130 years ago today - Apr 9, 1885 (Thursday)

The Tennessee legislature passed a law, forbidding the teaching of polygamy in that State.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

130 years ago today - Apr 9, 1885 (Thursday)

The Saints encamped on the Casas Grandes river, Mexico, were ordered to leave the State of Chihuahua, in fifteen days.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

150 years ago today - Apr 9, 1865

The Black Hawk Indian War was the longest and most destructive conflict between pioneer immigrants and Native Americans in Utah History. The traditional date of the war's commencement is 9 April 1865 but tensions had been mounting for years. On that date bad feelings were transformed into violence when a handful of Utes and Mormon frontiersmen met in Manti, Sanpete County, to settle a dispute over some cattle killed and consumed by starving Indians. An irritated (and apparently inebriated) Mormon lost his temper and violently jerked a young chieftain from his horse. The insulted Indian delegation, which included a dynamic young Ute named Black Hawk, abruptly left, promising retaliation. The threats were not idle - for over the course of the next few days Black Hawk and other Utes killed five Mormons and escaped to the mountains with hundreds of stolen cattle. Naturally, scores of hungry warriors and their families flocked to eat "Mormon beef" and to support Black Hawk, who was suddenly hailed as a war chief.

[Source: Utah History Encyclopedia: Black Hawk War, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]

160 years ago today - Apr 9, 1855

Appointed attorney to collect the perpetual Emmigrating Fund debts of all those who are about to leave the Territory without paying and commenced several suits immediately

There are a number who when they are brought from the old Country here on the avails of this Fund endeavor to leave without paying, forgetting the kind aid recieved to bring them from bondage to this land of liberty

[Source: Diaries of Hosea Stout]

170 years ago today - Apr 9, 1845

Lorenzo Snow returns to Nauvoo and brings tithing he has collected consisting of money and in-kind donations including a six-pound cannon.

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

175 years ago today - Apr 9, 1840

[Wilford Woodruff] I preached at Wm. Simons at H[ans?] Cross to a vast mass of human beings & not a quarter of the people could not get in to the House, & their was many of the baser sort present, & the house was much disturbed by the crouding of the people. The people did not break up for several hours.

Many wished to be Baptized but could not because of the croud & mob. But some wishing to be baptized notwithstanding the persecution I repared to the pool about 12 oclock at night which was surrounded by a desperate Mob of the gentiles. I went down into the water & Baptized 5 persons in the midst of a shower of stones flung at me by the mob, & while they were pelting my Body with stones one of which hit me in the top of my head which nearly knocked me down into the water with the man that I was Baptizing but the Lord saved me from falling & I continued untill I had closed my Baptizing & my mind was stayed on God.

[Source: 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 - Apr 9, 1830

W. W. Phelps, an anti-Masonic newspaper publisher, buys a Book of Mormon. He later meets Joseph, determines to join the Church, is thrown into prison by some Presbyterian traders to keep him from it, and is finally baptized a year later.

[Source: Conkling, Christopher J., Joseph Smith Chronology]

115 years ago today - Apr 8, 1900; Sunday

[Brigham Young Jr.] By reason of being senior apostle in the Quorum I act as president but there has not been the slightest acknowledgement of my presidency in any shape by the Presidency. After I had gone to bed a [Salt Lake] Tribune Reporter got into the house and wanted to interview me on this point. I would not see him and sent word subject could not be discussed.

[Source: Brigham Young Jr., Diary]

115 years ago today - Sunday, Apr 8, 1900

Pres. Cannon said that in case Brother Reed Smoot is ordained an apostle, it is his privilege to see the Lord Jesus, if he so desires and shall live for it, that he may indeed become a special witness of Jesus. This privilege belongs to the apostleship. ...

[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]

115 years ago today - Apr 8, 1900; Sunday

Apostle Rudger Clawson. ... Record of non tithe payers is kept as never before. It shows--High Priests not converted. Elder had not given the question of tithing sufficient thought to understand neces- sity. Seventies--Did not believe in it. High Priest whose wife paid tithing but he paid nothing. Teacher did not believe in tithing or a God. Elder could not afford to pay tithing. Seventy[.] Don't like the bishop. Elder full of good intentions for the future. 12 tithe payers, Bishop said--... One bishop refused to receive tithing from a person because of poverty. What bishop would do such a thing & thus deprive a person from having their names written in the book of the Law of the Lord. ...

[Source: 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]

125 years ago today - Apr 8, 1890

I had my father adopted to the prophet Joseph Smith. I would have been sealed to my father, but as my sisters who were in the church were not present, it was thought best to postpone this work. I received my second anointing[,] also my wife Eliza did. She also acted for my wife Mary Campbell in having her second anointing.

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

150 years ago today - Apr 8, 1865 (Morning, Conference)

[Brigham Young] He had a revelation to give concerning the lawyers that counsel for lucre and for gain, and that lead men into litigation for the purpose of aggrandizing themselves, which was that they would lose the spirit of the gospel and go to hell for their conduct in the midst of Latter-day Saints, in stirring up trouble and striving to clear the guilty for the sake of reward.

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

150 years ago today - Apr 8, 1865 (Afternoon, Conference)

President Brigham Young said he would give the mind and will of the Lord concerning the Latter-day Saints in their temporal life, which was that they should manufacture their own clothing, just as fast as they possibly can. ... he said they [the Jews] never will believe until Jesus comes again, and preaching will have no more effect upon them than it will upon the color of the descendants of Cain. When all the rest of Adam's posterity shall be redeemed, then, and not till then will the children of Cain receive the promised blessing of restoration.

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

155 years ago today - Apr 8, 1860

President Brigham Young than addressed the Bishop in a vary interesting manner Concerning there office. ... Among his remarks He said that when a Bishop fully magnified his office they would preside over there wards as a man does over his family. The Bishop would dictate to every man woman & Child what they should [do]. No one shall be Idle but all should labor. The Bishop would then dictate to every man what he should raise and how much and every one should be set to work and when any one in the ward should have bread all should have it. Well says the poor shiftless man that never earned a home or a pair of shoes I would like that doctrine for then I would have a house as Big as Brigham Young. No you would not until you Earned it. In speaking of Building up the Center stake he said I now the Lord will not keep us out of Jackson County one day longer than we are prepared and the only fears I have had in the matter is that the Lord will get tired of waiting for us to get ready and will say I will wait no longer and if there is not more than five ready to go to Zion let them go & build it up. I do not think there is any prepared to go yet. I do not think that I am prepared yet to lay the Corner stone at the New Jerusalem, But I mean to prepare myself as fast as I Can.

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

160 years ago today - Apr 8, 1855 (Evening, Conference)

[General Conference] Prest. Young asked: Is there a person called that has not been baptized? Joseph Hollingshead, is it not time that your were baptized, ordained, and sent on a mission? ... By and by they [Chief Walker & his tribe] will be the Lord's battle ax in good earnest'- ... Those [missionaries] who go among the Pottawatomies must marry or they will be driven out by the Indian Agent

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

160 years ago today - Apr 8, 1855 (Afternoon, Conference)

[Brigham Young] When hands were laid upon a gentile to impart the Holy Ghost it would produce spasms, and if a gentile would continue faithful his blood would be changed and become the seed of and blood of Abraham, sometimes in one family 6 persons would be gentiles, and one in the family would be of Israel, the blood having been gathered in into that one from their progenitors.

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

160 years ago today - Apr 8, 1855 (Afternoon, Conference)

[Brigham Young] If the '"old fogies'" take a little tobacco, a little whisky, or a little tea and coffee, we wish you boys to let it alone, and let those have it who have long been accustomed to its use. It is far better for these my brethren, who are young and healthy, to avoid every injurious habit. There are a great many boys here who are in the habit of chewing tobacco, they should stop it, and take no more, they are better without it. Some may turn round and say, '"Father, do you think so?'" Yes, let the old folks have it, but you young, smart gentlemen, let it alone.

[Source: Journal of Discourses 2:266-271 as quoted in The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Ed. Richard S. Van Wagoner, Smith-Pettit Foundation, Salt Lake City (2009), http://bit.ly/BY-discourses]

170 years ago today - Apr 8, 1845

Illinois governor Thomas Ford writes to Brigham Young advising him on what to do after the Illinois Legislature had revoked Nauvoo's city charter (a move Ford opposed). He advises separating Nauvoo into a series of separately incorporated towns. He lists the "The powers under your town charters" which include "to prevent the indecent exhibition of horses." Ford's letter also states: "If you can get off by yourselves, you may enjoy peace; but, surrounded by such neighbors, I confess that I do not see the time when you will be permitted to enjoy quiet. I was informed by General Joseph Smith last summer, that he contemplated a removal West; and from what I learned from him and others at that time, I think if he had lived he would have begun to move in the matter before this time."

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

35 years ago today - Apr 7, 1980

Gordon B. Hinckley and J. Willard Marriott Jr. (LDS businessman) interviewed by Tom Brokaw on Today show.

[Source: Sherry Baker: Mormon Media History Timeline: 1827-2007, http://byustudies.byu.edu/showTitle.aspx?title=7984]

50 years ago today - Apr 7, 1965

Ezra Taft Benson complained to BYU's president that "many of our political science and economics teachers are teaching false doctrine." This was a month after the Provo "section leader" of the John Birch Society began receiving reports from a Birch student majoring in economics about his "covert surveillance" of BYU's "liberal professors," including professor Richard D. Poll. BYU's Wilkinson concluded that Apostle Benson had received this information through his son Reed. Wilkinson was ... receiving separate reports from this same BYU-Birch student about Poll.

The Deseret News reports: Departing from his prepared text, Elder Benson ... referred to the fight against communism as "the war in heaven now raging on the earth." ... Elder Benson detailed the various arguments which he said Satan is using in a effort to blunt the fight against communism. ... "The Lord may not set up a specific program to fight for freedom for fear it might split the Church."

[Source: "Benson Ties Rights Issue to Reds in Mormon Rift," Washington Post, 13 Apr. 1965, A-5. From D. Michael Quinn, Ezra Taft Benson and Mormon Political Conflicts, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26:2 (Summer 1992), also in Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power Salt Lake City (Signature Books, 1994), Chapter 3.]