20 years ago today - Sep 8, 1998

Gordon B. Hinckley first interviewed by Larry King on CNN's ―Larry King Live.

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

50 years ago today - Sep 8, 1968

The Case Against Congress,' co-authored by LDS journalist Jack Anderson, is on the New York Times list of bestsellers. Other LDS (or raised-as-Mormon) authors on the list: Dian Thomas (1975, Roughing It Easy); Glen A. Larson (1978, co-author, Battle Star Galactica); Howard J. Ruff (1979, How To Prosper During the Coming Bad Years); Robert G. Allen (1980, Nothing Down; 1983, Creating Wealth); Roseanne Barr (1989, Roseanne); Stephen R. Covey (1990, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People); Jack Anderson and Dale Van Atta (1991, Stormin' Norman); Betty J. Eadie and Curtis Taylor (1993, Embraced By the Light); Deborah Laake (1993, Secret Ceremonies, for which she was promptly excommunicated); Roseanne Barr Arnold (1994, My Lives); Stephen R. Covey, A. Roger Merrill, and Rebecca R. Merrill (1994, First Things First); Dave Wolverton (1994, The Courtship of Princess Leia); Richard Paul Evans (1995, The Christmas Box; 1996, Timepiece); Betty J. Eadie (1996, The Awakening Heart); Stephanie Meyer (Twilight series) and likely several others.

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

120 years ago today - Sep 08, 1898

President Wilford Woodruff's funeral is held in the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Utah.

125 years ago today - Sep 8, 1893

[Wilford Woodruff]
[At the World's Fair in Chicago] We then went to the Festive Hall to Attend the Contest of the four Quires [Choirs] of singers for the Prizes. The Salt Lake Quire did Splendid and made a fine appearance. The first Prize was given to the Searton Quire. The Second Prize was awarded to our Quire. I think without Doubt that our Quire was the Best & should have had the first Prize But the Quire that took the first Prize was Welsh and the Welsh furnished the Money And it Could hardly be Expected that they would give it to a Mormon Quire Though one of the Judges said the Salt Lake Quire ought to have it. [This is the first national recognition of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.]

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

140 years ago today - Sep 8, 1878

First Presidency secretary L. John Nuttall writes: "Prest. Snow said our Stake report was similar to the other stakes, a spirit of improvement was in the whole church, advised our Young Men and women to marry, and mothers to not talk against Polygamy. . . . Sister Rice, as Midwife and nurse for the Orderville Ward, was blessed to this appointment by Prest. Snow.

175 years ago today - Sep 8, 1843

Mormon Nauvoo resident Charlotte Haven writes to relatives: "We hear that [Hyrum Smith] has already had some wonderful revelations not yet made public, but that a few of the elders put their heads together and whisper what they dare not speak aloud." She says of Elder George J. Adams had returned from a two-year mission in England with a new wife and child, though he already had a wife and family in Nauvoo. "I am told that his first wife is reconciled to this at first unwelcome guest in her home, for her husband and some others have reasoned with her that plurality of wives is taught in the Bible, that Abraham, Jacob, Solomon, David and indeed all the old prophets and good men, had several wives, and if right for them, it is right for the Latter Day Saints. Furthermore, the first wife will always be first in her husband's affection and the head of the household, where she will have a larger influence. Poor, weak woman! . . . I cannot believe that Joseph will ever sanction such a doctrine-"

180 years ago today - Sep 8, 1838

A Missourian writes: "There is still a good deal of excitement with the people of Carrol & Davis Counties, and the Mormons of Caldwell City. there are strong aprehensions also of hostilities by the Indians from the cherokees having built a large council house and inviting all the other tribes, and holding secret consultations, it is generally thought that we shall have war with the Mormons & Indians both, meetings have been held in adopting measures upon the Mormon subject."

185 years ago today - Sep 8, 1833

[Orson Pratt]
"O[rson] P[ratt] and L[yman] J[ohnson] sealed the members of the church at Bath, New Hampshire, Conn., to eternal life."

[Source: Orson Pratt journal]

10 years ago today - September 7

[Proposition-8]
Continued reports of much Prop 8 activity in Mormon churches. A blog reports that members were getting up to speak about it in testimony meeting, which is the type of church service held the first Sunday of the month. Someone comments on the blog, "It is mentioned in every meeting, donation sheets are passed around in RS and there are pleas for donations and volunteers in the announcements as well as impromptu testimonies during classes. It is EVERYWHERE!!!!"

[Source: Latter-Day Army: Details of Mormons and Prop 8, http://www.stopthemormons.com/?p=486]

55 years ago today - Sep 7, 1963

A Deseret News insert titled 'President McKay Birthday Tribute,' with the headline on page 2: "Portrait of a Prophet at 90," and a caption on page 7: "Huntsville is the Prophet's birthplace." This is not quite two years after the death of Counselor J. Reuben Clark who had opposed using "the Prophet" as a reverential title for the living LDS president. However, the Church News itself continues referring to McKay only as "President McKay" until 1965 after which there are increasing headline references to him as "the Prophet" or "the Beloved Prophet."

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

120 years ago today - Sep 7, 1898

[Brigham Young Jr.]
Had conversation with brethren on present situation. All who express themselves--some of the best men among us cannot entertain the idea to have a continuation of our present financial policy. God help us to arrange all in the fear of the Lord. Suggested to Pres[ident] Snow that the apostles resume circle prayer at once and get themselves in harmony with the spirit of God. I fear that there is division in our sentiments. [At the death of Wilford Woodruff, it was estimated the church had a 3 million dollar debt.]

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

140 years ago today - 7-Sep 8, 1878

Orson Pratt: "Do you remember what time you saw the plates?" David Whitmer: "It was in June 1829, the very last part of the month, and the eight witnesses, I think, the next day. Joseph showed them the plates himself. We (the Three Witnesses) not only saw the plates of the Book of Mormon, but the Brass Plates, the plates containing the record of the wickedness of the people of the world, and many other plates. The fact is, it was just as though Joseph, Oliver and I were sitting right here on a log, when we were overshadowed by a light. It was not like the light of the sun, nor like that of a fire, but more glorious and beautiful. It extended away round us, I cannot tell how far, but in the midst of this light, immediately before us, about as far off as he sits (pointing to John C. Whitmer who was sitting 2 or 3 feet from him) there appeared, as it were, a table, with many records on it, besides the plates of the Book of Mormon; also the sword of Laban, the Directors (i.e. the ball which Lehi had) and the Interpreters. I saw them just as plain as I see this bed (striking his hand upon the bed beside him), and I heard the voice of the Lord as distinctly as I ever heard anything in my life declaring that they (the plates) were translated by the gift and power of God." Orson Pratt: "Did you see the Angel at this time?" David Whitmer: "Yes, he stood before us. Martin Harris was not with us at this time. I don't think he saw all that we did, but our testimony as recorded in the Book of Mormon is strictly and absolutely true just as it is there written. Before I knew anything about Joseph Smith I had heard about him and the plates from persons who declared they knew he had them and swore they would get them from him, and that he had promised them an interest in them when he should get them. The fact is he could not, for they were not to be made merchandise of, nor to be a matter of profit to any one--they were strictly for sacred purposes, and when Oliver Cowdery went to Pennsylvania he promised to write me what he should learn about the matter, which he did. He told me Joseph had told him his secret thoughts and all he had meditated about going to see him, which no man on earth knew, as he supposed, but himself. So he stopped to write for Joseph. ... One morning I got up as usual to go to work. On going to the field I found between 5 and 7 acres of my ground had been plowed during the night. I don't know who did it, but it was done, just as I would have done it myself, and the plow was left standing in the furrow. This enabled me to start sooner. When I arrived at Harmony, Joseph and Oliver were coming toward me, and met me some little distance from the house. Oliver told me that Joseph had told him when I started from home, where I had stopped the first night, how I read the sign at the tavern, where I stopped the next night and that I would be there that day before dinner, and this was why they had come out to meet me, all of which was exactly as Joseph had told Oliver, at which I was greatly astonished. When I was returning to Fayette with Joseph and Oliver, all of us riding in the wagon, Oliver and I on an old fashioned wooden spring seat and Joseph behind us, we were suddenly approached by a very pleasant, nice looking old man in a clear open place, who saluted us with `Good morning, it is very warm,' at the same instant wiping his face or forehead with his hand. We returned the salutation and by a sign from Joseph I invited him to ride if he was going our way, but he said very pleasantly, `No, I am going to Cumorah.' This was something new to me, I did not know what Cumorah meant, and as I looked enquiringly at Joseph, the old man instantly disappeared so that I did not see him again." Joseph F. Smith: "Did you notice his appearance?" David Whitmer: "I should think I did. He was, I should think, about 5 feet 9 or 10 inches and heavy set, about such a man as James Vancleave, there, but heavier. His face was as large. He was dressed in a suit of brown, woolen clothes; his hair and beard were white, about like Brother Pratt's, but his beard was not so heavy. I also remember that he had a sort of knapsack on his back, and something was in it which was shaped like a book. It was the messenger who had the plates. "Soon after our arrival home, I saw something which led me to the belief that the plates were placed or concealed in my father's barn. I frankly asked Joseph if my supposition was right, and he told me it was. "Sometime after this my mother was going to milk the cows when she was met out near the barn by this same old man, (as I suppose from her description of him) who said to her `you have been very faithful and diligent in your labours but you are tried because of the increase of your toil, it is proper therefore that you should receive a witness, that your faith may be strengthened' and thereupon he showed her the plates. My Father and Mother had a large family of their own. The addition to it therefore of Joseph, Emma and Oliver very greatly increased the toil and anxiety of my mother and altho she had never complained she had sometimes felt that her labor was too much or at least she was beginning to feel so. This circumstance however completely removed all such feelings and nerved her up for her increased responsibilities." Orson Pratt: "Have you any idea when the records will be brought forth?" David Whitmer: "When we see things in the Spirit and by the power of God they seem to be right here present. The signs of the times indicate the near approach of the coming forth of the other plates, but when it will be, I cannot tell. The Three Nephites are at work among the lost tribes and elsewhere. John the Revelator is at work, and I believe the time will come suddenly, before we are prepared for it."

... David Whitmer brought out and showed us the manuscript of the Book of Mormon, mostly in the handwriting of Oliver Cowdery, some of the writings was thought to be in the handwriting of John and Christian Whitmer, but only comparatively a few pages. The fact also appeared that the names of all the witnesses were subscribed in the handwriting of Oliver Cowdery. When the question was asked David Whitmer if he and the other witnesses did not subscribe their own names to the respective testimonies, he replied that they did. Then he was asked, "Where are the original documents?" That he did not know, but supposed Oliver had copied them, but this was an exact copy. ...

[Source: Joseph F. Smith, Diary, 7-8 September 1878, LDS Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: David Whitmer Interview With Orson Pratt And Joseph F. Smith]

145 years ago today - Sep 7, 1873

[Wilford Woodruff]
I dreamed at night that I Saw Jedediah M Grant & Sister McMinn & talked with them, and the ownly request Sister McMinn made of me was to ask the people to Stop talking about her.

I dreamed that I saw many of the Dead arise. I saw some swine in which Devils had Entered & they tried to kill me but did not have power to hurt me. I told some wicked men that the dead had risen. They said they did not Believe it but they Shook with fear.

[Source: 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 - Sep 7, 1838

Joseph stands trial for the incident with Adam Black before Judge Austin A. King (a Methodist whose brother had been killed in the anti-Mormon riots of Jackson County in 1833. Joseph is accused of having threatened Adam Black's life on Aug. 8, 1838. In spite of the lack of hard evidence, the judge gives in to fear of mobbers and fines Joseph and Lyman Wight a $500 security bond. ... Rumors reach Joseph that a mob has gathered to attack Adam-ondi-Ahman.

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

215 years ago today - Sep 7, 1803

Harriet Page Wheeler Young, later one of three women in the original pioneer company of 1847, is born in Hillsboro, New Hampshire.

[Source: LDS Daily, www.ldsdaily.com]

80 years ago today - Sep 6, 1938

The First Presidency appoints a coordinator of the church's first anti-polygamy surveillance team which obtains information on Mormon Fundamentalists and turns it over to excommuncation courts and to law enforcement agencies. The surveillance coordinator reports to first counselor J. Reuben Clark.

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

120 years ago today - Tuesday, Sep 6, 1898

[John Henry Smith]
I was sent for by President [of the Twelve] Lorenzo Snow to go to his room in the Temple.

He said he wanted me to run for U.S. Senator.

He also told me he would not take hold of affairs until after the funeral of Prest. Wilford Woodruff. He said he thought the church owed three millions of dollars. He also said he did not agree with Prest. Geo. Q. Cannon's business methods. He said the load seemed more than he could carry.

[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]

130 years ago today - Sep 6, 1888 (Thursday)

Elders Andrew Jenson, Edward Stevenson and Joseph S. Black left Salt Lake City for the East, to visit the "waste places of Zion," [IE various church history sites] in the interest of Church history.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

155 years ago today - Sep 6, 1863

The first RLDS (now 'Community of Christ') missionaries to Utah were zealous in finding forums for their message, and, as a result, they had several scrapes with Latter-day Saint authorities. Over a period of several months, the missionaries built a respectable following in Utah. A high point came on 6 September 1863 when Briggs conducted the first Reorganized Church baptismal service in Salt Lake City.

[Source: Utah History Encyclopedia: R.L.D.S Church, http://www.uen.org/utah_history_encyclopedia/]

170 years ago today - Sep 6, 1848

[Nauvoo Temple]
Lightning struck the weather vane on the cupola with little damage, but left a large scar on the building.

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