140 years ago today - Thursday, Oct. 14th, 1886

The following are words spoken by Apostle Moses Thatcher at Lewiston, Cache Co., Utah, 1886. "It is my belief that every city, county, precinct and territorial office in this Territory will be in the hands of our enemies; that we shall be so burdened with taxes that it will be almost more than human nature can endure. That we shall cry to the Lord by night and by day for deliverance. That when our hearts are sufficiently subdued that our entire trust will be in the Lord, then shall. that man like unto Moses be raised up, and shall lead us out of bondage back to Jackson County in the state of Missouri. There will be no hesitation; everything will be decisive and prompt. The mountains shall tremble before him and if there be a tree or anything else in the way of their progress, it shall be plucked up by the power of God. Then is the time the scriptures will be fulfilled that says: 'One shall chase a thousand and two shall put ten thousand to flight."'

"It is my belief that the time of our deliverance will be within five years, the time indicated being February 14th, 1891. And that the man raised up will be no other than the Prophet Joseph Smith in his resurrected body. The power to lead Israel in the latter days as Moses led them anciently having been sealed upon his head by his father, Joseph Smith, the Patriarch of the Church at that time. If Father Smith had the power to bless, and that he had the power is most certain from the fact that he was ordained to this office and calling by his son, the Prophet, before the above blessing was pronounced upon the head of Joseph, no other man can perform this mission but the Prophet Joseph Smith. I do not say all the people of the nation will be destroyed within the time mentioned, but I do say, that in consequence of the wickedness and corruption of the officers of the nation, the government will pass into the hands of the Saints, and that within five years. There will not be a city in the Union that will not be in danger of disruption by the Knights of Labor, who are becoming a formidable power in the land. You people in quiet Lewiston need not be surprised if within the next four years the rails are torn up from Ogden to the Missouri River and to San Francisco and into Montana in the North, leaving us as isolated as we were when we first came to this Territory. There is a power to do this and a disposition to meaning the Knights of Labor." (A servant of God, holding the power and keys of the Holy Apostleship does not speak in this manner for mere pastime. There is more in these utterances than we are apt to attach to them, unless we are aided by the Spirit of God.) Salt Lake City, Aug. 3rd, 1886.

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

145 years ago today - Oct 14, 1881

In regard to finding the plates, he [David Whitmer] was told by Smith that they were in a stone casket, and the place where it was deposited, in the hill Cumorah, was pointed out to him by a celestial personage, clad in a dazzling white robe, and he was informed by it that it was the history of the Nephites, a nation that had passed away, whose founders belonged to the days of the tower of Babel. The plates which Mr. Whitmer saw were in the shape of a tablet, fastened with three rings, about one-third of which appeared to be loose, in plates, the other solid, but with perceptible marks where the plates seemed to be sealed, and the guide that pointed it out to Smith very impressively reminded him that the loose plates alone were to be used; the sealed portion was

NOT TO BE TAMPERED WITH.

After the plates had been translated, which process required about six months, the same heavenly visitant appeared and reclaimed the gold tablets of the ancient people, informing Smith that he would replace them with other records of the lost tribes that had been brought with them during their wanderings from Asia, which would be forthcoming when the world was ready to receive them. At that time Mr. Whitmer saw the tablet, gazed with awe on the celestial messenger, heard him speak and say: "Blessed is the Lord and he that keeps His commandments;" and then, as he held the plates and turned them over with his hands, so that they could be plainly visible, a voice that seemed to fill all space, musical as the sighing of a wind through the forest, was heard, saying: "What you see is true: testify to the same." And Oliver Cowdrey and David Whitmer, standing there, felt, as the white garments of the angel faded from their vision and the heavenly voice still rang in their ears, that it was no delusion--that it was a fact; and they so recorded it....

The tablets or plates were translated by Smith, who used a small oval or kidney-shaped stone, called Urim and Thummim, that seemed endowed with the marvelous power of converting the characters on the plates, when used by Smith, into English, who would then dictate to Cowdrey what to write. Frequently one character would make two lines of manuscript, while others made but a word or two words. Mr. Whitmer emphatically asserts, as did Harris and Cowdrey, that while Smith was dictating the translation he had

NO MANUSCRIPT NOTES OR OTHER MEANS OF KNOWLEDGE save the seer-stone and the characters as shown on the plates, he being present and cognizant how it was done.

["The Last Man. Of the Men Who Attested to the Truth of the `Book of Mormon,' David Whitmer Only Is Left. In the Sunset of Life He Bases His Hopes of Heaven on the Records of the Lost Tribe. And Solemnly Reiterates All that He Has Ever Said Regarding Them," Chicago Times, 17 October 1881; reprinted in the Saints' Herald 28 (15 November 1881): 346-47., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: David Whitmer Interview With Chicago Times]

150 years ago today - Oct 14, 1876

"It having been given out at Conference that the Endowment House would be closed after this week, for the past few days hundreds of persons have been going through the House, in fact, great numbers have to be refused, the authorities not having time or room for them." Closing the Endowment House in Salt Lake City is Brigham Young's way of guaranteeing the use of the distant St. George temple.

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

115 years ago today - Oct 13, 1911 - 7 December 1911

[1st Presidency Changes]

Joseph F. Smith Anthon H. Lund due to the Death of John Henry Smith

[Wikipedia, First Presidency (LDS Church), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Presidency_(LDS_Church)#Chronology_of_the_First_Presidency]

155 years ago today - Oct 13, 1871

[Apostle Wilford Woodruff]

Meetings are held in the old Tabernacle & other places to Collect subscriptions for the suffers of the great fire in Chicago. President Brigham Young gave $1,000. D H Wells & Capt Hooper gave $500 each. D. H. Wells sent a Draft of $12,000 Dollars to the Mayor of Chicago. The outsiders also sent donations. All the United States are sending in their subscription for their relief.

[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 - Oct 13, 1831

The first attack by a Mormon apostate is published when Ezra Booth's letters to the Ohio Star are printed through Dec. 8. They are republished in the first anti-Mormon book, Mormonism Unvailed. Booth makes reference to the revelation on polygamy, and to the twelve unordained apostles of the church.

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

180 years ago today - Oct 12, 1846

The main body of the Mormon Battalion arrives in Santa Fe. The men meet with their new commander, Col. Philip St. George Cooke. Cooke begins preparations to lead the battalion on the second leg of its march, to California.

[Mormon Battalion Timeline, Herald Extra, March 25, 2010]

185 years ago today - Oct 12, 1841

Epistle from the Twelve regarding the Nauvoo temple makes first reference to baptisms for health. "The time has come when the great Jehovah would have a resting place on earth, a habitation for his chosen, where his law shall be revealed, and his servants be endued [endowed] from on high, to bring together the honest in heart from the four winds; where the saints may enter the Baptismal Font for their dead relations ... a place, over which the heavenly messengers may watch and trouble the waters as in days of old, so that when the sick are put therein they shall be made whole."

[Stapley, Jonathan and Wright, Kristine, '"They Shall Be Made Whole": A History of Baptism for Health,' Journal of Mormon History, Fall 2008]

190 years ago today - Oct 12, 1836

[Wilford Woodruff]

12th Retired in company with Elder A. O. Smoot unto the banks of Blood River aside from the abodes of men to spend some time in Prayer & Praise to God & to Perform a solemn duty that is rquired of all the Elders of Israel whose testimony is rejected by this generation while they are preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ & bearing testimony of his NAME. After we had Cleansed our Bodies with Pure water & also with strong drink or spirits this not by Commandment but from Choice we then according to Commandment clensed our hands and feet and bore testimony unto God against the Benton County mob & also against Paris & many others who had rejected our testimony. We enjoyed a solumn, spiritual, & interesting Season.

We retired from that Water in the spirit of God & spent the night for the last time at Brother Levi Taylors & Sister Tailors With the Brethren & Sisters Beneath this roof I have spent some of the most interesting seasons of my life for the last two years. Receieved 4 subscribers for the M & Ad.

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

80 years ago today - Oct 11, 1946

[J. Reuben Clark]

Called Harold Bennett about Phillip Tadje, manager of the Drug Store, and his connection with the Dream Mine (he is a vice-president) Mr. Bennett said he would talk to him about it, would not be hasty but would find out where he stood.

[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]

90 years ago today - Oct 11, 1936

Lowell L. Bennion, an instructor at the institute of religion at the University of Utah, establishes the first chapter of Lambda Delta Sigma, a fraternity/sorority group for young Latter-day Saints.

125 years ago today - Friday, Oct 11, 1901

[Apostle Rudger Clawson]

It was decided that [details f the funeral] ... at 10 a.m. the funeral cortege should take up its march to the tabernacle as follows: police; band; Presidency; Twelve, and Patriarch Jno. Smith; pallbearers; casket; family of deceased; Presiding Bishopric; presidents of stakes; bishopric of 18th ward, the ward where Pres. Snow resided; wives of the general authorities; general board of Relief Societies, general board of the Y.M.M.I.A., general board of the Y.L.M.I.A.; general board of the Deseret Sunday School Union; general board of the Primary Associations; general board of education; church school boards; general board of Religion Classes; directorates: Z.C.M.I., Zion's Saving Bank, Utah Light and Power Co., Salt Lake and Los Angeles Ry. Co., Saltair Beach Co., Grass Creek Coal Co.; general public.

...It was decided by unanimous vote that the counselors of Pres. Snow should act as such in the First Presidency, being in charge of the affairs of the church, until after the funeral. Myself and Apostle Woodruff were appointed as a committee to arrange for a floral offering of the Twelve—the design to be, in a general way, three columns in white representing the First Presidency, with Twelve stars to represent the Twelve Apostles (which duty, we afterwards fulfilled). Benediction by Apostle Jno. W. Taylor.

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

75 years ago today - Oct 10, 1951

Meeting of the Twelve discusses the previous "controversy" between President Joseph F. Smith and his second counselor Charles W. Penrose over whether it is necessary to confer the priesthood before ordaining to an office. This does not become churchwide policy again for almost six years.

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

150 years ago today - Oct 10, 1876

John D. Lee sentenced to death for Mountain Meadows Massacre. Judge Jacob Boreman gives Lee the choice between hanging, firing squad or being beheaded. By choosing firing squad over beheading Lee seems to indicate he feels no need of blood atonement. At the sentencing Judge Boreman says LDS authorities had "inaugurated and decided upon the wholesale slaughter of the emigrants" and had been "a persistent and determined opposition to an investigation of the massacre." OGDEN JUNCTION newspaper calls Boreman's remarks "disgraceful" and an attack on prosecutor Sumner Howard. Howard had made a secret deal with the LDS leaders to prosecute only Lee in exchange for LDS cooperation. John D. Lee is the only person ever tried in connection with Mountain Meadows Massacre.

185 years ago today - Oct 10, 1841

[Brigham Young]

--10-- Met with the Twelve for the purpose of holding a council, but spent most of the day in visiting the sick.

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

170 years ago today - Oct 9, 1856

[Brigham Young]

Some remarks were made last Sunday night relative to the family of Joseph Smith. President Young said, I have no fears with regard to the children of Joseph. God will take care of them and all will be right. -- Salt Lake City [Wilford Woodruff?s Journal. 9 Vols. Scott G. Kenney, ed. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1983-85. 4:470]

[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 9, 1846

An advance company of the Mormon Battalion arrives in Santa Fe and presents itself for inspection to Col. Alexander W. Doniphan. Previously, Doniphan had commanded a Missouri state militia detachment that arrested Joseph Smith; on that occasion, Doniphan defied orders from his superiors to execute Smith.

The Mormon marchers are honored by Doniphan with a 100-gun salute.

[Mormon Battalion Timeline, Herald Extra, March 25, 2010]

180 years ago today - Oct 9, 1846 (Friday)

The camp of the poor was organized and started for the West. Flocks of quails visited the camp and were easily caught. This was a providential supply of food for the suffering exiles.

[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

35 years ago today - Oct 8, 1991-Tuesday

[Leonard Arrington]

The one talk that marred the tone of the conference for me was Elder Packer's talk ["Reverence Invites Revelation"] asserting that studying doctrine without the spirit is dangerous. Intellectual study of Mormon doctrine without the spiritual component is wrong, he said, thus indirectly criticizing symposiums and study groups which, he said, concentrate on doctrine and ordinances and measure them by the intellect alone. This statement is false, in my experience, since no symposium, especially Sunstone Symposium, studies by the intellect alone to the exclusion of personal testimony and "the spirit." My talks alone are proof of that.

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

150 years ago today - Oct 8, 1876 - 29 August 1877

[1st Presidency Changes]

Brigham Young John Willard Young Daniel H. Wells Joseph F. Smith (Counselor) George Q. Cannon (Assistant Counselor) Brigham Young, Jr. (Assistant Counselor) Lorenzo Snow (Assistant Counselor) Albert Carrington (Assistant Counselor) John Willard Young called as First Counselor

[Wikipedia, First Presidency (LDS Church), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Presidency_(LDS_Church)#Chronology_of_the_First_Presidency]

185 years ago today - Oct 8, 1841

[Apostle Wilford Woodruff]

8th I am quite undecided which way to turn or whare to settle myself. The temporal business of the Church is laid upon the hands of the Twelve. It has been thought best by some of our quorum for me to go to warsaw with Elder Richards.

Sister Kimball deliverd to us all the things which I had sent to Phebe from England by Elder Turley which were left in her hands. I Paid R Cahoon $5 dollars for Dwight Webster for the house of the Lord.

On looking over all my accounts & expenses from New York to Nauvoo & I found that all the expenses Aug in New York to the 8th oct. in Nauvoo amounted in all to $238.21 cts.

I met in conference with the Twelve & among other business they voted that I should locate myself in Nauvoo. I looked over my accounts with Sister Nelson & she is indetted to me $1 dollar.

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