125 years ago today - Aug 31, 1895 (Saturday)

The Utah Supreme Court decided that women were not entitled to vote at the November election.

[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

140 years ago today - Aug 31, 1880

Pres[iden]t [of St. George Temple] J[ohn] D. T. McAllister [said] ... With regard to new Names, give easy names to be understood: Scripture names or names not in the Scripture, there are many good names of those who have lived upon the earth which are easy to understand[;] don't give any fanciful names, [and] be Sure they get the New Name and that they understand it. ... During the time of the Endowments, there Should be no knitting or Sewing in any of the rooms, no loud talking or noise. ...

[Minutes, Meeting of Workers in St. George Temple, Aug. 31, 1880, typed excerpt, Buerger Papers, quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

145 years ago today - Aug 31, 1875

The United Order of Salt Lake City No. 1 Met in the old Tabernacle at 10 oclok, being the first Presidency, Twelve Apostles, & some fifty others without wives. ...

He [Brigham Young] Said I am the Presidet of the Twelve Apostles & the Lord has Never acknowledged any other man as the Presidet of the Twelve except myself ownly what was said about Thomas B. Marsh and it is the duty of the Twelve to know the mind and will of God Concerning them and their duties as much as for me to know it. Our wives were received into the order and Children.

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

85 years ago today - Aug 30, 1935

[Heber J. Grant]

I am in a good deal the same position as my beloved counselor, Brother [Charles W.] Penrose. I don't realize anything about old age. I often had to turn my head to keep from laughing in his face when we would be discussing somebody who was seventy-five years of age, and he would say very rapidly 'too old, too old; never do, never do; must get a younger man.' He didn't seem to realize when he made that remark that he was fifteen years older than the man we were discussing.

[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Mark Austin, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]

85 years ago today - Aug 30, 1935

[Heber J. Grant]

... I do not claim to have received any special revelation for the people, but I do claim that the Lord had directed me and helped me beyond my natural ability to accomplish the work evolving upon me as President of the Church....

So far as changing the language of the ordination to the Priesthood is concerned permit me to say that president Joseph F. Smith said it did not make a particle of difference s to the exact language in conferring the Priesthood, whether the one officiating said 'I ordain you to the Aaronic'or Melchizedek'Priesthood'; and then set the person apart to an office in the Priesthood; or whether he ordained him to an office in the Priesthood and gave him all the authority pertaining to that particular office. You need not worry as to whether you have the Priesthood, but you should see earnestly to the Lord to help you to magnify the Priesthood. ...

The Church is the principal stockholder in the Sugar Company, and under the inspiration of the Lord, in my judgment, to Wilford Woodruff, the Church borrowed money and loaned it to the Sugar Company to establish the first beet factory ever built in the United States with American machinery. Brother Woodruff said, 'When I think of not establishing this industry and pray about it, it is darkness; and when I think of the Church helping and getting the money and building this factory, it is light'; and I have followed the light all my life, and we are going to follow it in building the Lehi factory. ...

The Prophet Joseph Smith gave a key that the majority of the authorities would never go wrong. ... Brigham Young had said that anyone who would fool with a planchette would be led into spiritualism, and of course that meant apostasy. 'The fruits of the Gospel are health and vigor of body and mind; the fruits of spiritualism,' President young said, 'are suicide and insanity.' ...

I understand that Mr. Godbe's [of the Godbeite spiritualist breakoff] wife went insane. ... [Godbe's son] committed suicide.

One of my schoolmates who joined 'The New Movement' as the followers of Godbe were called one of the brightest and most intelligent young men in school, finally committed suicide.

Neither you nor any other man will ever go wrong if you follow the majority of the Presidency and the Apostles. ...

Any claim by any person that he received authority from President John Taylor to do that which is contrary to the decisions and counsel of the constituted Authorities of the Church, is an absolute falsehood. [Fundementalist leader] Lorin Woolley claimed to have this authority. He was a falsifier. He claimed to have followed me to a hotel in Los Angeles, and that while there he heard Anthony W. Ivins perform a ceremony marrying a wife to me. This was a falsehood, as Anthony W. Ivins and I were never in a hotel together in Los Angeles. Woolley was excommunicated from the Church for lieing, and he is now dead and gone. ...

There is no necessity ... for you to go without food and water for two days in order to get spiritual advice; all you need to do is keep the commandment of the Lord, and the Lord will bless you with wisdom and strength. I know any number of people who have fasted until they lost their minds. You will never feel more sure of yourself by shaking hands with me, as to whether or not I am a Prophet of God. The only way you can get that knowledge is by living the Gospel. All you need to do, my dear brother, is to be a trit observer of the Word of Wisdom and a tithe-payer, and to keep the promises that you made in the temple of God, to sustain the Authorities of the Church, and to keep all the commandments the Lord has given or may give.

[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Burton Dye, 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]

150 years ago today - Aug 30, 1870

Martin Harris, one of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, arrives in Salt Lake City at the age of eighty-eight, after having been separated from the Church for nearly thirty-three years.

170 years ago today - Aug 30, 1850

This evening Milo Andrus and a company of about 50 waggons of saints arrived here all in good spirits it seems. Capt Andrus waggon bore a large flag with Holiness to the Lord inscribed on it. This is the first Co of Saints that has come in this year although several families have arrived previously.

[Diaries of Hosea Stout]

60 years ago today - Late August, 1960

At Presidential candidate Richard Nixon's urging, U.S. President Eisenhower agreed to absent his divisive Secretary of Agriculture Ezra Taft Benson from the unfolding political drama by sending him on several trade missions in exchange for which Nixon would not publicly disavow either Benson or his farm policy. At first, Benson apparently did not comprehend that he was being deliberately sidelined, for he returned from Europe and the Middle East in late August 1960 itching for partisan battle. He publicly charged Kennedy with "flip-flopping" on agriculture, proclaimed the Nixon ticket as "the nation's best hope," and even asserted—despite some private misgivings—that Nixon would be a "great and beloved President."

Later that fall, however, when asked to spearhead a second overseas mission, Benson realized that party leaders were intentionally snubbing him. Benson then quietly withdrew from active politicking and instead focused on his department affairs.

[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)]

85 years ago today - Aug 29, 1935

[Heber J. Grant]

In answer to your letter of the 25th, will say that the advice of the Presidency of the Church from the days of Brigham Young until now has been that our people do not play cards, and I know of no change in the attitude of the Church toward this matter ...

Several of my daughters have been the only ones at social gatherings who did not play cards. One of the reasons why I am emphatically opposed to card playing is that it is a waste of time and creates such an appetite for the game, that people sometimes stay up until after midnight playing cards.

[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Ora Lee Knecht, 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]

35 years ago today - Aug 28, 1985

The Restoration Church of Jesus Christ, and LDS offshoot, is organized in Los Angeles. Its membership is primarily gays and lesbians. It also condones gay polygamy. Temporary president of the church, Antonio A. Feliz (former LDS bishop) states: "If a group of people feels that a plural relationship is confirmed by the Lord and the presidency has no objection, a sealing will be performed."

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

70 years ago today - Aug 28, 1950

[Joseph Fielding Smith]

This morning with Elders Harold B. Lee, Marion G. Romney and Thomas Romney, I had an argument and some difficulty with Dr. Heber C. Snell. Dr. Sterling McMurrin was with him at my invitation. He has been an instructor at the Institute in Logan for several years, and he previously taught in Pocatello and other places in the Church school system. For many years I have felt that his teachings were antagonistic, or to say the least, out of harmony with the fundamental teachings of the Church. Some time ago he wrote a book the title being 'Ancient Israel, Its Story and Meaning.' In my opinion this book is filled with doctrinal and historical errors. I had an interview with him one other time when he was mild and reasonable to some degree. Today he was almost defiant and in the course of the conversation we learned that he is antagonistic to the teachings of the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. He does not accept any revelation from the Prophet Joseph Smith that is in conflict with the opinions of the higher critic scholars. Our meeting was not a pleasant one.

[Joseph Fielding Smith 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]

85 years ago today - Aug 28, 1935

[Heber J. Grant]

In your letter of August 18 you make inquiry regarding John H. Koyle and the 'Koyle' mine.

Koyle is not a bishop in the Church and has not been for many years. The 'Koyle Dream' mine has been mining for gold for some thirty-odd years, as I remember, but has never found any gold. I have talked with expert mining men regarding the mine, and they tell me there has never been any ore in it worthy of the expenditure of any money in a search for gold. I have understood that they abandoned some of their operations, and that Koyle received new revelations that they should start in a new direction.

I have never seen the mine, have merely had the location of the mine pointed out to me. The Church has frequently warned its members against investing in 'ream' mines.

... The 'Koyle' mine is a very splendid institution to let alone, in my judgment.

[Heber J. Grant, Letter to Mrs. John R. Allen, 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]

120 years ago today - Aug 28, 1900; Tuesday

Brother L. John Nuttall received a letter from [possible plural wife of the late Wilford Woodruff] Madam [Lydia Von Finklestein] Mountford, in which she expressed a desire to come out here from New York, for a short visit and rest, but that she did not feel herself financially able to pay her expenses. Brother Nuttall having represented that he would look after her during her stay here and board her in his family, it was concluded to appropriate her railroad fare and expenses.

Sister Susa Y. Gates had been invited to attend the National Household Economic Association Conference to be held at Toronto, and read a paper, but she could not afford to do so, but intimated a desire to respond to the invitation provided the Church could pay her railroad fares. It was decided to pay her fare.

[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]

130 years ago today - Aug 28, 1890

[Dedication Iosopa, west of Salt Lake for Hawaiian settlement - reported by Wilford Woodruff]

28 We held a Meeting with Saints. We had a procession of the people. I headed the procession followed by G Q Cannon J F Smith followed by all the people. The Native women from the Islands were all Dressed in beautiful white. One waggon Driven By Frank Knowlton loaded with Sage Brush & Indians representing Utah as it was. Another waggon Driven with wheat Corn oats & Barley & fruits representing Utah as it is. We marched around the flag pole in the City plot then down to the bowery whare we had a feast. The Meats were Cooked as the Kan[ackers?] Cook it on the Islands in a hole in the ground.

After our Dinner we Assembled together and had an oration Delive[re]d by one of the Natives. He was a powerfull Orator. W Woodruff then addressed them which was interpeted by J F Smith who also addressed them near one hour. When He Closed W Woodruff Dedicated the Land & place with all its Contents in the English Language. Then Joseph F Smith Dedicated it in the Hawaiion Language after which Wm. King Dismissed the Assembly. It was a Day long to be remembered by these Natives. In fact it was a vary interesting day to me.

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

140 years ago today - Aug 28, 1880

George Reynolds, incarcerated for plural marriage, decides to prepare a concordance to the Book of Mormon while in prison. Over the course of the project, Reynolds prepares and transcribes as many as 350 passages per day from the Book of Mormon and completes 25,000 entries by the time he is released in January 1881. The concordance is completed in 1899.

175 years ago today - 28 August 1845, Thursday

P.M. met at Dr Richards with Prest. B. Young, H.C. Kimball, P.P. Pratt, W. Richards, J. Taylor, G.A. Smith, A. Lyman, N.K. Whitney, G. Miller, O. Spencer and J. Young. It was voted to select three thousand men who are able to bear arms to prepare this winter to start to California next spring with their families. Prayers were offered up for the usual subjects.

[Fillerup, Robert C., compiler; William Clayton Nauvoo Diaries and Personal Writings, A chronological compilation of the personal writings of William Clayton while he was a resident of Nauvoo, Illinois. http://www.boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/clayton-diaries]

175 years ago today - Aug 28 [1845]

[Brigham Young]

I went on to the hill got brother Parley came down to Geo. A. Smiths, from there to the Nauvoo House then to Bro. Nickersons, and then to Edward Meachaim's found him possessed of the devil, laid hands on him.

[Brigham Young Journal # 4 in the handwriting of: William Clayton, Evan Greene, John D. Lee, Willard Richards. First person account kept by others. 'Lieut. Genl Brigham Young's Journal 1844']

185 years ago today - late Aug 1835

Joseph Smith asked Levi Hancock to take Fanny Alger [probable first plural wife of Joseph Smith] to Missouri. She and her family left the following month, and after a lengthy stop-over in Indiana (for unclear reasons, perhaps her pregnancy), reached Missouri a year later. [Joseph Smith also preached this day about the duty of wives]

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

190 years ago today - 1830 late Aug.

Oliver wrote from Fayette to Joseph Smith, Jr. in Harmony and told Joseph that he must recant a portion of a "revelation." Apparently Oliver felt that Joseph was inserting his own words into divine communications and thus creating "priestcraft" within the Church of Christ.

[Broadhurst, Dale R., Oliver Cowdery Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/Cdychrn1.htm]

45 years ago today - Aug 27, 1975-Wednesday

[Leonard Arrington]

Yesterday President Ernest Wilkinson spent an hour with me in the late afternoon ... It appears that Bob Thomas and Dallin Oaks, sensing the problems involved in him writing about his and the Oaks administrations for the third volume of the BYU history had recommended that a co-editor be appointed with him for the third volume. Specifically they had recommended Frank Fox as the co-editor. ... he was totally opposed to a collaboration with Frank Fox. Frank Fox was too young and inexperienced. He had already indicated that his approach was completely different than that of President Wilkinson, and President Wilkinson had read his book on Madison Avenue and World War II, which was so sophisticated and so filled with "clever" words and sophisticated expressions that it was not lucid or understandable or even interesting to the people who will be reading the BYU history. After giving the matter careful thought, President Wilkinson had decided to ask me if he might suggest my name to be co-editor with him. His reasons for doing this were (a) He was now inclined to agree with President Oaks and Dr. Thomas that readers of the third volume would assume his prejudicial point of view whether or not it existed and that it would be more believable if a co-author be also listed; (b) unlike Dr. Fox I had carefully read through all the chapters in volume one and volume two and was well acquainted with the first two volumes; (c) I had had lots of experience in these matters; and (d) he had built up respect for my competence and judgment. He almost pled with me to agree to this. He also said he had not mentioned it to anyone but Roy Bird and did not expect to do so until I responded one way or the other. He also said that he was putting $50,000 of his own money into support of the three-volume history and he thought he was entitled to some consideration whatever arrangements were determined upon. ... I responded to President Wilkinson that I would think the matter over and talk to him later about it. ...

I must confess that despite our completely different social philosophy and despite some of his personal characteristics which I disdain, perhaps even loath, I have developed a genuine affection for him. Perhaps it is because of his forthright honesty, his sincerity, his pluck, and his courage in ignoring stupid bureaucratic procedures and policies. ...

When I returned to the office on Monday there was delivered a beautiful gold chrysanthemum with a note from Eugene England saying, "Welcome home: we missed you!"-a very nice and thoughtful thing for him to have done. He happens to be gone this week but finished before he left his second paper on Brigham Young. After having read it, I am inclined to suggest that he continue with additional essays on Brigham and submit a manuscript to Deseret Book or to BYU Press on Brigham Young. His essays are of outstanding literary and historical character and provide insights that are not found in any publications. ...

I have always thought it was unfortunate that we did not have any good LDS biographies-that the only really fine biographies, historically speaking, were Juanita Brooks' biography of John D. Lee and Hal Schindler's biography of Porter Rockwell. This seemed incredible in view of the meticulous journals kept by many of our important leaders and of the enormous interest in the lives of these people demonstrated by LDS readers. ...

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

35 years ago today - Aug 27, 1985.

Elder Russell M. Nelson, speaking at Brigham Young University, comments, "Some truths are best left unsaid. . . . Extortion by threat of disclosing truth is labelled `blackmail.' Is sordid disclosure for personal attention or financial gain not closely related?"

[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1]

120 years ago today - Monday-Wednesday, 27-Aug 29, 1900

[Rudger Clawson]

I spent these three days in Salt Lake, mostly at the President's office, working on various matters. I got up a comparative statement for Pres. Snow, showing the cash tithing paid during the first 6 months in 1899 and in 1900. The sum totals were as follows:

Cash tithing paid during 1st 6 months in 1899

$176,484.07

Cash tithing paid during 1st 6 months in 1900

$259,287.38

From this showing Pres. Snow assumed that the tithing for 1900 would be fully as much as paid in 1899, which I feel is a just conclusion.

[Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]

125 years ago today - Aug 27, 1895 (Tuesday)

By order of the war department, and in accordance with the enactment of Congress that a star should be added to the national flag for each State admitted into the Union, a new star was added for Utah. This increased the number of the stars in the national emblem to 45.

[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

175 years ago today - 1845 27 Aug.

Nauvoo Neighbor reports: "On Saturday last a large number of persons partook of a feast of melons, round a table 87 feet long, in the attic story of the Temple."

[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 - Aug 27, 1835

Patriarchal Blessing of William W. Phelps given by Joseph Smith, Sr. ... Says Father Smith, What shall I say unto you? My answer, what the Lord put into your heart to say.

Well the Lord has put it into my heart to say, that you are a strange man.

Reply,

That I Know.

[He then laid his hands upon my head ...]

... Thou art a pure descendant of Joseph, of the blood of Ephraim. Thou art a

speckled Bird,

and the Lord hath held thee up to be gazed at: Thou art a strange man. ...

Thou shalt see the city of Enoch. and shalt gaze upon it in all its glory: yea, thou shalt be exalted to the heavens; and thou shalt be able to comprehend all hidden mysteries which have been hid up from the foundation of the world; yea, thou shalt understand things that have not yet been revealed unto man. I seal upon thee a father's blessing; upon thee, and upon thy children and upon thy children's children: And thy wife, who is a pure descendant of Joseph, according to thy blood and lineage, shall be blessed with thee.-- ... thou shalt live through all the scenes of the last days, till the end, and then thou shalt be caught from the earth, up into the clouds, and meet thy Lord, as he comes in his glory, with all his holy angels with him; even so; for I seal these blessings upon you in the name of Jesus Christ: Amen. Oliver

[Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]

185 years ago today - Aug 27, 1835

Patriarchal Blessing of Newel Knight given by Joseph Smith, Sr. ... Thou shalt proclaim the gospel with great power: thou shalt have power over Satan; shall have power to do miracles; shall outride the storm of adversity, and proclaim the gospel to the coming of the Son of Man. Thou shalt be delivered from pestilence; shall command all things upon the face of the earth, if needful to accomplish thy mission * the winds, the waves, and the tempests, according to thy faith. I[n] due time thou shalt receive the desire of thy heart, for thou shalt yet raise up children, that thy name may not be blotted out from among men. ...

[Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]

185 years ago today - Aug 27, 1835

Patriarchal Blessing of Morris Phelps given by Joseph Smith, Sr. ... and if thou desirest it thou shalt be like unto Elijah, and be wafted away to the bosom of thy God, and rest in the celestial glory; even so. Amen.

[Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]

185 years ago today - Aug 27, 1835

Patriarchal Blessing of James Emmet given by Joseph Smith, Sr. ... Thou shalt be mighty in the earth; for if thou art faithful thou shalt be like unto Enoch: the earth shall tremble at thy word in the name of the Lord, and the power of darkness shall flee from before thee. Thy faith shall wax stronger and stronger, until thou shalt obtain the ministering of holy angels, and thou shalt become a savior to some. ...

[Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]

185 years ago today - Aug 27, 1835

Patriarchal Blessing of Elias Higbee given by Joseph Smith, Sr. ... Thou shalt have life as long as thou shalt desire it; and if thou shalt desire, thou mayest tarry till the coming of the Savior

[Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]

185 years ago today - Aug 27, 1835

Patriarchal Blessing of Caleb Baldwin given by Joseph Smith, Sr. ... thou shalt be delivered from the hands of thy enemies by the power of God; for when thou art surrounded by them, if expedient, and there be no other way for thy escape, thou shalt call upon the Lord and he will answer the[e] by sending down fire.

[Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]

185 years ago today - Aug 27, 1835

"Note to the reader [from Oliver Cowdery], There were several other blessings pronounced on the 27th of August, 1835, but for the special accommodation of some who are about to journey to Zion, their blessings will now be recorded. It may be remembered that all blessings given through any one beside president Joseph Smith, sen. that that fact will be noticed, and unless a notice of that kind is given it may be understood that it was the voice of the Spirit through him. The Lord is good, and praised be his name. Amen."

[Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]

185 years ago today - 1835: 27 August

Patriarchal Blessing of Elisha H. Groves (Given by Joseph Smith, Sen.) ... Thy sins are at this time forgiven thee, and I confirm upon thy head the holy ministry unto which thou hast been ordained. Thy life shall be precious in the sight of the Lord, for thou shalt live to a good old age, and if thou wilt keep all the commandments of the Lord, and desire it with all thy heart, thou mayest be translated, that thou shalt never be brought down to the grave, but remember, that thou must become holy, like unto Enoch to obtain this great blessing--or thou mayest tarry. ... thou shalt see the winding up scene of this wicked generation.

[Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]

185 years ago today - Aug 27, 1835

Martin Harris, "Thou shalt stand upon the earth when the kingdoms of this world shall rend, and the kingdom of heaven come down, if thou art faithful ..."

[ Patriachal Blessings by Joseph Smith Sr., between 1834-1840, as quoted in The Last Days and December 1890 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ, y George D. Speer Sr., privately circulated]

5 years ago today - 2015 August 26

The LDS Church announces it will stay in the national Boy Scouts of America program, despite concerns over permitting openly gay scout leaders.

[Wikipedia, 21st Century (Mormonism), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/21st_century_(Mormonism)]

80 years ago today - Aug 26, 1940

VARIETY reports on the Salt Lake City Premiere of the motion picture BRIGHAM YOUNG: "Huge 'Brigham' Preem Enthuses Zanuck Party"

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

160 years ago today - Aug 26, 1860

[Record of the Twelve Apostles]

... lay our hands upon your head to ordain you [i.e., George Q. Cannon] and set you apart to be an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ in this last dispensation an Apostle and witness that Joseph Smith Jr., was called of God and sent forth to the children of men to establish the Kingdom of God on the earth for the last time ...

[Record of the Twelve Apostles, 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]

160 years ago today - Aug 26, 1860

... we proceded to ordain George Quayle Cannon unto the Apostleship and a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Presidet Brigham Young was mouth which makes thirteen Apostles of the Twelve which President Brigham Young has ordained. Brother Cannons ordination & Blessing was reported by G. D. Watt.

We repaired to the upper room for Prayer when President Young Called for the names for missions abroad, when 16 names was presented & Excepted. Among those names were Orson Pratt, Erastus Snow & George Q. Cannon of the Twelve & Richard Bentley & John L Smith from the office. Gilbert Clements was presented & Presidet Young said Cross his name of the List. When he goes to England let him go as an apostate. He will not have my Consent to go as a missionary.

Brother Edington name was presented. President Young said I do not know what good he Could do on a mission unless he had more wisdom in preaching than he has in business matters he would not do much good. He is a nice man & would do well in fitting up a room for a party or a show but he would not be worth a groat on a mission....

Brother Kimball asked how it would do to send Dr Anderson on a mission. President Young asked what for? He is a vary nice plesant man but he is thorough Infidel in his faith. He had a talk with me upon the subject and honestly acknowledged that he had no faith in spritual things. "I want nothing said out of the council about this. He likes to live with this people & thinks we have the best organization in the world...

[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 - Aug 26, 1850

[Wilford Woodruff]

26th Elder Whipple took some of my loading to carry one sack of Coffee from Bess wagon ...

[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 - Aug 26, 1850

[Hosea Stout]

Capt Stansbury of the U. S. Topographical Engeneers started back to the [United] States to day having completed the survey of the G.[reat] S[alt] Lake[.]

[Diaries of Hosea Stout]

175 years ago today - Aug 26, 1845

Patriarchal Blessing of Laurah Lavina Shimer given by William Smith ... all thy sins are forgiven thee ...

[Patriarchal Blessings]

190 years ago today - Aug 26, 1830

Joseph Smith pays Isaac Hale the remaining balance of $86 for his home and thirteen-acre lot . This leaves Smith with $104.95 of the $190.95 he received the previous day from George H. Noble & Co., which on the 26th enters an "Amicable" action against Smith for the amount and puts a lien on Smith's property. Isaac and Elizabeth Hale appear before Justice Jesse Lane concerning the sale to Joseph Smith. The debt to George Noble & Co. will be satisfied sometime before 4 June 1831.

[Vogel, Dan, Early Mormon Documents, Appendix B: Chronology, 1771-1831, http://amzn.to/T5nY8w]

30 years ago today - Aug 25, 1990

Mugisa James Collins, the first convert to the Church in the central African country of Uganda, is baptized.

125 years ago today - Aug 25, 1895

[Francis M. Lyman]

"Denounced the ideas of the World in regard small families and the use of preventatives to avoid large families."

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

130 years ago today - August 25th, 1890

Pres. Peterson told of an incident which he often heard Zebedee Coltrin relate. One day the Prophet Joseph asked him and Sidney Rigdon to accompany him into the woods to pray. When they had reached a secluded spot, Joseph laid down on his back and stretched out his arms. He told the brethren to lie one on each arm, and then shut their eyes. After they had prayed he told them to open their eyes. They did so and saw a brilliant light surrounding a pedestal which seemed to rest on the earth. They closed their eyes and again prayed. They then saw, on opening them, the Father seated upon a throne; they prayed again and on looking saw the Mother also; after praying and looking the fourth time they saw the Savior added to the group. He had _____________ brown, rather long, wavy hair and appeared quite young.

[Journal of Abraham H. Cannon, Vol 13:89; August 25th, 1890, quoted in "Concepts Quotations Dealing With the Origin, Identity Position of Adam Eve"]

175 years ago today - 1845 25 Aug.

Apostle Orson Pratt writes in the New York Messenger against Mormons who are teaching that the mortal body "of our martyred prophet and seer, or of any other person, was, or is the especial tabernacle of the Holy Ghost..." This is the earliest specific reference to a belief that Joseph Smith was the Holy Ghost in the flesh. Nearly fifty years later Wilford Woodruff would publicly indicate that this was a continued belief among some Mormons.

[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]

190 years ago today - Aug 25, 1830

The JOURNAL OF HEALTH, published semi-monthly at Philadelphia, concludes a year-long series of articles denouncing the use of ardent spirits, tobacco, tea, and coffee in the strongest terms. It claims, "The most deadly of all poisons, the prussic acid, has been detected in green tea." It also advises, "A substitution almost entire, of vegetable for animal substances . . ."

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

190 years ago today - Aug 25, 1830

Isaac Hale signs over the Harmony property to Joseph Smith. John Whitmer signs as one of two witnesses to the transaction. ... Joseph Smith gives a promissory note to George H. Noble & Co. for $190.95.

[Vogel, Dan, Early Mormon Documents, Appendix B: Chronology, 1771-1831, http://amzn.to/T5nY8w]

175 years ago today - Aug 24, 1845 (Morning)

President Brigham Young ... said the devils had no dominion, only on this earth, and their power was to recede until they would have no power on the earth. Where would they be then?

[Franklin D. Richards Journal, quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]

35 years ago today - 35 years ago - August 23, 1985

[Michael Quinn]

[From his 1988 and 2009 memoirs:]

Continuing work on Mormon controversies.

During the Sunstone Symposium, I gave a talk at the Hotel Utah about connections between the occult and early Mormonism. Learning that I planned to make a round-trip to BYU to print-out its reading-text, my friend Gordon A. Madsen very kindly invited me to use a computer in his home to prepare the talk. The Salt Lake Tribune featured it on the front page of its local section, along with a photo of one of the Joseph Smith Family's magic parchments (lamens). I would speak publicly on the same topic four times in 1986, coast-to-coast, and once in Cedar City, Utah, in May 1987. Then I would publish a book about it in August 1987. Nonetheless, Stake President [Hugh S.] West refused to follow the Apostolic

instructions to 'take further action' (disfellowshipping or excommunication) against me for my continuing to promote controversial history. - More than once in 1985, I left Stake President West's office knowing that the temple was not the only part of Mormonism I must learn to live without. Yet I still could not face the reality of total loss. November [From his 1988 memoir:]

Former mentor says I've gone too far.

Signature Books asked Davis Bitton to review the first draft of my book on early Mormonism's connections with occult traditions and folk magic [published as Early Mormonism and the Magic World View]. He made some helpful criticisms, but most of his review was a plea to me and the publisher to abandon this project. He said that my study was an assault on the faith of average Latter-day Saints. If I insisted on publishing this book, Davis instructed me not to mention in the acknowledgements that he had read the manuscript. His letter stunned me and I was in deep depression for weeks, while I reconsidered what to do. After telling Signature to put the book on hold, I decided to do an extensive revision to respond to the questions and criticisms by Davis, by Lavina Fielding Anderson, and by Allen D. Roberts. None of them particularly liked the study. This revision and new research took me another seven months. My second book, and now it's defenders of the New Mormon History who want me not to publish! I guess I AM a radical, even though I've never felt like one. I had already resigned from Signature's board of directors, because I felt that it would be a conflict-of-interest for me to vote on financial matters at the same time I was submitting a manuscript for purchase and publication. I had served on its board for four years. When I wrote the preliminary manuscript's introduction during this Summer, I referred to the so-called 'Salamander Letter' as a possible forgery. Aside from passing references to it, my first draft excluded this '1830 Martin Harris Letter' because of serious questions then raised about its authenticity. Thus, I needed to revise only a few sentences and a paragraph for the upcoming Magic World View that would be published [in August 1987] after the police released their evidence of Mark Hofmann's forgeries. [Quinn's Early Mormonism and the Magic World View was published by Signature Books in 1987; a revised and expanded version appeared in 1998.]

[From the diaries and memoirs of D. Michael Quinn, in 'On Writing Mormon History, 1972-95,' edited by Joseph Geisner, Signature Books, 2020]

80 years ago today - Aug 23, 1940

Premiere of Twentieth-Century-Fox motion picture "Brigham Young" at the Centre Theater and six other theaters in Salt Lake City. All seven theaters completely sell out to nearly 9,000 people at the then high ticket price of $1.10. Such unprecedented response to a film premiere sets an industry record for the number of theatres used simultaneously for the premiere of one film.. Ten days previously, the First Presidency was given a private screening. Emerging from the screening, President Heber J. Grant says to waiting reporters. "I endorse it with all my heart and have no suggestions. This is one of the greatest days of my life. I can't say any more than 'God Bless You'." Utah's Governor Henry H. Blood and Salt Lake City Mayor Ab Jenkins declare the 23rd as "Brigham Young Day" complete with parade, window display competition amongst the downtown merchants, and special advertising campaigns based on the pioneer theme. Actor Dean Jagger, who played the part of Brigham Young, converts to Mormonism later in life.

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

120 years ago today - Aug 23, 1900; Thursday

President [Lorenzo] Snow remarked that he could not feel to curtail the freedom of the Saints, in fact he felt like giving them the utmost freedom possible as long as it did not do wrong. ...

[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]

130 years ago today - Aug 23, 1890

DESERET WEEKLY NEWS reports that Jesus Christ appeared recently to Indian delegations gathered near Walker Lake and "showed scars on his hands and feet where he said the people had driven spikes, nailing him to the cross. He also had a bad wound in his side, where he said a spear had pierced his flesh."

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

145 years ago today - Aug 23, 1875

Joseph F. Smith writes, "From my childhood-for twenty years and upwards I chewed the filthy weed. I never saw the moment during the whole time that I was not inwardly ashamed of it, insomuch I endeavored to keep it to myself, using great caution. One day I went into the president's [Brigham Young] office. He whispered to me, I was obliged to whisper back. He smelt my breath, and started in surprise. "Do you chew tobacco?" I could have shrunk out of existence, or anihilated myself from very shame, and he saw I was ashamed of myself, and pitying me said, "Keep it to yourself"!- In the 1860's Brigham Young also struggled with an addiction to chewing tobacco.

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

145 years ago today - Aug 23, 1875

Apostle Wilford Woodruff is proxy in vicarious baptisms for all signers of Declaration of Independence (except John Hancock) and for all decesaed U.S. presidents, except James Buchanan and Martin Van Buren. This is first baptism for dead on behalf of U.S. president since 1840.

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

150 years ago today - Aug 23, 1870

LDS political newspaper, the Salt Lake Herald, reports "The Outrage," in which four unidentified men "discharged the contents of a bottle filled with diluted excrements" upon Mormon apostates T.B.H. Stenhouse and his wife Fanny.

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

155 years ago today - Aug 23, 1865

The First Presidency and Twelve publish a proclamation against Lucy Mack Smith's Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith the Prophet and against some of Apostle Orson Pratt's published teachings. Concerning Mother Smith's biography of her son: "Every one in the Church, male or female, if they have such a book, to dispose of it." Proclamation threatens excommunication against anyone espousing doctrines such as Pratt's statement: "The Father and Son do not progress in knowledge and wisdom, because they already know all things past, present, and to come" (reprinted Oct. 1865 in England).

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

160 years ago today - Aug 23, 1860

The President [Brigham Young] remarked that whenever any nation had commenced making arms and ammunition, it has always been with a view to the death of their fellow men and when was there a time when these implements of death were not used; and in a few years these murderous feelings will strengthen to such an extent that the work of death will commence. -- Salt Lake City

[Brigham Young Office Journals, quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]

55 years ago today - 19-Aug 22, 1965

BYU president Ernest Wilkinson ... attended three days of private indoctrination by the president of the Birch Society, and ... resolved "to press forward for more training along this line at the BYU."

[Wilkinson diary, 19-22 Aug. 1965. 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 - Aug 22, 1905

During the life of President Wilford Woodruff, Bro[ther] Isaiah Cox of St. George died, and his wives, not feeling satisfied with the course their husband had taken, represented their case to the then First Presidency, and permission was given them to be released from their husband, and acting upon this permission the sealings were cancelled. About 2 or 3 weeks ago Sister Martha Cox called upon us in behalf of herself and the other two wives, Henryeta and Elizabeth in relation to their present condition; and after du[ly] considering the matter, and at the same time paying due respect to the personal feelings of these sisters we suggested the advisibility of their being sealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith or some other one of our leading men, deceased, with the understanding that in the hereafter a proper and righteous disposition should be made of their case. Sister Martha conveyed our mind in writing to sisters Henryetta and Elizabeth, all of whom have since elected to be sealed, with the understanding expressed, to the Prophet Joseph Smith, and you are hereby authorized therefore to perform the sealings accordingly.

[Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder, and Anthon H. Lund to David H. Cannon, Aug. 22, 1905, quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

125 years ago today - Thursday, Aug 22, 1895

Minutes of the Council of the Twelve and of the First Presidency: President [Wilford] Woodruff informed the Council that Sister Jane James, a negress of long standing in the Church, had asked him for permission to receive her endowments, and that he and his counselors had told her that they could see no way by which they could accede to her wishes; and they asked the brethren present if they had any ideas on the subject favorable to her race.

President Joseph F. Smith told of brother Abel having been ordained a Seventy and afterwards a High Priest at Kirtland under the direction of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

President [George Q.] Cannon remarked that the Prophet Joseph [Smith] taught this doctrine: That the seed of Cain could not receive the Priesthood nor act in any of the offices of the priesthood until the seed of Abel should come forward and take precedence over Cain's offspring; and that any white man who mingled his seed with that of Cain should be killed, and thus prevent any of the seed of Cain's coming into possession of the priesthood.

Brother George F. Gibbs, the secretary, reminded President Woodruff of a sister Smith, whose first husband was a man named Berry, by whom she had two children - girls - who are now living, and it is held by those who knew Berry that he had negro blood in him. She separated from Berry and married a man named Smith who is not in the Church and by whom she had one child, a boy, that she now desires to be sealed to her second husband for whom her son will stand proxy, but that President Angus M. Cannon had refused to sign her recommend to the temple for the reason that she had married a man with negro blood in him and borne him children, and she had appealed to the First Presidency to have President Angus M. Cannon's action overruled, denying at the same time that her first husband was part negro.

It being understood that Mr. Berry was part negro, President [George Q.] Cannon raised the question: What would become of the girls? One at least of whom was in the Church, as they could not be admitted to the temple, and he thought it would be unfair to admit their mother and deny them this privilege. President Cannon thought too that to let down the bars in the least on this question would only tend to complications, and that it is perhaps better to let all such cases alone, believing, of course that the Lord would deal fairly with them all.

President Woodruff assented to this.

[Marquardt, H. Michael, Mormon Central: Excerpts From Minutes of the Council of the Twelve and of the First Presidency, 1879-1947, George Albert Smith Papers, typed copy, Manuscripts Division, Marriott Library, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, http://www.xmission.com/~research/central/chorg2.htm]

125 years ago today - Aug 22, 1895

Told Ruby that she and Raymond must confess their sin in Fast meeting or be excommunicated from the church. She is quite willing he is not.

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

140 years ago today - Aug 22, 1880

Patriarchal Blessing of Mary Maria Hoyt Porter by Elijah R. Billingsley ... You will live to see Israel gathered. You will live to see the Ten Tribes coming from the North Country. And, you will be with your husband at the crowning of Ephraim ...

[Marquardt Papers, U of U]

140 years ago today - Aug 22, 1880

Patriarchal Blessing of Laura Malvina Porter by Elijah R. Billingsley ... Your life will be preserved until Babylon falls and when that great cry is made, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh." you will be caught up to meet him with all his Holy messengers, and you will go with them to that great feast, the marriage Supper of the Lamb, there you will see the Lamb of God in His Glory. ...

[Marquardt Papers, U of U]

35 years ago today - 1985 21-24 Aug

At Sunstone Symposium in Salt Lake City, historians Michael Quinn, Marvin Hill, and Ronald Walker say that Joseph Smith's involvement with "folk magic" can be sustained without Hofmann documents.

[Whittaker, David J., The Hofmann Maze, A Book Review Essay with a Chronology and Bibliography of the Hofmann Case, BYU Studies Vol. 29, No. 1, pg.80,]

160 years ago today - Aug 21, 1860

[Wilford Woodruff]

Brother G.[eorge] A. Smith Said that Brother Woodruff had done more to preserve the History of this Church than any man on the Earth. Brother Kimball said Brother Woodruff you have been inspired to write History & keep a Journal.

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

175 years ago today - August 21, 1845. Thursday.

A letter was read from Samuel Waldo of New Hampshire complaining of oppressive conduct and teaching doctrines calculated to break up the branch such as it being no harm for a man to sleep with a woman who was not his wife &c.

[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]

180 years ago today - Aug 21, 1840

Noah Rogers and Benjamin Boyce escape from a Missouri prison, having been kidnapped on July 7, 1840. The other two who were kidnapped that same date, Alanson Brown and James Allred, had escaped previously.

[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

185 years ago today - Aug 21, 1835

Mormon missionaries hold conference in the center of polygamous sect of "Cochranism" Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate 2 [October 1835]: 204-207

"On August 21, 1835, nine of the Twelve met in conference at Saco, Maine"

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

75 years ago today - Aug 20, 1945

I am directed by President [George Albert] Smith to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of August 10, in which you ask a number of questions.

I am directed to say that as to the Word of Wisdom, the drinking of a beverage made from the coffee bean from which all caffeine and other deleterious drugs have been removed, is not regarded as violating the Word of Wisdom.

[Joseph Anderson, Letter to J. Leland Anderson, 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]

150 years ago today - Aug 20, 1870

[Wilford Woodruff]

20 I attended the School of the Prophets. Presidet Young said the time would Come when this People will dictate to the whole world what to do. This is true & there is no more difficulty in leading the People than in Eating a meal of vitules for God leads.

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

45 years ago today - Aug 19, 1975-Tuesday

[Leonard Arrington]

We had no idea of the strenuous program of the General Authorities. Paul [Dunn] interviewing missionaries on his back, going from place to place. And the price the family pays-never go to Church with family, no weekends, gone long periods on mission tours, youngest daughter has feelings of insecurity, cries pitifully when they leave, arrange for someone to stay with her. Only sixteen years old.

Paul Dunn says Duff [Marrion D.] Hanks did not know in advance of his change from Seventy to Assistant to the Council of Twelve, that he was completely surprised, that he regarded it as a demotion-moved from a quorum to assistant to a quorum, theoretically from a lifetime appointment to one which is not necessarily a lifetime appointment. Says he did not request a move from the Council of Seventy. Says the Council is giving serious thought to constituting the First Quorum.

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

160 years ago today - Aug 19, 1860

[Wilford Woodruff]

President Young said the people of the United States had sought our destruction and they had used every Exertion to perfet it. They have worked through the masonic institution to perfect it. Joseph & Hyrum Smith were Master Masons and they were put to death by masons or through there instigation and he gave the sign of distress & he was shot by masons while in the act. And there were delegates from the various lodges in the Union to see that he was put to death <and [-] them>. I hope to live to see the day when I can have power to make them do right. They have got the blood of the prophets upon their heads & they have got to meet it.

When President Buchannan & the U.S. Government sent Col Johnson & the U.S. Army to Utah it was with the Express purpose to destroy the Church & kingdom from off the Earth to put to death this people. But the Lord sustained us & put them to shame & Confusion & to his name be the honor & glory.

There are other Masons sent to this territory for the same purpose to Esstablish a lodge here & try to get an influence with some here to lay a plan to try to murder me 7 the leaders of the Church But they will not accomplish it.

... /Presidet Young said in speaking g[et?] a grand lodge Esstablished in Utah that if we accomplished it It would have a tendency to bring down all hell upon us as far as they had the power.

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

175 years ago today - Aug 19, 1845

[Wilford Woodruff]

I retired to rest at night or sought for it but found it not for I was much troubled in spirit, about several things. I do not recieve that union & kind treatment from my councel-lors that I ought to recieve at there [hands]. They do not consider my place & standing & sustain me in it in the way they ought, & are not united with me with that union that belongs to the Law of the celestial kingdom. This grieves Me in spirit for the judgments are about to be poured out upon the Nations and we ought to be prepared & have no division among us.

I arose at midnight & called upon the Lord by supplication according to the Holy Priesthood And the Lord manifested some things unto me.

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

175 years ago today - Aug 19, 1845

Patriarchal Blessing of Mary Bell given by William Smith ... for it is written I have reserved unto myself 7,000 who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal & they are those who are numbered in the everlasting covenant & are of the promised seed to whom the promises and covenants were made, therefore their glory shall not fail neither shall they fail of entering into the promised rest of the children of God,

it is for this cause thou hast been preserved Dear Sister ...

[Marquardt Papers, University of Utah]

185 years ago today - Aug 19, 1835

Church court tries Almon W. Babbitt on charges of breaking the Word of Wisdom and stating that the Book of Mormon is not essential to salvation. He claims that he was only following the example of Joseph and others. He is reproved, and he finally repents and is forgiven.

[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

120 years ago today - Saturday, Aug 18, 1900

Letter read from president Ben E. Rich, conveying information that the President of the South Carolina Conference, G.R. Humphreys, had accidentally run across a village of negroes who were members of our Church and that two of the males had been ordained to the priesthood by the elder (Bond) who had baptized them, and Elder Humphreys wanted to know what should be done about this. The question was now considered.

President [George Q.] Cannon informed President [Lorenzo] Snow that President [Brigham] Young had held to the doctrine that no man tainted with negro blood was eligible to the priesthood; that President [John] Taylor held to the same doctrine, claiming to have been taught it by the Prophet Joseph Smith. President Cannon read from the Pearl of Great Price showing that negroes were debarred from the priesthood; also that Enoch in his day called upon all people to repent save it were the descendants of Cainan.

President Snow intimated to President Cannon that this was one of the questions which it was understood would come up before the Council of First Presidency and Apostles for discussion the first time there should be a full attendance.

President Cannon remarked to President Snow that as he regarded it the subject was really beyond the pale of discussion, unless, he, President Snow, had light to throw upon what had already been imparted.

Brother [George F.] Gibbs now reminded President Cannon that President [Joseph F.] Smith had on a previous occasion related something going to show how the full blooded negro came through the flood which had not to his knowledge appeared in our records, and suggested that President Smith be asked to repeat it.

Upon being invited to do so President Smith said that he had been told that the idea originated with the Prophet Joseph [Smith], but of course he could not vouch for it. It was this: That the woman named Egyptus was in the family way by a man of her own race before Ham took her to wife, and that Cainan was the result of that illicit intercourse.

This subject was now dropped without President Snow intimating that the subject would be further considered.

[George Albert Smith Papers, Manuscripts Division, Marriott Library, University of Utah, in Marquardt, H. Michael, Mormon Central: Excerpts From Minutes of the Council of the Twelve and of the First Presidency, 1879-1947 http://www.xmission.com/~research/central/chorg2.htm]

170 years ago today - Aug 18, 1850

[Brigham Young Sermon]

I am happy. I never found much joy until Mormonism laid hold of me - since that day I have been happy ...

[The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]

185 years ago today - Aug 18, 1835

Minutes of the Kirtland High Council: "Testimony of Elder B. Riggs, as follows, that said Elder [Phineas H.] Young, borrowed a Book of Mormon of Mr. Childs of Madison Co. N. Y. and agreed to return it, but instead of doing so, sold it, also gave another to a poor female as a deed of charity, afterward borrowed it & sold it. For which said council decided that Elder P. H. Young should be suspended from church fellowhip, until he gives satisfaction to this council for this unchristian conduct." Phineas H. Young, Brigham Young's brother; was chosen in 1835 to be an apostle but passed over when William Smith was ordained instead.

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

110 years ago today - Aug 17, 1910

[Charles W. Penrose]

Miss [illegible] came told me of vision.

[Charles W. Penrose 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]

120 years ago today - Aug 17, 1900; Friday

Presidents [Lorenzo] Snow and [George Q.] Cannon were at the office. At 2:30 the Rev[erend]. Paden and the Rev[erend]. Mr. Irish, representing a committee appointed by the ministers' association, kept an appointment for the purpose of conferring with the Presidency in regard to closing the bar at Saltair. Mr. Paden remarked that after the newspaper reports of the scene at Saltair on its opening day (Decoration day) the ministers' association discussed the subject, and it was there learned that the Saltair pavilion belonged to the Trustee-in-Trust of the "Mormon" Church. Mr. Paden said that he remarked on that occasion that if that were the case it would not be for them as ministers to make trouble about it, as he was satisfied that President Snow would do all he could to correct the thing when it was brought to his attention. The speaker said the saloon was run illegally, and besides, the pavilion sold privileges for the purpose of running gambling machines; and the ministers' association would want to know if the "Mormon" Church could afford to let the statement go into print and be published abroad that President Snow, as its trustee-in-Trust, was responsible for a saloon being carried on at the Saltair pavilion?

President Cannon explained to these gentlemen that our Church in one sense owned Saltair, but in another it does not. It belonged to a company, and originally it was a private property. When the place was first built the intention was to have no saloon, neither to have trains running on a Sunday; but it was

found afterwards that the resort could not be run--so the management claimed--without a saloon. This was humiliating, but the company had to succumb. ...

[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]

175 years ago today - Aug 17, 1845. Sunday.

[William Clayton]

... At the stand today Wm. Smith preached to the saints "the first chapter of the gospel according to St. W[illia]m" as he termed it. It was just a full declaration of his belief in the doctrine of a plurality of wives &c. The people appeared disgusted and many left the ground. His object was evidently to raise an influence against the Twelve especially Brigham and Heber for he intimated in strong terms that they were practising such things in secret but he was not afraid to do it openly. His course today will evidently hurt him in the estimation of the saints more than any thing he has done before.

[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]

175 years ago today - Sunday, August 17th, 1845

I felt pained and distressed when [apostle and church patriarch] William [Smith] was speaking so did a great many of the congregation, and many of the people left, being disgusted at the remarks he made... it was calculated to lead astray many of the young men, elders and women, and to lead to corruption, adultery and every other wicked thing both in men and women letting loose the reins of government; ...

[John Taylor responding] ... Jacob had four wives and David had several hundred can we say that we can have a nuber of wives.

Bro. William then arose and said he did not wish me to comment, to criticize or to make any remarks upon his doctrine or preaching, that if I did he should reply to me. I paused until he got through, and again commenced speaking, when he again interrupted me; and said as often as he thought proper to rise he would answer any thing that I might advance. ... I again waited until he got through when I felt constrained by the Spirit of God, which rested upon me in power to proclaim with energy that God had called me to be a watchman upon the towers of Zion and that when I saw any danger or evil approaching I would lift up my voice and warn the people in the name of Israel's God and that no man should shut my mouth, when I had spoken these words the congregation cried with a loud voice,'--Amen.

I then stated whatever the opinion of Bro. William might be, I knew that there was a great deal of hypocrisy and deception ... I had been called upon to expose the corruptions of some men who were in secret publishing the doctrines contained in a book written by Udney H .Jacobs which was a corrupt book; they state that it was Joseph's views, published under a cloak of another man's name and the character of Joseph Smith was implicated in the matter ...

He then arose and made an apology for what he had said, and stated that he knew nothing of this book that had been spoken of and did not know anything of the principles advanced in it. ...

['The John Taylor Nauvoo journal, January 1845-September 1845,' BYU Studies 23:3 (1983) edited by Dean C. Jessee]

175 years ago today - 1845 17 Aug.

William Smith preaches in favor of "spiritual wifery," to which Taylor gives an immediate rebuttal. William's niece Mary (orphaned daughter of Samuel Smith) later writes: "He was ordered to discontinue his discourses, but he did not obey orders." His relatives helped build wooden seats to accommodate a crowd near his house. On the first Sunday "every seat in that grove had been fouled with outhouse refuse." Within months his mother Lucy Mack Smith would angrily tell Strang's followers about this incident.

[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]

175 years ago today - Aug 17 [1845]

sunday. this morning I dreamed I saw brother Joseph Smith and as I was going about my business he says brother Brigham dont be in a hurry this was repeated the second and third time when it came in a degree of sharpness. ... Went to the stand found brother Wm Smith preaching a spiritual wife sermon ...

[Brigham Young Journal # 4 in the handwriting of: William Clayton, Evan Greene, John D. Lee, Willard Richards. First person account kept by others. 'Lieut. Genl Brigham Young's Journal 1844']

185 years ago today - Aug 17, 1835

The church holds its general conference, though Joseph Smith, Jr. and Frederick G. Williams are absent. The church body unanimously adopts and canonizes the Doctrine and Covenants as compiled by the committee of Smith, Williams, Oliver Cowdery, and Sidney Rigdon. Among the new revelations is D&C 134, concerning the relationship between church, government, and individuals, asserting that governments are instituted by God for the benefit of man; that government should protect the freedom of men to worship as they please; that all men should uphold their government and laws; that churches should not exercise civil powers; and that individuals are justified in defending themselves and their property. Another section 101 was included that condemns the practice of polygamy.

[Wikipedia: Chronology of Mormonism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Mormonism]

185 years ago today - 1835 17 Aug.

A special conference accepts the Doctrine and Covenants which contains unannounced changes and expansions of revelations previously published in The Evening and the Morning Star and 1833 Book of Commandments.

[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]

35 years ago - August 16, 1985

[Michael Quinn]

[From Quinn's 2009 memoir:]

Another Apostle joins the anti-historian chorus.

My article on post-Manifesto polygamy was the subtext of remarks that Dallin H. Oaks made during the Sperry Symposium sponsored by BYU's College of Religious Instruction. This was three months after his angry letter to me about its publication in Dialogue. His letter of May 1985 had accused me of underhandedly obtaining restricted documents at LDS Archives and of preparing to publish the article without notifying my 'file leaders' or the custodians of those documents. In response, I immediately mailed to Elder Oaks a summary of my conversations about this research into post-Manifesto polygamy-with HDC's Managing Director G. Homer Durham and with First Presidency Counselor Gordon B. Hinckley-and explained to Oaks that I had specifically informed each of them YEARS IN ADVANCE of my hopes to publish a detailed article about it. With this letter, I included photocopies of my numerous letters about this research to Durham, to President Spencer W. Kimball, to the First Presidency as a whole, and to Counselor Hinckley directly. From 1979 to 1982, those letters had gone to the highest-ranking custodian of HDC's manuscripts and to my highest 'file leaders' in the Church. But in 1985 Apostle Oaks seemed angry that I hadn't told HIM during 1977-80, while he was BYU's president (as a non-General Authority) and when was promoting me for J. Reuben Clark's biography. But he had NEVER asked me

for reports about ANY details of my research back then. Nor did anyone else, yet I had volunteered those details to the General Authorities who had a right to know-a NEED to know about my knowledge of post-Manifesto polygamy. After a month without a reply to the May 1985 letter, I phoned his secretary in the LDS Church Office Building to inquire whether Oaks had received it. She confirmed in June that my letter arrived with its attached documents, that he had looked at them all, and that he would undoubtedly contact me again when he returned from a trip. He didn't. Instead, despite the information and documentation I provided him in May 1985, Apostle Oaks told numerous people during the next two decades that I had allegedly 'misused' my research-access at HDC, that I had allegedly done 'unauthorized' research about post-Manifesto polygamy there, and that I had allegedly 'deceived' manuscript-custodians and Church leaders about my plan to publish that research. Several of his listeners would report this to me. This August, his talk warned against those who 'criticize or deprecate a person for the performance of an office to which he or she has been called of God. It does not matter that the criticism is true.' Words to gag on.

[From the diaries and memoirs of D. Michael Quinn, in 'On Writing Mormon History, 1972-95,' edited by Joseph Geisner, Signature Books, 2020]

10 years ago today - Aug 16, 2010

A decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals trumps Walker-'s ruling and puts same-sex marriages in California on hold indefinitely.

[Prop 8 Timeline, NBC San Diego, http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/politics/Proposition-8-Timeline-History-California--138796454.html]

35 years ago today - Aug 16, 1985.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, speaking at BYU's Sperry Symposium on the Doctrine and Covenants, warns members of the church not to "criticize or depreciate a person for the performance of an office to which he or she has been called of God. It does not matter that the criticism is true."

[Anderson, Lavina Fielding, "The LDS Intellectual Community and Church Leadership: A Contemporary Chronology," Dialogue, Vol.26, No.1]

35 years ago today - Aug 16, 1985

Apostle (and former Utah Supreme Court Justice) Dallin Oaks instructs educators and administrators of LDS Church Educational System: "Balance is telling both sides. This is not the mission of official Church literature or avowedly anti-Mormon literature. Neither has any responsibility to present both sides."

70 years ago today - Aug 16, 1950

[George Albert Smith]

At Honolulu, "In the afternoon, by prearrangement, Joseph F. Smith, former patriarch to the Church, came to the Woolley home, and he and I stayed up in my room and had a long talk together concerning many things, particularly with reference to his problems [homosexuality]."

[Journals of George Albert Smith]

90 years ago today - Aug 16, 1930

[Heber J. Grant]

George Albert Smith called and told of his unsatisfactory physical condition. We told him to take a good long rest. He is getting very nervous. We don't want him to have another breakdown such as he had years ago, almost costing him his life.

[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

120 years ago today - Aug 16, 1900; Thursday

[George Q. Cannon] If a man, even in these days were to proclaim his unbelief in the doctrine of plural marriage, he would not be worthy of the Priesthood. ... B. H. Roberts, who had recently attended the Cassia [Idaho] Stake conference, had reported that some brethren in that region were being accused by their Teachers of living in adultery with their plural wives. He said that he told Brother Roberts that it should be made clear to such teachers that when the Manifesto was issued we did not pledge ourselves to abandon our plural wives, nor even cease to perform plural marriages outside of the Government; and when our people get the idea that we have bound ourselves to the whole world they manifest ignorance. A man may go to some countries and not violate their laws by taking a plural wife and living in plural marriage. Turkey, for instance; that is, if the man holding the keys authorizes him to do so he would have a right to do this. It was wrong for the idea to go abroad among our people that we had abandoned the doctrine of plural marriage as a tenet of our faith, simply because the practice of marrying plural wives is forbidden....

President Snow remarked that if he knew anything at all he knew there were thousands of dead branches which should be pruned for the benefit of the church. While no action was taken this was the general sentiment of the council. ...

[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]

120 years ago today - Thursday, Aug 16, 1900

Some discussion was indulged in regarding non-tithe-payers, and it was suggested by Pres. Cannon that men holding the priesthood who do not pay tithing should be handled in their quorums, and if they did not repent and honor this law, they should be dropped from the quorum, as in his opinion a man who rejected this law was certainly not worthy to hold a standing in a quorum of the priesthood. Also, he thought quorums should adopt a rule requiring the attendance of their members, and an absence from three or four meetings without a proper excuse should be considered sufficient cause for dropping his name from the roll. It was conceded by all present that the suggestions were very good, and it would be well to take them as a text in visiting the various conferences. In regard to some members of the church who were reported up as not believing in the principle of tithing, Pres. Cannon remarked that a man who did not believe in the law was not worthy to hold the priesthood.

[Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson]

135 years ago today - Aug 16, 1885 (Sunday)

The notorious apostate Wm. Jarman made an unsuccessful attempt to break up a conference meeting of Saints in Sheffield, England. A mob numbering several thousands followed the Elders, hooting and yelling. The police, however, protected the brethren from assault.

[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

175 years ago today - Aug 16, 1845

Hosea Stout wrote, "It was decided that there would be a guard kept night and day around the temple, and that no stranger be allowed to come within the square of the temple lot, and also that there be four large lanterns made for the purpose and placed about 25 feet from each corner of the [Nauvoo] temple, to keep a light by night for the convenience of the guard."

[Brown, Lisle (compiler), Chronology of the Construction, Destruction and Reconstruction of the Nauvoo Temple]

185 years ago today - Aug 16, 1835

Erastus Snow: Ordained elder 16 August 1835.

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

190 years ago today - Aug 16, 1830

Joseph Sr. appears before Justice Nathan Pierce representing Hyrum, who is charged with an outstanding debt by Levi Daggett.

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

80 years ago today - Aug 15, 1940

[Heber J. Grant]

'Last night I slept only two or three hours. I was worried, my eyes were full of tears of gratitude for the fine picture [Movie: "Brigham Young"] that I witnessed Tuesday, and I had thanked Colonel Joy sincerely, and remarked, "The Lord bless you," and he said "God bless you, Mr. Grant." I had missed the statement that Brigham Young said he had lied. My attention was called to it yesterday, and I could not sleep all night. I do not think I slept more than three hours. I had made up my mind to catch the train this morning and go to Los Angeles and try to persuade the picture people to change that, but I found that Brother Clark had telephoned to Colonel Joy and he had promised to do his best to make the change. They thought I ought not to go alone and I had telephoned George D. Pyper and asked him to go with me, and I intended to go tomorrow, but after learning of the conversation by telephone and also sending telegrams, that it could not possibly be done, at this late date, we decided it would be a waste of time and would accomplish nothing for me to go to the Coast.

[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

125 years ago today - Aug 15, 1895

Apostle Abraham H. Cannon writes in his Journal: "Some talk was had about Charles Stayner and his doctrines of reincarnation. The fear was expressed by some of the brethren that Bishop O.F. Whitney has become somewhat indoctrinated with these ideas."

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

145 years ago today - Aug 15, 1875

... The rules of the United Order were then read and J[ohn] Taylor spoke 15 Minuts. At the Close of the Meeting we repaired to the water & G[eorge] Q Cannon Baptized 20 Persons including Charles C Rich and Wm. Budge. Most of those who were Baptized were Officiating as Bishops. They were Confirmed under the Hands of John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff and A M Musser. W Woodruff Confirmed 7.

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

160 years ago today - Aug 15, 1860

[Brigham Young]

G.Q. Cannon was giving an account of the new organization under Joseph Smith, the son of the Prophet. B.Y. said ... that Joseph might be a prophet and do a good work, but he never would be leader of this people. David would be the leader of the Church.

[Historians Office Journal, quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]

180 years ago today - 1840 15 Aug.

Joseph Smith preaches baptism for the dead at the funeral of Seymour Brunson who died 10 Aug. "General George Washington" is among the first for whom a vicarious baptism for the dead occurs in the Mississippi River, his proxy ("friend") Smith's brother Don Carlos. After 1841 baptisms for the dead would occur only in specially constructed temple fonts.

[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 - Aug 15, 1840

The first baptisms for the dead take place. Jane Neyman promptly asks Harvey Olmstead to baptize her in the Mississippi for her dead son Cyrus. When Joseph hears the words that were used he pronounces the ceremony valid, Vienna Jacques having been a witness.

[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

105 years ago today - Aug 14, 1915

[James E. Talmage]

The First Presidency issues the following endorsement of Jesus the Christ in the Deseret Evening News:

We desire that the work, "Jesus the Christ," be read and studied by the Latter-day Saints, in their families, and in the organizations that are devoted wholly or in part to theological study. We commend it especially for use in our Church schools, as also for the advanced theological classes in Sunday schools and priesthood quorums, for the instruction of our missionaries, and for general reading. [Deseret Evening News, 14 August 1915]

[Chronology of the Life and Work of James E. Talmage, J. Trevor Antley, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MJsHY83JZL_n6CjWq11y1trT_CVXMMXAx2uYOWAwn0c/edit#heading=h.2zfdaoa]

60 years ago today - Aug 14, 1960

Jerald Tanner is excommunicated from the LDS church at his own request. Tanner later states: "I believed very strongly that I belonged to the only true church and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. When I was about 18, I had to face reality." Jerald, with his wife Sandra, later are a major force in publicizing the Church's problematic history.

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

85 years ago today - Aug 14, 1935

[Heber J. Grant]

Regarding to the holding of funerals on Sunday:

We approve of your having recommended to the Bishops that as far as possible funerals be held on week days. However, this cannot be established as a binding rule, and there is no order of the Church prohibiting the holding of funerals on Sunday. When, however, it is deemed advisable to hold funeral services on the Sabbath Day, the hours should be so arranged as not to interfere too seriously with the regularly established Sunday meetings.

[Heber J. Grant and David O. McKay, Letter to Horace Raymond Pond, 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]

85 years ago today - Aug 14, 1935

[Heber J. Grant and David O. McKay]

... Should persons guilty of adultery be dealt with for their membership, or for their fellowship in the Church?

Every case should be considered on its merits. If the sin was committed in secret, and the person has confessed, the case should not be made public, but the authority to whom the confession is made should grant the forgiveness asked and the person be permitted to retain his or her membership in the Church. If, however, the case is a flagrant one and known publicly, then such necessary restitution should be made as seems fitting to the presiding authorities. (See: Doctrine and Covenants, Section 42:90-93.)

[Heber J. Grant and David O. McKay, Letter to Reuben M. Wiberg, 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]

90 years ago today - Aug 14, 1930

Attended council meeting of the Twelve beginning at 9 A.M. and meeting of the First Presidency and the twelve at 10, both in the Temple. These are the first council meetings of the kind held since July 9, the intervening period being regarded as vacation time for the brethren, most of whom have been away.

[James E. Talmage 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 - Aug 14, 1895

Joseph Smith III, son of Joseph Smith Jr and president of the RLDS church writes, "Father had no wife but my mother, Emma Hale, to the knowledge of either my mother or myself, and I was twelve years old nearly when he was killed."

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

125 years ago today - Aug 14, 1895

Brother Reed Smoot came up from Provo [Utah] to see the First Presidency in relation to the indebtedness of the Brigham Young Academy [later BYU] which his father had endorsed. The indebtedness amounts altogether to upwards of $70,000, $15,000 of which is arranged for by the Church. The estate is so tied up by this endorsement that unless something is done for their relief they will be financially ruined. This is a case that has appealed very strongly to my sympathies, as Brother Smoot endorsed these notes in consequence of counsel that he says he received from President [Brigham] Young to stand by that Academy and to do all in his power to sustain it, and he has told his family and others that if it cost him every dollar he had in the world he would do it.

[George Q. Cannon 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]

190 years ago today - Aug 14, 1830

Justice Nathan Pierce issues an order to collect an unpaid judgment against Hyrum Smith.: "THESE are therefore to command you to levy on the goods and chattels of the said defendant (except such as are by law exempted from execution) the amount of the said judgment, and bring the money before me, on the 13th- day of Sep 1830 at my office in the town of Manchester. . . . And if no goods or chattels can be found, or not sufficient to satisfy this execution, then you are hereby commanded to take the body of the said defendant and convey him to the common Jail of the county aforesaid." The constable, Nathan Harrington, collects less than half the debt from Hyrum and when he returns later to collect the remainder he finds that Hyrum has moved away.

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

80 years ago today - Aug 13, 1940

[Heber J. Grant]

[Upon seeing a special preview for general authorities of the movies on Brigham Young:] It brought tears to my eyes a time or two. Of course there are many things in it that I wish we could change, but I think they have done a splendid job, and I do not want to criticise (sic) at all what they have done. They have to make a picture that will sell.

[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

120 years ago today - Aug 13, 1900; Monday

... President Snow then declared that no such sealings could be performed in Mexico any quicker than in the United States, with his consent, for such marriages had been forbidden.

Brother Rudger Clawson had a talk with Presidents Snow and Cannon on the subject of non-tithe-paying. He had learned that the Davis [Utah] Stake contained a great number of non-tithe payers among whom were some High Priests and Seventies; some of these, he had learned, did not believe in the law of tithing at all and the question had arisen what should be done with them. President Cannon suggested that the proper thing to do was for the quorums to which these men belonged take up the subject of non-tithe-paying and make it a matter of fellowship, that is, that non-tithe-payers belonging to quorums of the Priesthood who declare their unbelief in this law or who refused to pay tithing, should have fellowship withdrawn from them. This would leave them in a suspended state and would relieve the Bishopric and High Council from dealing directly with them, and giving any of them a chance to rail against any unfavorable action that might be taken against them in the regular church courts. Of course, they should be first labored with.

The sum of $10. was appropriated by President Snow as a donation to the Orphans' home. For some time the Church had been donating $5. a month regularly to that institution.

[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]

170 years ago today - Aug 13, 1850

[Wilford Woodruff]

The whole Appearance of Chimney Rock would indicate that the Ancient Nephites or some one els had built the mound & erected a great tower upon the top of it. And the whole formation of the Bluffs in this region of Country Appears more like the ruins of Ancient Cities than of Nature.

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

175 years ago today - Aug 13, 1845

[Nauvoo Neighbor]

- Announcement: "The Last Shingle" - The [Nauvoo] Temple Roof is Completed

[http://boap.org/LDS/Nauvoo-Neighbor]

175 years ago today - Aug 13, 1845

Patriarchal Blessing of Ann Erskine given by William Smith ... thou art sealed up unto eternal life, with power over diseases sickness pain the flesh the Devil and all evil Spirits crowned with the blessings of an eternal Salvation at God[']s right hand to dwell for evermore freed from pain & sorrow which blessing I seal upon thy head in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

[Patriarchal Blessings]

120 years ago today - Aug 12, 1900

... Bro[ther]. Cluff here to get supplies for his S[outh]. A[merican]. Expedition [to search for archaelogical evidence of the Book of Mormon] which is at Nogales waiting under the guard for him to arrange to get them through the Custom House. At 3 P.M. meeting ... The idea had been conveyed that this was a Church expedition. Read letter of instruction from Pres[ident]. [Lorenzo] Snow ... that it was the unanimous opinion of the Pres[idency]. & Apostles that the expedition disband, but if reasons exist which we do not know that a part of the expedition proceed. Cluff must assume the entire responsibility. ... Bro[ther]. Cluff spoke. Said he greatly desired to go forward. If he returned now the expedition would be a failure & his reputation was worth more to him than his life. He would rather fail on the Isthmus or on the banks of the Magdelena River than turn back now. He did not desire to go forward, however, unless he could do so with the blessings of the Lord. Bro[ther]. [Joseph F.] Smith'asked Bro[ther]. Cluff'Do you feel, in view of the contents of the telegram, that you desire to go forward? Pres[ident]. Smith, I do not feel like turning back. Bro[ther]. Kenkie said he was set apart to remain in the South & preach the Gospel. Pres[ident]. Smith made remarks. Bore strong testimony that the work of the Lord would spread till the L[atter]. D[ay]. S[aints]. would control in this land, (&) U.S. ... Pres[ident]. Smith said that he would not be placed in a position to be held responsible for the act of any individual. You must chose for yourself.

[Anthony W. Ivins, Diary, August 13, 1900, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]

10 years ago today - 8/12/2010

After reading arguments regarding the stay, Judge Walker says: "None of the factors the court weighs in considering a motion to stay favors granting a stay. Accordingly, proponents motion for a stay is DENIED." Again, rather than having same-sex marriages begin immediately, Walker leaves one week for the appellate court to review the question of a stay. If the appellate court does not lengthen the stay, Walker directs that same-sex marriages could begin at 5:01 p.m. on August 18, 2010.

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

120 years ago today - Aug 12, 1900; Sunday

In our Council meeting this PM the leading men Bro[ther] Cluff Bro[ther] Fairbanks & Bro[ther] Woolff [sic] expressed the desire that with a selected few the Expedition [to South America to look for evidence of the Book of Mormon] might continue and it seemed that the spirit of the Lord impressed it upon the mind of Pres[ident Joseph F.] Smith that this would be permitted.... the telegram from Pres[ident] Snow received at Nogales last night suggesting the disbanding of the expedition but with suggestions that Pres[ident] Smith was to acct [sic] under the direction of the Spirit of God in deciding whether any of the camp should be allowed to go on ...

[Seymour B. Young, Diary]

120 years ago today - Aug 12, 1900; Sunday

Pres[ident Joseph F]. Smith made remarks. Bore strong testimony that the work of the Lord would spread till the L[atter]. D[ay]. S[aints]. would control in this land [Mexico], (&) U.S. ...

[Anthony W. Ivins, Diary, entry dated August 13, 1900]

125 years ago today - Aug 12, 1895

[Franklin D. Richards]

The political elements thicken Eastern people seem trying to create public sentiment against women voting on adoption of the Constitution & for Utah officers. Judge Smith's opinion at 1pm I. Judge WH Smith decided that the women of Utah are authorized to Register & vote at Nov election for constitution, &c. Aug-Sept

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

160 years ago today - Aug 12, 1860 (Sunday)

The Indians made an attack upon the mail station at Egan Canyon, (Tooele Co.) and the following day on Shell Creek Station. A company of soldiers came to the rescue and killed 17 Indians.

[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

160 years ago today - Aug 12, 1860

[Brigham Young]

If I have faith enough to cause the devils to eat up the devils, like the Kilkenny cats, I shall certainly exercise it. Joseph Smith said that they would eat each other up, as did those cats. They will do so here, and throughout the world. The nations will consume each other, and the Lord will suffer them to bring it about. It does not require much talent or tact to get up opposition in these days. you see it rife in communities, in meetings, in neighbourhoods, and in cities. That is the knife that will cut down this Government. The axe is laid at the root of the tree, and every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit will be hewn down. Out of this Church will grow the kingdom which Daniel saw. This is the very people that Daniel saw would continue to grow and spread and prosper...

[Journal of Discourses. Liverpool, England, 1853-86. 8:141-144, quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]

165 years ago today - Aug 12, 1855

[Minutes of the Twelve Apostles]

Twelve met in the Presidents Office upper room. ...

[BY] I do not /[k]no[w]/ but /some/ Spirits may be confused & get into wrong tabernacles when they come here. I believe those stereotyped, will advance & go ahead in time'... T[homas] B[ullock] read Joseph's dream of 3 Feb 1844.

B Y[:] I think Jos[eph] had another dream & Hy[rum]- was with him on a Steam boat. Willard was there & wrote both the dreams.

J M G[:] Jos[eph] said I dont intend to do any thing but preside over the Conference. and live on the Mound Farm and make the 12 do all the business of the Ch[urch. H]e said a dozen times, Iam willing to die for my friends. [A]nd [he] told me to tell the Gov[erno]r. just what God puts into your heart. [W]hen I ret[urne]d. at 4 next morn[ing]. I told him not to go for they will try to kill you. [W]hen he was go[ing] he said, I do not [k]no[w] that I will see you ag[ai]n. [O]ver 40 of us were going and see him on the 26[th] but he sent word for us not to go. I rem[em]ber his looks. [H]e made use of the expressn several times, I am go[ing], as a lamb to the slaughter. Jos[ep]h sent J[ohn] S Fullmer to Nauvoo in the morning at 4. I rem[em]ber crying when praying and could not tell what for.

B Y[: T]here was a great darkness over the p[eo]pl[e] at the time. [It was] enquire[d] of J M G fuller particulars & J M B.

J M B[:] I was in Jail on 26 when they took him by force to the Court house. I said emphatically, dont go, but in a short time he was escorted by the Military to the Court House. I dont think Jos[eph] ever had any idea that he sho[ul]d. return alive to Nauvoo. Dr. R. & myself rode in the car. Jos[eph] rode Jo Duncan & said I am going as a Lamb to the Slaughrer but I have a conscience void of offence to the God and man.

J M G[: S]ince then I have not seen a minute but to bel[ieve] that it could not be averted. [L]ike Jesus it had to be done.

B Y[:] I told the p[eo]pl[e] all things have been done accord[ing]. to the wisdom of Him who knoweth all things and ask him about it.

J M G[: W]hen the Dr returned he was perfectly cool. and before he left Carthage. Prayed President Young sung 'Come ye that love the Lord' Pres[iden]t. ... -

B Y[: T]hey /(U S Congress)/ will try to repeal the fugitive slave law, next session. J M G[: T]hat will break up the union.

H C K[:] When that /(Mesmerism)/ goes, something worse will come. ...

[Minutes, 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 - Aug 12, 1845

Mrs. Sally (Stacey) Murdock, a Mormon widow who wrote from Nauvoo that, "There has been but few elders sent out since the death of the prophet but when the seventies receive their endeument they will go forth with power to all the nations kindreds tongues and people of the earth . . ." "Endued" is a term used in masonic ceremonies, (I.E. "Since he comes endued with all these necessary qualifications, let him enter this Worshipful Lodge in the name of the Lord, and take heed on what he enters," William Morgan, Illustrations of Masonry" pp. 46-47, 65 [1827])

[Grunder, Rick, Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source]