Major James H. Carleton writes to Army Headquarters: "Nearly all Mormons are foreigners. Among these are Welsh, English, Norwegians, Swedes, some Germans, and a few French. They are evidently of the lowest and most ignorant grade of the people in the several countries from whence they have come. Mixed in with these are a few low, unprincipled Americans. The most intelligent and crafty of these, commencing with Brigham Young, are the directors and rulers of the whole mess. . . their government is solely a hierarchy, and notwithstanding, in theory, they are assumed to be a population obedient to the laws of our common country, practically they score and deride, and set at defiance all laws that interfere with their safety or interest, save those promulgated by the great council of the church." Brigham Young's office journal records: " Br[other] W[illia]m Clayton read the Pony dispatch to the members of the Club. The first Presidency were present. This dispatch noticed considerable loss of life [in the Civil War], and confusion[.] [T]he Company took comfort in the reflection that their old enemies were getting fewer in number."
180 years ago today - Jul 31, 1846
The ship Brooklyn, with over two hundred Latter-day Saints aboard, arrives at Yerba Buena (San Francisco), California. These are the first Saints to set foot in California.
185 years ago today - Jul 31, 1841
[Brigham Young]
Met in council with the Twelve, when the following resolutions, among others, were unanimously passed:--
"That we sustain Joseph Smith as Trustee-in-Trust for the Church, and advise him to have all lands belonging to the Church deeded in his name as Trustee.
[Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844, ed. Elden Jay Watson (Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1968).]
80 years ago today - Jul 30, 1946
[J. Reuben Clark]
Mark Petersen'Lunc'Told me of conversation yesterday with Pres. Smith in re News'etc. I asked Bro Petersen to get names of Communist group from in this area, if he could. ...
[The Diaries of J. Reuben Clark, 1933-1961, Abridged, Digital Edition, Salt Lake City, Utah 2015]
130 years ago today - Jul 30, 1896
[Brigham Young Jr.]
[M]et in Council in T[emple]. Question sprung by Pres[iden]t. [Wilford] Woodruff about Alonzo Hyde & John W. Young obtaining more money from Mrs Everend under false pretenses as her letter states. I felt that all men who go out from Zion do do business on their own account it must be understood, hereafter, that the church is not, nor the authorities are backing them. Pres[iden]t [George Q.] Cannon said Apostles have no right to enter into speculation to make money especially off the saints nor anywhere, but use their talent as directed for the good of Zion, not for personal agrandisement. ...
Met Bro[ther]. B[enjamin]. Cluff Jr., discussed employing gentile proffesor in B[righam]. Y[oung]. A[cademy]. Provo [Utah]. I opposed it; Presidency voted unanimously to employ him as Geology & civ[il] Eng[ineering]. were two most important studies, and we have no Latter day saint who can fill the position. I quoted from Deed of trust all beneficiaries of this reading must be children of L[atter]. D[ay]. S[aints]. and shall we employe gentiles to teach them. No matter. Bro[ther]. Jos[eph]. F. [Smith] said in consequence of Pres[iden]t. W[oodruff's]. Remarks I move that we employ this man, I did not vote. Bro[ther]. Jos[eph]. Moved to make the vote unanimous. I said I refrain from voting in principle, nothing against the man. Agreed with Bro[ther]. Cluff Jr. in his other recommendation and he went away satisfied. It is the first time I have failed to go with my leaders, I went my way sorrowfully. There is a growing disposition with the teachers to introduce into our 'Brigham Young Academy' the spirit of the world, the refined touches and whisperings of the 'Holy Spirit' are becoming less frequent and in my spirit I fear we are drifting further from God in that institution.
[Brigham Young Jr. Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
140 years ago today - Jul 30, 1886 (Friday)
The rock work on the Manti Temple was completed.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
80 years ago today - Jul 29, 1946
Joseph Fielding Smith of the Quorum of the Twelve writes to Belle S. Spafford, the Relief Society General President, and her counselors: "While the authorities of the Church have ruled that it is permissible, under certain conditions and with the approval of the priesthood, for sisters to wash and anoint other sisters, yet they feel that it is far better for us to follow the plan the Lord has given us and send for the Elders of the Church to come and administer to the sick and afflicted." This ends the practice of "washings and anointings" for women (usually preparatory to childbirth). A previous Relief Society President wrote of this ordinance, "this beautiful ordinance has always been with the Relief Society, and it is our earnest hope that we may continue to have that privilege, and up to the present time the Presidents of the Church have always allowed it to us.'
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
110 years ago today - Jul 29, 1916; Saturday
[Apostle Anthony Ivins]
Conference Yellowstone Stake. St. Anthony. Arrived 10-45. First speaker after arrival repeatedly refered to the Church as Mormondom. Two lady missionaries spoke. Viola Davis & Viola Howard. These girls made good remarks. Solo. I made brief remarks & Bro. [J. Golden] Kimball followed. Bro. & Sister Thomas & Sister [Elizabeth] Wilcox were there for R[elief] S[ociety].76 1111 1111 1111 111177 2. P.M. Second Counselor [Charles] Lloyd, Bro. Thomas, H. C. Larson. I talked on Mexico. Prest. Pond. Wed. p.m. holiday. Outside merchants close stores. 296-476 present. Crops poor. Worm on beet root. Relief S[ocie]ty.
[Anderson, Elizabeth Oberdick, editor, Cowboy Apostle: The Diaries of Anthony W. Ivins: 1875-1932, Signature Books, Salt Lake City in association with the Smith-Pettit Foundation (2013) - http://bit.ly/AnthonyIvins]
130 years ago today - Jul 29, 1896
The First Presidency today appropriated $300 for the Northern States Mission; $200 of which is to be expended in printing the Voice of Warning in cloth binding, 1600 copies, the stereo plates to be the property of the mission, and orders thereafter to be filled at five cents a copy, the balance of the appropriation,'$100 to be used by Elder Spencer for expenses in visiting the various Conferences.
[Journal History, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
55 years ago today - Jul 28, 1971
Wesley Walters and Fred Poffarl find Justice Neely's bill for trying the case of "Joseph Smith The Glass Looker Mar 20. 1826" in Bainbridge, New York 1826. It is among dead-storage documents in the basement of the county jail in Norwich, New York. Mormons had claimed the trial never took place. This find established that it had.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
165 years ago today - Jul 28, 1861 (Afternoon)
[Brigham Young]
When will the Saviour make his appearance in the midst of his people? When will the vail be taken away, that we may behold the glory of God? Can any of you answer these questions? Yes, readily, when I tell you. The redemption of Zion is the first step preparatory to the two last-named events. Just as soon as the Latter-day Saints are ready and prepared to return to Independence, Jackson County, in the State of Missouri, North America, just so soon will the voice of the Lord be heard, '"Arise now, Israel, and make your way to the centre Stake of Zion.'"... If we are not very careful, the earth will be cleansed from wickedness before we are prepared to take possession of it. ... When Joseph first revealed the land where the Saints should gather, a woman in Canada asked if we thought that Jackson County would be large enough to gather all the people that would want to go to Zion. I will answer the question really as it is. Zion will extend, eventually, all over this earth. There will be no nook or corner upon the earth but what will be in Zion. ... Millions will come and live in Zion when the laws of Zion reign predominant over creation; ... Will there be Methodists there? Yes; and they will have the privilege to worship a God without body, parts, and passions, just as they do now, if they choose to. ... ... the fight [of the Civil War] will continue until the earth is empty. Will it be over in six months or in three years? No; it will take years and years, and will never cease until the work is accomplished. There may be seasons that the fire will appear to be extinguished, and the first you know it will break out in another portion, and all is on fire again, and it will spread and continue until the land is emptied. Will they all be killed? No. I shall see the day when thousands will seek succour at the hands of this people. If you say, '"Husband, I shall leave you, if you take another wife,'" you had better leave now when you may stand a chance of getting another husband. ... Young men, prepare yourselves; for a greater responsibility will come upon you than you have ever dreamed of. Millions [of women] will seek to you for salvation. ...
[Journal of Discourses. Liverpool, England, 1853-86. 9:137-144, 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 - Tuesday, Jul 28, 1846.
Omaha Nation. About 9, the chief and some of the warriors of the Otoes came to the spring to see the Mormon chief. Wanted a beef. President Young shook hands with them and directed a beef to be given them and tears started in the Chief's eyes....
President Young asked Brother Martindale the cause of putting away his wife and taking another woman. Martindale said his trouble commenced from the time he began to investigate Mormonism. His wife began to oppose. She was not a believer and continued her opposition, etc., and spoke more than half an hour. President Young said however wrong Sister Martindale has been, it would not justify any man in taking another woman under color of the priesthood, and in opposition of the order the priesthood.
[Apostle Willard Richards Journal]
115 years ago today - Jul 27, 1911; Thursday
[Heber J. Grant]
I am going to try and get up to date with the several months I am behind and make an effort to stay up. There is nothing I dislike more than writing a record for my Journal. I like to work but do not like to sit down and write a record of what I have been doing no matter how brief it is.
[Heber J. Grant, Diary]
155 years ago today - Jul 27, 1871
Brigham Young: "The Garden of Eden was where Jackson Co. is now in Mo. & when Adam was driven out, he crossed the river into what is now Daviess Co. The City of Enoch stood where the Gulf of Mexico is now, but these things are not written."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
175 years ago today - Jul 27, 1851
Brother [Heber C.] Kimball addressed the meeting a part of the day. Among other remarks He said Jesus Christ was the first Born of the Father & He was the candidate & Elected to redeem the world. Lucipher set up as a candidate to run against Jesus Christ But He was overcome & thrust down to Hell with all that followed him. And we will have no more division Henceforth & forever in Israel. We will have but one candidate for office but No opposition. All will be Elected & proven. If a person is qualifyed to fill a greater station than He holds He will have a chance. The Presidency & Twelve will fill in Eternity those stations Appointed them. So with all men. But I expect to remain on this Earth untill I am able to create a world of my own & people it. The lord Has given us rich portions of the Earth to inherit. We have been driven from time to time from th[ere?]. We now inherit a goodly land the best land on the Earth for vegitation & it will be good for fruit & the people of the Earth will yet Come to us for fruit.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
130 years ago today - Jul 26, 1896
At the funeral of Apostle Abraham H. Cannon, President Wilford Woodruff speaks upon the topic of "the plurality of wives and to the plurality of families that men possess in this Church. It is a subject I have left alone as a general thing in all my observations and instructions before the public. . . . We have had a plurality of wives and families. The principle was introduced to this people by the revelation of God through the Prophet Joseph Smith." Cannon had taken a secret post-manifesto plural wife, with Woodruff's permission, a few months before his death.
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
130 years ago today - Sunday, Jul 26, 1896
It was stated by Moses Thatcher [Jr.] that he was adicted to the Morphine habbit and part of the time insane and that they must do something for him. S. Jepson, who had been more with Moses St. than any one else, endorsed the statement. It was finally agreed to get him if possible to go of his own free will to a sanatarium in California, if he refused to do so then to insist on sending him any way.
[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 - Jul 26, 1876
[Wilford Woodruff]
I went to the Endowment House & had 40 dead persons sealed to me. Joseph F Smith sealed 11, & D H Wells sealed 29 persons to me also 22 to other person Total 51. W Woodruff sealed 10 persons.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
80 years ago today - Jul 25, 1946
First counselor J. Reuben Clark speaks concerning embezzelment by a local bishop: "The Church could not use its funds for such a means as proposed to save any embarassment to the Church, and it could not and should not require the [local] brethren there to sacrifice unless their friendship for the [bishop's] family prompted them to do so on their own accord, and that he didn't worry about the resultant effect upon the Church if we did not attempt to cover up, but insisted upon justice."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
185 years ago today - Jul 25, 1841 (Sunday)
Wm. Yokum lost his leg by amputation, as the result of a wound received in the massacre at Haun's Mill.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
190 years ago today - (Mon) Jul 25, 1836
Joseph Smith and several leading Mormons (Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Oliver Cowdery, etc.) leave Kirtland to seek buried treasure in Salem, MA
[Broadhurst, Dale R., Mormon Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/morchrn2.htm]
25 years ago today - Jul 24, 2001
On Pioneer Day, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rules Utah's ban on alcohol advertisements "irrational," saying it might be causing irreparable harm to local liquor, brewing and publishing companies.
[Harward, Randy; Utah Brewing Timeline, Salt Lake City Weekly, Aug 24, 2011]
180 years ago today - Jul 24, 1846
[Wilford Woodruff]
Met in council with the Twelve in a tent on a High prairie ridge. Eleven of the quorum of the Twelve were present. We put on our robes And offered up our prayers to God. Conversed upon principle. Decided in council that no man has a right to Attend to the ordinance of sealing except the President of the Church or those who are directed by him so to do And that the ordinance should be confined to Zion or her stakes. This was the last Council we were expecting to hold Altogether before O. Hyde, P. P. Pratt & J Taylor took there departure for England.
[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 - Jul 24, 1846
Oliver Cowdery writes to his sister referring to polygamy as a "folly and "abomination.
[Hales, Brian C., Joseph Smith's Polygamy: History and Theology, 3 vols., Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2013 (www.JosephSmithsPolygamy.com)]
45 years ago today - Jul 23, 1981-Thursday
[Leonard Arrington]
The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve announced this morning that Elder Gordon B. Hinckley has been made a member of the First Presidency [3rd counselor] and that Elder Neal Maxwell has been added to the Quorum of the Twelve in his place. Presumably Elder Hinckley will handle many of the assignments which President [N. Eldon] Tanner has been handling. Apparently they want to retain President Tanner's name as a member of the Presidency. [Hinckly would be referred to as the "acting president of the church" in the press.]
This move will surely be beneficial to our Historical endeavors, particularly because Elder Hinckley is familiar with what we are doing, and because he is positive. He has a positive, favorable view on what we are doing.
[Confessions of a Mormon historian : the diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971-1997, Gary James Bergera, editor, Signature Books, 2018]
45 years ago today - Jul 23, 1981
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley is called as third counselor in the First Presidency due to the physical weakness of Presidents Spencer W. Kimball, N. Eldon Tanner, and Marion G. Romney. Hinckley is referred to in the press as the "acting president of the church" because Kimball, Tanner, and Romney are largely out of the public eye.
[Neal A. Maxwell is called as an apostle to replace Gordon B. Hinckley]
[Wikipedia, 20th Century (Mormonism), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century_(Mormonism)]
125 years ago today - Jul 23, 1901
The question of a wife being sealed to a man who had committed suicide was discussed by the Presidency and other brethren. President Joseph F. Smith said that in his opinion people who commit suicide should be given the full benefit of doubt as to their sanity before the doors of the Temple should be closed against them. Those who take their own life wilfully of course are barred.
[Journal History, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
90 years ago today - Jul 22, 1936
First counselor J. Reuben Clark recommends that the Communist candidate for U.S. president be denied use of the Salt Lake Tabernacle for a speech. He also recommends to "confidentially" advise Utah's governor to have Mormon members of the American Legion armed with "picks and ax-handles" to attend the Communist Party's rally in Liberty Park.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
130 years ago today - Jul 22, 1896
Presidents George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith (President [Wilford Woodruff] being at home unwell) had an interview with Elder Marriner W[ood]. Merrill, President of the Logan Temple. Some complaint had been made in regard to the salaries of some of the Temple hands, who had been paid only half their salary during the two months vacation. It was shown that the hands did not work at all on Saturdays, but they were provided with dinner at the Temple, and that the work on Mondays was very light. Taking all things into consideration, the salaries were ample for services rendered. President Cannon said that if the brethren employed in the Recorder's office could obtain more remunerative labor they should be at liberty to make the change, and he believed that lady scribes could be obtained at an much less salary than that now paid. The conclusion was that the brethren had no good grounds of complaint.
[Journal History, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
115 years ago today - Jul 21, 1911; Friday
[Charles W. Penrose]
Prof[essor] O[sborne]. J[ohn]. P[eter] Widtsoe came ... Had Talk with him on Man's Origin.
[Charles W. Penrose, Diary]
185 years ago today - Jul 21, 1841
The WARSAW SIGNAL in Warsaw, Illinois: "How MILITARY these people are becoming! Every thing they say or do seems to breathe the spirit of military tactics. Their PROPHET appears, on all great occasions, in his splendid regimental dress, signs his name Lieut. General, and more titles are to be found in the Nauvoo Legion, than any one book on military tactics can produce; and now comes a public journal, the name of which is composed of two military words. Truly FIGHTING must, be a part of the creed of these Saints!"
225 years ago today - Jul 21, 1801
Mary Fielding (Smith), later the wife of Hyrum Smith and mother of Joseph F. Smith, is born in Bedfordshire, England.
75 years ago today - Jul 20, 1951
Because the Korean War reduced the number of young elders being called as missionaries, the First Presidency issued a call for seventies to help fill the need. Many married men subsequently served full-time missions.
[Church News: Historical Chronology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, http://www.ldschurchnewsarchive.com/articles/58765/Historical-chronology-of-The-Church-of-Jesus-Christ-of-Latter-day-Saints.html]
90 years ago today - Jul 20, 1936
Chief of Salt Lake City's detectives begins sending to the First Presidency reports of surveillance and infiltration of the Communist Party in Utah.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
115 years ago today - Jul 20, 1911
[Charles W. Penrose]
"Bro[ther] [David O.] McKay home with a broken leg. Bro[ther] [George F.] Gibbs read his a/c [account] of matters connected with plural marriage of Abra[ha]m H Cannon [who had just died] and Miss Hamlin which was not ordered published but to be filed and preserved."
[Charles W. Penrose Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1910-1951, Privately Published, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010]
10 years ago today - 2016 July 19
A day before the Russian government passes anti-terror laws restricting most religious proselyting, the LDS Church promises to comply with these laws and designates missionaries serving in Russia as "volunteers".
[Wikipedia, 21st Century (Mormonism), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/21st_century_(Mormonism)]
150 years ago today - 1876. July 19
Joseph Fielding Smith: Born Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr., in Salt Lake City to Julina Lambson and future Church President Joseph F. Smith. He was the grand-nephew of Joseph Smith, grandson of Church Patriarch Hyrum Smith, nephew of Church Patriarch John Smith, brother of Apostle Hyrum Mack Smith, and father-in-law of Apostle Bruce R. McConkie.
[Van Wagoner, Richard and Walker, Steven C., A Book of Mormons, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
190 years ago today - Jul 19, 1836
A warrant for the arrest David W. Patten, Warren Parrish, and Wilford Woodruff is issued in Tennessee on the grounds that they have been "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." Charges dropped against Wilford since he wasn't present at the time. The other two are acquitted the next day.
[Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]
90 years ago today - Jul 18, 1936
A Deseret News Church Section photograph of an LDS youth conference in Germany with Apostle Joseph F. Merrill in front of the Swastika banner of the Nazi Party. This is an intentional association of visual symbols, since the 7 Aug. 1937 issue also prints a photograph of church president Heber J. Grant seated in front of a Swastika banner at an LDS meeting in Frankfurt.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
125 years ago today - Thursday, Jul 18, 1901
Remarks, Pres. Lorenzo Snow. ... We were born in the other life, were born children to the Lord there. In the contemplation of what we shall be in the spirit world, we should be very happy. We should be careful to do right that our consciences may not trouble us. He felt to say "God bless you all."
[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]
180 years ago today - Saturday, Jul 18, 1846.
President Young said the captains [of the Mormon Battalion] must be fathers to their companies, and in their companies manage the whole affair by the power of the priesthood, and you will have power to preserve your lives and the lives of their companies and escape many difficulties. [He] would not be afraid to pledge his right hand that every man will return alive if they will go in the name of the Lord and pray every morning and evening in every tent. ... All the officers but three had been in the temple. Let no man be without his undergarment, and always wear a coat or vest. Keep neat and clean, teach them gentility, civility, no swearing. It must not be admitted. Insult no man. Have no conversation with the Missourians, Mexicans, or any class of people. Preach only where people want it, and then by wise men.
Impose not your principles on any people. Take your Bibles, Books of Mormon. Burn up cards. Let the officers regulate all the dances. If you come home and say the captains have managed all dancing and it will all be right to dance, etc. Card playing cannot be admitted. ... Don't lay out your money for bacon and provision on credit for your families. Elder Kimball ... God will lead you in paths and before the people, that you will get as great a name as any people since the days of Moses. Hold your tongues and mind your own business. If you are sick, you have the privilege of calling the elders and rebuking all manner of disease.
... President Young spoke ... You will have no fighting to do. Go about your business. We shall go in the Great Basin where [it] is the place to build temples. ...
[Apostle Willard Richards Journal]
55 years ago today - Jul 17, 1971
The announcement that Relief Society dues would be discontinued and all assets turned over to the appropriate Priesthood officers. Relief Society assets were turned over to the Church (estimated value at over two million dollars, equal to more then seven million 2012 dollars).
[Correlation Timeline, Compiled by Lisle Brown]
180 years ago today - Jul 17, 1846
[Hosea Stout]
There was a meeting at Taylors camp today at which there was a number of Bishops appointed to look to the families of the [Mormon Battalion] soldiers
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
195 years ago today - Jul 17, 1831
Revelation (west of Independence) for Oliver Cowdery, W. W. Phelps, Joseph Coe, and Ziba Peterson as they were about to commence a mission to Native Americans in Missouri, as recalled by W. W. Phelps in 1861: "For it is my will, that in time, ye should take unto you wives of the Lamanites and Nephites, that their posterity may become white, delightsome and Just, for even now their females are more virtuous than the gentiles." Since three of the four were already married, and the fourth--Ziba Peterson--would marry Rebecca Hooper within a month--this passage is sometimes used as an argument that plural marriage was envisioned as early as 1831.
Phelps recorded the revelation, apparently from memory,
Ezra Booth refers to this revelation in 1831. P Ezra Booth Letters (8-9)
[Kenney, Scott, Saints Without Halos, "Mormon History 1830-1844," http://web.archive.org/web/20120805163534/saintswithouthalos.com/dirs/d_c.phtml]
180 years ago today - Thursday, Jul 16, 1846.
By O. Hyde, all present voted that E. T. Benson be ordained an apostle. At 5, the Quorum kneeled before the Lord in prayer, led by President Young, then arose and laid their hands on Ezra T. Benson, and ordained him an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with all the keys and power and blessings pertaining to the apostleship in the Church and kingdom of God in these last days, and take the crown of him who has fallen from the Quorum of the Twelve (J. E. Page)...
Before council adjourned, papers were received from Captain Allen and the chiefs and braves of the Pottawattamie [Pottawatamie] nation, giving permission for the Mormons to stop on Indian lands.
[Willard Richards Journal]
180 years ago today - Jul 16, 1846
On 16 July 1846 some 543 men enlisted in the Mormon Battalion. From among these men Brigham Young selected the commissioned officers... Also accompanying the battalion were approximately thirty-three women, twenty of whom served as laundresses, and fifty-one children.
[Utah History Encyclopedia: Mormon Battalion, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]
180 years ago today - 16 July 1846
[Brigham Young]
Mormon Battalion Speech: "Now, brethern you are going as soldiers at your country's call. You will travel in a foreign land, in an enemy's country; and if you will live your religion, [etc...] if you obey this counsel, attending to your prayers to the Lord, I promise you in the name of the Lord God of Israel that not one should of you shall fall by the hands of the enemy. You will pass over battlefields; battles will be fought in your front and in your rear, on your right hand and on your left, and your enemies shall flee before you. Your names shall be held in honorable remembrance to the latest generation."
[Discourses of Brigham Young]
180 years ago today - Wednesday, Jul 15, 1846.
[Brigham Young said] the remainder of the 12 to get the soldiers together and instruct them how to behave, etc., on their expedition, wear their temple garments, and prove themselves the best soldiers, and instruct the other brethren con [?] in carrying out the decisions of the council of yesterday. Lots were cast between O. Hyde, P. P. Pratt and J. Taylor, which two should go to England, and the lot fell on Brothers Hyde and Taylor to go. "Soldiers can tarry and go to work when they are disbanded, and the next temple should be built in the Rocky Mountains," and he wanted the Twelve and the old brethren to live in the mountains where the temple is to be, and where the brethren will have to come to get their endowments.
President Young said he would prophecy that the time would come when some one of the Twelve, or a high priest, would come up and say can't we have a temple at Vancouver Island, or at California, etc., etc., but it is wisdom to unite all our forces to build one house in the mountains.
[Willard Richards Journal]
185 years ago today - Jul 15, 1841
TIMES and SEASONS prints a "Dialogue on Mormonism" which presents LDS doctrine and claims in dialogue form. Speaking of the Book of Mormon peoples: "Mr. M. You will observe by this account Mr. R. that this people who landed here were Jews, this you know agrees with the idea, which many learned men have had, that the Indians are descendants of the Jews. Mr. R. I am aware that this idea is generally entertained among the learned."
195 years ago today - Mid-July 1831
Joseph's party arrives in Independence, Mo. There is a glorious reunion with missionaries there. Jackson County population at this time is less than 3,000, and land costs $1.25 per acre. Joseph records that the people are nearly a century behind the times; Parley Pratt notes that they are still living in skins and very primitive conditions. Because of the primitive land, Joseph wonders how Zion can ever be built in her glory in such a place, and receives D&C 57. The first Sunday after their arrival, W. W. Phelps preaches at the western boundary of the United States to a congregation made up of all races and peoples. Two are baptized.
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology; History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (7 volumes) 1:188-89.]
150 years ago today - Jul 14, 1876
Sidney Rigdon dies; now believed to have had Bipolar Affective Disorder, or Manic-Depressive Illness.
[Mormon Chronology, N. R. Tidd, http://www.exmormon.org/mhistory.html]
165 years ago today - Jul 14, 1861 (Afternoon)
[Brigham Young]
These [preexistent] intelligent beings that I now see, that I behold as we say with the natural eye, Br. Kimball would call it the natural eye, the eye of the spirit, very well, the eye that God has given me and the power of sight: How long is it since they were in chaos? all that pertains to man independent of the intelligence that dwells within his body, independent of that spirit of life, light and intelligence? I see the faces of these, my brethren and sisters. ...
Jesus Christ came here because his Father came here and he was begotten of the Father, and he was born of the virgin Mary as my mother bore me and as my father begot me and as you begot your children. What, is it possible that the Father of Heights, the Father of our spirits, could reduce himself and come forth like a man [Adam?]? Yes, he was once a man like you and I are and was once on an earth like this, passed through the ordeal you and I pass through. He had his father and his mother and he has been exalted through his faithfulness, and he is become Lord of all. He is the God pertaining to this earth. He is our father. He begot our spirits in the spirit world. ...
We will go and build up temples. We started a temple here. Shall we finish it? I don't know whether we shall or not before we go back to Jackson County, but it will be finished by and bye, and we will enter into this temple and receive the ordinances for the just.
[The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
205 years ago today - Jul 14, 1821-5 February 1822
The second payment on the Smiths' Farmington (Manchester) farm come due . Lucy says there were three payments, that the first was broken up into several installments and that her family had "made nearly all of the first payment" in one year but that "the second payment was now coming due and no means as yet of meeting it." She further states that Alvin left home to find work and raise "the second payment and the remainder of the first" and returned with "the necessary amount of money for all except the last payment".
[Vogel, Dan, Early Mormon Documents, Appendix B: Chronology, 1771-1831, http://amzn.to/T5nY8w]
110 years ago today - Jul 13, 1916
The formation of the Corporation of the Presiding Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a corporatiom sole, which was formed to have equal control of certain property owned by the Church. From 1890 until this date most Church property was held by the local leaders, which was subsequently transferred to the Presiding Bishop.
[Correlation Timeline, Compiled by Lisle Brown]
180 years ago today - Jul 13, 1846
This evening Elder O. Hyde who had moved over the river to the main camp there, came here to his camp and called a meeting and spoke at length to them on the law of adoption. The first sermon I ever heard publickly. He desired all who felt willing to do so to give him a pledge to come into his kingdom when the ordinance could be attended to but wished all to select the man whom they chose &c
[Diaries of Hosea Stout]
180 years ago today - Jul 13, 1846
[Brigham Young]
"The business to be laid before you today is, the call upon us from the War department to furnish five hundred volunteers for the army of the West to march to California [Mormon Battalion]."
[Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1846- 1847. Elden J. Watson, ed. Salt Lake City: Smith Secretarial Service, 1971.:234-238, in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]
255 years ago today - Jul 12, 1771
Joseph Smith, Sr., is born at Topsfield, Mass.July 8, 1775Lucy Mack Smith is born at Gilsum, N. H.Jan. 24, 1796. Lucy Mack and Joseph Smith, Sr., are married.About 1797. The first son of Lucy and Joseph Smith, Sr., is born and dies shortly there after.
[Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]
125 years ago today - Jul 11, 1901
At meeting of First presidency and Twelve "[John Henry Smith] Had devoted considerable thought during the night to the question of selling beer at Saltair and wondered if we were not inclined to take rather an extreme view of the case-whether, if we cut off the privilege entirely, we were not to some extent invading the rights of the Latter-day Saints. The revelation on the Word of Wisdom speaks of barley for mild drinks [D&C 89:17]. It is a question that demands serious thought. Have we taken an extreme view of the word of God? Where can we strike the limit, where can we reach the spirit of the Word of Wisdom? (Apostle Heber J. Grant asked Apostle Smith if beer that is intoxicating is to be considered a mild drink. The revelation, he said, forbids the use of strong drink.) Apostle Smith continued and said that the German beer was very light and mild and would not intoxicate, though he conceded that the beer of the United States is of a very different character and will cause drunkenness. Apostle Brigham Young [Jr Spoke]. Topics treated[:] Said that he believed the temperance movement among our people a proper movement. If we give an inch, the people and the world will take advantage of it-and drunkenness is the crying evil of the age. The Word of Wisdom! "Who can cut it off and patch it on for me?" Each must be judge for himself. Many times water, he said, would distress him, while a little Danish beer would bring a feeling of comfort and ease. However, he believed in the Word of Wisdom as we teach it. As to the matter of selling liquor, said that he was simply disgusted with what he saw at Saltair on the occasion of the "old folks" excursion. He came across a lot of old men-members of the church-smoking old pipes and guzzling beer." First Presidency and apostles agree that Danish beer is not harmful or in violation of Word of Wisdom and release an official statement to the same affect. President Lorenzo Snow tells the Quorum of Apostles, "Some of the brethren are worrying about the matter, and feel that they ought to have other wives. Brethren do not worry; you will lose nothing.... Brethren, don't worry about these things, and if you don-t happen to secure the means you would like, don-t feel disappointed." In these remarks, President Snow referrs specifically to Heber J. Grant who concluds that these instructions to the entire Quorum repealed the private authorization to take a plural wife the Church president had given him in May; he "dropped the matter" and left within a few days for Japan."
165 years ago today - Jul 11, 1861
The President [Brigham Young] observed it would not do for the northern and Southern party to fight too much at once [IE civil war]. The Lord used wisdom to bring about his purposes, and they were frequently he waits until the wrath of man is ready, England is to have a hand in the struggle with the north and South, and England will be slow in her movements. -- Salt Lake City
[Brigham Young Office Journals, in 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 - Jul 11, 1856
[Wilford Woodruff]
I called upon President Young. Read a peace of History on Book E-1 page 1681-2 concerning Hyram leading this Church & tracing the aaronic Priesthood. It was in detached sentences. President Young thought it was not essential to be inserted in the History & had better be omitted. He spoke of the peace of History published in the News Vol VI No 18 Concerning Josephs words [prophecy] upon South Carolinia. He wished it not published.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
65 years ago today - Jul 10, 1961
Dr. Romney presented to the Education Committee its revised recommendations. It was proposed to adopt a system of correlation that would permit the reorganization of Church curriculum based on age group levels, which would coordinate not only the curriculum, but activities and other programs of the several age groups. To accomplish the goal, it was recommended that "a general All-Church Coordinating Council (ACCC) should be formed," under whose direction three age group committees (children, youth, and adults) would coordinate the activities of the groups through the existing priesthood and Auxiliary organizations. This recommendation was approved. Elder Lee, subsequently, was appointed the chairman of the new All-Church Coordinating Council.
[Correlation Timeline, Compiled by Lisle Brown]
80 years ago today - Jul 10, 1946
President George Albert Smith writes in his diary: "Met in office with Council of Presidency & Twelve .... Jos Patriarch case considered. Bad situation. Am heartsick." President Smith is referring to Presiding Patriarch Joseph Fielding Smith [Not the Apostle of the same name] and to the recent discovery of his homosexual activities. Forty-seven-year-old Patriarch Smith is "released due to ill health" the following Oct.
85 years ago today - Jul 10, 1941
Regarding military service in WWII, the First Presidency says "The Church is and must be against war . . . but the Church membership are citizens or subjects of sovereignties over which the Church has no control.
[1941-July 10-Original circular letter, L.D.S. Church Archives, in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]
135 years ago today - Jul 9, 1891
John W. Taylor suggested that the church finances could be increased, by paying Church agents a percentage on all tithings remitted to the head office, instead of all received. Thus there would be an incentive to diligent effort in order to cash the products received at the different offices.
[Abraham H. Cannon (Author), Edward Leo Lyman (Editor), Candid Insights of a Mormon Apostle: The Diaries of Abraham H. Cannon, 1889-1895, Signature Books]
165 years ago today - Jul 9, 1861
The Prest [Brigham Young] joined and said he and Carrington were Vermonters, and that they were both for the Constitution, but each earnestly prayed for the success of both North & South. At the request of the President Br[other] Carrington read the extract from a newspaper Pres[ident] Young remarked to H.C. Kimball who had come in that Old Abe the President of the U.S. has it in his mind to pitch in to us when he had got through with the South. President Kimball observed that men that he had met with whether they had little or much of the Spirit of God were in favor of the South. Pres[ident] Young, as of [the] opinion the sympathy of the people for the South was in case they should be whipped, and the Northern party remain in power he thought they wanted the War to go that both parties might be used up...Br[other] H.C. Kimball told the vision that he saw on the night Joseph Smith obtained the plates. He described the Soldiers in the sky with their accoutrements on. He said Father Young was with him and he clapped his hands and rejoiced saying that it was a sign that the Coming of the Son of Man was nigh. Br[other] Heber said the whole world would be involved in this war. -- Salt Lake City
[Brigham Young Office Journals, 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 - Jul 9, 1841
Joseph Smith receives a revelation (later section 126 of D&C) at Brigham Young's house: "Dear and well-beloved brother Brigham Young, verily thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant Brigham, it is no more required at your hand to leave your family as in times past, for your offering is acceptable to me; I have seen your labour and toil in journeyings for my name. I therefore command you to send my word abroad, and take special care of your family from this time, henceforth, and forever. Amen." However, Young is called to leave his family and go on a mission three years later.
130 years ago today - Jul 8, 1896; Wednesday
[Heber J. Grant]
At 10 am attended a meeting of the Apostles in the Temple. Pres[iden]t Lorenzo Snow offered the opening prayer, and he very earnestly supplicated the Lord in behalf of Apostle Moses Thatcher. John Henry Smith said that he did not look on him the same as a man who had become addicted to the use of liquor to the extent that he was not responsible for his actions. Bro[ther] Moses had been addicted to the use of morphine.
[Heber J. Grant, Diary]
250 years ago today - 1776. July 8
Lucy Mack Smith: Born in Gilsum, New Hampshire. In 1796 she married Joseph Smith; they had eleven children: Alvin (1798-1823), Hyrum (1800-1844), Sophronia (1803-?), Joseph (1805-1844), Samuel Harrison (1808-1844), Ephraim (1810-1810), William (1811-1894), Catherine (1812-1900), Don Carlos (1816-1841), and Lucy (1824-1882). Their first child, an unnamed daughter, died shortly after birth in 1797.
[Van Wagoner, Richard and Walker, Steven C., A Book of Mormons, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
170 years ago today - Jul 08, 1856
The Saints who make up the Martin handcart company arrive at Iowa City to outfit themselves for their journey west.
125 years ago today - Jul 7, 1901
Lorenzo Snow presides at the Salt Lake temple's monthly fast meeting, "and Sister Lillie T. Freeze sang in tongues."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database (http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase)]]
125 years ago today - Jul 7, 1901
[In Lewiston, Utah:] Apostle M[arriner]. W[ood]. Merrill was not present tho[ugh], he knew I would be there. He failed to come nor send word why he did not come. This is just as he has treated me ever since I rendered a decision in political case wherein he was in a clash with others of his brethren in the days of President [Wilford] Woodruff.
[Brigham Young Jr., Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
130 years ago today - Jul 7, 1896; Tuesday
Brigham Young [Jr.] ... spoke of the Gardo House incident, when Moses Thatcher accused George Q. Cannon with dishonesty, and threatened a lawsuit. He referred to the fact that Moses had never been called to account for thus wrongfully accusing one of his brethren, and wondered if we had not done wrong in this and other similar cases, in not demanding from Bro[ther] Moses, that he make restitution. He thought it was mistaken sympathy to allow men to do wrong, and not taking prompt action to require them to make proper restitution.
[Heber J. Grant, Diary]
100 years ago today - Jul 06, 1926
Neal A. Maxwell, later the Church commissioner of education and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, is born in Salt Lake City, Utah.
135 years ago today - Jul 6, 1891
[Heber J. Grant]
I have unbound faith in the success of the business and I should be delighted to see the benefits go to the Church. I feel sure that the profits will be at least twenty five percent and as the Church can get the money for not more than eight percent there will be a good margin of profit for them ... I shall be pleased and thankful when the Church has more funds than it has at the present [which was coping with a recession, as well as debt due to confiscated properties by the government].
[The Diaries of Heber J. Grant, 1880-1945, Abridged, Digital Edition Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015]
135 years ago today - Jul 6, 1891 (Monday)
A Democratic convention, held in Salt Lake City, placed the first Democratic ticket for Salt Lake County officers in the field, after the division of the People's Party [controlled by the church] on party lines.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
155 years ago today - Jul 5, 1871
Presidt Young [in Soda Springs] got a telegraph [-] from presidt Wells that all right in the Celebration of the 4. Our Enemies were Defeated & we triumped.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
165 years ago today - Jul 5, 1861
Brigham Young's office journal records: "President Young mentioned that he enjoyed his dancing last evening it caused him to perspire, he said it rested his mind and did him good, and relieved him from his onerous every day duties."
170 years ago today - Jul 5, 1856
George A. Smith writes an obituary of Lucy Mack Smith for 'The Mormon', then being published in New York City, in which he praises Lucy and criticizes her book as inaccurate.
[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]
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]
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]