110 years ago today - Dec 9, 1904; Friday

[Rudger Clawson] On Friday, I was in meeting with the Presidency and Twelve all day on a matter that it would not be wise to name in my journal. [Probably related to the Smoot hearings]

[Source: Rudger Clawson, Diary]

115 years ago today - Saturday, Dec 9, 1899

[Apostle Rudger Clawson] Brigham City. Clear and cool, with snow during the night. Upon taking up the morning paper, I read a notice of the death of President Franklin D. Richards, president of the Twelve Apostles. He died at 12 o'clock last night. He was a great and good man and will be deeply mourned by Israel.

[Source: 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 - Tuesday, Dec 9, 1884

[Apostle John Henry Smith] I mailed the Sheffield Daily Telegraph to all of Utah papers and my wives. I weighed on one pair of scales tonight 222 lbs., on another pair 229 lbs.

[Source: 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]

155 years ago today - Dec 9, 1859

G A. Smith related a Circumstance of a Mr Woodson who has got possession of the Land upon which the Temple Block stands in Jackson Co Missouri. In 1857 Ferrymore Little was in Jackson Co & Mr Woodson said to him I have heard that your people expected to return to this Country and Build a Temple on the Temple Block on my farm. Brother Little Answered to be sure they do. Woodson said you are a Hell of a set. G.A.S. also said He got a Statement from Lewis Bidemon that the people of the towns of Warsaw Carthage p[untoosee?] & Appanoose made up a subscription of $500 & paid it to Joseph Agnoe for Burning the Temple and He went & burnt it for that sum of money.

[Source: 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 - Dec 9, 1849

Sunday School organized by Richard Ballantyne.

[Source: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Chronology of Church History, http://scriptures../ldsorg.org/chchrono/contents]

180 years ago today - Dec 9, 1834

Patriarchal Blessing of Joseph Smith, Jr., given by Joseph Smith, Sr. stated "thou shalt stand on Mount Zion when the tribes of Jacob come shouting from the north, and with thy brethren, the sons of Ephraim, crown them in the name of Jesus Christ: Thou shalt see thy Redeemer come in the clouds of heaven

[Source: Marquardt, H. Michael, "Excerpts from a few Patriarchal Blessings given by Joseph Smith, Sr." http://www.xmission.com/~research/about/patb2.htm]

180 years ago today - Dec 9, 1834

At a family blessing meeting, Joseph Sr. refers to his and Lucy's firstborn dead son (Lucy later remembered this child as a daughter) and at least one occasion when he had been intoxicated. He pronounces patriarchal blessings on members of the family, recorded by Oliver Cowdery.

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

180 years ago today - Dec 9, 1834

"Joseph Smith, Senior, a Patriarch, and President of the high Priesthood" gives his first patriarchal blessings as an ordained patriarch to his adult children.

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

185 years ago today - Dec 9, 1829

Abner Cole's Palmyra Reflector announces that it will publish selections from the Book of Mormon in future editions . The Reflector was an anonymously published paper that made fun of local issues. Its debut edition appeared on 2 September 1829.

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

105 years ago today - Dec 8, 1909; Wednesday

[George F. Gibbs] Word has come to this office, from quite a reliable source, to the effect that your counselor, Brother Borkman, has the idea that plural marriages are still being solemnized by and with the sanction of the authorities of the Church, and that in this understanding he is paying his addresses to a young woman with a view to marriage, provided he can get a competent person to perform the marriage ceremony. It is also being told that you are encouraging Brother Borkman in the idea ... You are reported to have said other things as well along this line, going to convey the idea that you knew personally of such things, and could enumerate a very large number of such marriages since President [Wilford] Woodruff's Manifesto.

I am instructed to say to you that no plural marriage can be

entered into by and with the sanction of Church authority, and that any person found doing so will be dealt with on his fellowship in the Church. This applies also to the party solemnizing a plural marriage, and you are requested by the presidency to so inform Brother Borkman, and his wife as well.

[Source: George F. Gibbs, letter to Bishop Lorin A. Merrill, Kenney Papers, original in LDS Archives]

110 years ago today - Dec 8, 1904

Those conducting the Smoot hearing sought to have the L.D.S. Church produce temple records and even records of the temple ceremonies. [In a First Presidency letter] John Nicholson, Temple recorder, is permitted to take the records of temple marriage with him to Washington, but with instructions to produce them only if failure to do so would place him in contempt before the Senate Committee.

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

110 years ago today - Dec 8, 1904; Thursday

[Apostle Marriner Merrill] I went to Logan [Utah] to see about Temple affairs as I was Summoned to Washington [D.C.] on Tues[day] Morninging [sic] at 7.30 AM Dec[ember] 6th by US Marshal Donehue to go to the above City and take with Me all Temple Records. of course I am not well enough to go but sent three (3) Doctors Certificates in stead of going &c.

[Source: Marriner Wood Merrill, Diary]

115 years ago today - Dec 8, 1899; Friday

Brother [Thomas] Taylor complained now, as he has complaind before, and that bitterly, that he had on two former occasions arranged to sell this property, but had been defeated by the Church, to whom the property was mortgaged. In answer to this he was told that there was no desire to hamper him or prevent him from disposing of his property, and in order to show this President Snow now offered to extend the mortgage long enough to enable him to sell...

[Source: First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]

125 years ago today - Dec 8, 1889

[President Wilford Woodruff] 8 Sunday I spent the day at the House reading & writing. We are passing through a strange portion of our History. The whole Nation seems to be united against me us. Judge Anderson has decided not to receive any Mormons to Citizenship. The whole Country is stired up against us.

[Source: 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 - Dec 8, 1889

[Apostle Abraham H. Cannon] Father briefly mentioned two cases with which he was familiar where men were killed in a violent way for the reason, as he believed, that they took the name of God in vain and were very profane.

[Source: Diary of Apostle Abraham H. Cannon, http://www.amazon.com/Apostles-Record-Journals-Abraham-1889-1896/dp/B000MFD1K4]

175 years ago today - Dec 8, 1839

... We have heard it rumored about, that some at least, and probably many, are making their calculations to remove back to Kirtland next season.

Now brethren, this being the case, we advise you to abandon such an idea; yea, we warn you, in the name of the Lord, not to remove back there, unless you are counseled so to do by the First Presidency, and the High Council of Nauvoo.

[Source: Times and Seasons. Vol. 1, p. 29., 1839-December 8-DHC 4:45 as quoted in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]

60 years ago today - Dec 7, 1954

Mark William Hofmann born in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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

65 years ago today - Dec 7, 1949

[George F. Richards diary, Dec. 7, 1949] I went to the temple at 11:00 a.m. and assisted Elder Jos[eph] Fielding Smith, administered Seconds [second anointings] to Preston D. Richards and wife Barbara, and the members of [the] Emigration Stake Presidency and their wives.

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

70 years ago today - Dec 7, 1944

President McKay at my desk 4:00 to 4:15 p.m. discussing contract with Preston Nibley regarding writing and compensation to Brother Nibley for 'Joseph Smith the Prophet.' We are to accept Brother Nibley's checks covering authors royalty of 10% until $5,775 is paid, said amount having been advanced.

[Source: Frank Evans 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]

115 years ago today - Dec 7, 1899

[Apostle Heber J. Grant] [At meeting of Presidency and Apostles] The question had been presented whether it was the proper thing for [unruly apostle] Moses Thatcher to speak at conjoint meetings of the Mutual Improvement Associations President Joseph F. Smith answered "No". This answer was approved.

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