170 years ago today - Jul 4, 1843

[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] July 4th 1843 + As the Romans took particular notice of any singular event as ominous of good or evil so I will record a sma11 circumstance that took place in my house this morning. Soon after I arose in the morning on this 4th Day of July my Sword while hanging in its usual place unsheathed of itself & the scabbard droped upon the floor leaving the bear blade suspended from the peg upon which it hung.

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

175 years ago today - Jul 4, 1838

Cornerstones laid for Far West Temple.

[Source: Tidd, N. R., "Mormon Chronology"]

140 years ago today - Jul 4, 1873

First Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert presented in the Tabernacle.

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

175 years ago today - Jul 4, 1838

First Counselor Sidney Rigdon gives an Independence Day sermon which Joseph Smith publishes as a pamphlet: "And that mob that comes on us to disturb us, it shall be between us and them a war of extermination . . . for we will carry the seat of war to their own houses, and their own families." In the Jul issue of the ELDER'S JOURNAL, the prophet also writes: "But we do not believe in setting the Negroes free."

[Source: http://www.advent-adam.com/jakestand.html (cached, based on http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies)]

150 years ago today - Jul 4, 1863

Author Fritz Ludlow visits Salt Lake City on his way to San Francisco. He later writes in a national magazine: "Though Mormondom is disloyal to the core it still-patronizes the Fourth of Jul, at least in its phase of festivity, omitting the patriotism of our Eastern celebration, substituting 'Utah' for 'Union' in the Buncombe speeches." He describes Brigham Young at the Fourth of Jul ball as sitting in the theater dress circle "looking down on the dancers with an air of mingled hearty kindness and feudal ownership. I could excuse the latter, for Utah belongs to him of right."

[Source: http://www.advent-adam.com/jakestand.html (cached, based on http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies)]

5 years ago today - 7/3/2008

[Same-Sex Marriage] Newport Beach stake "talking points" circulate, telling members to familiarize themselves with, among other things, the Proclamation on the Family, the 1P letter and scriptures to better understand doctrines and principles of marriage and family.

[Source: Mormons for Marriage: A Prop 8 Timeline, http://mormonsformarriage.com/?page_id=68]

100 years ago today - Jul 3, 1913; Thursday

... Bro[ther]. Grant gave an account of his eastern trip. On the 25th ult. he was with the delegation of the battleship Utah on the occasion of the presentation to the ship by the Sons and Daughters of the Pioneers of a stand of colors, which he said was a most interesting affair. The presentation was made by Mrs. George Bergerner, a granddaughter of Apostle Orson Pratt. The address was most happily responded to by the captain, who expressed the great pleasure he had derived from the interest which the state of Utah and its people had taken in the battleship, and he also said that in his opinion there was no better ship in the navy. On this day the captain retired from the command of the ship, which made the occasion all the more notable. He and his wife expressed themselves to the effect that the best day the battleship had ever had was the day the ship was presented with the silver service, and the captain is said to have told Bro[ther]. Willard Langton, who is now making his temporary home in New York, that he was very much annoyed by the fuss made by those women over the presentation of the silver service to the ship. ...

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

125 years ago today - Jul 3, 1888

[Apostle Heber J. Grant Diary] Alexander Badlam Pres[iden]t of the Bankers and Merchants Mutual Life Ins. of California called on me and expressed the desire for me to accept their agency. I asked Mr. Badlam a number of questions and from his own admissions I could not have any confidence in him or his company. ... By accident I have learned that Badlam is one of "our friends" as George Q. Cannon calls them that is doing so much to get us admitted as a state. I have less confidence than ever of success since learning this. It is one of the untold mysteries to me that George Q. Cannon will employ such men as Alexander Badlam to work in the interests of our people in the efforts for Statehood, and trust him with the secret workings of our efforts and not be willing to trust the members of our Quorum. W. Woodruff, George Q. Cannon and Jos[eph] F. Smith are a committee having in charge the expenditure of all moneys for Statehood and from my information Badlam is the head man in spending money to secure the influence of the leading newspapers of the country in our behalf. I would give almost anything if Badlam had inspired me with his honesty as my hopes for the freedom of the people would be greatly increased. I shall hail the day with unbounded delight when the members of our quorum shall be of such a character that their will be perfect confidence so that the combined wisdom of all may be had in each and every effort for the advancement of the people. Meeting Badlam has made me sad and disheartened on the state movement. I would to heaven we had some strong honest men marking for us instead of such a man I think he is.

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

150 years ago today - Jul 3, 1863 (Wednesday)

The Indians attacked Canyon Station, near Deep creek, 150 miles west of G.S.L. City, killing four soldiers and Wm. Riley, the station keeper.

[Source: Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]

150 years ago today - Jul 3, 1863

[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 3d I attended the grand Union Ball in the Theater it being the Largest party I ever attended. 40 Cotillons were on the floor at once. I staid till near 2 oclok. The party did not break up untill near midnight.

[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 - early Jul 1833

D. P. Hurlbut traveled back to Springfield, Erie County PA and held his first public lectures against the Mormon Church.

[Source: Broadhurst, Dale R., Mormon Chronology, http://olivercowdery.com/history/morchrn2.htm]

10 years ago today - Jul 2, 2003

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir receives a Special Recognition Award from the International Radio and Television Society Foundation.

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

80 years ago today - summer of 1933

[The Great Depression] In the summer of 1933 the Deseret News reported hundreds of homeless families were camped out on vacant lots throughout the city.

[Source: Utah History Encyclopedia: The Great Depression, http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/d/DEPPRESSION%2CGREAT.html]

150 years ago today - summer of 1863

[R.L.D.S Church] While success was never as great as anticipated, the Reorganized Church sought to maximize the potential by sending two of its most outstanding preachers to Utah in the summer of 1863. Edmund C. Briggs, heading the missionary team, was a recently ordained apostle who had achieved dazzling success among other Mormon factions in Iowa in the earliest years of the Reorganization, baptizing over 100 new members and organizing six church branches. He brought an unusual blend of religious conviction, missionary skill, and administrative ability to the mission. His associate was Alexander McCord, a member of the early Mormon church and veteran of the Mormon Battalion who had settled in Utah after mustering out of the U.S. Army only to become disillusioned and bitter about what he considered the excesses of church government under Brigham Young.

[Source: Utah History Encyclopedia: R.L.D.S Church, http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/r/REORGANIZEDCHURCH.html]

165 years ago today - Jul 2, 1848

[Brigham Young Sermon] Brigham spoke long ... He prophesied that we should never be driven from there unless we done it ourselves and he was determined that the law of God should be observed by all that should go to that land; and if any man would mind his own business, not infringe upon our laws, be peaceable and not take the name of God in vain he was perfectly welcome to go with us, he being of the Methodist, Presbyterian or any other faith, but they that lifted their voices in cursing this people and reviling them, I will just blot them out of existence, and if any man will curse and swear he can not have a place among us.

[Source: Oliver B. Huntington Journal as cited 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 2, 1843

[Joseph Smith] Joseph petitions the governor not to issue any more writs, and has the petition signed by 150 citizens. He has an interview with the Pottawatamie chiefs who have come to visit him while he was away. He explains the gospel, kills an ox for them, and gives them some horses. The Maid of Iowa returns with the men who had gone to look for Joseph. He greets them, welcoming them home.

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

180 years ago today - 1833 2 Jul.

Joseph Smith finishes his "translation" of the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible. Making changes in an 1828 edition, Smith alters more than 3,400 verses and introduces new passages.

[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 - Early July 1828

Joseph Jr. visits family in Manchester; Martin Harris confesses that he lost the translation manuscript . Lucy Smith says that Joseph left Harmony "two weeks" after the death of his infant son (15 June) and "nearly three weeks" after Martin Harris's departure . She says that Joseph stayed in Manchester only one day.

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

5 years ago today - July 1

[Same-Sex Marriage] A letter later reports some of Mormon efforts during the coming month. "Congregations of LDS all having been taught the doctrine in July so that they may see the importance of fundraising and grassroots participation. Some Stakes have called all Stake Council and wives as well as several folks who may be able to contribute not on the Council. The Stake President, in that Cottage Meeting, has asked for their support. A great part of a fund raising effort, accomplished in one night."

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

120 years ago today - Jul 1, 1893

The Church fails to meet its payroll, forcing General Authorities to draw their living allowances in tithing commodities. Economic depression hits Utah hard and has First Counselor George Q. Cannon meeting with financiers in London (including Baron Rothschild) and Apostle Heber J. Grant meeting with bankers in New York to secure a loan to see the Church through the hard times. The First Presidency writes: "Every day urgent demands for cash are made of us, which we cannot meet for the simple reason that we have no money. . . . We never saw such a time of financial stringency as there is now."

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