to Prest Taylor last April was read for the benefit of those that did not hear it at our meeting Octr 4th. The Iron Mines The Beck Silver Mine and other matters were talked of.

[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]

135 years ago today - Oct 11, 1883

[Woodruff account:] Zebedee Coltrin related a vision in the Temple in Kirtland After the school of the Prophets was organized. He said while sitting in Council a personage passed through the room dressed in usual Clothing. Joseph said that was the Savior. Soon another personage passed through the House Clothed in fire. His features & feet were visable but his body was wrapted in flames. Joseph said that was God the Father. He said He was with Joseph & another Man in the woods praying and Heavens was opened and they saw a Man sitting upon a Throne whose hair was white as wool & a woman sitting beside of him Both dressed in white. Joseph said it was Adam & Eve.

[Franklin D. Richards report:] ... in Kirtland [Ohio] in 1833'related visions of Father & the Son appearing to them'of seeing the Heavens opened & with Joseph [Smith] & Oliver [Cowdery] seeing Adam & Eve on a glorious throne also of Reynolds Cahoon transparency [sic?].

[Minutes: School of the Prophets:] Once after returning from a mission, he [Zebedee Coltrin] met Bro. Joseph in Kirtland, who asked him if he did not wish to go with him to a conference at New Portage. The party consisted of Prests. Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Oliver Cowdery and myself. Next morning at New Portage, he noticed that Joseph seemed to have a far off look in his eyes, or was looking at a distance, and presently he, Joseph, stepped between Brothers Cowdery, and Coltrin and taking them by the arm, said, "lets take a walk." They went to a place where there was some beautiful grass, and grapevines and swampbeech interlaced. President Joseph Smith then said, "Let us pray." They all three prayed in turn--Joseph, Oliver and Zebedee. Bro. Joseph then said, "now brethren we will see some visions." Joseph lay down on the ground on his back and stretched out his arms and the two brethren lay on them. The heavens gradually opened, and they saw a golden throne, on a circular foundation, something like a light house, and on the throne were two aged personages, having white hair, and clothed in white garments. They were the two most beautiful and perfect specimens of mankind he ever saw. Joseph said, They are our first parents, Adam and Eve. Adam was a large broad shouldered man, and Eve as a woman, was as large in proportion.

[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies;Franklin D. Richards, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015; Salt Lake School of the Prophet, Minutes, 1883, pp. 69-70; CHO CR/390/1/Box 1, Oct 11, 1883.]

180 years ago today - Oct 11, 1838

DeWitt falls to 400 vigilantes from Carroll and five other counties. Mormons flee to Far West. [During the siege some perished from starvation.]

[Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]

115 years ago today - Oct 10, 1903

[Apostle Rudger Clawson]
[Thirteen years after the manifesto] Talks with Lydia about marrying plural wife and receives permission to do so.

[Larsen, Stan (editor), A Ministry of Meetings:The Apostolic Diaries of Rudger Clawson, Significant Mormon Diaries Series No. 6, A Rudger Clawson Chronology, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]

120 years ago today - Oct 10, 1898

Lorenzo Snow is "set apart" (not ordained) as church president, and his counselors are also set apart. This is the first time that members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are set apart for service in the First Presidency. Rudger Clawson is ordained an apostle, the first convicted felon to become a member of the Quorum of the Twelve.

[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]

120 years ago today - Oct 10, 1898; Monday

[Heber J. Grant]
Pres[iden]t Jos[eph] F Smith then remarked that he felt that he wanted to testify that in the setting apart of the President and his counselors and the President of the Apostles that we had done the right thing.

Felt that in not doing it in the case of President [Wilford] Woodruff that we had failed to do something which he felt should have been done. ...

[Heber J. Grant, Diary]

120 years ago today - Oct 10, 1898; Monday

Pres[ident]. Snow having previously expressed himself to the effect that he felt he should be set apart to preside over the Church, this was now done; ... Pres[ident]. Cannon spoke as follows:

["]Pres[ident]. Lorenzo Snow, we your fellow-servants of the Most High God, possessed of the Apostleship, which you have received through your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, lay our hands upon thy head to bless thee and to set thee apart to preside over the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; that in connection with thy counselors, thou mayest preside over the body of the Church, according to the revelations of the Lord Jesus Christ concerning his Church; and that thou mayest be filled by the power of God, and be entitled to the revelations of the Lord Jesus and give the mind and will of God to the Church; to impart unto them from time to time that knowledge concerning the will of God that shall be communicated to them. And every gift, every grace and qualification that has ever rested down upon a man chosen by the Lord to fill this exalted station, we seal upon thee at this time.

["]We reconfirm upon thee all thy former blessings, and all the powers and the authority and ordinations; and every power that pertains to the everlasting Priesthood and to the Presidency of the Church of Christ, we seal upon thee, and ask God our Father to confirm this sealing and this setting apart, that thou mayest be filled with the new power, yea with increased power, to go forth and magnify thy calling in the midst of the Church of Christ and among thy fellow-servants; and that the Lord will communicate with thee from time to time everything necessary for the perfect government of his Church; that thou mayest exercise all the keys and the authority that have been exercised heretofore by thy predecessors--by Wilford Woodruff, by John Taylor, by Brigham Young, and by Joseph Smith, and which he (Joseph Smith) sealed upon his fellow-Apostles.

["]We pray thee, O God our Eternal Father, to hear us thy servants and to look at our hearts and our desires and forgive our feebleness and imperfections; for we desire to bless this thy servant with every blessing that we have authority to invoke in his behalf, and we humbly ask thee to confirm this blessing upon his head, and to fill him with thy power from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet; that he may be set apart to this important office and

exercise all its functions to thine acceptance and to the satisfaction of his fellow-servants and of thy Saints.

["]All these blessings, Father, we seal upon him; and we say unto thee, Brother Lorenzo, receive thou the same, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the authority of the Holy Apostleship, which we hold, even so, Amen.["] ...

[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]