130 years ago today - Thursday, Nov 14, 1895

"[George Q. Cannon] felt that some investigation should be had of the conduct of [Apostle Moses] Thatcher & [Seventy B. H.] Roberts before they receive any ecclesiastical appointments in the Church. Pres. Snow said he could not fellowship them until they made things right, nor could any of the Quorum do so. It was decided to leave any investigation of their affairs until after Statehood, as trouble might otherwise ensue because of the exercise of church discipline."

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

190 years ago today - Nov 14, 1835

Joseph told his story to Erastus Holmes:"…I received the first visitation of Angels which was when I was about 14 years old…"("The Personal Writings of Joseph Smith", p.113, Also in "An American Prophet's Record", p. 59)

This account has been changed in the "History of the Church", Vol.2, p.312.. It now reads "my first vision" instead of "visitation of angels."

[A Documented History of Joseph Smith's First Vision, http://beggarsbread.org/2013/04/01/a-documented-history-of-joseph-smiths-first-vision/]

195 years ago today - Nov 14, 1830

Sidney S Rigdon: Baptized 14 November 1830, in Mentor, Ohio.

[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]

30 years ago today - Nov 13, 1995

[Hinckley]

Met with president of the United States at White House to discuss importance of families

[LDS Newsroom, Time line of Significant Events as President, http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/time-line-of-significant-events-as-president]

35 years ago today - Nov 13, 1990

In 1991 Utah membership of the John Birch Society mushroomed as a result of U.S. president George Bush's proclaiming U.S. participation in a "New World Order." As part of the United Nations successful Gulf War, President Bush adopted a phrase used by ultra-conservatives for decades to identify the "collectivist" goal of the international conspiracy. By May 1991, Utah had 1,000 members of the Birch Society, an increase of nearly 50 percent from two years earlier.

[John F. McManus, "'A New World Order' Means World Government," The John Birch Society Bulletin (Nov. 1990): 3-14; "Birch Society Lauds 'Fertile Soil' In Utah," Deseret News, 13 May 1991, B-2; "Utah's Birchers Organizing To Fight Bush 'Conspiracy,'" Salt Lake Tribune, 27 May 1991, B-l; "John Birch Society Skeptical of Communist Party Demise," Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Sept. 1991, B-l; '"John Bircher' Recruits Join Fight Against New World Order," Salt Lake Tribune, 21 June 1992, B-l. From D. Michael Quinn, Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992), also in Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3.]

60 years ago today - Nov 13, 1965

Ernest L. Wilkinson, President of BYU says in a talk that BYU did not intend to admit any homosexuals to campus. He continued, "if any of you have this tendency and have not completely abandoned it, may I suggest that you leave the university immediately after this assembly…we do not want others on this campus to be contaminated by your presence."

[Timeline of Mormon Thinking About Homosexuality, http://rationalfaiths.com/timeline-of-mormon-thinking-about-homosexuality/]

185 years ago today - 1840 Nov 13

Joseph crashes a riverboat

[https://docs.google.com/document/d/10ttN3vOzf2UcVhruCrvDf9pF27T0o0PP0Xj1X98tKBc/edit?fbclid=IwAR3HXLgL-X-M_c5LT2W-_F7AYqsqqaQ0yIhfNuyeFsX85irSPuEO6_Q993A]

70 years ago today - Nov 12, 1955

Flora Benson, wife of Ezra Taft Benson, was named national "Home Maker of the Year."

[Church News, November 12, 1955; 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)]

140 years ago today - Nov 12, 1885

[Wilford Woodruff]

The funeral of my wife Phebe was attended to day at the 14 ward school House. I saw the procession as it Past the office. I saw the hearse that Carried my wife Phebe Whitemore Carter Woodruff to the grave. I was not permitted to attend her funeral without being arrested for my religin, & Imprisioned for Cohabitation with my wives as many others are.

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

180 years ago today - Nov 12, 1845

[Heber C. Kimball]

Last evening I dreamed of seeing a large quentity of honey Bees, they were following me being loaded heavily with honey; they were very peacibly with me. ... Clo[t]hed our selvs and praid as follows that our enimes be flustrated, to sell our posessions, and so forth. Brock up at dark. ...

[Kimball, Stanley B. ed, On the Potter's Wheel: The Diaries of Heber C. Kimball]

190 years ago today - Nov 12, 1835

Joseph tells the Twelve that he thought that he had placed the church on a permanent foundation by organizing the stake of Zion. But he is still alive, so there must be something more for him to do, and that is the ordinance of washing of feet, which he then administers.

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

120 years ago today - Nov 11, 1905

The following editorials are taken from the Deseret Evening News of this date: 'One Mighty and Strong.' The following has been issued by the Presidency of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in explanation of verses 7 and 8 of Section 85 of the Doctrine and Covenants, and is to be received as authoritative: ... Perhaps no other passage in the revelations of the Lord in this dispensation has given rise to so much speculation as this one. also, it has been sued by vain and foolish men to bolster up their vagaries of speculation and in some cases their pretensions to great power and high positions they were to attain in the Church. In a word, some have made claims that they were the particular individual mentioned in the revelation, the 'one mighty and strong, holding the sceptre of power in his hand, clothed with light for a covering, whose mouth shall utter words, eternal words; while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth to set in order the house of God, and to
arrange by lot the inheritances of the Saints.' ...

Indeed their insufferable ignorance and egotism have been at the bottom of all their pretensions, and the cause of all the trouble into which they have fallen. ...

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

140 years ago today - Nov 11, 1885

Salt Lake City police fine LDS Deputy Sheriff Andrew J. Burt $25 for the assault and battery on U.S. Deputy marshal Henry F. Collin. Three days later the district court sentences him to five days' imprisonment for the crime.

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

160 years ago today - Nov 11, 1865

New Masonic activity in Utah created a furor and presented a conflict between two unyielding Masonic groups over a basic principle. When fourteen Masons, led by James M. Ellis, met in Salt Lake City on 11 November 1865 they petitioned the Grand Lodge of Nevada for a dispensation (temporary authorization). Grand Master DeBell responded 25 January 1866, with the stipulation that "No Mormon be accepted for the Degrees," later adding, "or to be admitted as a visitor." These rigid provisions were due in part to the history of animosity against Mormons in other states, but were based largely on the experience of Nevadans with Mormons, especially at Genoa, formerly Mormon Station.

[Utah History Encyclopedia: Freemasonry in Utah, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]

190 years ago today - 1835 Nov 11

Joseph Smith & Robert Matthews (Joshua the Jewish Minister) part ways, each discerning a devil in the other

[https://docs.google.com/document/d/10ttN3vOzf2UcVhruCrvDf9pF27T0o0PP0Xj1X98tKBc/edit?fbclid=IwAR3HXLgL-X-M_c5LT2W-_F7AYqsqqaQ0yIhfNuyeFsX85irSPuEO6_Q993A]

40 years ago today - Nov 10, 1985

Non-Mormon journalists noted: "In the past Benson's heavy-handed political maneuvering has antagonized numerous members of the [LDS] church, leading to fears of a major schism if he became president."

When he ascended to that office in November 1985, church officials insisted that Benson's political activism was "in the past."

[Dew, Ezra Taft Benson, 486-87, 469-70 ; Bob Gottlieb and Peter Wiley, "Mormons to the Right," San Jose Mercury News, 1 Dec. 1985, 9; also "Possibility of Benson Heading Mormons Worries Some With Different Views," Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 1976, Pt. 1,32; "Mormon Church Faces A Fresh Challenge . . . But Now, A Change of Leaders May Bring A Split In Its Ranks," U.S. News & World Report 95 (21 Nov. 1983): 61; "Conservative Seeking Leadership Worries Some Mormons," Baltimore Sun, 11 Dec. 1983, A-3; Gottlieb and Wiley, America's Saints, 247, 257; "Mormon Church Council Meets To Pick New Leader," Dallas Morning News, 11 Nov. 1985, A-4; "New Chief of Mormons: Ezra Taft Benson," New York Times, 19 Nov. 1985, A-16; also Robert Lindsey, "The Mormons: Growth, Prosperity and Controversy," New York Times Magazine, 12 Jan. 1986, 46. 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.]

40 years ago today - Nov 10, 1985

The Quorum of the Twelve sustains Ezra Taft Benson as the church president with Gordon B. Hinckley and Thomas S. Monson as counselors, and ordains President Benson. Benson is the first LDS church president with a graduate degree (M.S. from Iowa State University). Also, the First Presidency and apostles vote for Howard W. Hunter as Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve due to the incapacity of Marion G. Romney. Although 'non compos mentis,' Romney is now next in apostolic seniority to the church president and eligible for automatic succession in the event of Benson's death. This situation continues until Romney's death in 1988, during which time the church president has a heart attack.

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

50 years ago today - Nov 10, 1975-Monday

[Leonard Arrington]

Elder J. Golden Kimball and B. H. Roberts were intimate associates. Each was probably the best friend of the other. When Elder Roberts died [in 1933] the family and ecclesiastical officials didn't want J. Golden to speak at the funeral for fear he might tell some incriminating story about Brother Roberts, but since he was such a close friend, they couldn't very well overlook him, so they asked him to dedicate the grave. When they got to Centerville where he was to be buried, the cemetery wasn't in very good shape. When they called on him to dedicate the grave, he walked first in one direction looking hard and then in another direction and finally said, "This is a hell of a place to bury a damn good man." It was so obviously true that the next day the mayor and city council of Centerville met and appropriated all the money left in the treasury to fix up the cemetery. ...

There was tension in the Roberts home and this tension helps to explain why his children left the Church. Some of them joined other churches. One of the things they didn't like was him taking the Shipp woman [Margaret Curtis Shipp], his third wife, back with him when he was president of the Eastern States Mission.

Simon Bamberger, governor of Utah, elected in 1916, was of course German Jewish and spoke with a rather heavy accent and was very friendly toward Mormons. In fact he referred to himself as the "president of the Hebrew stake of Zion."

J. Golden Kimball was once visiting Ogden Stake along with two Smiths. The Smiths had managed to put everybody to sleep, and he was anxious to wake them up, so he started his sermon with some questions: "Anybody here that never tasted coffee?" Two old patriarchs in the back stood up. "Anybody here never tasted tobacco?"-same two patriarchs stood up. "Anybody here never had a good slug of whiskey?" Same two patriarchs stood up. "Well, brothers and sisters, I guess my sermon must be directed to all of you except these two older brethren in the rear, and my principle remarks to them is, "you sure have missed a lot!" With everybody now awake and feeling a sense of guilt, he gave them a beautiful sermon on the Word of Wisdom.

As a student at the University of Deseret B. H. Roberts walked all the way from Centerville to Salt Lake City every day. He wore homemade clothes-and not very good ones at that. Some of the students taunted him for the old farm clothes he wore. This continued for some days until he had stood it all he could. Finally someone started making remarks to him about it and he tore into him with all of his energy. He just about killed the poor fellow. They had to take him to the hospital and have a lot of repair work done on him. Query: Could that have been the occasion which caused him to be disfellowshipped from the 13th ward?

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

65 years ago today - Nov 10,1960

Brigham Young University's president tells Executive Committee of BYU's trustees "about a colored boy on campus having been a candidate for the vice presidency of a class and receiving a very large vote." The three apostles present want to exclude all African Americans from BYU. "If a granddaughter of mine should ever go the BYU and become engaged to a colored boy," Apostle Harold B. Lee fumes, "I would hold you responsible!"

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

80 years ago today - Nov 10, 1945

The last listing of causes in a weekly list of named excommunicants in the Church News. Up to now the most common reasons are apostasy and "violating the law of chastity."

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

115 years ago today - Nov 10, 1910

[Rudger Clawson]

No work is being done in the Temples at present neither has any been done in the past for the negro saints. Priesthood cannot be given to a negro and this rule apears to hold good regarding other ordinances of the Temple.

... [it is] the obligation resting upon the elders to carry the gospel to the white race and perform ordinances for the ancestors of the white race. If a negro has faith in the Gospel, repents of his sins and applies ... for baptism, he cannot be denied this precious blessing. ... [The] progeny of a white man who mingles his seed with that of a negro, are to be regarded as negroes.

[Rudger Clawson, Letter to Brigham A. Hendricks, October 25, 1910, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]

115 years ago today - Thursday, Nov 10, 1910

Minutes of the Council of the Twelve and of the First Presidency: Letter read from President B.A. Hendricks of the South African Mission, dated October 4, addressed to President Rudger Clawson, stating in substance that a serious race question was confronting himself and associates, missionaries, on account of the doctrine having been taught to some of the negro saints that they could perform certain ordinances in the House of the Lord, and he desired an answer to this question: "Is it possible for a promiscuously bred white and negro to be baptized for the dead?" adding that a great many blacks had become members of the Church in South Africa, and were good, honest people. President Hendricks also stated that by asking this question he did not wish it to be inferred that he and his fellow missionaries were directing their work among the white race.

President [Joseph F.] Smith remarked that he saw no reason why a negro should not be permitted to have access to the baptismal font in the temple to be baptized for the dead, inasmuch as negroes are entitled to become members of the Church by baptism.

[George Albert Smith Papers, Manuscripts Division, Marriott Library, University of Utah, quoted at 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]

120 years ago today - Friday, Nov 10, 1905

At 10 a.m. at the office of the First Presidency ... It was decided to publish a Document on the question of the one mighty and strong spoken of in the D.&C.

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

125 years ago today - Nov. 10th, 1900

[Brigham Young Jr.]

Pres. W. Woodruff's Monument was dedicated today. Cost $1500.00 so I am informed.

[Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

130 years ago today - Nov 10, 1895

[Apostle Francis M. Lyman]

After school closed [Sunday] I sat down with bro[ther] Alma and Joshua Greenwood and James Melville in the same school room to talk over the political wounds we have given and received. I frankly conceded that most of what bro[ther] Alma had stated about me in print was correct. Some was not true ... Bro[ther] Joshua was not feeling so ugly as Alma and James. They held that my censure of them at conference in Meadow some years ago was much of it unnecessary and harsh. I frankly admitted that may have been, but if they would write down all there was of that kind I would gladly go before the stake conference at any time and state that I was sorry I use those words that were necessarily harsh and retract every one of them. They concluded it would not be necessary and would let the whole matter drop... We closed up in good spirits much better then we commenced with. We forgave and loved each other. Bro[ther] Alma was severely set against B[isho]p Callister for his partisanship and a
campaign song he composed and sung frequently in which bro[ther] Greenwood was sarcastically mentioned. ... I also spoke freely of the political battle and said if there was one soul who has been influenced by me in the Stake to be a Republican, I wanted them to free that influence. I never hinted nor did I believe I had used church influence. A unanimous vote approved as good sound and safe doctrine all I said. ... My visit in Fillmore I believe is a very fortunate one [made peace with wife Susan].

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

135 years ago today - Nov 10, 1890

"The Prophet went to the home of President Taylor, and said to him, 'Brother John, I WANT LEONORA,' 'If GOD wants Leonora He can have her..'. 'I don't want your wife, I just wanted to know just where you stood'"

[Prophet Wilford Woodruff, John Mills Whitaker Journal, in Exploring Mormonism: Polygamy Timeline, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/polygamy-timeline/]

140 years ago today - Nov 10, 1885

{Phebe Whitemore Carter Woodruff [first wife of Wilford Woodruff] was born March 8th, 1807 In Scarboro Maine Died in Salt Lake City Utah Nov. 10, 1885 Aged 78 years 8 months & 2 days. Blessed are the Dead who die in the Lord.}

Sleep on my Dear Phebe, But Ere long from this

The Conqured Tomb shall yield its Captive Prey,

Then with thy Husband, Children, friends, &

Prophets & Apostles

Thou shalt Reign in Bliss,

As wife, Queen, Mother, and Saint to an Eternal Day.

Wilford Woodruff

... Thus My wife Phebe Ends Her Earthly Mission. She has gone to meet her Fathers, Mothers, Children Prophets, Apostles, Saints & Friends in the spirit world.

This was a serous day. Word Came to me this morning of the Death of my wife Phebe. ...

The Lord has born me up in this Affliction in a wonderful Manner. I pray God to still sustain me. ...

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

145 years ago today - Nov 10, 1880

Ordered that John Henry Smith be credited the amount per quarter to draw against as the rest of the Twelve have'-also ordered that Pres[iden]t. [John] Taylor be credited ten thousand dollars in consideration of his interest in the machinery of and sugar making company of 1852. Bro[ther] [Wilford] Woodruff moved that $10,000 to offset a claim of President J[ohn]. Taylor against the church be appropriated to him. I had previously stated plainly my objections to this claim so now I held my peace. The brethren voted the amount. [Brigham Young had refused this request since 1853.]

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

140 years ago today - Tuesday, Nov 10, 1885

Salt Lake City

The following notice in the Evening News

Excommunication

Charges having been preferred against Albert Carrington, a full and patient hearing was had before the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, where the following decision was unanimously adopted.

That [apostle] Albert Carrington be excommunicated from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints for the crimes of Lewd and Lascivious conduct and adultry. W. Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, Erastus Snow, Franklin D. Richards, Brigham Young, Moses Thatcher, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, Heber J. Grant, John W. Taylor and Councilor John W. Young.

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

190 years ago today - Nov 10, 1835

[Joseph Smith]

I resumed the conversation and desired him [Robert Matthews, aka "Joshua the Jewish minister"] to enlighten my mind more on his views respecting the resur[r]ection. He says that he posses[es] the spirit of his fathers. That he is a litteral de[s]cendant of Mat[t]hias the Apostle that was chosen in the place of Judas that fell and that his spirit is resur[r]ected in him. That this is the way or schem[e] of eternal life, this transmigration of soul or spirit from Father to Son.

I told him that his doctrine was of the Devil that he was in reality in possession of [a] wicked and depraved spirit although he professed to be the spirit of truth itself. /And he said/ also that he possesses the soul of Christ.

... I told him that my God told me that his God is the Devil and I could not keep him any longer and he must depart. So I for once cast out the Devil in bodily shape and I believe [him to be] a murderer ...

[Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1835-36, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]

195 years ago today - 1830 Nov 10

Samuel Smith is able to visit Joseph Sr. in prison but cannot effect his release; however, he helps him get a job at a cooper-s shop in the jail yard.

[https://docs.google.com/document/d/10ttN3vOzf2UcVhruCrvDf9pF27T0o0PP0Xj1X98tKBc/edit?fbclid=IwAR3HXLgL-X-M_c5LT2W-_F7AYqsqqaQ0yIhfNuyeFsX85irSPuEO6_Q993A]

65 years ago today - Nov 9, 1960

[First Presidency letter to Disney legal executive]

Our grateful appreciation to you and Mr. Disney and your associates for your most gracious consent for us to continue to use the 350 feet of film footage from "The Rites of Spring" [from the Movie Fantasia] for the purpose which we have previously defined, and for the continued full term period of copyright. This is a most generous accommodation, and we assure you that it will be used respectfully and constructively, and that the privilege will not be abused or exceeded.

[LDS First Presidency to Gunther R. Lessing, Disney Productions Legal Department, Nov. 9, 1960 , typed excerpt in Buerger Papers, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

70 years ago today - Nov 9, 1955

The First Presidency informs Seventy's president Bruce R. McConkie that they have misgivings about his intended publication of a multi-volumed 'Sound Doctrine' as a censored and condensed version of the Journal of Discourses. Three weeks later the Presidency is stunned to find advertisements for McConkie's publication in the Deseret News (30 Nov. 1955) and in the December issue of the Improvement Era. He writes the Presidency on 1 Dec. that the ads appeared without his knowledge and "are not intended in any way to embarrass or pressure you Brethren." He then explains that he would "not permit any improper or questionable statements to appear" in his projected ten-volume version of the original twenty-six-volume collection. The First Presidency reads page-proofs of the first volume and responds on 9 Feb. "Omissions would probably be sought out and magnified" by the church's critics, the letter says. "Under this situation we feel constrained to request that you give up the idea of an
abridged edition of the Journal of Discourses." Nineteen years later the originally contracted publisher releases 'Journal of Discourses Digest,' under the editorship of the oldest son of McConkie, then a member of the Twelve.

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

100 years ago today - Nov 9, 1925

Apostle Richard R. Lyman upon his own authority enters a plural marriage by mutual covenant. He is almost fifty-five years old, and she is fifty-three. This is the first plural marriage of a general authority since 1905.

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

125 years ago today - Nov 9, 1900; Friday

Sisters Emeline B. Wells and Elizabeth C. McCune called and received a blessing previous to their departure as delegates to a national council of Women to be held in the East.

[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]

140 years ago today - Nov 9, 1885

[Wilford Woodruff]

My wife Phebe is vary low. Bulah thought she was dying. Wrote to Nellie.

At 6 oclock I Called to see my wife Phebe who was vary low. I laid my hands upon her head & Blessed her And anointed her for her burial and at 2 oclok she died. Thus we part after living together 48 years & 6 months in the Marriage Covenant.

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

190 years ago today - Nov 9, 1835

On 9 November 1835, a man visiting Kirtland, Ohio, introduced himself to Joseph Smith as Joshua the Jewish minister. This was an alias of Robert Matthews (1788-1841), a religious eccentric from New York who claimed to be God the Father reincarnated in the body of Matthias the ancient apostle. The two men spoke about religion, and Smith related the story of his first vision, perhaps as a counter to Matthews's claim.

" . . . I commenced giving him a relation of the circum=stances connected with the coming forth of the book of Mormon, as follows--being wrought up in my mind, respecting the subject of religion and looking at [w.o. upon] the different systems taught the children of men, I knew not who was right or who was wrong and I considered [I considered w.o. considering] it of the first importance that I should be right, in matters that involve eternal consequ[e]nces; being thus perplexed in mind I retired to the silent grove and bow[e]d down before the Lord, under a realising sense that he had said (if the bible be true) ask and you shall receive knock and it shall be opened seek and you shall find and again [Matt. 7:7], if any man lack wisdom let him ask of God who giveth to all men libar=ally and upbradeth not [Jas. 1:5]; information was what I most desired at this time, and with a fixed determination to obtain it, I called upon the Lord for the first time, in the place above
stated or in other words I made a fruitless attempt to p[r]ay, my toung seemed to be swolen in my mouth, so that I could not utter, I heard a noise behind me like some person walking towards me, I strove again to pray, but could not, the noise of walking seem=ed to draw nearer, I sprung up on my feet, and and looked around, but saw no person or thing that was calculated to produce the noise of wal=king, I kneeled again my mouth was opened and my toung liberated, and I called on the Lord in mighty prayer, a pillar of fire appeared above my head, it presently rested down upon me [w.o. my] head, and filled me with Joy unspeakable, a personage appeared in the midst of this pillar of flame which was spread all around, and yet nothing consumed, another personage soon appeard like unto the first, he said unto me thy sins are forgiven thee, he testifyed unto me that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; <and I saw many angels in this vision> I was about 14 years old when I received this first
communication; When I was about 17 years old I saw another vision of angels in the night season after I had retired to bed I had not been a sleep, when but was me=ditating upon my past life and experience, I was verry concious that I had not kept the commandments, and I repented hartily for all my sins and transgression, and humbled myself before Him <whose eyes are over all things>, all at once the room was iluminated above the brightness of the sun an angel appeared before me, his hands and feet were naked pure and white, and he stood between the floors of the room, clothed with in purity inexpressible, he said unto me I am a messenger sent from God, be faithful and keep his commandments in all things, he told me of a sacred record which was written on plates of gold, I saw in the vision the place where they were deposited, he said the Indians were the literal descendants of Abraham he explained many things of the prophesies to [p. 24] me, one I will mention which is this in
Malachi 4 chapt[er]. behold the day of the Lord cometh &c. also that the Urim and Thumim, was hid up with the record, and that God would give me power to translate it, with the assistance of this instrument he then gradually vanished out of my sight, or the vision closed, while meditating on what I had seen, the angel appeard to me again and related the same things and much more, also the third time bearing the same tidings, and dep=arted; during the time I was in this vision I did not realize any thing else around me except what was shown me in this communication: after the vision had all passed, I found that it was nearly day-light, the family soon arose, I got up also:--on that day while in the field at work with my Father he asked me if I was sick I relyed, I had but little strenght [strength], he told me to go to the house, I started and went part way and was finally deprived deprived of my stren=gth and fell, but how long I remained I do not know; the Angel came to me again
and comm=anded me to go and tell my Father, what I had seen and heard, I did so, he wept and told me that it was a vision from God to attend to it I went and found the place, where the plates were, according to the direction of the Angel, also saw them, and the angel as before; the powers of darkness strove hard against me. I called on God, the Angel told me that the reason why I could not obtain the plates at this time was because I was under transgression, but to come again in one year from that time, I did so, but did not obtain them [rest of line blank] [p. 25] also the third and the fourth year, at which time I obtained them, and translated them into the english language, by the gift and power of God and have been preaching it ever since.

[Joseph Smith, Diary, 9 November 1835, 23-26, Joseph Smith Papers, LDS Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Joseph Smith Recital To Robert Matthews]

110 years ago today - Nov 8, 1915; Monday

.... When President Lorenzo Snow, who succeeded President Woodruff as President of the Church, discovered that many of those who had gone from Utah to Mexico to enter into polygamous relations were couples who never intended to remain there, who returned to Utah without establishing homes in that country, which was squarely against the attitude of the Church in construing the scope of President Woodruff's manifesto, he withdrew all authority from Mexico to solemnize plural marriages there as it had been withdrawn in Utah. ...

[George F. Gibbs, letter to Bernard Greensfelder, excerpt in Quinn Papers, copy in Kenney Papers, original in LDS Archives]

125 years ago today - Nov 8, 1900; Thursday

The Presidency were at the office as usual. The question was raised by President [George Q.] Cannon whether he in the publication of the History of the Church about to be published should divide the history into chapters and verses also the revelations as now published in the Doctrine and Covenants or follow the method of the publication of the History of Joseph Smith as published in the Millennial Star which is not so divided. It was decided that the divisions both in the history as to Chapters and Verses and in the revelations into verses should be made in the publication, which would make it more interesting.

At 11 o'clock the Presidency and Apostles met in the Temple in council meeting. ...

Elder Reed Smoot reported the financial condition of Brother Isaac Riddle who a short time ago donated property for the purpose of assisting in the redemption of Zion ... he desires to donate in any way that President [Lorenzo] Snow might suggest for the redemption of Zion and the building of the Temple there. ...

[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]

165 years ago today - Nov 8, 1860

B. Y. observed [U.S.] Pres. Buchanan will be despised by God, Man and the devil; he might be kind to his women and children, but he is an ignorant man and would misuse his old friends for his present ones. [U.S. President] Franklin Pierce, is a far more talented man than Buchanan ever was, but he ought to have been born a woman. Fillmore has more sound sense than all of the others put together. -- Salt Lake City

[Brigham Young Office Journals, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]

190 years ago today - Nov 8, 1835

Joseph chastizes Emma for leaving the Sunday meeting before partaking of the sacrament. She weeps.

[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

85 years ago today - Nov 7, 1940

Hill [Airforce Base] became operational and served throughout the war as a major repair and supply depot for the Army Air Forces. At its largest, Hill Field employed 15,000 civilians, 6,000 military, and several thousand POWs, making it the largest employer in the state.

[Utah History Encyclopedia: World War II, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]

115 years ago today - Monday, Nov 7, 1910

[John Henry Smith]

I called upon my son George Albert [Smith] who is at Grays Sanatarium. He is considerably improved.

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

140 years ago today - Nov 7, 1885

[Heber J. Grant]

In the evening at 7 P.M. attended a meeting of our quorum in Prest John Taylor's office, same persons present as last evening Carrington excepted. Our meeting this evening was for the purpose of investigating the conduct and actions of Counselor John W. Young, some of his financial moves failing that he had neglected the duties of his calling in his efforts to make money Never in my life have I heard my brethren speak with more of the power of God than they did tonight. Especially powerful were the remarks of Bro Brigham Young [Jr]. If ever man spake by the power of God brother Brigham did tonight. Brigham called upon his brother to step into line or it was inevitable that he must lose his standing with his brethren and finally in the Church. Told him he had set up his own judgement & followed his own counsels in opposition to that of his own father and of his brethren, that there was not a spark of humility in his nature & warned him that tonight was his last chance and the
turning place in his life.

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

140 years ago today - Nov 7, 1885

Quorum of the Twelve excommunicates Apostle Albert Carrington "for the crimes of lewd and lascivious conduct and adultery" with several women dating back to 1871. This is the first time since 1842 that a general authority is excommunicated for sexual misconduct, and its publication on 10 Nov. stuns the community.

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

165 years ago today - Nov 7, 1860

Presidet Young ... had 3 teeth extracted one a sound one through a mistake.

I spent the evening in his office. He said I hope that Abel Lincoln was Elected Presidet of the United States yesterday & that the South meet in Convention & nominate Breckenride to day to be the presidet of the South but I am afraid they will not have pluck enough to do it.

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

195 years ago today - Circa Nov 7, 1830

Lucy Smith pays a debt in produce owed to Dr. Alexander McIntyre. The Smith Manchester home is invaded by creditors. William Smith returns home from business in time to chase the creditors away. Samuel Smith returns from a mission to Livonia (NY).

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

80 years ago today - Nov 6, 1945

The temple endowment ceremony is presented for the first time in a non-English language (Spanish).

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

85 years ago today - Nov 6, 1940

[Heber J. Grant]

This afternoon I borrowed my son-in-law Wallace Bennett's new Lincoln-Zephyr car and had a ride. I took with me Mrs. Anbrose McKay, widow of the former manager of the Tribune and who changed the Tribune from a vile, lying newspaper to a straightforward, fine newspaper. At the time President Smith died there was a very fine editorial in the Tribune telling what a wonderful man President Smith was. I met Mr. McKay that morning and told him I accepted that editorial as a complete cancellation of all the lies the paper had previously published, and would call the matter even. I laughed and so did he.

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

85 years ago today - Nov 06, 1940

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, later a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, is born in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia.

115 years ago today - Nov 6, 1910

[Thomas A. Clawson]

"There was a splendid spirit present at all meetings especially at the Temple where many testimonies were born concerning Oliver Cowdry and his labors in the Church. Prest Jos. F. Smith said that one of our Church historians has been almost persuaded that Oliver had been deceiving the people in his statement concerning the Coming of John the Baptist and ordaining Joseph and him to the Aaronic Priesthood. The President said that these words which are reported to have been said by Oliver were put into his mouth by his enemenies (Sic) and his coming humbly back and applying for admission to the Church branded as false such statements."

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

120 years ago today - Nov 6, 1905

[Thomas A. Clawson]

"The Political Situation is quite critical the people generally being in the dark as to how they should they should (Sic) cast their vote. I have tried to show the necessity of maintaining the Republican supreamacy (Sic) here that we as a people may stand well before the Nation and brother Reed Smoot may have more backing in his fight...."

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

130 years ago today - Nov 6, 1895

[Franklin D. Richards]

Had a pleasant visit with Pres[iden]t L[orenzo] Snow in his room at the Temple reviewing sone of the rough items attendant upon the closing campaign. The sayings Bro[ther] Jos[ep]h F. Smith at the Priesthood meeting'The lapsus lingu [i.e., loose tongue] of Bro[ther] Geo[rge] Q. Cannon at Brigham City [Utah] &c with their effects upon the people.

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

140 years ago today - Nov 6, 1885

The Bishops were instructed not to recommend any person to any Temple unless they answered all questions in a satisfactory manner. If applicants perjured themselves then they were amenable to God for their acts. The subject of the celestial law of marriage was dwelt upon. It was shown that the faithful must live it, otherwise they could not attain to a fulness of glory. The Lord has said that "it is not meet that men who have not observed this law should preside over His Priesthood."

[Minutes, Special Bishops' Meeting, Nov. 6, 1885, as quoted in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

140 years ago today - Nov 6, 1885

The subject of the celestial law of marriage [plural marriage] was dwelt upon. It was shown that the faithful must live it, otherwise they could not attain to a fulness of glory. The Lord has said that "it is not meet that men who have not observed this law should preside over His Priesthood."

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

140 years ago today - Nov 6, 1885

[Apostle Brigham Young Jr.]

[[At a meeting of the Twelve, which Young calls "one of the solemn days of my life," charges of Lasiv. Cohab., fornication and adultery are heard against Albert Carrington. Carrington confessed, and tried to argue that because he did not "mix the seeds" he was only foolish but not criminal. This had been going on for about 12 years commencing when Carrington was President of the British mission. "The Twelve sat as a high Council president Woodruff presiding, Each expressed their opinion & all agreed. President delivered judgement, accused guilty of all charge[s]" and Carrington cut off from the church.]]

[Diary of Apostle Brigham Young Jr., http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

155 years ago today - Nov 6, 1870

[Wilford Woodruff]

After Meeting or during intermission we organized A Branch of the School of the Prophets.

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

190 years ago today - Nov 6, 1835

Kirtland, Ohio. Joseph Smith met a man from the eastern United States who was disappointed that Joseph Smith the Prophet -"was nothing but a normal man.-",

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

195 years ago today - Circa Nov 6, 1830

On the day following Joseph Sr.'s arrest, Lucy Smith seeks assistance from Palmyra merchant Abner Lackey, who procures testimony that will be used to help Joseph Sr. gain access to the jail's courtyard.

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

195 years ago today - Circa Nov 5, 1830

This is the probable time of Joseph Sr.'s arrest and imprisonment. Lucy Smith says that Joseph Sr. was arrested on Thursday, the day following Hyrum's departure , and jailed in Canandaigua for thirty days .

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

195 years ago today - Circa Nov 5, 1830

This is the probable time of Joseph Sr.'s arrest and imprisonment. Lucy Smith says that Joseph Sr. was arrested on Thursday, the day following Hyrum's departure , and jailed in Canandaigua for thirty days .

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

40 years ago today - Nov 5, 1985

President Spencer W. Kimball died in Salt Lake City at age 90.

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

65 years ago today - Nov 5, 1960

Concerning Gideon Dolo, a Fijian whose people had troubled LDS headquarters because of their negoid appearance, the Church News notes that he is "the first of his race to hold the Melchizedek Priesthood. The first Fijian to receive his temple endowments. The first of his race to serve as a proselyting missionary for the Church."

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

85 years ago today - Nov 5, 1940

[President Heber J. Grant]

I listened to the election returns. Off and on during the night I do not think I slept more than three hours. I am dumbfounded to think that the people of America have returned Roosevelt to the office of President. I thought of his running for a third term would snow him under. Politics does what I said it did many years ago. I said a bad dose of politics was like the measles if it set in on a man it turned his hide yellow and made him cross-eyed.

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

130 years ago today - Nov 5, 1895

Utah's first elected state governor is LDS Heber M. Wells who serves (1896-1905). Other Mormon governors of Utah are John C. Cutler (1905-1909), William Spry (1909-17), Charles R. Mabey (1921-25), Henry H. Blood (1933-41), Herbert B. Maw (1941-49), George D. Clyde (1957-65), Calvin L. Rampton (1965-77), Scott M. Mattheson (1977-85), Norman Bangerter (1985-93), Mike Leavitt (1993-2003), Olene S. Walker (2003-05), Jon Huntsman, Jr. (2005-09), and Gary Herbert (2009- ).

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

130 years ago today - Nov 5, 1895

Despite a move to put the matter to a separate vote, supporters of women's suffrage managed to get it written into the new Utah Constitution by a comfortable majority. The new document was adopted on 5 November 1895 with a provision that "the rights of citizens of the State of Utah to vote and hold office shall not be denied or abridged on account of sex. Both male and female citizens of this state shall enjoy equally all civil, political and religious rights and privileges."

[Utah History Encyclopedia: Sufferage, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]

130 years ago today - Nov 5, 1895

[Apostle Marriner W. Merrill]

I voted the full Republican ticket, both State and City.

[Notes from the Miscellaneous Record Book, 1886-1906: Selected diary notes from the journal books of Marriner Wood Merrill, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

130 years ago today - Tuesday, Nov 5, 1895

[Apostle John Henry Smith]

I returned to Salt Lake City and went to the Polls and voted the Republican ticket straight for state, county, and city offices. I went home and went to bed. A daughter born to Josephine 20 minutes to 3 today.

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

130 years ago today - Nov 5, 1895

[Apostle Franklin D. Richards]

Went with my son Charles Seco(?) of Ter. and we polled our votes with Straight Democratic Tickets

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

130 years ago today - Nov 5, 1895

[Apostle Francis M. Lyman]

Election Day ... I deposited my straight Republican ticket. ... Before retiring I learned that the State ticket Republicans had won by about 30 votes. 167 voted for Statehood and 43 against it, total 200. That is a light vote for Tooele. Democrats are dejected.

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

195 years ago today - Circa Nov 5, 1830

This is the probable time of Joseph Sr.'s arrest and imprisonment. Lucy Smith says that Joseph Sr. was arrested on Thursday, the day following Hyrum's departure , and jailed in Canandaigua for thirty days .

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

35 years ago today - Nov 4, 1990.

Sunstone's June issue comes out about mid- October, containing a summary of news stories about the temple changes. Elbert Peck's stake president, Herbert Klopfer, informs him that Sunstone's coverage is inappropriate and confiscates Elbert's temple recommend. Daniel Rector, the publisher, has his temple recommend revoked at the same time.

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

45 years ago today - Nov 4, 1980

Florida elects Paula Hawkins as the first LDS woman to become a U.S. Senator and the first female Senator who is not a daughter or wife of a politician. She is also the first prominent LDS woman to publicly acknowledge that she was sexually abused as a child.

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

60 years ago today - Nov 4, 1965

[Council meeting] "Elder [Ezra Taft] Benson said ... that he was confident in his own mind from a study he had made of the Negro question that we are only seeing something being carried out today that was planned by the highest councils of the communist party twenty years ago, and that Martin Luther King is an agent, if not a power in the Communist party. He said that this whole thing is being directed and supported and promoted by agents of the Communist party, that the Negroes are being used in this whole question of Civil Rights, integration, etc., and that the NAACP are largely made up of men who are affiliated with from one to a dozen communist-front organizations, and he thought they would do anything in their power to embarrass the Church. Elder Benson thought we ought to be very careful what we do in the Negro field, whether it be in Nigeria, here, or any other place in the world, and he felt that so far as Brother Williams is concerned, his work in Nigeria [to establish
the church] should be terminated and he be brought home to report."

[Minutes of Council Meeting as referenced in Gregory A. Prince and Wm. Robert Write, David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press (2005)]

165 years ago today - Nov 4, 1860

Capt Gibson spoke two hours & gave a vary interesting account of his mission [and] the dealings of the Lord with him. ... He had an interview with the Jappaneese Embassay and was the ownly man in America who saw them that Could Communicate with them without interpeters ...

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

165 years ago today - Nov 4, 1860 (Afternoon)

[Brigham Young]

I curse the mean skunk at Camp Floyd in the name of Jesus Christ and they shall be cursed - your sheep, colts, hogs trample upon wheat after wheat and god blessed the earth to bring it to you ...

[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 - Nov 4, 1845

[Wilford Woodruff]

I retired to rest & dreamed of being in A ship & a great storm arose And it seemed as though the ship would be swallowed up but it out lived the storm. I also Saw A large serpent which brought forth other serpents.

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

195 years ago today - Nov 4, 1830

.... -he asked Joseph [Smith, Jr.] whether he could not ascertain what his [Orson Pratt] mission was and Joseph answered that he would see. & asked Pratt and John Whitmer to go up stairs with him. and arriving there Joseph produced a small stone called a seer stone. and putting it into a hat soon commenced speaking [producing D&C 34].- Orson Pratt's recollection at David Whitmer home

[Palmyra Magic Timeline, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/palmyra-magic-timeline/]

50 years ago today - Nov 03, 1975

U.S. President Gerald Ford appoints Lieutenant General Brent Scowcroft as his National Security Affairs (NSA) advisor, replacing Henry Kissinger, who had been both secretary of state and NSA advisor. Scowcroft is the first Latter-day Saint to serve in this top position. He serves again in this position under U.S. President George Herbert Walker Bush (1989-93).

80 years ago today - Nov 03, 1945

President George Albert Smith meets with U.S. President Harry S. Truman in Washington, D.C., to obtain permission for the Church to send food and supplies to the Saints in war-torn Europe.

115 years ago today - Thursday, Nov 3, 1910

[John Henry Smith]

Politics is burning hot. Many dirty and unfair things are being said by both parties.

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

135 years ago today - Nov 3, 1890 (Monday)

A contract was signed for the erection of the first beet sugar plant in Utah, to cost $400,000.

[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

145 years ago today - Nov 3, 1880

Pres[iden]t. A. Hatch of Wasatch [Utah] Stake was criticised for his aversion to Polygamy& letting Dr Russell denounce J[oseph]. F. Smith.

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

175 years ago today - Nov 3, 1850

Fredericka Bremer wrote of a visit to Nauvoo, "We are now in sight of Nauvoo, formerly the capital of the Mormon district, and the magnificent ruin of their former temple is standing on its elevated site." .

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

190 years ago today - Nov 3, 1835

Eleven of the Twelve are chastened for not being sufficiently humble or equal in financial affairs and for criticizing William Smith.

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

190 years ago today - Nov 3, 1835

Joseph receives a revelation for the Twelve, stating that they must humble themselves and be patient with his brother William. He then dedicates the School of the Elders, promising a "glorious endowment that God has in store for the faithful."

[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

30 years ago today - Nov 2, 1995

The announcement that Presiding Bishop Merrill J. Bateman will be the new president of BYU, effective 1 Jan. He is also appointed a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. Despite Bateman's Ph.D. in economics from MIT, the appointment of a general authority to BYU's helm has the appearance of guaranteeing that the LDS hierarchy will not need to deal with a vigorous advocate for academic freedom at the largest LDS campus. This is how the Chronicle of Higher Education views it. Within months Bateman is the center of national controversy over his speech to BYU students against moral relativism, the published version of which lifts numerous phrases (without quotation marks) from a recently published article by neo-conservative scholar Gertrude Himmelfarb. She is cited (with quotation marks) for only one sentence and phrase of many that Bateman's speech/article interweaves with slight changes in a manner familiar to anyone who has read plagarized papers by freshman students. Bateman
publicly apologizes to Himmelfarb and insists that the controversy is about "one" misplaced quotation mark, yet the public image remains that BYU's president participates in the "moral relativism" he condemns.

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

105 years ago today - Nov 2, 1920

[Heber J. Grant]

My wife and I went and voted. When I came to look over the ticket that I had checked I found that I had voted for nine more Republicans than I had Democrats. It is amusing for me to pose as a Democrat, and when I come to vote at our State elections and National elections divide my vote for a larger number of Republicans than Democrats. I always go over the ticket and try to pick out the best men without regard to which party they belong.

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

135 years ago today - Nov 2, 1890

[Abraham H. Cannon]

In relation to S[amuel] F. Ball who desires to go to Mexico and get a fourth wife, Father [George Q. Cannon] said it could not be done, as such things had ceased to occur even there. One young man who recently had this privilege, came back and allowed the knowledge of it to go out, and thus put the Church in danger. Father feels, as I do, that it is best to entirely cease the performance of such marriages for the present and thus make the brethren more appreciative of present blessings. ...

[Abraham H. Cannon (Author), Edward Leo Lyman (Editor), Candid Insights of a Mormon Apostle: The Diaries of Abraham H. Cannon, 1889-1895, Signature Books]

140 years ago today - Monday, Nov 2, 1885

[John Henry Smith]

Bro. F. D. Richards told Bro. M. Thatcher and I that a charge of adultery had been made against Bro. [apostle] Albert Cartington.

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

190 years ago today - Nov 2, 1835

Plastering and the hard finishing on the outside of the [Kirtland] temple have begun. Joseph is busy setting up the School of the Elders. He goes with Sidney Rigdon, Oliver Cowdery, and Frederick G. Williams to Willoughby College to hear a Dr. Piexotto lecture on physics. They learn that he will come to Kirtland to teach Hebrew.

[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

30 years ago today - Nov 1, 1995

Five BYU professors submit an officially-commissioned, four-year study of LDS applicants for freshmen admission (1971-88). Findings show that active Mormons who attend BYU "even for only one semester" have significantly higher rates of temple marriage, tithing payment, and belief in LDS doctrines than Mormons who attend other colleges. Although survey participants are age twenty-six to mid-forties, 20 percent "of the marriage respondents in both groups remianed childless." BYU's spokesperson says that the executive committee of the Board of Trustees decides to suppress this report because "we already get a lot of pressure about admission to BYU and release of this study would only make that worse." Since 1973 the enrollment limit of 27,000 means that "only a small and shrinking minority of Mormon youth," can attend BYU. No spokesperson at LDS headquarters or at BYU comments on the evidence of long-term birth-control by married couples who are actively LDS. Despite contrary
statements of BYU's spokesperson and sources at church headquarters, BYU president Bateman denies in February 1996 that the board has made any decision about circulating this study's findings.

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

50 years ago today - Nov 1, 1975

A Church News article about Kathy Devine, an LDS shotputter and Olympic aspirant who criticizes those who "think all girls should be out baking cookies somewhere."

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

125 years ago today - Nov 1, 1900; Thursday

Went to my Temple meeting. Pres[iden]t. [Lorenzo] Snow said he did not know how it would be done but Plural Marriage will again be returned. "I am just sure of it" he said. Went to Pres[iden]t. [Joseph F.] Smith with a matter to decide.

[Abraham Owen Woodruff, Diary]

130 years ago today - Nov 1, 1895

[Thomas A. Clawson Diary]

"The Political Matter and things the politicians are using to influence voters are shaking Zion to the center and I fear that apostacy is stalking abroad among the Saints. The Democrats are trying to drag the First Presidency into Politics by saying they are using their influence &c. and I am very sorry to see many of our brethren are talking loudly against the Lord's Anointed in consequence thereof."

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

130 years ago today - Nov 1, 1895

[Brigham Young Jr.]

Politics are running high. O. W. Powers is running the Democratic Party and seems to have perfectly pulled the wool over our brethrens eyes. I am almost convinced that Moses Thatcher is gone over to the enemy; poor fellow. I am sorry but alas my confidence in that splendid man is entirely or, almost entirely gone. God help him. Powers is the chief scoundrel in Utah. Wicked, unscrupulous, bold, perfect master of political wire pulling, good judge of human nature and a faithful servant of the devil if he is not the Lucifer himself.

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

135 years ago today - Nov 1, 1890

President Woodruff told Salt Lake City's 14th Ward: '... the Prophet went to the home of President Taylor, and said to him, "Brother John, I want Leonora["] ... it is said [that] John Taylor never answered the prophet, turned away and walked the floor all night, but the next morning, went to the home of the Prophet's [sic] and said to him, ["]Brother Joseph, if God wants Leonora[,] He can have her.["] That was all the prophet was after ... and said to him, ["]Brother Taylor, I don't want your wife, I just wanted to know where you stood.["]'

[John M. Whitaker typed and edited journals, 1: 242 (1 November 1890), Special Collections, Marriott Library, quoted in "Evidence For The Sexual Side of Joseph Smith's Polygamy," Comments by D. Michael Quinn on Session #2A "Reconsidering Joseph Smith's Marital Practices," Mormon History Association's Annual Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 29 June 2012 (unabbreviated version, revised during July)]

135 years ago today - Nov 1, 1890

Date for which U.S. President William Henry Harrison's amnesty declaration for LDS polygamists does not cover "unlawful cohabitation." According to Harrison's proclamation no Mormon polygamists will be prosecuted for illegal cohabitation committed before this date if they refrain from such cohabitation after this date.

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

135 years ago today - Nov 1, 1890 (Saturday)

Evan Stephens succeeded Ebenezer Beesley as leader of the Tabernacle choir, Salt Lake City.

[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

140 years ago today - Sunday, Nov 1, 1885

[John Henry Smith]

Logan

This makes thirty-eight meetings I have attended in two weeks.

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

175 years ago today - Nov 1, 1850

John Taylor advertises in the MILLENIAL STAR death-mask busts of Joseph and Hyrum Smith: "I procured casts taken from their faces immediately after their death. I had also the various drawings with me, which had been made while they were living."

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

185 years ago today - Nov 1, 1840

Notice in "Times and Seasons:" ". . . It is requested that all those who have been endowed with a poetical genius, whose muse has not been altogether idle, will feel enough interest in a work of this kind, to immediately forward all choice, newly composed or revised hymns. In designating those who arc endowed with Poetical genius, we do not intend to exclude others; we mean all who have good hymns that will cheer the heart of the righteous man, to send them as soon as practicable directed to Mrs. Emma Smith, Nauvoo, Illinois. POST PAID."

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

190 years ago today - Nov 1, 1835

[General History]

Joseph Smith reaffirms "official" anti-abolitionist position,

[http://www.xtimeline.com/timeline/Chronology-Pertaining-to-Blacks-and-the-LDS-Church]

200 years ago today - Nov 1, 1825

Joseph Smith Jr. and his father Joseph Smith Sr. sign "Articles of Agreement" concerning the seeking of a lost Spanish silver mine near Josiah Stowall's property in Harmony Pennsylvania. Stowall had heard of Joseph Smith's ability to see hidden treasures and brought him 150 miles from Palmyra, New York to help locate the fabled treasure. No money was ever found and Joseph was later tried and convicted as a "disorderly person" for his "glass looking" activities with Stowall. However it was in Harmony that Joseph met Emma Hale, his future wife.

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

30 years ago today - 10/31/1995

A letter from Loren C. Dunn to Neal A. Maxwell discusses the need for immediate fundraising ($500,000) to begin in Hawaii in order to address forthcoming same-sex marriage legislation.

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

40 years ago today - Oct 31, 1985

Mark Hofmann released from LDS Hospital [after accidently blowing himself up with a bomb]. Later in the day he is charged with illegal possession of a machine gun. He pleads innocent and posts $50,000 bail. A Daniel Boone letter (1775) is sold at a Sotheby's auction for $29,000. The letter was a Hofmann creation. Sotheby's later buys letter back.

[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,]

130 years ago today - Oct 31, 1895

[President Wilford Woodruff]

31 I met the Twelve in the Temple & Attended to what business we had. We still have trouble with Debts And the Political Elements are full of Darkness and lies. /<[---].>/ I never saw such a time in politics in this Church as to day. President Cannon has to Explain in a Card what He said at a Conference at Brigham City. F. M Lyman accused.

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

155 years ago today - Oct 31, 1870

At the death of Utah's governor J. Wilson Schaffer, Apostle Joseph F. Smith writes: "Thank God! He was a low, debauched, vulgar, senseless, ignorant cur, and the Lord be praised that his vile, despicable existence has terminated."

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

180 years ago today - Oct 31, 1845. Friday.

[William Clayton]

....Evening met the Twelve and others at Elder Taylors for prayer. The subject of the United States endeavoring to prevent our removal West by taking out U.S. writs for the Council of Fifty was talked over and plans devised to defeat them in case they undertake to do it.

[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 - Oct 31, 1845

Brigham Young records in his journal: "I received a letter from Charles A. Lovell, Mass., Oct 20th recommending us as a community to remove to California. Another from Thomas J. Farnhaus, New York, Oct 20th, on the same subject. Also one from Edward Warren, Boston, Oct 22nd portraying the Bay of San Francisco and country round as one well adapted for our location in the west."

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

180 years ago today - Oct 31, 1845

The Quorum of the Twelve were beginning negotiations for the sale of Church property in Nauvoo to "outside" interests. Judge Ralston of Quincy, Illinois, had suggested that the Quorum invite officials of the Roman Catholic Church to visit Nauvoo with a view of prospective purchase of the Mormon properties. The Roman Catholic Church did subsequently purchase some of the L.D.S. properties which aided the Mormons in their move West.

[Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]

190 years ago today - (Sat) Oct 31, 1835

William Smith confronted his brother Joseph, accusing him of always carrying out his planned course, "whether right or wrong." William tried to justify his "treating the authority of the Presidency with contempt." He then resigned his eldership in the Church and made public exclamations against his brother Joseph.

[LDS Church History Vol II, pp. 296-297; cf. Frost statement, in Broadhurst, Dale R., Mormon Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/morchrn2.htm]

195 years ago today - Oct 31, 1830

The first sermon on what would later be known as Mormonism was delivered in Ohio to a Sunday congregation at the Mentor Disciples of Christ church.

[Mark Lyman Staker, Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith's Ohio Revelations: A Selective Chronology of Significant Events in Ohio's LDS History]

85 years ago today - Oct 30, 1940

[Heber J. Grant]

Then President Clark ... said he had talked with some of the political men who believed if the Church were to sign as a body of the leading officials in favor of defeating Roosevelt it would do more harm than good in creating ill will, and maybe not get any more votes; so I suppose that temporarily at least I will abandon my pet desire to have the Presidency, the Twelve, the Seventies and the Presiding Bishopric publish a card that we hope and pray that Roosevelt will be defeated.

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

115 years ago today - Oct 30, 1910; Sunday

Cache [Utah] Confer[ence]. Large assembly. [Francis M.] Lyman preached on Bogus plural marriage.

[Charles W. Penrose, Diary]

125 years ago today - Oct 30, 1900; Tuesday

Mr. Richard C. Evans and Mr. Peter Anderson, ministers of the "Reorganized" church [who did not believe Joseph Smith practiced polygamy, nor some Nauvoo doctrines] who are at present stationed in North-western Missouri, called and had a long interview with President [Lorenzo] Snow in regard to plural marriage and other doctrines of the Church. President Snow gave them his personal testimony of the teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith to himself on the subject of plural marriage. They expressed themselves as very well pleased with their visit while in the city.

[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]

140 years ago today - Oct 30, 1885

[Heber J. Grant]

Bro Lyman and I had a long talk this afternoon regarding what a sad and terrible thing the affair with Bro Carrington [excommunicated member Twelve for adultry] was. We considered it especially unfortunate coming just at this time when our enemies were so hard at work enforcing the provisions of the Edmunds Law and so many of our brethren were suffering in penitentiaries for having kept God's commandments and entered into His law by marrying more than [one] wife.

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

145 years ago today - Oct 30, 1880 (Saturday)

Gordon S. Bills and another Elder were mobbed in Lawrence County, Ky.

[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

180 years ago today - Oct 30, 1845

[Wilford Woodruff in England]

I recieved A Neighbor & N. York Messenger speaking of the mob in Hancock County Illinois against the Saints. Said that the gentile mob had burned about 105 of the buildings of the Saints And that the Saints had taken up arms against the mob according to the laws & commands of God & officers of the Land. Three or four of the mob had been killed, And the rest wer fleeing to Missouri & other counties of Illinois.

[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 - Oct 29, 1940

[Nauvoo Temple]

The purchase of three lots, making up the southern side of Lot 4 (southeast quarter), begun by Wilford C. Wood, but it took thirteen months for the titles to clear. The deeds for some of the buildings had as many as eleven signatures. One of the buildings had been built by the Icarians. Wood also turned this property over to the Church.

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

120 years ago today - Oct 29, 1905; Sunday

In 1905, the agitation of hireling priests and many misguided people was strong against the seating of Apostle Reed Smoot in the United States Senate. The hue and cry was that many individuals had entered Plural Marriage since the Manifesto, among others, Brother John W. Taylor and myself [i.e., Matthias F. Cowley]. It was therefore thought advisable for us to to [sic] resign our places in the Council of the Twelve. Before doing so, President B. H. Roberts had made a speech, I understand by the request of the Presidency, in which he said that unless individuals would shoulder the responsibility of these marriages, the Church had not a "foot of ground to stand on, and that they were guilty of duplicity and double dealing." We had meetings with the Twelve for about six days which the Presidency did not attend except a part of the first one. No minutes of the meetings were kept. In one of these meetings Elder [Charles W.] Penrose said, referring to Elder [John W.] Taylor and
myself--these are very nearly his words, but I do not say verbatim--"These brethren are not on trial--they are not charged with disobedience and transgression, but we've all got in a box with the Government and something must be done to meet this fight, and if these brethren are willing to be humiliated they can be re-installed," whereupon Brother John Henry Smith threw up his hands and said, "yes, I'll vote for them with both hands." This was the spirit of the occasion--we had no arguments against our brethren. After the last meeting, which meetings were held in the Temple, Brother Penrose brought our resignations to us in the Temple all written, with no suggestion from us (although Brother Taylor desired to write his own). We signed them, and after doing so Brother Penrose said he had no idea that they would go into effect, and would not, unless matters came to the last ditch of necessity. This was in the fall of 1905, and at the April Conference of 1906, they were made public
and became of effect. After this action, I have done very little preaching but have been faithful in the payment of my tithing and offereings [sic]. Have

spent about $7,000.00 supporting my sons and others in the mission field. Have been regular in attendance at my Sunday Schools, Sacrament Meetings, Priesthood meetings, etc. In temporal affairs I have been engaged in different lines. Have sold Church books, life insurance, and real estate. At present I am working for the County Assossor's office in collecting personal taxes. Have done some assessing, and acted under Sheriff Clifford Patten as Bailiff in the Courts of Judges Ephraim Hanson and Oscar W. McConkie. After resigning from the Council of the Twelve, President Jos[eph]. F. Smith, recognizing that Brother Taylor and myself had not been wilfully wrong, continued my allowance of $150.00 a month from the Church. This was a great help to me, and was kept up until President Smith passed into the Spirit World. His kindness and element of justice I shall never forget. God bless his memory! In saying this I do not with to cast any reflections upon President [Heber J.] Grant
for stopping the allowance.7 I think it was the right thing for President Smith to keep it up. For aught I know it may have been just as right for President Grant to stop it. At any rate, I shall sustain and uphold President Grant in his administration as I did his predecessors, and I hope and pray that my wives and children will do the same. This is my counsel to them, now and forever, even so, Amen.

7Heber J. Grant recorded in his diary on January 20, 1919: "Ev[enin]g chat P[residen]t [Anthon H.] Lund & [Arthur] Winter. stop--[$]150 [Matthias F.] Cowley's wives."

["Family History Sketch of the History of Matthais Foss Cowley," ca. 1930, LDS Archives]

170 years ago today - Oct 29, 1855 (Monday)

The First Presidency of the Church, in the "Thirteenth General Epistle," proposed that the Saints, who emigrated by the P.E. Fund, should cross the plains with handcarts.

[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

180 years ago today - Oct 29, 1845

[William Smith]

". . . I heard Brigham Young say, on the stand, that he was glad that Alvine Hodge was killed, . . . And he said further that it was far better for Alvine Hodge to die, than to live any longer in sin, for that he might now possibly be redeemed in the eternal world. That his murderers had done even a deed of charity for that such a man deserved to die."

[William Smith, Warsaw Signal, October 29, 1845, in Mormon Bookshelf: Blood Atonement, http://mormonbookshelf.com/wiki/Blood_Atonement]

180 years ago today - Oct 29, 1845

William Smith publishes a lengthy "Proclamation" in the Warsaw Gazette accusing Brigham Young of usurpation and painting a pitiable picture of Lucy's age and poverty.

[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]

180 years ago today - Oct 29, 1845, Wednesday

There is a rumor that Wm. Smith and others are trying to get up an influence with the president of the United States to prevent our going West and has already wrote to him on the subject, revealing the acts of the Council of Fifty &c and representing the council guilty of treason &c.

[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]

185 years ago today - Oct 29, 1840

Apostle Brigham Young writes in his journal: "Elder Kimball and I went to Southport, . . . The Patriarch blessed us, and prophecied that there were those present who should not sleep in the grave until they should see the Son of Man come in his glory-namely, brother Kimball and myself."

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

190 years ago today - Oct 29, 1835

Joseph testifies before the high council in behalf of a brother who is accused of beating and whipping his daughter. In the second session, Joseph and his brother William, get into a furious argument over whether their mother should testify.

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

60 years ago today - Oct 28, 1965

Twelve students (at the invitation of BYU's president) bring their own rock music and demonstrate contremporary "fad dances" for general authorities in the church administration building. Apostle Joseph Fileding Smith says, "I don't know anything about them, and want to see them." Afterwards Apostle Gordon B. Hinckley exclaims, "Nothing like this has even happened in this building before!" Not long afterwards BYU more strictly enforces its ban against contemporary "rock" dancing.

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

120 years ago today - Oct 28, 1905

After a week of Quorum of the Twelve meetings so secret that no official minutes are kept, apostles John W. Taylor and Matthias F. Cowley write formal resignations due to their participation in post-Manifesto polygamy. Resignations are held in reserve unless considered necessary to save the church from a U.S. constitutional amendment or to save Apostle Reed Smoot from explusion from the U.S. Senate.

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

120 years ago today - Oct 28, 1905

[Apostle John W. Taylor]

I hereby tender to you my resignation as a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles, as it is clear to me that I have been out of harmony with you in some very important matters which have apparently brought reproach upon the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I wish to state in the first place that I have not violated the laws of the United States nor of the State of Utah in relation to Polygamous or plural marriages. Also that the authorities of the Church have not directed or authorized me to do so or to do anything contrary to the rules of the Church as adopted by that body. But I find that I have been out of harmony with the said authorities as to the scope and meaning of the Manifesto issued by President Wilford Woodruff and adopted by the General Conference on Oct[ober]. 6 1890 and also as to the meaning of the last clause of the petition for amnesty to President Benjamin Harrison in Dec[ember]. 1891. I have always believed that the government of the United States
had jurisdiction only within its own boundaries and that the term 'laws of the land' in the manifesto meant merely the laws of the United States. I find now that this opinion is different to that expressed by the church authorities who have declared that the prohibition against plural marriages extended to every place and to every part of the Church. It is doubtless true that this view of the matter has been given by President Woodruff and others, but I have never taken that an binding upon me of the Church, because it was never presented for adoption by 'Common Consent' as was the Manifesto itself and I have disputed its authority as a law or rule of the Church. I acknowledge that I received a request from President Joseph F. Smith by letter, to appear as a witness in the Reed Smoot case before the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections, but I declined to do so because, while I recognized his right to direct me in church affairs, I did not think his authority extended to
civil affairs to the extent that I should expose my family concerns and be questioned and held up to public ignominy as some of my brethern were before that body, and I still hold the same views upon that matter. In as much as I have not been in harmony with my brethren in these subjects and I have been called in question concerning them, I now submit myself to their discipline and to save further controversy tender this my resignation and hope for such clemency in my case as they may deem right and just and merciful. Met with council. Important matters. Conclusion arrived at on two of the brethren.

[John W. Taylor, Letter to the Council of 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]

175 years ago today - Oct 28, 1850

[Wilford Woodruff]

I commenced this morning to sell some goods which I had on hand. The people crouded Hard around my waggon to buy sugar Coffee &c as they had not had a supply in the valley.

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

180 years ago today - Oct 28, 1845. Tuesday.

....[Major] Warren stated that when he came in with his troops on Saturday he had writs against the Twelve for "treason" but he considered it unjust to serve them, he considered that if the Twelve were to be harassed with writs, this people could not get away in the spring ... It appears that the Lord has softened his heart in answer to our prayers for which we felt thankful.

[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 - Oct 28, 1845

B.[righam] Y.[oung:] I am on hand to answer the ends of the law any time'[.] I am informed that Dr. Williams has made an oath about the 12 making bogus'[.] tthe Govr. of Iowa is going to make a demand to take us into Iowa territory'but I will not go there' ... Ill defy any man to say I ever broke any law'[.] I never will break any law'[.] I wont be taken to Jail by any kind of process alive'they must take me dead '...

[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]

195 years ago today - Oct 28, 1830

Oliver Cowdery and Parley P. Pratt arrived in the Mentor, Geauga, OH and went directly to the home of Sidney Rigdon and stayed at his residence for a few days. Then Cowdery and Pratt went to Kirtland where they were well received by Rigdon's communal colony at the Morely farm.

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

85 years ago today - Oct 27, 1940

[Heber J. Grant]

.... He [J. Reuben Clark] read to me the editorial of the Salt Lake Tribune of a day or two ago, in which it referred to the Hitler hatred and the hatred in early days of Salt Lake City and intimated that they hoped that there was not going to be any recurrence of that. To my mind it was absolutely uncalled for. ...

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

105 years ago today - Oct 27, 1920; Wednesday

Lamanite Gen[er]al Mtg. 2398 names. 1100 baptisms. 585 Endowed. 100 couple[s] sealed.

[Anderson, Elizabeth Oberdick, editor, Cowboy Apostle: The Diaries of Anthony W. Ivins: 1875-1932, Signature Books, Salt Lake City in association with the Smith-Pettit Foundation (2013) - http://bit.ly/AnthonyIvins]

120 years ago today - Oct 27, 1905

"Had a talk with Prest. Jos F Smith and expressed my views as to the necessity of a Republican victory which views he said were quite right."

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

135 years ago today - Oct 27, 1890

27 Monday Conference Met at 10 oclok. ... We Closed the Conference with the shout of (Hosannah to God & the Lamb) which was a vary impressive & solemn.

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

145 years ago today - Oct 27, 1880

.... Brother John Henry Smith in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Authority of the Holy Priesthood And Apostleship confered upon us we lay our hands upon your head, and we ordain you an Apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and as A member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. And we seal upon you all the power And Authority to Administer in all the Ordinances of the House of God agreeable to this Office Even the Apostleship which is the Highest Authority Ever Confered and sealed upon the sons of men in the flesh.

And we pray God to Cloth you with the power of this Apostleship, with the power of God, That your mind may be open to Comprehend & understand your relationship to God, your relationship to your Brethren, your relationship to the Church and Kingdom of God, in relation to this world, and in relation to the responsibility which now rest upon you.

And we say unto you The Eyes of God & his Son Jesus Christ and of the Heavenly Hosts, and of Joseph Smith and the Apostles, and the Eyes of your Father who are behing the veil are upon you. And there is rejoicing in Heaven becaus you are one of the Sons of the Prophets & Apostles and have Come forth to take upon yourself the Holy Apostleship and we say unto you be humble before God and seek for the Holy spirit For you need this power to guide and direct you in this Apostleship. And inasmuch as you walk in faithfulness and humility before God and seek and obey the Council of your Brethren you will become a Mighty man in the Earth. And you shall stand in the flesh to behold the great work fullfilled and the promises of God Concerning the great last dispensation of the fulness of times.

We pray God to Cloth you with his Power, with the spirit and Power of the Holy Ghost and the Revelation of Jesus Christ which Belongs to the Apostleship which is your right to Claim which is your right to exercise, & which is your right to Enjoy. Lift up your voice as with the Sound of a trumpet long & loud as far as you have an opportunity in your day and declare the word of life & salvation unto the inhabitants of the Earth.

You are ordained unto this power. You hold the [Issu.sd?] of life & death as far as the salvation or Condemnation of the world is Concerned. You are Called to Stand in the defense of the truth and to bear your record of the Kingdom of God on the Earth and your Testimony will rise in judgment against the wicked in the day of Judgments in the day when all men will give an account of the deeds done in the body. Your words shall be a savior of life unto life to those who believe and obey, or of Death unto Death to those who reject your testimony.

Therefore we say unto you go forth in peace & the power of God to bear a record of the word of Everlasting life. And take upon you and feel in your spirit this Apostleship, and the blessings of God will attend your labors. We seal again your Evry Blessing, and evry Key and Endowment of the New and Everlasting Covenant Even the Blessing of Abraham Isaac & Jacob in the name of Jesus Christ our Redeemer Amen. ...

[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 - Oct 27, 1850

President Young spoke in the Bowery and urged the Saints to avoid becoming the slaves of merchants. -- SLC Bowery

[Journal History of the Church, Selected Collections from the Archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints DVD 2 (2002); CA, 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 - Oct 27, 1845

[Wilford Woodruff]

The Proclamation of the Twelve Apostles is out of press And we are now sending it to the clergy And circulating it whare we can. ...

I should judge from my feelings And intimations of the spirit of God that the endowment had comericed & that the Lord had commenced pouring out some special blessings upon the Saints in Nauvoo but time will determin whether this is the case. My soul has been much refeshed and edefyed of late in reading the Book of Mormon. The time has come for its sayings to be fulfilled.

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

185 years ago today - Oct 27, 1840

Apostle Wilford Woodruff, as the officially appointed "Church Historian" recorded the following in his "Historian's Private Journal "Joseph Smith & Zina Huntington were sealed Oct. 27, 1840 by Dimick B. Huntington in Nauvoo"

[Wilford Woodruff, "Historian's Private Journal" (one volume, 1858-78), entries after 1 July 1866, LDS Church History Library, in "Evidence For The Sexual Side of Joseph Smith's Polygamy," Comments by D. Michael Quinn on Session #2A "Reconsidering Joseph Smith's Marital Practices," Mormon History Association's Annual Conference, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 29 June 2012 (unabbreviated version, revised during July)]

190 years ago today - Oct 27, 1835

[Joseph Smith]

In the morning I was called to visit at Br[other] Samuel Smith's. His wife was confined an[d] in a verry dangerous situation. Br[other] Carloss took one of my horses and went to Chardon after Doct[or] [Frederick G.] Williams. I went out into the field and bowed before the Lord and called upon him in mighty prayer in her behalf. The word of the Lord came unto me saying, "My Servant Frederick shall come and shall have wisdom given him to deal prudently and my handma[i]den shall be delivered of a living child and be spared." He [Frederick G. Williams] come in a bout one hour after that and in the course of about 2 hours she was delivered. Thus what God had manifested to me was fulfilled every whit.

[Faulring, Scott (ed.), An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith: Joseph Smith Diary, 1835-36, http://amzn.to/jsdiaries]

30 years ago today - Oct 26, 1995

BYU's spokesman announces that university officials have accepted the explanation of mathematics professor John Milo Peterson that only "a clerical error" was involved in his claiming for twenty years that the University of Georgia had awarded him a Ph.D. degree (which would qualify him as a specialist in mathematics) rather than his actual degree of Ed.D. (which qualifies him as a specialist in educational techniques) from Utah State University. Peterson is currently a stake president and his college dean is a patriarch of that stake. As stake president, Peterson asks every applicant for priesthood ordination and temple recommends the following question: "Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen?" In 1993 the national Chronicle of Higher Education noted that Peterson's annual salary was $103,000 (among BYU's top five) as full professor and director of the graduate program in mathematics.

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

175 years ago today - Oct 26, 1850 (Saturday)

At an adjourned meeting of the Seventies, held in the Bowery, G.S.L. City, it was resolved to build a hall, to be called "The Seventies' Hall of Science"; $5,200 worth of shares were subscribed for at once, each share being $25.

[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

190 years ago today - Oct 26, 1835

Joseph goes to court in Chardon to contest the case of his brother Samuel, who is accused of avoiding military duty. Joseph feels that they would have won the case if they had brought the necessary evidence, but Samuel is fined $20 and has to sell his cow. Joseph writes, "The money which they have thus unjustly taken shall be a testimony against them, and canker, and eat their flesh as fire."

[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

195 years ago today - Oct 26, 1830

A writ against Hyrum for a debt owed to Alexander McIntyre is returned; the officer failed to find either Hyrum or any attachable property.

[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]