165 years ago today - Mar 16, 1856 (Morning)

[Brigham Young]

... A few of the men and women who go into the house of the Lord, and receive their endowments, and in the most sacred manner make covenants before the Almighty, go and violate those covenants. Do I have compassion on them? Yes, I do have mercy on them, for there is something in their organization which they do not understand; and there are but few in this congregation who do understand it. You say, '"That man ought to die for transgressing the law of God.'" Let me suppose a case. Suppose you found your brother in bed with your wife, an put a javelin through both of them, you would be justified, and they would atone for their sins, and be received into the kingdom of God. I would at once do so in such a case; and under such circumstances, I have no wife whom I love so well that I would not put a javelin through her heart, and I would do it with clean hands. But you who trifle with your covenants, be careful lest in judging you will be judged. Every man and women has got to have clean hands and pure heart, to execute judgment, else they had better let the matter alone. ... There is not a man or woman, who violates the covenants made with their God, that will not be required to pay the debt. The blood of Christ will never wipe that out, your own blood must atone for it; and the judgments of the Almighty will come, sooner or later, and every man and woman will have to atone for breaking their covenants. ...

[Journal of Discourses. Liverpool, England, 1853-86. 3:243-249, 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 - Mar 16, 1846

Letter to Orson Hyde-- Directed to Orson Hyde at Nauvoo, this letter pictures conditions in the Camp of Israel and urges those still remaining in Nauvoo to turn their backs on the Temple of the Lord and emigrate to some "consecrated spot, where the Kingdom of God may be built up, and we may do his will as the angels do it, undisturbed."

[ 1846-March 16-RCH 2:148-149, in Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)]

180 years ago today - Mar 16, 1841

... Joseph Said th they wiked will Not all be Distroyed at the Coming of Christ & also there will be wiked During the Melenium --for instance Isaiah says the Days of an infant shall be as the age of a tree also Zarch.--says all who Does Not Come up year by year with their Gifts to the preasts of the tabernicle that No Rain shall fall upon them--& that Jesus will be a Resident on the Earth a thousand [years] with the Saints is Not the Case but will Raign over the saints & come Down & instruct as he Did the 5 hundrd Brethern (1st Cor. 15) & those of the first Resurrection will also Raign with him over the saints--then after the Little Season is Expired & the Earth underGoes its Last Change & is Gloryfyed then will all the meek inherit the Earth wherein Dwelleth Righteous --he says satan Cannot Seduce us by his Enticements unles we in our harts Consent & yeald--our organization such that we can Resest the Devil If we were Not organized so we would Not be free agents.

[McIntire Minute Book, in The Words of Joseph Smith by Joseph Smith by Andrew F. Ehat and Lyndon W. Cook]

180 years ago today - Mar 15, 1841

[Wilford Woodruff]

As soon as meeting closed multitudes crouded around me. Many hands were presented on evry side to bid me farewell, many calling for me to bless them before I leave them, others crying out do lay hands on me & heal me before you go. Br Woodruff I am turned out of Doors for my religion. What shall I do? I am all ready to go to Zion. My wife wont go with me. Shall I go & leave her? My Husband beats me & turns me out of Doors because I have been Baptized. I have got money enough to carry me & the children to Zion. Will you let me go without him? Br Woodruff one word with you. My Mother is over 80 years of age & has willed me £60 pounds at her Death but will not emigrate with me. Now I want to go with the Saints. Must I stay for her to die or may I go & leave her? Br Woodruff I have sold my little place. Shall have £30 pounds tomorrow but must go out of the house into the street. This will not quite carry my family to America. Can you help me to a few pounds or tell me what to do? An Elder cries out how much longer must I preach In England before you will let me go to America? Br Woodruff cant you come & preach to us in Cheltenham? Wont you go home & take some tea with me? My head is in great pain. Wont you heal me? I want you to consecrate these bottles of Oil before you go. Good by. Good by. Good by. God bless you Br Woodruff. The friends are waiting a long time for you. Are you going? I want a little council from you. Br Woodruff may I go to America with you? Say may we take an English Ship to Nauvoo via of Quebeck in Canida? Shall I be Justifyed if I have an opportunity of Going to miss of the opportunity for the purpose of tarrying a while for my mother? Will you write to me? Remember me to Mrs Woodruff (Margarett Morgan). Good by. I have been waiting a long time to get a chance to speak to you.

THESE and a thousand other questions were asked me in the term of an hour or more...

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

190 years ago today - Mar 15, 1831

[Martin Harris]

"… all who believed the new bible [BOM] would see Christ within fifteen years, [15+1831=1846] and all who did not would absolutely be destroyed and dam'd."

[Martin Harris, The Telegraph, Painesville, OH, March 15, 1831, vol. 2, no. 39, http://www.sidneyrigdon.com/dbroadhu/OH/paintel2.htm, quoted in The Last Days and December 1890 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ, y George D. Speer Sr., privately circulated]

190 years ago today - Mar 15, 1831

The GEAUGA GAZETTE, of Painesville, Ohio, states that "the Mormon Bible is Anti-masonick," and that "every one of its followers... are anti-masons." It quotes Martin Harris as saying the Book of Mormon was an "Anti-masonick Bible."

205 years ago today - Mar 15, 1816

Joseph Smith Sr. reports his third vision: images in a garden bowing to him.

[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]

55 years ago today - circa Mar 14, 1966

Some ... circulated a proposal which urged anti-Birch Mormons to petition the First Presidency and the Quorum of Twelve's president for the "removal of Benson from the Quorum of the Twelve." According to this "OPERATION CHECKMATE" handout, Benson's transgressions were "flagrant insubordination," "pulpit misuse," and "demeaning the President of the Church by callously taking advantage of his advanced years." ... The First Presidency defined the situation as "a crisis."

["OPERATION CHECKMATE," original typed document, Williams Papers, also photocopy inscribed, "J D Williams, March 14,1966," folder 2, box 124, Robert H. Hinckley Papers, Western Americana, Marriott Library. Although undated, this document was drafted after the J. Reese Hunter letter of 8 Mar. 1966 (which "OPERATION CHECKMATE" referred to) and before the First Presidency statement of 17 March, which was the kind of official statement recommended by "OPERATION CHECKMATE," 4. 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.]

110 years ago today - Mar 14, 1911

Ninety BYU students present a petition to President Brimhall asking the administration not to accept professor Henry Peterson's resignation. Peterson had been forced to resign two days earlier because of having taught evolution at BYU.

120 years ago today - Mar 14, 1901

The First Presidency and apostles decide that when members move from one ward to another the bishops of the ward being left should send membership records to the bishop of the ward being moved into. Previously each member had to get a certificate of standing to take to the new bishop. This created."an army of about 10,000 people connected with the church, who have no standing in any of the wards and stakes of Zion" due to failing to get the required certificate.

120 years ago today - Thursday, Mar 14, 1901

Apostle Reed Smoot reported that Brother James E. Hall of Fairview, North San Pete Stake, who enjoyed the gift of healing, had been visiting around among the saints in various wards and stakes exercising this gift, and his success was creating considerable excitement in different places. While many approved of his work, others thought he ought not to operate outside of the ward where he lived. Pres. Snow ruled that he would have the right to exercise his gift in any of the wards or stakes under the direction of the presiding officers thereof.

[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]

140 years ago today - Mar 14, 1881

[Wilford Woodruff]

I had 34 Adoptions of Henry Eyrings family Adopted into my Family. Then Emma Thompson Joined me at the Altar & I had 41 single Dead woman sealed to me. Then two of Brother Thompsons Daughters Amelia Young Thompson & Matilda Irene Joined me & I had 93 sealings for Dead friends. Total sealing 133 Adoption ... W Woodruff Had also Adopted into his family 7 persons including James Ferguson.

[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 - Mar 14, 1856

[Heber C. Kimball marriage]

wife #41. Hannah Moon, 1802-1877 .

[Hatch, Charles M. and Compton, Todd M. editors, 'A Widow's Tale: 1884-1896 Diary of Helen Mar Kimball Whitney' p. 37]

165 years ago today - Mar 14, 1856

[Heber C. Kimball marriage]

wife #40. Dorothy Moon, 1804-1870 .

[Hatch, Charles M. and Compton, Todd M. editors, 'A Widow's Tale: 1884-1896 Diary of Helen Mar Kimball Whitney' p. 37]

165 years ago today - Mar 14, 1856

Brigham Young (aged 54) marriage to Harriet Barney (1830-1911) (aged 25) divorced from W. H. H. Sagers 1 child

[Wikipedia, List of Brigham Young's Wives, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Brigham_Young%27s_wives]

175 years ago today - Mar 14, 1846

Revelation to Orson Hyde...

In my meditations, this morning, the Spirit of the Lord came upon me, and I was moved to write: and being grieved in my spirit on account of false pretences [pretenses] by evil designing persons to gain power, and lead away the flock of God; It whispered me and said:

Evil men, ambitious of power, must needs arise among you, and they shall be led by their own self-will and not by me. Yet they are instruments in my hands, and are permitted to try my people, and to collect from among them those who are not the elect, and such as are unworthy of eternal life. Grieve not after them, neither mourn nor be alarmed. ... Behold James J. Strang hath cursed my people by his own spirit and not by mine. Never at any time have I appointed that wicked man to lead my people, neither by my own voice, nor by the voice of my servant Joseph Smith, neither by the voice of mine angel... But his spirit and ambition shall soon fail him, and then shall he be called to judgment ...

Let my saints gather up with all consistent speed and remove westward, except such as are counselled to tarry and must needs remain to settle the[i]r business according to the counsel of my servant JOSEPH SMITH, ...

[Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star 7 (15 May 1846):157-58, emphasis omitted; also published as a broadside at Nauvoo, Illinois, 14 March 1846, post by Michael Marquardt, http://www.xmission.com/~research/central/revel2.htm]

50 years ago today - Mar 13, 1971

Thomas S. Ferguson writes: "[Hugh] Nibley's Era articles on the Book of Abraham aren't worth a tinker-first, because he is not impartial, being the commissioned and paid defender of the faith. Second, because he could not, he dated not, he did not, face the true issue: 'Could Joseph Smith translate Egyptian?' I clipped every one of his articles, and have them in a single file-and I have reviewed them-looking in vain for that issue"

80 years ago today - Mar 13, 1941

President Grant said that he and his Counselors had given consideration to the matter of the need'on account of the growth of the Church and the further fact that some of the Brethren are advanced in years and some not in good health'of some provision being made whereby the Brethren of the Twelve might be given some assistance in looking after the work that comes under their jurisdiction. The First Presidency feel that five men should be ordained to the Apostleship, but not to be set apart as members of the Council of the Twelve, nor would it be expected that they would necessarily become members of that Council when a vacancy occurred. President Grant called attention to the fact that President Brigham Young had ordained a number of brethren to the apostleship, and so had Brother Heber C. Kimball, which brethren were not set apart as members of the Council of the Twelve. The President said he would like from each of the Brethren an expression as to his feelings in this matter, and told them to feel at perfect liberty to express themselves freely and frankly. Joseph Fielding Smith: I have some very decided views. If this is decided upon, of course I will accept it, but it is contrary to my feelings, and I have had these feelings, I suppose, all the time. I have thought of it a good deal since the appointment of Brother [Sylvester Q.] Cannon as he was appointed. ... The Savior appointed Twelve apostles. We have no account of his appointing more either in Palestine or on this Continent. If you will read the Book of Mormon you will find that they ordained apostles to take the place of those who passed on. Evidently their Church was much larger than the Church is today, during the two hundred years when the people were united. I would like to make this statement, which I can verify by the written word, that is by that which is written in the records of the Church: President Brigham Young held the view that the apostleship was greater than the Melchizedek Priesthood. He ordained secretly some of his sons as apostles, because he thought he was giving them something more than they could get somewhere else; that is, more than if they were ordained high priests, and that was his view. I know that my father was ordained by President Brigham Young and a number of the apostles in a meeting a year before he came into the Council, and I know that was the practice in the days of President Young, but I do not read anywhere, in any of our scriptures, that the Lord has designated assistant apostles, or that we are authorized by revelation to do it. If the Presidency say so and get the inspiration, of course that is sufficient, but I think there is a better way. A man can serve as a counselor in the Presidency of the Church as a High Priest, and he does not have to be ordained an apostle'some have done that'and while they can serve as High Priests in the Presidency of the Church they preside over the Twelve Apostles as high Priests. It seems to me that a better way would be to appoint'and I am in full accord with the idea of appointing someone to help carry the burden, but the Presidency of this Church can appoint high priests and give them all the authority that is necessary for them to hold, without ordaining them apostles. They can ordain and set apart Presidents of Stakes by the appointment they get from the Presidency of the Church, and under the direction of the Twelve they can set in order anything as High Priests, and I do not see any need at all of ordaining them to the apostleship only as they are called to go into this council. ... [Stephen L Richards agrees with the wisdom of calling assistants, but also agrees with recommendation of Joseph Fielding Smith that they be only high priests.] Elder Richard R. Lyman: I agree certainly with President Grant and the Brethren that some relief is very desirable, that the burden is getting to be pretty heavy for men who are well along in years. Brother [B. H.] Roberts explained a number of times'I am not familiar enough with the organization to explain it as Brother Joseph Fielding here can do. I am wondering, after what Brother Roberts said, if the Seventies are to be called upon first by the Council of the Twelve to render assistance, if we could not call first upon the Seven Presidents of Seventies. Brother Roberts spoke of the First Quorum of the Seventy, and I have kind of imagined that as the Church developed and developed we might have the Presidency, the Council of the Twelve, and this Quorum o Seventies, seventy men. Probably they would be serving and traveling through the Stakes of the Church just the same as the Seven Presidents do now. I do not know whether that is according to the revelation and Church organization. There is another method: As men get older and want to take it a little easier, I am wondering if there would be any reasonable, honorable and profitable way of retiring us who get older, and let younger men come in an attend to the business. Brother Talmage said: 'Brother Lyman (He and I were pretty intimate), I would feel very greatly relieved if I did not have to go to those meetings in the Temple on Thursday.' We had to carry him up the steps and carry him down the steps. 'You can see the inconsistency of my belonging to a traveling council when I can not step up a half inch or step down a half inch.' I am wondering if men, as they get older, could take it easier and have a little allowance and let young men come here and do the business of the Church. I have absolute faith in the Presidency of the Church; I am for you. Whatever you say I am for it and shall give it my very hearty support. [John A. Widtsoe sees no objection to ordaining extra apostles as the presidency recommends.] [Joseph F. Merrill sees no objection whatever to ordaining extra apostles as the presidency recommends.] Elder Charles A. Callis: I believe, President Grant, that we should speak with our hearts and our mouths, speak from our hearts. I would go anywhere the First Presidency told me to go, even if I knew that it meant my death. I have never intentionally disobeyed counsel. I am not in favor of ordaining five apostles. If you say so, of course it is all right. It seems a strange procedure. I feel it is going to create confusion in the Church. When Bishop Cannon was appointed we were asked wherever we went what it meant to have an associate apostle. I am fully in accord with Joseph Fielding Smith and Stephen L. Richards; I believe the spirit of the revelations of God is that we keep this Quorum intact. Jesus Christ chose Twelve, and since the days of Brigham Young, Joseph F. Smith, Lorenzo Snow, John Taylor, and Heber J. Grant have followed this practice of holding this council intact as a separate Council. I think we have not given the First Council of Seventy enough consideration. They are apostles, the Lord says. If they are apostles why not use them? There are Seven men there, and the First Quorum of Seventies I believe that that First Council of Seventy should be invested with power to go out into the Stakes and do what we do, because God calls them apostles. Since He has given us these Seven Apostles why seek more? I hope I speak frankly but humbly. If you Brethren say to choose five apostles I am with you and shall support it publicly and privately but I do hope that we will use the apostles we have. I do hope that these five additional apostles will not be appointed, but I do hope that five assistants or six assistants if we need them will be inducted into office or placed here as assistants, but the First Council of Seventy stand out by revelation of God as apostles and I would like to see them used. I believe it in my heart. I believe it would be a departure probably from the revelation. Now I may be wrong but you have asked me to speak my mind. Those are views that I have and I speak them in the fear of the Lord without any feeling of opposition or contrariness. ... [Albert E. Bowen speaking, in part:] They could be constituted in some way that would give full effect to what is desired to be accomplished, without ordaining them apostles. I think there is a very firm, fixed feeling on the part of the people that Twelve men constitute the Apostles, and I think it would tend to lessen their confidence in the authority of the apostleship if it were multiplied in the manner suggested. I can not help feeling that it would take a certain amount of confidence, and respect and wisdom for the office out of it if they were multiplied. I know the contrary argument would be that if they go out with any lesser authority people will not feel well, they will feel that there is something lacking, but I do not think the danger of that is half so great as the danger I have already pointed out on the other side. Elder Sylvester Q. Cannon: I would like to express myself as being very appreciative of the kindness and consideration of the Brethren of the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve. I realize that the conditions under which I came into this body are different from the regular conditions, and I am trying to qualify in every way. I am willing to sustain whatever the First Presidency consider desirable and necessary in this matter. [Note: Five were in favor, five opposed.]

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

100 years ago today - Mar 13, 1921

[Heber J. Grant]

Had dinner just before going to the tabernacle with George and Lucy and their family, and had supper with Ashby, Dessie and Emily, and I then attended meeting in the Ensign Ward and was the only speaker; spoke thirty five or forty minutes, and I laid down with all the force and ability that I possessed in opposition to men and women entering into plural marriages at the present time; that it was contrary to the law of God and the law of man, and that the men that did it were adulterers, and that I would be glad if some of them were sent to the penitentiary.

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

115 years ago today - Tuesday, Mar 13, 1906

[Apostle John Henry Smith]

All of the First Presidency, Francis M. Lyman, Myself, Rudger Clawson, Hyrum M. Smith and C. W. Penrose went through the annual reports. The Church has about Four Millions Worth of property.

The Interest on the stocks and bonds of the Church more than pays the Expenses of the Authoraties of the Church by about ten thousand dollars.

The report was very broad and full and was accepted.

[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]