50 years ago today - Jul 4, 1976

Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs at the United States Bicentennial.

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

100 years ago today - Jul 04, 1926

Elder Melvin J. Ballard famously prophesies that the Church in Latin America will grow "as an oak grows slowly from an acorn."

120 years ago today - Jul 4, 1906

Zeal is a good thing but too big a stock of it sometimes runs us on to the snag.

[John Henry Smith, Letter to Heber J. Grant, 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]

40 years ago today - Jul 3, 1986-Thursday

[Leonard Arrington]

Harriet and I arose early and at 8:30 we were on our way to Susan and admiring a little dog. Elder Packer ... gushes: 'He sits, he heels, he rolls over. He never gives you any trouble,'" which Oaks thinks would make "The perfect historian!"

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

180 years ago today - Jul 3, 1846

[Wilford Woodruff]

At 10 oclock Br Pratt returned in company with Br Benson who had been nominated to fill the place [apostleship] And wear the Crown of John E Page.

[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 - Jul 3, 1841

At the Independence Day celebration the Nauvoo Legion comes out in parade and Joseph gives a patriotic speech, closing with the words, "I would ask no greater boon, than to lay down my life for my country."

[History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (7 volumes) 4:382, in Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

30 years ago today - Jul 2, 1996

"Security leader and de facto second in command" of the Russian Republic publicly apologizes a week after calling Russia's Mormons "filth and scum." The LDS church has no more than 5,000 converts and 300 missionaries there. The apology occurs because LDS members (Republicans) of the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate ask the Democratic "Clinton administration to reconsider aid to Russia because of [Aleksandr] Lebed's stand."

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

155 years ago today - Jul 2, 1871

The "Liberal Institute" is dedicated in Salt Lake City at the corner of Second South and Second East. This architectural landmark seats over 1000 and is constructed mostly by Godbeites and disaffected Mormons. Susan B. Anthony, who attended the dedication, writes that the reformers "sang their songs of freedom, poured out their rejoicings over the emancipation from the thrall of the Theocracy of Brigham, and told of the beatitudes of soul-to-soul communion with the All-Father." The Institute became a home for Methodists, Presbyterians, Jews, Swedish Lutherans and "Reorganite Mormons" as well as suffragettes, spiritualists (including mediums and their debunkers), and free thinkers.

170 years ago today - Jul 2, 1856

[Wilford Woodruff]

P[arley] P. Pratt asked Presidet Young what He should do with regard to tithing. Said he had been travelling & preaching a good deal & had not paid any tithing. Presidet Young Said the Law of tithing reached evry man. He should pay his tithing if he had to have five times as much from the tithing office in order to live & all that he had from the tithing office should be charged to him & he should Consecrate what he had to the Church. He said that he should consecrate what he had to the Church that his children when he was dead should not squander his property & go to Hell upon it.

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

55 years ago today - Jul 01, 1971

Henry B. Eyring is appointed tenth president of Ricks College.

65 years ago today - Jul 1, 1961

CHURCH NEWS article, "Mission Presidents Get Uniform Plan For Teaching Gospel," introduces the new six-discussion proselytizing plan in which the discussions are to be memorized verbatim by the missionaries.

160 years ago today - Jul 1, 1866

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, 1841 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)]

20 years ago today - 2006 June 29

The LDS Church announces that the Church College of New Zealand will not admit more students and eventually close.

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

180 years ago today - Jun 29, 1846

[Willard Richards]

council together'O. Hyde nominated E.T. Benson to take the crown of John E. Page, & council wrote him accordingly.

[Willard 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]

190 years ago today - Jun 29, 1836

A public meeting is held in Liberty, Clay County, Missouri, in which the local citizens decide that to avoid a civil war the Saints must leave Clay County. They accuse the Saints of coming into the county friendless and penniless, of arriving in large numbers, of being nonslave holders, and of communicating with the Indian tribes.

[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

80 years ago today - Jun 28, 1946

A First Presidency statement against compulsory military service ("conscription" or "the draft") during peace time. This is an extensive version of the Presidency's earlier views and of its efforts to persuade LDS congressmen to vote against the peacetime draft.

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

180 years ago today - Jun 28, 1846

[Hosea Stout]

I awoke very early this morning and immediately discovered my child to be dying. He seemed perfectly easy and now had given up to the struggle of death and lay breathing out his life sweetly. The evil spirits had entirely left him and he now had his natural, easy, pleasant, calm and usual appearance but death was in his countenance and his little spirit now in the enjoyment of its own body only seemed loth to give it up as almost every one seemed involuntary to observe who was present. He gradually and slowly declined untill forty minutes after seven when its spirit took its leave of its body without any appearant pain but seemed to go to sleep.

[Diaries of Hosea Stout]

185 years ago today - Jun 28, 1841

Assistant President of the Church John C. Bennett writes to Bodley Lodge No. 1, Quincy, Illinois, asking that it recommend that a Masonic lodge be established in Nauvoo. His request is denied because Mormons were "unknown to this lodge as Masons."

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

65 years ago today - Jun 27, 1961

Musa Bey Alami in company with the daughter of Jordanian ambassador to the United States expresses gratitude to President David O. McKay and to BYU for their joint donation of a large herd of milk cows for the Jericho Dairy Project in Jordan. By this time 400 Jordanian boys have graduated from the project's dairy school, and 160 are currently enrolled in the project which is providing milk to 111 Palestinian and Jordanian villages. Alami says that "there has not been anything done in Jordan, in spite of the millions of dollars spent there that has met the success of this gift." The church called L. Burt Bigler, LDS bishop and dairyman from Jordan, Utah, to select cattle, transport them to Jericho, and supervise the dairy in the Kingdom of Jordan.

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

85 years ago today - Jun 27, 1941

[Heber J. Grant]

"It is truly refreshing to find men with the courage to stand out for what is right instead of allowing politics to warp their judgment."

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

125 years ago today - Thursday, Jun 27, 1901

Pres. L. Snow remarked that 57 years ago today Joseph Smith, the prophet, was martyred for the truth and suggested that "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" be sung, which was done.

... [Closing] Hymn, "Give Me Back My Prophet Dear." Benediction by Apostle Reed Smoot.

[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]

165 years ago today - Jun 26, 1861

Brigham Young's office journal records: "Br. [Samuel] Murphy called upon the President and mentioned to him that his eyes were bad and his stomach out of order. The President told him to take care of himself, and to wear a good shade to his eyes, and take some medicine to cleanse his stomach. The President noticed the effects of the first dose of lobelia he took, the lobelia poked the phlegm, but not his food. he observed persons have formed a prejudice against lobelia, because their stomachs were not properly prepared with warm drinks until they ware in a perspiration before they took the lobelia, if there is no disease the lobelia will not cause a vomit but will pass off the same as any thing else taken into the stomach, but if there is disaese then the lobelia will cause a puke."

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

180 years ago today - Friday, Jun 26, 1846.

[Willard Richards]

Conversed about Mitchell’s writing to Fort Kearney for troops to take the Mormon leaders and drive off the leaders, as related by Sarpee to President Young yesterday. Voted that O. Hyde and N. K. Whitney go to Major Mitchell and inquire if he has written to Fort Kearney for troops, and if so, learn the cause and get him to write a letter to counteract his former letter. ... Elders Hyde and Whitney came to them and informed them that Major Mitchell said he had written no letter to Fort Kearney except one he wrote some two months ago about Emmett's company; that since his acquaintance with the Mormons his feelings had materially changed, that he had found them gentlemen, and wished them well and would do all in his power to do them good;

[Apostle Willard Richards Journal]

180 years ago today - Jun 26, 1846

[Wilford Woodruff]

The Camp was flung into some excitement this morning by the appearance of capt J. Allen with 3 draggoons of the U S Armey. ... He informed us He was sent by order of Capt Carney who had recieved word so He said By President Polk to give the Mormons an invitation to raise 500 volunteers to Assist the USA in the Mexican war. This was his pretentions. I Had some reasons to believe them to be spies & that the president Had no Hand in it. We however treated them with civility & directed them on to Council Bluffs to lay the case before the President.

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

125 years ago today - Jun 25, 1901

At Koosharem, Utah, Apostle Owen Woodruff writes: "We then held a council of the Indians [-] they chose Mocha Nogitz for their Chief. I ordained him an Elder and set him apart as Chief of the little band of Utes."

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

130 years ago today - Thursday, Jun 25, 1896

[John Henry Smith]

[Apostle] Moses Thatcher's condition was talked over. I held he was not responsible from his use of narcotics. Prest. W. Woodruff & G. Q. Cannon rather held that he was.

[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 - Jun 25, 1896

Brigham recorded his dream in which he, his legal wife, and the Prophet were traveling in a covered carriage: "Br Joseph Smith sat on the Back Seat with my wife [--] he whispered to hir [her--] Sead [said] it was wright [right] if she was a mind to [--] nothing more past [passed] betwen [sic] them." Then, in the dream, she disappears and is next seen as a corpse in a hearse.

During a meeting of Church President Wilford Woodruff with the apostles in the Salt Lake Temple on 25 June 1896, there was a discussion about "certain trials or tests to which Prests. B. Young and Jno. Taylor were put by Prest. Joseph the Prophet in Nauvoo, as the plurality & Eternity of the M. [Marriage] covenant was being revealed. Also what Emma was commanded to abstain from, and O. Hyde's trial also." Young's dream in December 1843 apparently referred to the Prophet's "test" of asking for Brigham's wife to become Joseph's.

[Brigham Young 1840-44 journal,Franklin D. Richards journal, 25 June 1896, 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)]

35 years ago today - Jun 24, 1991

The Russian Republic in the Soviet Union announces its formal recognition of the Church after the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's concert in Moscow's Bolshoi Theater.

170 years ago today - Jun 24, 1856

[Wilford Woodruff]

We find a great Difficulty in writing the History of Joseph esspecially During the last few days of his life as no one kept a Journal of the same except Dr Richards wrote some but Died before the History was written out. I have a great Desire to have President Youngs Daily History written so that all things may be plain to the future Historian.

[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 - Jun 24, 1831

An editorial in The Vermont Chronicler discussing Mormon revelation noted: "Our readers will recollect a similar delusion which raged soms [sic] ten years ago in the case of the 'Pilgrims.' Their Prophet - Old Isaac, as he was called - came from Canada with a few, and encamped in Woodstock. Here outraging not Christianity only but humanity, by their absurd opinions and absurder practice - by taking the assertions of their infatuated leader for divine revelation, ... they induced many decent people who should have known better to join them, under the empty promise of being led to the holy land..."

"From the resemblances between the Pilgrims and Mormonites in manners and pretensions, we should think Old Isaac had re-appeared in the person of Joe Smith, and was intending to make another speculation...."

"They are daily receiving new revelations - sometimes by letters dropped from the skies, written in a round Italian hand, and in letters of gold; which, if it is attempted to transcribe them, vanish."

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

45 years ago today - Jun 23, 1981-Tuesday

[Leonard Arrington]

A little more information on the Lavina [Fielding Anderson] firing episode. After the appearance of the "leak" in Sunstone in regard to the succession of Joseph [Smith] III document, they suspected Lavina of being the source. Somebody called that suspicion to the attention of Elder [M. Russell] Ballard who called in Church security. Church security began opening her mail and, Lavina thinks, they tapped her phone. That is how they found the material in the letter addressed to Randy Dixon.

Peggy Fletcher of Sunstone had noted that there was a difference between Elder Rector's talk in April [1981 general] conference and the version of his talk that was published in the Ensign. She asked if she could see a copy of his talk to compare it with the published version. This would save her copying from a tape of the conference proceedings. In all innocence (!) Lavina sent to Randy the wrong draft of Elder Rector's talk. It appears that Elder Rector, well in advance of the conference, had prepared a talk which had gone to Correlation and which had not been cleared by them, so the talk was considerably altered by the time he gave it in conference. Then there was a further alteration of the revised conference talk after it was delivered. Instead of sending the revised draft given in conference Lavina sent the very first draft which was of course an improper thing for her to do. Randy Dixon was involved in all this quite innocently. He did not know a letter was coming from Lavina when Lavina phoned him a day or two later and asked him "did you get my letter?" He replied, "what letter?" I suppose Lavina sent it to him in order not to be sending anything directly to Sunstone. After Lavina was "caught" and fired Church security called in Randy Dixon and grilled him for some time but of course he didn't know anything about it. Randy was almost fired from Church employment but I suppose they did not do so because they were persuaded he was indeed quite innocent. Elder [G. Homer] Durham then called Randy in and told him that he would have to cease his connection with Sunstone. He has now resigned from the [Sunstone] staff. Bill Slaughter was called in and told the same. He has also resigned. Peggy Fletcher had to run down to the [printing] press to take both their names off the masthead before the issue came out. Richard Oman was called in by Elder Durham and strong hints were made to him that his wife Susan [Staker Oman] ought to resign from Sunstone, but of course they could not order this and she does not expect to do so. Richard assured Elder Durham that his wife was not subversive. Elder Hugh Pinnock, President of the Sunday School, called on Peggy and asked her to eliminate the section on Sunday School lessons ["Sunday School Supplement"] in Sunstone. This was giving the impression that the Sunday School somehow was sponsoring or welcoming this section. Peggy did agree to change the title so as to avoid giving that impression. It is very clear that the Brethren are suddenly down on Sunstone and somehow view it as an insidious threat. Peggy has already determined: A. That she will not frequent the Church Office Building. B. That she will not run as many Church history articles. C. That she will make fewer requests [of the church] for photographs.

Elder Durham has threatened to make the photographs unavailable to Sunstone, but as of this minute has stopped short of that decision (it would be ineffective anyhow as so many of the photographs are already out.)

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

70 years ago today - Jun 23, 1956

Missionary work recommences in Chile, some 104 years after Elder Parley P. Pratt had left the country following an unsuccessful attempt to establish a permanent mission.

105 years ago today - Jun 23, 1921

Heber J. Grant writes to a stake president with instructions: "Send each and every recommend direct to the President, not by the hand of anybody, the person recommended included. After the President returns the recommend to you bearing his signature of approval, it will then be in order for you to deliver it in person to the head of the family thus recommended, explaining to him in a private confidential way the sacredness of the ordinance, cautioning him at the same time not to speak of it to anybody outside the temple: and in the interest of privacy you are requested not to send more than one family to the temple the same week bearing a recommend of this character."

60 years ago today - Jun 22, 1966

The church's storage vaults in the granite mountains of Little Cottonwood Canyon are dedicated, which vaults are intended to withstand nuclear explosions in the event of war.

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

65 years ago today - Jun 22, 1961

[Marion G. Romney]

"... President McKay also submitted the same of Hugh B. Brown as a counselor in the Presidency to help the Presidency now that President Clark is almost incapacitated. President Clark remains as first counselor and President Moyle as second counselor and Hugh B. Brown as a counselor in the Presidency. I stood with the Presidency and the Twelve while he was set apart to this position."

[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015, Appendix 2, The Diaries of Marion G. Romney, 1941-1961, Abridged]

65 years ago today - Jun 22,1961

First Presidency supports plan to persuade U.S. Army to send its "colored contingents" to California rather than to Utah. At its same meeting Presidency agrees to allow baptism of Nigerians seeking membership in church.

[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]

105 years ago today - Jun 22, 1921

The PROVO HERALD reports: "Dancing of a standard far worse than anything permitted in New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles [was] witnessed at dance halls near Provo. . . . Some eastern people with us were shocked at the dancing permitted at the resort. . . . I have seen a great deal of intoxication at dancing resorts in the county. . . . The obnoxious dancing positions are not graceful. Jazz music must be prohibited."

120 years ago today - Jun 22, 1906

Mormon Carl Badger, reflecting on Church leaders' testimony in the recently completed Reed Smoot Hearings writes to a relative: "I believe our honor is more to us than anything on earth, If as a people we had strictly observed the Manifesto, I believe that our example would have challenged the admiration of the world; but we have thought that there is something higher than honesty, and behold our confusion." Badger yearned for "simple honesty, the facts - a remedy from which we shrink-but I pray for the last time, I wish it were possible for me to hurl in the teeth of the world the accusation and the boast: While you have been cruel, we have been honest"

165 years ago today - Jun 22, 1861 (Afternoon)

[Brigham Young]

'When br. woodruff remarked that just so long as the devil lives he will oppose the saints, the question came to my mind '"how long will he live?'" I tell you the time is coming when he will not live.'

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

170 years ago today - Jun 22, 1856 (Council Meeting)

[Brigham Young]

"When the sermon is published it will be then revelation. This earth was created expressly for the people come dwell on it - The spirits were all pure when they came here - the one third of the spirits were cast down to the earth never to get tabernacles - that is their curse - the fallen spirits are devils - When our persecutors die they become angels of the devils - those who left the first state will have a resurrection - when the bodies and spirits are reunited the second death has power which is dissolution - after all the righteous are redeemed then satan is let loose - All are in uproar again then a warfare again - then Jesus followers wipe them out - put them back to native element - then they can organized again - We have the promise we shall retain our identity both body and spirit - the mobocrats become angels of the devil or his perfect servants having sinned against light and knowledge - it will go on until every individual can preserve his identity - The Jews wont be as well off as the soldiers, for they will do as they were commanded - Jesus agony was not of the body but was greater for the sins of the world which were on him. -- Evening."

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

170 years ago today - Jun 22, 1856 (Afternoon)

[Brigham Young]

"... Take, for instance, the gift of tongues; years ago in this Church you could find men of age, and seemingly of experience, who would preach and raise up Branches, and when quite young boys or girls would get up and speak in tongues, and others interpret, and perhaps that interpretation instructing the Elders who brought them into the Church, they would turn round and say, '"I know my duty, this is the word of the Lord to me and I must do as these boys or girls have spoken in tongues.'" You ask one of the Elders if they understand things so now, and they will say, '"No, the gifts are from the Lord, and we are agents to use them as we please.'" If a man is called to be a Prophet, and the gift of prophecy is poured upon him, though he afterwards actually defies the power of God and turns away from the holy commandments, that man will continue in his gift and will prophecy lies. He will make false prophecies, yet he will do it by the spirit of prophecy; he will feel that he is a prophet and can prophecy, but he does it by another spirit and power than that which was given him of the Lord. He uses the gift as much as you and I use ours. The gift of seeing with the natural eyes is just as much a gift as the gift of tongues."

[Journal of Discourses. Liverpool, England, 1853-86. 3:362-375, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]

175 years ago today - Jun 22, 1851

[Brigham Young]

"I have seen a prophet and apostles who are perfect in their calling yet they are subject to all weaknesses of man, if the Prophet Joseph has been as perfect as this people wanted him to be they could not behold him, if he had been perfect he would have to wear a black veil over his face all the day long, the people could not behold the face of Moses, they begged for him to hide his face ... "

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

60 years ago today - Jun 21, 1966

[David O. McKay]

" ... President Tanner mentioned that at the meeting of the Council referred to on June 9, the Brethren had mentioned that many of our young people who go through the Temples gain a wrong impression, that they do not obtain a proper understanding of the Temple work and sometimes lose their faith by reason of the Temple ceremonies. He explained that when companies of young men and young women going on missions have been through the Temple for the first time and received their endowments, it is customary to hold a meeting with these young people after the Temple session and explain to them the meaning of the Temple ceremonies and give them opportunity to ask questions. It was thought that it would be helpful if a meeting of this kind might be held with new converts, young couples and others who go through the Temples to receive their endowments so that they could ask questions and get enlightenment regarding the Temple ceremonies. ... I also stated that the First Presidency would take the matter under consideration and appoint a committee of three to make a study of this problem."

[David O. McKay diary, June 21, 1966; emphasis in original, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

80 years ago today - Jun 21, 1946

The first shipment of the Welfare Plan foodstuffs and essential commodities arrives in Geneva, Switzerland, for distribution to Mormons in war-devastated European cities. This aid totals eighty-five railroad freight cars. Eight months earlier the First Presidency reestablished proselytizing missions in Europe.

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

85 years ago today - Jun 21, 1941

[David O. McKay]

11:00'A. Richard Peterson regarding selling beer in grocery stores: by officers prominent in Church affairs. For example, the case of President A. Richard Peterson who purchased a grocery store and entered into business upon his return home from his Mission. With that purchase there went a license to sell beer. This license terminates June 30 and must be renewed July 1. President Peterson asks advice as to what course he should pursue regarding the renewal of his license.

If there is objection to his selling beer, what about tobacco, cigarettes, etc. which many of the Latter-day Saints are purchasing, even mothers.

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

125 years ago today - Jun 21, 1901

[William Henry Smart]

'This evening from about 9-30 to 12 O.C[lock], my wife and I attended to the second part of the ordinance of second anointings. We besides the ordinance itself sang "We thank thee O God for a prophet," conversed concerning our duties to each other and children, read from John XII:1-8 verses, read the Rev[elation] on the Eternity of the Marriage Covenant, Section 132. We dedicated [the] room [in our house] for the purpose of this meeting [and] closed by singing: "Oh my father thou that dwellest." Anna was mouth in [the] preliminary prayer [and] I gave the dedicatory prayer and the benediction. The spirit of the Lord was with us and we felt nearer together than usual: were much encouraged in pressing onward in an endeavor to succeed in life. We fasted during the day and broke our fast together a little after 12 O.C[lock].'

[William Henry Smart diary, June 21, 1901, Marriott Library, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

125 years ago today - Jun 21, 1901; Friday

President Lorenzo Snow promised Messrs. Taylor and Wagner, both colored, who are trying to build a church for the colored people that when said church is erected we will give them $70. on it.

[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]

190 years ago today - Jun 21, 1836

Mormon missionaries are tried for preaching. Apostle David W. Patten and future apostle Wilford Woodruff (hereafter Woodruff), among the missionaries in the Tennessee court, are assessed court costs and released.

[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]

125 years ago today - Thursday, Jun 20, 1901

[Rudger Clawson]

Pres. [Lorenzo] Snow arose and said, I desire to bear my testimony. I know that Jesus lives. Many of you who are here tonight will see him, you will see that he is a noble looking man, and you will feel like going to him and shaking hands. When you return to Jackson County and engage in building the temple there, you will see Jesus and be associated with him. I bear this testimony for I know it is true.

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

125 years ago today - June 20th, 1901

[Brigham Young Jr.]

"I have been called or order for teaching that Priesthood is "Divine Authority" and when a Deacon is ordained, all the rights, keys, blessings, etc., are conferred pertaining to this office in the Aaronic Priesthood. Bro. Jos. contended that the whole Priesthood of Aaron was given in the Ordination. This view I cannot see now and take. Bro. Jos. was more than earnest and was brotherly and kindly reprimanded by Pres. Snow. Joined Presidency and Twelve at Pres. Jos. F. Good supper and excellent singing and music. Pres. Snow now spoke of Jesus coming to such gatherings and there were those there who would meet Him in this life and many other good things."

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

125 years ago today - Jun 20, 1901

[Abraham O. Woodruff]

Pres[iden]t. [Lorenzo] Snow after the singing of a hymn arose and said: 'He The Savior Lives and I know it! Many of you will live to see Him. He will be a grand gentleman and will be like a kind father to you. Many of you will live to go to Jackson Co[unty]. [Missouri] and you will see Him there.'

[Abraham Owen Woodruff, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]

150 years ago today - Jun 20, 1876

[Wilford Woodruff]

June 20, 1876 Glory Hallalulah for this days for in spite of the Devil through the Blessing of God I have had the privilege this day of going into the Endowment House and with my family have been Baptized for (949) Eight Hundred and Seventy Two of my dead Relatives & friends ...

I Felt to rejoice that after Forty three years labor in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that I had the privilege of going into a Baptismal font with my Eldest Brother Azmon Woodruff and my Children to redeem our dead.

[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 - Saturday, Jun 20, 1846.

A lady from Fort Leavenworth told Brother Lewis that [former Missouri governor] Boggs started with a company of emigrants for Oregon, heard that 4,000 Mormons were on their way, and for fear they would find him and kill him he had returned home to Independence, Missouri.

[Apostle Willard Richards Journal]

190 years ago today - Jun 20, 1836

Patriarchal Blessing of Jacob Chamberlain given by Joseph Smith, Sr. ... Thou shalt go to Zion and possess the things of this life: thou shalt have houses, lands and possessions. Thou shalt have power to help build up Zion and see her flourish upon the hills: Thou shalt see the hosts of God gathered there. Thou shalt have power to translate thyself like Enoch. Thou art a Son of Abraham, has a right to the priesthood and art called to it. Something whispers me that all will be well with thee

[Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:84; text from Patriarchal Blessing Book 2:143-144, in Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]

190 years ago today - Jun 20, 1836

Patriarchal Blessing of Lucia Louisa Leavitt given by Joseph Smith, Sr. ... Thou shalt teach the daughters of the Lamanites and instruct them in our Language. ... Thou shalt have children and be instrumental in peopling the new earth. for thou shalt live to behold the winding up scene of this generation when wickedness shall be swept off the face of the earth and thou shalt stand when Jesus Christ shall come in the clouds of heaven. By the authority of the holy priesthood I seal these blessings upon thee, and I seal thee up unto eternal life, even so Amen.

[Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:112, in Early Patriarchal Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]

190 years ago today - Jun 20, 1836

Patriarchal Blessing of Oliver Snow given by Joseph Smith, Sr. ... Thou shalt live to see the tribes come in from the North ... Thou salt see thy Redeemer and shalt converse with him face to face. while thou art in the flesh. This is thy portion and I seal these blessings upon thee by the authority of the holy priesthood. I seal thee up unto eternal life on condition of thy obedience, even so Amen.

[Early Patriarchal Patriarchal Blessing Book 1:111, in Blessings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Joseph Smith Sr. (Author), H. Michael Marquardt (Editor), http://amzn.to/rCBHVe]

190 years ago today - (Mon) Jun 20, 1836

Joseph Smith was acquitted in a trial before the Court of Common Pleas at Chardon, on a charge of assault and battery brought by his brother-in-law, Calvin Stoddard.

[Painesville Telegraph, 1:26, June 26, 1835, quoted at Broadhurst, Dale R., Mormon Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/morchrn2.htm]

75 years ago today - Jun 19, 1951

Look magazine publishes Gordon B. Hinckley's response to an article, "The Mormons: We Are a Peculiar People," one of his earliest exposures in the national media.

110 years ago today - Jun 19, 1916

[First Presidency letter]

To Bishoprics of Wards, Dear Brethren:

At the Stake Clerks' meeting, held during the late general conference, definite instructions were sought for in regard to making a record of cases of transgression of young people who make public confession of their wrongdoing and are forgiven.

No record should be made of this class of cases, nor of cases of the same character of a strictly private nature considered by a Bishop or Bishopric, but a record should be made and kept of cases of fornication or adultery tried in the regular way by the Bishop's court.

This question has also been asked:

At which of the meetings should persons guilty of unchastity be required to make confession, at the general meeting of the members of the ward, at the fast meeting, or at the monthly priesthood meeting?

Answer: The regulation of confessions should be left to the Bishopric of the ward in which the wrongdoing occurs, each case considered by them on its own merits, and disposed of according to the publicity already given to it. For instance, where people guilty of adultery or fornication confess their sin, and their transgression is known to themselves only, their confession should not be made public. But where publicity has been given to it their confession should be made before the priesthood of the ward at the regular monthly meeting; or, if it be deemed advisable that a still more public confession be made, such a confession should be made at the monthly fast meeting, and not at the regular Sunday services. ...

As a rule therefore where the transgression is known to but few, the confession (if required at all) should be made at the priesthood meeting, and only in cases where the offense has become a public scandal and reproach to the Church, should the more public confession be required. Your Brethren, JOSEPH F. SMITH, ANTHON H. LUND, CHARLES W. PENROSE, First Presidency.

[1916-June 19-Original letter. Church Historian's Library, in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]

120 years ago today - Jun 19, 1906; Tuesday

$250. was paid to Fred W. Clemons in payment of the old hand press on which the first edition of the Book of Mormon was printed; said press having been received and set up in the press room of the Deseret News building.

[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]

185 years ago today - Jun 19, 1841

James Murdock writes to the CONGREGATIONAL OBSERVER of his interview with William Smith, LDS Apostle and brother of Joseph Smith: "About the year 1823, there was a revival of religion in that region, and Joseph was one of several hopeful converts. The others were joining, some one church, and some another in that vicinity, but Joseph hesitated between the different denominations. While his mind was perplexed with this subject, he prayed for divine direction; and afterwards was awaked one night by an extraordinary vision. The glory of the Lord filled the chamber with a dazzling light, and a glorious angel appeared to him, conversed with him, and told him that he was a chosen vessel unto the Lord to make known true religion."

190 years ago today - Jun 19, 1836

Lorenzo Snow is baptized in the Chagrin River near Kirtland, Ohio. (He is twenty-two years and two months old.)

190 years ago today - Jun 19, 1836

Wilford Woodruff writes that "A state's warrant was issued against D[avid] W. Patten, Warren Parrish and Wilford Woodruff, . . . Elders Patten and Parrish were taken by an armed mob of about fifty, . . . I was in another county, and therefore not taken. We were accused of prophesying falsely, by saying that four persons who were baptized should receive the Holy Ghost in twenty-four hours, and that Christ should come the second time before this generation passed away." Three days later Patten and Parrish are "condemned . . . Without any cause of Guilt found in them & after condemning they let them go clear."

190 years ago today - Jun 19, 1836

Book of Mormon witnesses Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, John Whitmer, Apostle Lyman E. Johnson, and Mormon editor William W. Phelps flee for their lives after receiving a written death-threat signed by Danite chief Sampson Avard, two members of the First Presidency, and eighty other Danites. This is two days after Sidney Rigdon announced that the church will now fulfill the commandment to treat dissenters as "salt" to be "trodden under the foot of men."

195 years ago today - Jun 19, 1831

[Joseph Smith]

Starts for Missouri to designate the -"land of Zion.-"

[Highlights in the Prophet's Life, Ensign, June 1994]

195 years ago today - Jun 19, 1831

Colesville saints inquire of Joseph being poor and without farmland. Section 54 of the D&C is revealed in response. Newel Knight is appointed the leader of this company and they moved from Thompson, Ohio to Missouri. After this point, legal deeds of ownership were transferred as part of the Law of Consecration. Edward leaves family with measles and is so exhausted, he fell off his horse while travelling with the company.

[Exploring Mormonism: The Law of Consecration Timeline, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/the-law-of-consecration-timeline/]

170 years ago today - Jun 18, 1856

[Hosea Stout]

Law Suit before probate on an examination[.] People vs William Camp et al. for kidnapping a Negro Dan. The case commenced Monday evening and lasted yesterday & to day till noon

It appears that Camp was the owner of Dan who had ran away and C. had went with three others to bring him back. The court acquitted them[.] Carrington atty Genl for the people & Mr T. S. Williams & self for defts

There was a great excitement on on the occasion[.] The question naturally involving more or Less the Slavery question and I was surprised to see those latent feeling aroused in our midst which are making so much disturbance in the states.

[Diaries of Hosea Stout]

175 years ago today - Jun 18, 1851

Sarah Lawrence, polygamous widow of Joseph Smith, formally divorces Heber C. Kimball. Two years later she marries Joseph Mount who "had come from the gold mines of California where he made quite a fortune." On this same day Mary Ann Clark Powers, plural wife of Brigham Young since Jan 15, 1845, writes from Kanesville, Iowa: "I wish you to release me from all engagements with you for time and eternity." This request is granted.

30 years ago today - Jun 17, 1996

Time magazine publishes its list of the twenty-five most influential Americans. Among those noted is Steven R. Covey (a former BYU professor, author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and founder of the Covey Leadership Center).

120 years ago today - Jun 17, 1906; Sunday

[George F. Richards]

"Talked with Bro[ther]. C[harles]. R. McBride after meeting about a matter of a private nature about which I had a dream some time ago. Left it with him."

[George F. Richards, Diary]

120 years ago today - Jun 17, 1906

[Anthony W. Ivins]

"Sunday 2 P. M. Jos, C. Bently. Present authorities. Bro. H. Pratt made short remarks. Said an effort was being made to eliminate from the Doctrine & Covenants the revelation of marriage."

[Diary Excerpts of Anthony W. Ivins, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

125 years ago today - Jun 17, 1901

A contingent headed by Apostle John Henry Smith and future apostle Anthony W. Ivins meets in Mexico City with Mexican President Porfirio Diaz. Ivins clasps his hand and says, in Spanish, "Mr. President I greatly appreciate this opportunity of grasping the hand of the Chief Magistrate of the Government which gave an asylum and protection to my people when they were in trouble."

130 years ago today - Jun 17, 1896

With approval from President Wilford Woodruff, Second Counselor Joseph F. Smith seals Lillian Hamlin by proxy to the deceased David H. Cannon. During the ceremony, in the Salt Lake Temple, Smith marries her to the proxy Apostle Abraham H. Cannon as a plural wife for time. The next day, the Smiths and Cannons leave Salt Lake City for California. Later Joseph F. Smith is accused of having performed the post-manifesto marriage off the coast of California which he (truthfully) denies.

135 years ago today - June 17, 1891

[James E. Talmage]

Talmage attends the Annual Meeting of the Microscopical Society of London. To his surprise, Talmage is called upon to address the assembly. In his biography John R. Talmage summarizes the event:

[Talmage Story, ch. 11] [Talmage] expected merely to be recognized as a new member, but found himself called upon to address the gathering. He did so, discussing "the scientific wealth yet unmined in the land of my home," with special emphasis on the Great Salt Lake. Professor Talmage's microscopic slides of the artemis fertilis (brine shrimp) and oolitic (spherical) sand were viewed with interest as were the live shrimp which had escaped the greedy gulping of the customs official. The horned lizards had their moment in the limelight, and later found a permanent home in the zoological gardens of Regent's Park and the South Kensington Natural History Museum, a branch of the British Museum. In his room that night after the Society's meeting was over, James reviewed in his mind the impressive event, and returned thanks to the Lord for the privilege he had been accorded in attending, "I regard the occurrences of this night as very significant," [Talmage] wrote in his journal, "not because I have gained recognition in so august a society, but because a representative of the Latter-day Saint Church-one of the despised 'Mormons'-has been so received."

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

145 years ago today - Jun 17, 1881

[James E. Talmage]

"[...] if I would give way to selfish feelings I would today almost register a vow that I would not serve in the B. Y. Academy again unless I were well paid. […] Then again I think and realize that the training I am receiving in teaching these higher branches benefits me as much, if not more than regular attendance at school would. Have been enabled to save nothing in the way of money during the year."

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

170 years ago today - Jun 17, 1856

The new Republican Party Platform brought polygamy into the national political debate regarding slavery. It argued that since the Constitution gives Congress sovereign power over the territories it was "right and imperative" that Congress prohibit both slavery and polygamy in the territories. This created a dilemma the Democrats. Virtually all were offended at Mormon polygamy. The Republican Platform put the Democrats in the awkward position of explaining why a territory could become a slave state by the determination of the people, but could not self-determine the legality of polygamy.

[Hale, Van, Mormon Miscellaneous, Utah War Chronology, http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/utahwar/id2.html]

190 years ago today - 1836: 17 June

Patriarchal blessing of Esther Smith Fuller given by Joseph Smith, Sen. ... "I seal the blessing of God on thy children: ... while young shall be in the Spirit and Prophesy, they shall be among the prophets and prophetesses. ..."

[typescript, private collection, in Selected LDS Patriarchal Blessings, New Mormon Studies CD ROM, Signature Book, 2009, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

190 years ago today - Jun 17, 1836

Patriarch Joseph Smith Senior gives blessings to Amos B. Fuller: "Thy years shall be many for thou shalt stand on the Earth and proclaim the Gospel to the Nations of the Gentiles, and the seed of Abraham, as long as the earth shall stand." And to Betsy Smith: " Thy children and thy children's children shall be saved and reign with thee in the kingdom of father and thou shall see the fourth generation and thou shall not see death but shall be grave thou must see tribulation but thou shalt have power to prevail over all thy enemies and shall see thy the Holy One of Israel while yet in the flesh"

15 years ago today - 2011 June 16

I'm A Mormon media campaign launches large-scale in New York City, after testing in regional markets.

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

125 years ago today - Sunday, Jun 16, 1901

[Rudger Clawson]

"Read a prophecy of Joseph Smith declaring that the saints would move to the Rocky Mountains and become a mighty people there."

[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]

130 years ago today - Jun 16, 1896; Tuesday

[Charles W. Penrose]

"Read to [Salt Lake Stake] High Council Bro[ther] F[rancis]. M Lyman's remarks at first meeting of Stake Conference June 6th. Council adopted a resolution which I wrote dissenting from the doctrine advanced by Bro[ther] Lyman that an Apostle had the right to change a regulation established in a regularly organized Stake of Zion, of his own volition, without instructions from the First Presidency. The Presidency of the Stake were requested to write the views of the Council and present them with the Resolution and the report of the remarks of Bro[ther] Lyman to the First Presidency."

[Charles W. Penrose, Diary]

155 years ago today - Jun 16, 1871

Apostle Joseph F. Smith writes of his divorced first wife "Levira [who] arrived from California in a state of insanity." Daughter of founder's brother Samuel H. Smith and first cousin-wife of Apostle Smith, Levira C. Smith is earliest example of mental illness in a prominent Mormon. In 1886 she is legally committed to the Utah Insane Asylum as its fifty-ninth patient, and remains there for three months.

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

165 years ago today - Jun 16, 1861 (Afternoon)

[Brigham Young]

"Br. Kimball does pretty well in playing on the fiddle I think, so does br. Joseph Young. I will try my hand at my fiddle."

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

170 years ago today - Jun 16, 1856

Brigham Young's office journal records "Had an interview with Bro[ther]s Jesse Little & Robert Burton about Bro[ther] Kamp taking away his Negro." Thomas Bedford, a Beaver Island resident who had been publicly whipped on James J. Strang's direction, fatally shoots Strang. Strang had led a large portion of Mormons away from Brigham Young's rule after the death of Joseph Smith.

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

185 years ago today - 1841 Jun 16

Warsaw Signal on Joseph Smith trial & Danites, points out that Mormons now have the greatest voting power in the county

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

190 years ago today - Jun 16, 1836

[Brigham Young]

"[Went] to Isac Brownnels had som conversation With him he rejected our testmoney and abused ous [ours] and turned me out adore [of doors] and I washed my feet aganst him"

[Brigham Young Journal, 1832 Apr. 9-1836, Sept. 9, typescript]

195 years ago today - Jun 16, 1831

Jared Carter writes in his diary: "there was one of our Sisters healed from blindness by his [Joseph Smith's] instrumentality,"

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

75 years ago today - Jun 15, 1951

Patriarchal Blessing of Taylor Woodruff Turner by George E. Jorgensen ... "You were valiant in the Spirit World where you supported the Savior and fought diligently by His side against Lucifer."

[Patriarchal Blessings]

115 years ago today - Jun 15, 1911

[Joseph F. Smith]

"... I can only say that the charge [regarding new polygamous marriages] about Brother [Anthony W.] Ivins is one of those unproven allegations which, like others, has not been taken up by the church or its authorities, as it comes from a source which is not only entirely unreliable, but which at sight conveys the idea of falsity. It is not required of any accused person or society to prove a negative ..."

[Joseph F. Smith, Letter to Isaac Russell, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]

170 years ago today - Jun 15, 1856

Brigham Young preaches: "I have proof ready to show that Bishops have taken in thousands of pounds of tithing which they have never reported to the general tithing office. We have documents to show that Bishops have taken in hundreds of bushels of wheat, and only a small portion of it has come into the general tithing office; they stole it to let their friends speculate upon. If anyone is doubtful about this, will you not call on me to produce my proof before a proper tribunal? I should take pleasure in doing so, but we pass over such things in mercy to the people."

175 years ago today - Jun 15, 1851

[Brigham Young]

"Let the wife rule the Husband & she will keep him tied to the dish cloth & kitchen all the days of his life & it proves A curse upon him...."

"Then let the Father Govern. I can govern my children when they are with me. I would rather one of my sons would stab me to the Heart & kill me dead than to conquer & master me in government."

"When any undertake to govern out of their place they do not prosper. As An ensample P[arley] P Pratt & John Taylor undertook to govern & controll & set right my affairs at winter Quarters while I was on a pioneer Journey to the Mountains & they liked to have destroyed many. But I said peace be still And I saved the people...."

"A Mormon Boy will whip out the priest. We will Advance untill we can stand in the society of the gods. ..."

[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 - Jun 15, 1851 (Morning)

[Brigham Young]

"I say to the Saints, kill every white man you see stealing and not kill the Indian for it, for the white men know better."

[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 - Jun 15, 1846

[Nauvoo Temple]

A newspaper reported that a man in Fort Madison, Iowa, expressed no hesitation in saying that the Temple must be destroyed, and he had powder ready for that purpose.

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

185 years ago today - Jun 15, 1841

Letter, Orson Hyde to Joseph Smith Smith, London: "I retired to my bed one night ... the vision of the Lord, like clouds of light burst into my view. The cities of London, Amsterdam, Constantinople, and Jerusalem, all appeared in succession before me; and the spirit said unto me, 'Here are many of the children of Abraham whom I will gather to the land that I gave to their fathers; and here also, is the field of your labors. Take therefore proper credentials from my people, your brethren, ... and go ye forth to the cities which have been shown you, and declare these words unto Judah, and say. 'Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, assemble yourselves and let us go into the defended cities. Set up the standard towards Zion ..."

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

185 years ago today - Jun 15, 1841

Joseph receives a letter from Orson Hyde recounting his travels on the way to Jerusalem. Hyrum Smith and William Law, on a mission in Pittsburgh, learn that John C. Bennett has an estranged wife and child (he had claimed to be unmarried). This is reported to Joseph. Soon afterward, Joseph confronts Bennett with these facts, and Bennett takes poison in an attempted suicide. However, many assume that because he is a doctor, he knows how much he can consume and stay alive. At any rate, he does survive the suicide attempt. Joseph accepts his dramatic show of repentance and allows him to remain in power in the Church and in the city.

[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

15 years ago today - Jun 14, 2011

Chief U.S. District Judge James Ware said Tuesday that former Chief Judge Vaughn Walker did not have to divulge whether he wanted to marry his own gay partner before he declared last year that voter-approved Proposition 8 was unconstitutional. The decision struck down a brief filed by those backing Prop 8 who argued Walker should have recused himself.

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

60 years ago today - Jun 14, 1966

[David O. McKay]

... In his letter, Elder Christiansen also states that two Temple Presidents have recently inquired regarding permitting couples to be married civilly before traveling from their home to the Temple within a few days to have the sealing solemnized in the Temple. We decided to send a letter to Presidents of Temples informing them that the First Presidency must be consulted in regard to any proposed civil marriage of couples desiring to go to the Temple to be sealed.

[David O. McKay diary, June 14, 1966, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

65 years ago today - Jun 14, 1961

President McKay rejects a proposal to merge the Assistants to the Twelve with the First Council of the Seventy, now that the latter are also high priests.

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

120 years ago today - Jun 14, 1906; Thursday

[George F. Richards]

Attended Council meeting in the temple from 10 A.M. until 3 P.M. Question.

Was Moses Thatcher's Priesthood taken from him? Ans[wer]--

Pres[iden]t. Smith Jos[eph]. F. said his understanding is that the only way one's priesthood can be taken from him is by

excommunication from the Church. Parley P. Pratt held that in trying an elder in the Sandwitch [sic] islands who was charged with attempted rape. Pres[iden]t Geo[ge] Q. Cannon was present there and entertained a different view & contended later for same. Pres[iden]t. Smith's understanding is that a man may be silenced and prohibited from the exercise of his Priesthood and such is the Case of Moses Thatcher. Geo[rge] Albert Smith testified that that is the idea Moses has as he Geo[rge]. A[lbert]. had heard Moses express himself.

From the above I deduce the fol[lowing]--A man can be deprived of his priesthood only by excommunication from the Church.

[George F. Richards, Diary]

125 years ago today - Friday, Jun 14, 1901

[John Henry Smith]

Frank Marsh, youngest son of Thomas B. Marsh, called upon us. he claimed to be in the faith. he says that about one month before Emma Hale Smith died he called upon her. he asked her if the Prophet Joseph had more wives than one. She broke into tears and said my son has accepted the Presidency of the Reorganized Church.

He also said he had met with a body of Masons in London. A gentleman present by the name of Hamilton gave a wonderfull testimony of the character and Mission of the Prophet. Said He Joseph Smith Initiated me into the Secrets of Masonry and I esteem him among the great men of the World.

[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]

150 years ago today - Jun 14, 1876

[Wilford Woodruff]

14 I spent the day at the Endowment House. We Baptized 634 for the dead. W Woodruff sealed 144 Couple for the dead the greatest Number I Ever sealed in one day in my life. Joseph F Smith sealed 28 Couple. Total 172 Couple. It made me nearly Sick.

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

170 years ago today - Jun 14, 1856

The ship Thornton arrives in New York City with 764 Saints led by James G. Willie. Most in the company are those who later make up the ill-fated Martin and Willie handcart companies, which become stranded on their way to Utah later that year.

180 years ago today - Jun 14, 1846

On the ship Brooklyn, filled with Latter-day Saints bound for California, a baby girl is born to Phebe and John Robbins and is named Georgiana Pacific Robbins. "Pacific" was used as part of the name because they were in the Pacific ocean, just as "Atlantic" had been used as part of the name of another baby born earlier in the voyage.

180 years ago today - Jun 14, 1846

Several hundred men gathered at the temple with their firearms because a large mob had assembled at nearby Golden Point and were threatened to attack the temple. When the temple bell rang, the defenders met at the green near the temple. Stephen Markham led the troops into the temple and rallied them together. On this occasion the mob dispersed and did not dare approach the city. But these renewed threats prompted many families to quickly leave their homes and start their journey to the west.

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

120 years ago today - Jun 13, 1906

[Charles Penrose to Reed Smoot]

Excitement over removals, etc. has died out, but would you believe it, there are still efforts put forth to obtain consent to forbidden marriages.

[Charles W. Penrose, Letter to Reed Smoot, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]

125 years ago today - Thursday, Jun 13, 1901

[Rudger Clawson]

... I referred to the matter of non-tithe-payers and felt that some action should be taken relative to those who bear the priesthood, as by experience I had been led to believe that those who rejected the law of tithing, or failed to honor it, were indifferent, generally, to their duties in the church. The question was pretty fully discussed, and though no formal action was taken, it seemed to be the mind of the brethren that while it would be unwise and injudicious at present to relieve men of their priesthood, who failed to observe the law of tithing, it would certainly be proper to call for the resignation of non-tithe-payers, who were officiating in various prominent positions in the church.

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

125 years ago today - Jun 13, 1901

[Marriner W. Merrill]

I attended meeting with the First Presidency and seven of the Apostles. It was decided to ordain High Councilmen as High Priests and set them apart as High Councilmen; also decided that it be the rule in the Church for those administering the sacrament, for only one to kneel when asking the blessing on the bread and water, as in our circumstances the whole congregation cannot kneel.

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

145 years ago today - Jun 13, 1881

David Whitmer writes to the KANSAS CITY JOURNAL to correct some items in a recently-published interview: "I did not say that Smith used 'two small stones' as stated nor did I call the stone 'interpreters.' I stated that 'he used one stone (not two) and called it a sun stone.' . . .My statement was and is that in translating he put the stone in his hat and putting his face in the hat so as to exclude the light and that the light and characters appeared in the hat together with the interpretation which he uttered and was written by the scribe and which was tested at the time as stated." [On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]

150 years ago today - Jun 13, 1876 (Tuesday)

The case of George Reynolds, convicted and sentenced to the penitentiary under the anti-bigamy law, was argued before the Supreme Court of the Territory, on appeal. [Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

60 years ago today - Jun 11, 1966

Mark E. Littman and Joel Izatt of the Hansen Planetarium assist artists Sydney E. King and V. Russell Capson in their efforts to place the stars in the heavens on a mural on the rotunda ceiling above where the Christus will be placed in the North Visitors' Center on Temple Square. The stars are painted to appear as they would have on April 6, 1830, the day the Church was organized.

130 years ago today - Jun 11, 1896; Thursday

At 11 am attended prayer circle in the temple. ... I brought up the question of our people joining the third or Populist party, and when the brethren who spoke on the matter expressed themselves that it was a mistake for the brethren to join the Populist party, yet they did not feel that it would be wise to make a public declaration to this effect as it might be considered an interference by the church in political matters. [Heber J. Grant, Diary]

145 years ago today - Jun 11, 1881

[Heber J. Grant] Bro [Lysander] Gee told me that he had known Oliver Cowdery personally & that to his knowledge Cowdrey had committed adultry before he lost his faith' It strengthens my faith to learn that even the leading men of the Church cannot commit sin & remain in the Church, unless they repent. [The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]

150 years ago today - Jun 11, 1876

Br Brigham spoke on a variety of subjects. Said that those who made the greatest howl against Polygamy were whores and whoremongers and those filled with lust and of unclean hearts. Said as to the Mountain Meadow Massacre, if he had not been foiled by Judge Cradlebaugh and other federal officials, He would have hung every guilty person concerned in the bloody deed. Spoke of the building of temples showing that a man would gain riches faster working for the Lord and trusting in him, than all the men could make who were hunting after, and working in mines. Urged the Brethren to labor diligently on the Temple to have it completed by the 15th of next Sept. -- St. George, Utah [Men in congregation are involved in the massaccre, and by arrangement several testify against John D. Lee.] [Diary of Charles Lowell Walker. Andrew Karl Larson, ed. Logan: Utah State University Press, 1980. 427, quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]

180 years ago today - Jun 11, 1846

William Smith goes to Voree where his apostolic ordination is accepted and where he is ordained Patriarch of the church. He plans to build a house for Lucy on a contributed lot. He writes again, saying God has confirmed James Strang's position [as Joseph Smith's successor] by revelation. [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]

65 years ago today - Jun 10, 1961

[J. Reuben Clark] Dictation'Ideas by J. R. C. I recall a very sage remark made by Dr. Brimhall, formerly President of the Brigham Young University: There are two occasions in a man's lifetime when it becometh a man to say little: One is at the beginning of his service when he is yet to prove himself, and the other is at the end of his service when he has made his record. Memo by J R C on above: At the beginning a man has little but hope and aspiration and what ability and determination as he may bring to his service; the other is that at the end of his service when his record is made, it speaks for itself. [The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]

185 years ago today - Jun 10, 1841

Monmouth, Illinois. On a technicality, Judge Stephen A. Douglas ruled that that Joseph Smith's writ was illegal and discharged him from the arrest warrant. [BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]

20 years ago today - Jun 9, 2006

Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple: Ground was broken in a small ceremony on 12 September 2009 after a new site was selected. Previously ground had been broken on 9 June 2007 by Spencer V. Jones, excavation was halted because of opposition from Tegucigalpa city officials and citizens, who felt the temple would overshadow and block the view of the Catholic Our Lady of Suyapa Basilica on adjacent land. After negotioations failed to resolve the issue, the church announced on Wednesday, 28 January 2009, that out of respect for the city officials and citizens, the church would relocate the temple. [Wikipedia, List of Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_temples_of_The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints#List_of_temples]

115 years ago today - Jun 9, 1911

The Hotel Utah was built as a cooperative effort by the business and ecclesiastical leaders of the Salt Lake community to bring everyone together. It succeeded. Shares in the venture were sold and the hotel's prominent location on the corner of South Temple and Main Street, previously the site of the Bishop's Tithing Office and the Deseret News, was donated by the LDS Church. After two years of construction and a $2 million price tag, the Hotel opened 9 June 1911 "in a blaze of splendor" with a grand party for 500 of Utah's notables. [Utah History Encyclopedia: Hotel Utah, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]

165 years ago today - Jun 9, 1861

President Brigham Young gave a very interesting historical sketch of his late visit to the extreme southern settlements of the Territory and interspersed his remarks with suitable instructions on the practicability of the brethren producing their own sugar, tobacco, wine, cotton cloth, etc., in the south. -- SLC Bowery [Deseret News, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]

185 years ago today - Jun 9, 1841

[A] trial is held to see if Illinois should send Joseph back to Missouri. The actions of the young prosecuting attorney are so outrageous that the judge is forced to silence him. By the time Joseph's attorney, Mr. Browning, finishes his sad tale of the Saints being driven from Missouri and walking on bloody bare feet across the snow to Illinois, Judge Douglas himself is in tears. [Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

190 years ago today - Jun 9, 1836

[After some sermons] Elder Patten arose bound the Law & Scealed the testimony & Prophesied upon the heads of some of the ungodly People who were Present. ... Elder Patten was filled with the Power of God. Numbers were healed of sickeness. [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 - June 1831 (on or before 19 June)

Section 53, 54, 55 & 56 are received about this time, relating to land, travels to Missouri and missionary work.

175 years ago today - Jun 8, 1851

While he was alive, Joseph Smith married the wife of Simeon Dagget Carter in Nauvoo. Lydia Kenyon Carter was listed as "Lydia Smith [--] wd of Joseph Smith (Prophet)," when she was sealed to James Goff on 8 June 1851. Born in 1799, she was 44-years-old (menopausal) when she became one of the Prophet's polygamous widows, after which Reynolds Cahoon sealed her as a polygamous wife to Heber C. Kimball on the same day the apostle sealed Cahoon to his first polygamous wife. The latter two had also married before the Prophet's death. Legally married to Simeon D. Carter since 1818, Lydia (mother of their three children) resided with him in Nauvoo and Utah --despite her marriages to Smith, Kimball, and Goff. [Endowment House Record Book (1851-1854), Entry 65, for marriage of "Lydia Smith" (born on 11 December 1800) to James Goff on 8 June 1851 (Film 183,393--not available to the general public), LDS Family History Library, but with typescript available to the public in Quinn’s Research Files, Beinecke Library; Lyndon W. Cook, The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1985), 74; Kenney, Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, 6: 305 (12 December 1866), referenced 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)]

170 years ago today - Jun 7, 1856

The LATTER DAY SAINTS MILLENIAL STAR published in London, says Mormon missionaries in South Africa avoid contact with the Kaffir and Fingoe populations because they had "too much of the blood of Cain in them, for the Gospel to have much effect on their dark spirits." [On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]

180 years ago today - Jun 7, 1846

[Brigham Young] "I can safely prophesy that we will not cross the mountains this season, and that is what many of the brethren wish, they would rather go to hell than be left behind. I instructed the sisters to keep themselves and tents clean, and not to dictate those over them, it was their duty to raise all the children they could lawfully, and rear them up in the name of the Lord, watching over them and keeping them from playing with ungodly children, or from falling into danger, or exposing themselves to sickness; and when they have raised them up to deliver them over to their father's charge. Instead of meddling with their husband's business, they should be careful of his feelings, and seek his interest, and men should be kind and affectionate to their wives, not abusing or exposing them to hardships." [Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1846- 1847. Elden J. Watson, ed. Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1971.:179-180]

185 years ago today - Jun 7, 1841

Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith started very early for his court hearing in Monmouth, Illinois, a 75-mile journey, accompanied by Sheriff Thomas King, the arresting officer from Adams County, [BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]

195 years ago today - Jun 7, 1831

Doctrine and Covenants 52: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, to the elders of the Church, at Kirtland, Ohio, June 7, 1831. HC 1: 175-179. A conference had been held at Kirtland, beginning on the 3rd, and closing on the 6th of June. At this conference the first distinctive ordinations to the office of high priest were made, and certain manifestations of false and deceiving spirits were discerned and rebuked. [Doctrine and Covenants, http://amzn.to/DoctrineandCovenants]

195 years ago today - Jun 7, 1831 (6 June)

[D&C 52] The revelation directed fourteen pairs of elders, including Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, to travel to Independence, Missouri. The missionaries were to "preach by the way" and to hold a conference upon their arrival. There was great interest in the Missouri mission since the New Jerusalem was to be identified. Joseph Smith and those traveling with him left Kirtland on 19 June 1831 and arrived in Independence in mid-July. ... The mission calls in verses 22 and 32 were later revoked. [Cook, Lyndon, Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith: A Historical and Biographical Commentary of the Doctrine and Covenants, http://amzn.to/RevelationsofJosephSmith]

185 years ago today - Jun 4, 1841

Joseph calls at the home of Governor Carlin in Quincy, Ill. The governor shows him great courtesy, and doesn't mention that Missouri has asked him to turn Joseph over to them. Within a few hours of Joseph's leaving the governor's mansion, Carlin sends a posse of law officers to capture him and turn him over to the Missouri authorities. [Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

195 years ago today - Jun 4, 1831

[General Coming] "When he [Joseph Smith] arose in our midst he said that before the conference closed there were those present who should see the heavens open and bear record of the coming of the Son of Man, and that the man of sin should be revealed... Lyman Wight, while being ordained to the priesthood by Joseph Smith, prophesied (while Smith's hands were still upon his head) "that there were some in this congregation that should live until the Savior should descend from heaven, with a Shout, with all the holy angels with him." Harvey Whitlock stepped into the middle of the room with his arms crossed, bound by the power of Satan, and his mouth twisted unshapely. Hyrum Smith arose and declared that there was an evil spirit in the room. Joseph said, "Don't be too hasty," and Hyrum sat down. Shortly Hyrum rose the second time, saying, "I know my duty and will do it," and stepping to Harvey, commanded the evil spirits to leave him, but the spirits did not obey. Joseph then approached Harvey and asked him if he believed in God. Then we saw a change in Harvey. He also bore record of the opening of the heavens and of the coming of the Son of Man, precisely as Lyman Wight had done. [Book of John Whitmer, Church Historian p.69-71; 4th Conference Events also josephsmithpapers.or, as quoted in The Last Days and December 1890 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ, y George D. Speer Sr., privately circulated]

195 years ago today - Jun 04, 1831

The Prophet Joseph Smith, during a four-day Church conference held at a schoolhouse on the hill above the Isaac Morley farmhouse in Kirtland, sees the Father and the Son and declares, "I now see God, and Jesus Christ at his right hand, let them kill me, I should not feel death as I am now" [Levi W. Hancock, "The Life of Levi Ward Hancock," 33)]

195 years ago today - June 4, 1831

Joseph looked at Lyman Wight and said, "You shall see the Lord and meet him near the corner of the house." (Levi Hancock Autobiography, typescript, BYU-S, p. 33) Of this prediction, Zebedee Coltrin recalls, "When Lyman Wight was ordained a high priest, Joseph told him he should see the heavens opened, and after he was ordained he stood on his feet and testified that he could see the heavens open and could see Jesus standing at the right hand of God." [A Timeline of Joseph Smith's Prophecies: His Prophecies Fulfilled (https://amzn.to/42s0h3I)]

140 years ago today - Mar 6, 1886

Two thousand Mormon women assembled in Salt Lake City to protest the recently enacted Edmunds Act, a federal law designed to bring an end to the Mormons' practice of polygamy. [Matthew J. Grow, Kate Holbrook, Carol Cornwall Madsen, Jill Mulvay Derr, The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women's History, Chronology. https://churchhistorianspress.org/the-first-fifty-years-of-relief-society/events]

150 years ago today - Jun 3, 1876

The Deseret News publishes the grand jury's audit of Salt Lake City Corporation's financial records, which show extensive transactions involving liquor. Municipal funds purchase liquor for Pioneer Day on 24 July and also for a party of Mormon Battalion veterans. The city rents Brigham Young's distillery for $2,000 annually from 1861 to 1867, after which the city government purchases its liquor directly from the Howard Distillery which is owned jointly by Brigham Young and his first counselor Daniel H. Wells. Young is also a member of the Salt Lake City Council (1872-77), and Wells is mayor from 1866 to 1876. The report observes: "After completion of the railroad, the city continued to buy liquor from Brigham Young at $4.00 per gallon, although they could have gotten better 'States' liquor at $1.25 per gallon." [The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]

155 years ago today - Jun 3, 1871

Salt Lake Tabernacle service: "Pres D.H. Wells spoke 25 minutes following President Young's remarks. Not very good attention. Considerable moving about, passing out, and drowsiness." Salt Lake Stake Deacons Quorum Minute Book records: "Bro [Samuel D.] Chambers said It was a source of happiness to him to be here, feels to be the least of all the saints of God, but blest to be one of the number. It is joy to him to fill all calls made upon him. Asks an interest in our faith and prayers, that he may receive an exaltation in the kingdom of God." Chambers, a former slave, had been a Mormon for 29 years at this time. [On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]

180 years ago today - Jun 03, 1846

Jesse Little, a representative of the Church, meets with U.S. President James K. Polk in Washington, D.C., to discuss plans for establishing the Mormon Battalion.

195 years ago today - June 3-6, 1831

The fourth general conference of the Church is held in Kirtland, Ohio. Two thousand persons attend. The previous day Joseph prophesied that "the man of sin" would be revealed. After many evil manifestations of the spirit of Satan descending upon one member after another, Joseph rebukes Satan and many wonderful spiritual manifestations are experienced (including Joseph prophesying that John the Revelator is among the ten tribes and Lyman Wight seeing a vision of the Son sitting on the right hand of the Father). Elders are ordained as high priests for the first time in this dispensation. [Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology; History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (7 volumes) 1:175-77.]

145 years ago today - Jun 2, 1881

Patriarchal Blessing of Susan E. Martineau given by Joel Hills Johnson ... Thy friends from behind the vail, some of them, shall visit thee in thy vision in the night time, and instruct thee in all things that appertain to thy exaltation and glory. ... Thine offspring shall become a great and a mighty people in the midst of the earth, clothed with the power of the holy priesthood, and mighty men of God with honor and renown shall spring from thee. ... I seal thee up unto eternal lives with thy companion and thy children, to come forth in the morning of the first ressurrection [resurrection] ... [Patriarchal Blessings]

145 years ago today - Jun 2, 1881

Patriarchal Blessing of Jesse N. Martineau given by Joel Hills Johnson ... many of the great men of the earth shall come to thee for counsel and for wisdom in the calamities that shall fall upon the earth. Thou shalt have power to escape the power of the Destroyer, and to cast Satan's yoke upon his own neck, and be free from the power of sin and death; and heavenly messengers shall visit thee and instruct thee in all thy duties of life and shall touch thee even as Jesus Christ touched the three Nephites, that thou mayest live long upon the earth and not taste death. ... I seal thee up unto eternal lives, for thy offspring shall become great and mighty upon the earth ... [Patriarchal Blessings]

165 years ago today - Jun 2, 1861 (Morning)

Prest. B. Y. preached one of the most interesting and exalted discourses that I ever heard, to a large and interesting audience. Reproved Bishop Warren of this [place] for selling gentile goods on commission to the brethren for wheat at a reduced price. Showed that their policy impoverished the people and bring them to wretchedness and misery. -- Parowan, Utah [A Mormon Chronicle: The Diaries of John D. Lee. 1848-1876. Robert Glass Cleland and Juanita Brooks, eds. San Marino, California: Huntington Library Press, 2003 ed. 314, quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]

180 years ago today - Jun 02, 1846

U.S. President James K. Polk's cabinet authorizes him to ask the Latter-day Saints to provide several hundred men in the war against Mexico.

130 years ago today - May 31, 1896

[Heber J. Grant] [In Provo] The name of Bro [apostle] Moses Thatcher was omitted as a counselor to General Superintendent Woodruff. [The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]

180 years ago today - May 31, 1846

[General Young] Brigham Young first realizes the saints are running on 'Mormon Standard Time' -- "Brethren should be as prompt and punctual with each other as do the gentiles ..." [John D. Lee Journals (LDS Church Reporter, 1845-47), Leonard J. Arrington Papers, Special Collections, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University, Logan.. (A reference reading LJA 12-55-5, 10, means LJA Series 12, Box 55, Folder 5, page 10.); Archives, Church History Library, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah]

180 years ago today - May 31, 1846

[Brigham Young] It has been reported the past week to new comers and news has been sent back that the Twelve command the people and are going to take everything from them. I shall command when God requires it of me. I want to know whether those that have recently arrived here will be united and work for the general good, and not desire to separate themselves. ... Exhorted the saints to live up to all of their privileges, for the saints have to become so pure that their bodies will be changed in a moment as Jesus was, and not rest in the grave one hundred or a thousand years. [MHBY 172-173, in Elden J. Watson, ed. Brigham Young Addresses, 1801-1877: A Chronological Compilation of Known Addresses of the Prophet Brigham Young, 6 vols. (Salt Lake City: Privately published, 1971)]

190 years ago today - May 31, 1836

[Wilford Woodruff] .... found it [today] to be the most interesting, important & instructive day of my LIFE. For on this Glorious DAY I was ordained unto the High Priesthood and also as one of the Second Seventy & sealed up unto Eternal LIFE under the hands of my Beloved Brethren, VIZ Elder's David W Patten & Warren Parrish. My ordination was requested by the PRESIDENCY of the Church at Kirtland Ohio. Their was glorious things Pronounced upon my head in my ordination by the spirit of Prophecy & Revelation. Some I will mention which are as follows: That although my enemies would strive to take my life & confine me in dungeons & Prisons yet God should give me power over my enemies & deliver me out of their hands & from their vaults, Prisons, & caves in the name of Jesus Christ, & that men would bow at my feet & worship me if I did not say to them do it not & that Kings would bow before me & Princes give me their hand & that I Should Baptize them into the Kingdom of God & that I should be blessed on the EARTH When my head blossomed with age & if I desired it I should remain on the Earth untill the comeing of the Savior & that God would give me the desire of my heart & that God had had his eye upon me all my life long to prepare me for this work. YEA <even when my spirit was [praying?] around the throne of God [--]> that I should travel to the nations of the Earth & the Islands of the sea to Proclaim the word of God. When these and other blessings were Pronounced upon my head I Was filled With the Power & Spirit of God. EVEN SO LET IT BE. AMEN... [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 - May 31, 1836

About this time - Lucy Mack Smith: -At the time a certain young woman, who was living at David Whitmer's uttered a prophecy, which she said was given her by looking through a black stone that she had found. This prophecy gave some altogether a new idea of things. She said the reason why one third of the church would turn away from Joseph was because that he was in transgression himself; that he would fall from his office on account of the same; that David Whitmer or Martin Harris would fill Joseph's place. The girl soon became an object of great attention among those who were disaffected. Dr. Williams became her scribe and wrote her revelations for her. Jared Carter soon imbibed the same spirit, and I was informed that he said in one of their meetings that he had power to raise Joseph Smith to the highest heavens, or sink him down to the lowest hell. They still held their secret meetings at David Whitmer's and when the young woman who was their instructress was through giving what revelation she intended for the evening, she would jump out of her chair and dance over the floor, boasting of her power, until she was perfectly exhausted. Her proselytes would also, in the most vehement manner proclaim their purity and holiness, and the mighty power which they were going to have. They made a standing appointment for meetings to be held every Thursday in the Holy Temple the House of the Lord- [Lucy Mack Smith, History of Joseph Smith, pp. 242-243, Kirtland Timeline - Kirtland Safety Society, the Bank of Monroe, Temple Dedication, Consecration, and significant historical events related, http://www.exploringmormonism.com/kirtland-timeline-kirtland-safety-society-the-bank-of-monroe-temple-dedication-consecration-and-significant-historical-events-related/]

165 years ago today - May 30, 1861

At 4 P.M. he [Pres. Young] preached 120 minutes in my family hall. Said this was the best fort that had ever been built in this territory. Reproved the Bishops for using tithing [for personal ends], Bishop R. D. Covington in particular. ... Pres. Young said that the company that was used [killed] up at the Mountain Meadows were the fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and connections of those that murdered the Prophets; they merited their fate, and the only thing that ever troubled him was the lives of the women and children, but that under circumstances could not be avoided. Although there had been [some] that wanted to betray the brethren into the hands of their enemies, for that thing [they] will be damned and go down to hell. I would be glad to see one of those traitors, though I [don't] suppose that there is any here now. They have ran away, and when he came to the monument that contained their bones, he made this remark: '"Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, and I have taken a little of it.'" -- Fort Harmony, Utah [A Mormon Chronicle: The Diaries of John D. Lee. 1848-1876. Robert Glass Cleland and Juanita Brooks, eds. San Marino, California: Huntington Library Press, 2003 ed. 313-314, quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]

165 years ago today - May 30, 1861

[Brigham Young] In his sermon, when speaking of the Mountain Meadows Massacre, he [Pres. Young] said: Do you know who those people were that were killed at the Mountain Meadows? I will tell you who those people were. They were fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, cousins and children of those who killed the Saints, and drove them from Missouri, and afterwards killed our Prophets in Carthage jail. ... And yet after all this, I am told that there are many of the brethren who are willing to inform upon and swear against the brethren who were engaged in that affair. I hope there is no truth in this report. I hope there is no such person here, under the sound of my voice. But if there is, I will tell you my opinion of you, and the fact so far as your fate is concerned. Unless you repent at once of that unholy intention, and keep the secret of all that you know, you will die a dog's death, and be damned, and go to hell. I do not want to hear of any more treachery among my people. -- Fort Harmony, Utah [Mormonism Unveiled 258-259, quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]

180 years ago today - May 30, 1846

[William Clayton] Went and borrowed A[aron] Farr's ornaments and robe. Then rode with Dr. Richards about 3 miles on the prairie. There were 5 others and carriages[.] President Young [brought our two tents]. We fixed them up and then met and clothed. There was President B[righam] Young, H[eber] C. Kimball, P[arley] P. Pratt, W[illard] Richards, O[rson] Pratt, J[ohn] Taylor, Geo[rge] A. Smith, A[masa] Lyman, John Smith, N[ewel] K. Whitney, D[aniel] Spencer, O[rson] Spencer, C[harles] C. Rich, E[zra] T. Benson, W[illia]m Huntington and myself. Clothed and having offered up the signs [and then] offered up prayer[,] H. C. Kimball being mouth. We then conversed a while and prayed again, G. A. Smith being mouth. A[lbert] P. Rockwood and W[illiam] Kimball were guarding the tent. Prayers were offered that we might be delivered from our enemies and have teams to go on our journey &c. About 2 o'clock we returned to camp. [William Clayton diary, May 30, 1846, in Anderson, Devery; The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, http://amzn.to/TempleWorship]

185 years ago today - 1841: 30 May

[Patriarchal Blessing] Mary Newberry. (Given by Hyrum Smith.) "... Behold I seal upon your head the comforter the second comforter even the promise of eternal life to come forth and chear [sic] your heart in the day of affliction and tribulation that when you read these sacred words and your heart shall leap with joy you shall know the promise is true. [Typescript; RLDS Archives, Up N423, in Selected LDS Patriarchal Blessings, New Mormon Studies CD ROM, Signature Book, 2009, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

185 years ago today - 1841: 30 May

[Patriarchal Blessing] James Newberry. (Given by Hyrum Smith.) "... thou art a descendant of Nathan that Prophet, that with boldness said thou art the very man; when he stood in the presence of the King. [Typescript; RLDS Archives, Up N423, in Selected LDS Patriarchal Blessings, New Mormon Studies CD ROM, Signature Book, 2009, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

130 years ago today - May 29, 1896

President Wilford Woodruff "spent the day in the office and talked over our Church Debts & how to settle them. F S Richards Just Notified me that the Government had sent back our Real Estate Property to salt Lake City to be dismissed by the Court & the property turned over to the Trustee in trust." [On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]

35 years ago today - May 28, 1991

The LDS church receives legal recognition in the Republic of Russia, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs a concert in the Bolshoi Theater on 24 June. The Church News cover photograph emphasizes that this is "America's Choir" at Red Square in Moscow. [The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]

75 years ago today - May 28, 1951

[J. Reuben Clark] James Sharp left the following message: He travels throughout the state, meets numerous people, both Mormons and non-Mormons, and the question arises for him to answer which he can't answer, as to why Pres. Clark had to take a back seat. He wanted Pres. Clark to know that the people throughout the State, Mormons and non-Mormons, do not approve of the movement; he does not either, and as a non-Mormon told him yesterday, he said the Presidency of the Church is slipping, does not like to see the way things have gone. There isn't anything he can do, but he wanted Pres. Clark to know how he feels. ( R J M). [The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]

130 years ago today - May 28, 1896

The First Presidency at their office this morning conversed on the subject of the terrible disaster with awful destruction of life and property in the City of St. Louis [Missouri] on Wednesday. President [Wilford] Woodruff remarked that the Lord in the early days of the Church required his servants to make a record of their persecutions and the mobbings they endured from their enemies. The Lord also told them that angels were waiting to go forth and reap down the earth, but were told to keep back for a season. President Woodruff said that at the time of the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple, the spirit manifested to him that the Lord was about to send special messengers to the earth for special purposes, and he firmly believed as much as he believed anything that some of those messengers had already commenced their work, and that the numerous and great disaster of recent date were the evidences of their presence. [Journal History, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]

120 years ago today - May 26, 1906

Thomas Clawson, brother of Apostle Rudger Clawson, writes: "Held our regular Block Teachers Meeting after the servide. Bro John Woodmansee was the home missionary and his talk was upon the Adam God doctrine which was entirely to deep for him as well as for all who listened to him. In fact it was a very dry and unprofitable meeting." [On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]

135 years ago today - Tuesday, May 26, 1891

[Apostle John Henry Smith] The Republican Committee met and adopted an address to the people. Myself, John M. Zane, and Geo. M. Cannon arc to go about organizing the Counties into clubs. John M. Zane and I took the Document to the Herald and Tribune. [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]

180 years ago today - May 26, 1846

"President Young told Daniel and O. Spencer that he dreamed, asleep or awake, that the Spirit said to him, tell Daniel to gather up what teams, tools, and seed and men he can, and go on and let Orson stay and take care of the families and bring them on, etc." [Apostle Willard Richards Journal]

185 years ago today - May 26, 1841

Joseph Smith writes to Thomas Sharp, editor of the WARSAW SIGNAL: "SIR-You will discontinue my paper-its contents are calculated to pollute me, and to patronize the filthy sheet-that tissue of lies-that sink of iniquity-is disgraceful to any moral man. Yours, with utter contempt, JOSEPH SMITH. P.S. Please publish the above in your contemptible paper." Sharp publishes Smith's letter with the introduction: "In our paper of week before last, we took occasion to express an honest opinion in relation to the Mormons, and some of their leaders -an opinion which we believe is concurred in by nine-tenths of the community. No sooner, however, had our paper reached Nauvoo, than it caused the following highly important revelation to be forwarded us, from his holiness, the Prophet." This is Sharps first published sarcasm towards the Mormons but from now on he refers to Smith as "His Holiness." [On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]

60 years ago today - May 25, 1966

Robert H. Hinckley, former assistant secretary of the U.S. commerce department, chair of the Civil Aeronautics Administration, and vice-president of the American Broadcasting Company, criticized the Birch Society in an address to students of the University of Utah. He lambasted the society's "collective slander, which now seems to have become standard operating procedure for some Birchites," and also "the semi-secret chapters that parallel Communist cells, the use of front groups, the tactics of infiltration, [and] the use of the big lie." Hinckley also identified Ezra Taft Benson as part of the "leadership of the Right Wing" in America. The full text of this assessment appeared in the Congressional Record in June 1966. [Robert H. Hinckley, "The Politics of Extremism," in Congressional Record—Senate 112 (13 July 1966): 15584, 15583; "Says Birchers Copy Reds," Deseret News, 25 May 1966, A-12; "Hinckley Blasts Extremists," Provo Daily Herald, 25 May 1966, 14. 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.]

65 years ago today - May 25, 1961

Several apostles "are gravely concerned about the pressures being put on missionaries to baptize to fill a quota of baptisms. . . .This of course[is] a criticism of President Moyle and many of the mission presidents working under his direction." Extensive abuses in "baseball baptism program" lead to counselor Moyle's censure in 1963, mass excommunications of European "kiddie baptisms" in 1964-65, and more than decade of avoiding baptism quotas for full-time missionaries. General authorities are haunted by memories of baseball baptism era and urge restrain upon youthful missionaries. [Wilkinson diary, 25 May 1961, also 6 September 1960 as quoted in D. Michael Quinn, 'I-Thou vs. I-It Conversions: The Mormon "Baseball Baptism" Era', Sunstone Magazine 16 (7) December 1993: 30-44]