170 years ago today - Mar 14, 1850
Senator Thomas H. Benton of Missouri checks out BOOK OF MORMON from Library of Congress. He does not return it until Jun 3, 1851, first national leader to voluntarily show interest in Mormon scriptures.
190 years ago today - about Mar 14, 1830
Palmyra, New York. Joseph Smith wrote what became the preface to the first edition of the Book of Mormon.
[BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]
[BYU Studies Journal, volume 46, no. 4: A Chronology of the Life of Joseph Smith, http://byustudies.byu.edu]
25 years ago today - Mar 13, 1995
A new LDS president answers questions at a press conference, the first time in 22 years.
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
40 years ago today - Mar 13, 1980
The NON-MORMON NEWS, a BYU student paper for and by non-Mormons reports that when one student raised a question in class, his instructor told him to "go home and repent and put [his] thoughts in harmony with the teachings of the brethren."
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
70 years ago today - Mar 13, 1950
[George Albert Smith]
At ten o'clock Sterling Sill asked for an appointment and came in to discuss front page editorial that was published in the Deseret News, Sunday, March 5, reprimanding the University of Utah for the publication of a magazine called 'The Pen' which contained a compilation of articles and poems and stories and distributed in connection with the centennial program of the University of Utah. Unfortunately, a number of these articles were written by people known to be bitter anti- Mormons, and condensations of some of their works were published in this magazine. ... The editorial was rather firmly worded and naturally caused some comment, particularly by University people. Yesterday another editorial was printed acknowledging some explanations that were made by the University and indicating that as far as the paper was concerned the matter was now closed. Brother Sill, Chairman of the Board of Regeants, came to discuss this matter and said that he had come to see me because he was going up to a meeting of the Board of Regeants. ... It was observed that if such a spirit continued we would have an anti-Mormon Board of Trustees, an anti-Mormon President of the University, and the old fight would be on again. Brother Sill said that he did not think Governor Lee could get Olpin out as the President. He said he would rather count on Clarence Bamberger and William O'Conner. ... The other day I visited with Dr. Olpin at his home, and he showed me a letter which he had written in answer to the editorials which had been published. He felt quite keenly about it, because he was out of town at the time that the magazine was published and knew nothing of its contents, although he is listed as one of the editors. After talking with him at some length I discouraged him from publishing his letter as he had intended to do and to just let the matter drop. He thanked me for my advice and counsel.
[George Albert Smith 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]
At ten o'clock Sterling Sill asked for an appointment and came in to discuss front page editorial that was published in the Deseret News, Sunday, March 5, reprimanding the University of Utah for the publication of a magazine called 'The Pen' which contained a compilation of articles and poems and stories and distributed in connection with the centennial program of the University of Utah. Unfortunately, a number of these articles were written by people known to be bitter anti- Mormons, and condensations of some of their works were published in this magazine. ... The editorial was rather firmly worded and naturally caused some comment, particularly by University people. Yesterday another editorial was printed acknowledging some explanations that were made by the University and indicating that as far as the paper was concerned the matter was now closed. Brother Sill, Chairman of the Board of Regeants, came to discuss this matter and said that he had come to see me because he was going up to a meeting of the Board of Regeants. ... It was observed that if such a spirit continued we would have an anti-Mormon Board of Trustees, an anti-Mormon President of the University, and the old fight would be on again. Brother Sill said that he did not think Governor Lee could get Olpin out as the President. He said he would rather count on Clarence Bamberger and William O'Conner. ... The other day I visited with Dr. Olpin at his home, and he showed me a letter which he had written in answer to the editorials which had been published. He felt quite keenly about it, because he was out of town at the time that the magazine was published and knew nothing of its contents, although he is listed as one of the editors. After talking with him at some length I discouraged him from publishing his letter as he had intended to do and to just let the matter drop. He thanked me for my advice and counsel.
[George Albert Smith 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]
90 years ago today - Mar 13, 1930
Probable date for the creation of the Los Lunas Ten Commandment Stone. "Eva and Hobie 3-13-30" is carved on a rock nearby the notorious "Ten Commandment Stone.". The stone contains a Phonecian inscription of the Ten Commandments and has achieved some fame in the Mormon community as evidence of the historicity of the Book of Mormon. In 1953 Welby Ricks (President of the University Archaeological Society at BYU), Milton R. Hunter, Sidney B. Sperry, Hugh Nibley, and John L. Sorenson made a trip to New Mexico to investigate the inscription on the stone. Sorenson notes: "We were quite thrilled at first sight and fascinated by its contents." Sorenson "took some shots of surrounding petroglyphs and was surprised to find they were heavily patinated, whereas none of the carvings on the Phoenician stone were thus darkened. (Patination is the discoloration due to oxidation which develops on exposed surfaces of stone over very long periods of time.)" The "Eva and Hobie" stone shows similar lack of patination. Welby Ricks issues a report concluding: "I am fully convinced that the Ten Commandment stone found near Los Lunas, New Mexico is a fraud. Its age does not go back into ancient times. It is probably from thirty to fifty years old, perhaps even dating to as late as Mar 13, 1930."
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
100 years ago today - Mar 13, 1920; Saturday
[Apostle Anthony Ivins]
Left home with Stephen L. Richards for Los Angeles. Report had come to us that Jos. E. Robinson, former president of the Cal. Mission had been guilty of improper conduct with lady missionaries and other women, when he was presiding over the Cal. mission & we went out to investigate these reports. ... He admitted the charges made against him.
[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]
Left home with Stephen L. Richards for Los Angeles. Report had come to us that Jos. E. Robinson, former president of the Cal. Mission had been guilty of improper conduct with lady missionaries and other women, when he was presiding over the Cal. mission & we went out to investigate these reports. ... He admitted the charges made against him.
[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]
105 years ago today - Mar 13, 1915
President Joseph F. Smith is in receipt of your letter of the 27th ult. He has requested me to say to you that if you were sealed to your husband and he has forefeited his right to you and the children on account of adultry or other crimes the children will go with you, and they need not be sealed to any man to whom you may again be sealed, as they were born under the covenant and go with the one who has ke[pt] the covenant.
[Harold G. Reynolds, Letter to Lorah Whitaker, 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]
[Harold G. Reynolds, Letter to Lorah Whitaker, 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]
120 years ago today - Mar 13, 1900; Tuesday
All three members of the First Presidency were at the office today. A cash order for $1,500. was issued today in favor of the Brigham Young College. ...
Bishop [Hiram B.] Clawson and Elder John Henry Smith met with President Snow this morning. The Bishop had just returned from Washington [D.C.] and stated that the President of the United States and quite a number of the prominent senators felt very friendly towards the Latter-day Saints, and the State of Utah...
It had been under consideration for some time to appoint a committee to whom Church literature about to be published could be referred for revision. Brother [James E.] Talmage has been revising the Pearl of Great Price, arranging it into chapters and verses, and it was thought that a committee should be appointed to sit with him in making his report. A standing committee was now appointed...
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
Bishop [Hiram B.] Clawson and Elder John Henry Smith met with President Snow this morning. The Bishop had just returned from Washington [D.C.] and stated that the President of the United States and quite a number of the prominent senators felt very friendly towards the Latter-day Saints, and the State of Utah...
It had been under consideration for some time to appoint a committee to whom Church literature about to be published could be referred for revision. Brother [James E.] Talmage has been revising the Pearl of Great Price, arranging it into chapters and verses, and it was thought that a committee should be appointed to sit with him in making his report. A standing committee was now appointed...
[First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes]
130 years ago today - Mar 13, 1890
A plural wife writes of her husband: "We are more like lovers than husband and wife for we are so far removed from each other [-] there is always the embarrassment of lovers and yet we have been married more than 37 years."
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
[The Mormon Hierarchy - Extensions of Power by D. Michael Quinn, [New Mormon History database ( http://bit.ly/NMHdatabase )]]
130 years ago today - Mar 13, 1890
[Heber J. Grant]
After we had had our Prayer Circle I asked the Presidency to give me their counsel and advice with reference to what action should be taken about Hyrum Grant or me marrying the widow of [of their brother] Geo. Grant [as a Levirate marriage]. I told them that I was better able to care for four wives from a financial stand point than Hyrum was one [sic]. Told them that I had no desire to turn away from this matter in case there was a feeling that I should marry the widow. They were unanimously of the opinion that it would not be wise for me to take the step and suggested that I encourage Hyrum to do it.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
After we had had our Prayer Circle I asked the Presidency to give me their counsel and advice with reference to what action should be taken about Hyrum Grant or me marrying the widow of [of their brother] Geo. Grant [as a Levirate marriage]. I told them that I was better able to care for four wives from a financial stand point than Hyrum was one [sic]. Told them that I had no desire to turn away from this matter in case there was a feeling that I should marry the widow. They were unanimously of the opinion that it would not be wise for me to take the step and suggested that I encourage Hyrum to do it.
[Diary of Heber J. Grant, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
160 years ago today - Mar 13, 1860
[Brigham Young Sermon]
President Young remarked if a man has not the means to pay tithing and would if he could, I can fellowship him just as well as if he did; but if he has the means and will not pay; and [h]as no disposition to pay; not believing the revelation upon that subject, I would cut him off from the Church; and let him go to California or where he pleases'
- The Pres[iden]t observed they would like to make a Congressional religion for the purpose of putting their hand on Mormonism; not that they care about religion at all; nor do they care about the existence of infidelity, profanity or sin of any kind'- The President continued his remarks observing this Government would do as the Catholics would establish a system of religion and let that prevail to the putting down of all others. -- Salt Lake City
[Brigham Young Office Journals 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]
President Young remarked if a man has not the means to pay tithing and would if he could, I can fellowship him just as well as if he did; but if he has the means and will not pay; and [h]as no disposition to pay; not believing the revelation upon that subject, I would cut him off from the Church; and let him go to California or where he pleases'
- The Pres[iden]t observed they would like to make a Congressional religion for the purpose of putting their hand on Mormonism; not that they care about religion at all; nor do they care about the existence of infidelity, profanity or sin of any kind'- The President continued his remarks observing this Government would do as the Catholics would establish a system of religion and let that prevail to the putting down of all others. -- Salt Lake City
[Brigham Young Office Journals 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 - Mar 13, 1850
Isaac Morley, leader of the Saints settling San Pete County, Utah, baptizes Ute Indian Chief Wakara ("Walker").
180 years ago today - Mar 13, 1840
Quorum met agreeable to appointment at the house of Amos Babcock on the 13th of March 1840 for the purpose of trying Brother Charles Wood for improper conduct to a Sister Shumon brother John Morton Presided The charges preferred were 1st For improper conversation and conduct toward her 2nd for making a proposal to go to her house if she would sleep with him 3rd putting his arm a round her neck in a Lewd and improper manner and offering abuse by saying many woman get their living that way 4th trying to get her on the bed with him the above charges were made out against him voted his License be taken from him and withheld until he make satisfaction by confession to the Church
John Gaylord Clerk protem ____________________
[Kirtland Elder's Quorum Record, http://ogdenkraut.com/?page_id=414]
John Gaylord Clerk protem ____________________
[Kirtland Elder's Quorum Record, http://ogdenkraut.com/?page_id=414]
25 years ago today - Mar 12, 1995
Gordon B. Hinckley is ordained and set apart as the fifteenth President of the Church, with Thomas S. Monson and James E. Faust as Counselors; Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Twelve is set apart as Acting President of the Twelve.
45 years ago today - Mar 12, 1975
Thomas Stuart Ferguson, founder of the New World Archeological Association at BYU, writes a paper for a written symposium on Book of Mormon Archaeology. He concludes: "The evidence supporting the geographical views of Norman and Sorenson, under the exacting tests laid down by the text of the Book of Mormon, is indeed very meager. We have the cylinder seal from Chiapa de Corzo, the cylinder seal from Tlatilco and the toys with wheels. That's about all. This paucity of specific support presents, at least to me, a dilemma. One way out of the dilemma is to say that everything was scrambled and lost because of the upheavals described in 3 Nephi for the time of the crucifixion. In my personal opinion, this is not a satisfactory escape hatch. . . . . I don't have the answer to the dilemma. I just call it up. I'm afraid that up to this point, I must agree with Dee Green, who has told us that to date there is no Book-of-Mormon geography. I, for one, would be happy if Dee were wrong."
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
[On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com]
70 years ago today - Mar 12, 1950
[Frank Evans]
I promised President Smith that I would try, in connection with Bishop Wirthlin, to recommend an adjustment which would relieve this situation without maladjustment of the payroll in other respects. He also mentioned the difficulties now experienced by Patriarch Eldred Smith who is receiving but $400 per month, the amount received generally by all general authorities except Presidents of Seventy and the members of the Presiding Bishopric, this $400 allowance having prevailed during normal times. I did mention the fact that some precedents had intervened, there being about six instances where members of the Council of the Twelve have received special allowances of $100 each, and some instances where Presidents of Seventy have received $50 each as special allowances. President Smith said he would discuss Eldred's situation with the other brethren and arrive at a decision and give us a written directive for our payroll.
[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]
I promised President Smith that I would try, in connection with Bishop Wirthlin, to recommend an adjustment which would relieve this situation without maladjustment of the payroll in other respects. He also mentioned the difficulties now experienced by Patriarch Eldred Smith who is receiving but $400 per month, the amount received generally by all general authorities except Presidents of Seventy and the members of the Presiding Bishopric, this $400 allowance having prevailed during normal times. I did mention the fact that some precedents had intervened, there being about six instances where members of the Council of the Twelve have received special allowances of $100 each, and some instances where Presidents of Seventy have received $50 each as special allowances. President Smith said he would discuss Eldred's situation with the other brethren and arrive at a decision and give us a written directive for our payroll.
[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]
130 years ago today - Mar 12, 1890
Pres[iden]t Woodruff feels afflicted with the course Apostles M. Thatcher & John W. Taylor are taking about the mining interests they are engaged in.
[Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
[Diary Excerpts of Franklin D. Richards, 1887-1897, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
145 years ago today - Mar 12, 1875 (Friday)
After 24 hours' confinement, Pres. Brigham Young was released from the Utah Penitentiary.
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
[Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology]
160 years ago today - Mar 12, 1860
[Brigham Young]
The President believes and practiced the taking of medicine, and it is better to gather up a little catnip and make tea of it than to ask the Lord to send an Angel to cure us when we can do so much ourselves nevertheless he believed in the ordinances to be used with mild herbs according to the revelation given upon that subject.
[Brigham Young Office Journals 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]
The President believes and practiced the taking of medicine, and it is better to gather up a little catnip and make tea of it than to ask the Lord to send an Angel to cure us when we can do so much ourselves nevertheless he believed in the ordinances to be used with mild herbs according to the revelation given upon that subject.
[Brigham Young Office Journals 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]
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