September 10th

Sept 10, 1816 - An early "killing" frost comes to Norwich, Vermont which cuts down those few crops that survived earlier snows that fell in July and August. The Joseph Smith Sr. family, facing the third year of crop failure, decides to move to New York.

Sept 10, 1840 - Mormon businessmen sign a promissory note for the purchase from the federal government of a steamboat and other river equipment with Joseph and Hyrum Smith as guarantors. After the steamboat runs aground and the principals fail on the note, United States Attorney Justin Butterfield in April 1842 files a complaint and receives a default judgment against the Nauvoo businessmen, including Joseph, for $5,212.49.

Sept 10, 1842 - Wilford Woodruff writes: "There was a counsel of the 'TWELVE' held for four days with Elder ORSON PRATT to labour with him to get him to recall his sayings against Joseph & the Twelve but he persisted in his wicked course & would not recall any of his sayings which were unjust & untrue, The Twelve then rejected him as a member of their quorum & he was cut off from the Twelve. Dr. John Cook Bennet was the ruin of Orson Pratt"

Sept 10, 1843 - At a conference in Boston at which seven of the Quorum of the Twelve were present, Elder Wilford Woodruff affirms that the Book of Mormon "contains an account of the ancient inhabitants of this continent who over spread this land with cities from sea to sea," a restatement of the contemporary understanding that the people of Nephi "did cover the whole face of the land, both on the northward and on the southward, from the sea west to the sea east" (Helaman 11:20)

Sept 10, 1844 - The Nauvoo high council releases William Marks as stake president because he favor's Sidney Rigdon's claims.

Sept 10, 1844 - Apostle John Taylor's editorial "ONE HUNDRED YEARS HENCE. 1945," in the NAUVOO NEIGHBOR describes what an angel had showed him. In 1945, a pillar of fire would stand over the Temple of Zion in Independence, Missouri. In that year a new temple would also be under construction "in the 124th city of Joseph" (formerly New York City, which had been destroyed by an earthquake in the 1890's).

Sept 10, 1857 - James Holt Haslam arrives in Salt Lake City just after daybreak. Within fifteen minutes he is in Brigham Young's office. He gives Young Isaac Haight's letter and is told to take a little sleep and return at 1:00 P.M. When Haslam returns at 1:00 he is given Young's reply to Haight, a chatty update on the arrival of an advance scout for Johnson's army and an optimistic assessment of the situation. Toward the bottom it said, "In regard to the emigration trains passing through our settlements, we must not interfere with them until they are first notified to keep away. You must not meddle with them. The Indians we expect will do as they please but you should try and preserve good feelings with them. There are no other trains going south that I know of. If those that are there will leave, let them go in peace." His instruction to Haslam is "to start and not spare your horseflesh, but to go down there just as quick as possible."
At Mountain Meadows the Santa Clara band of Indians along with the Tonaquints mounted another unsuccessful attack on the wagon train. Many of the Tonaquints had had enough and were so enraged "that they left for home that day and drove off quite a lot of cattle with them." In the Morning John D. Lee climbed a ridge west of the wagon train to survey the situation. "As soon as they saw I was a white man they ran up a white flag in the middle of their corral." By noon Mormon militia reinforcements arrived at the meadows and some of the men passed the time shooting at the emigrant camp. It was clear now that the Emigrants knew that there were white men among the attackers.
In nearby Cedar City the Cedar City Relief Society members are encouraged by Annabella Haight, wife of Cedar City Stake President Isaac C. Haight to "teach their sons and daughters the principles of righteousness, and to implant a desire on their hearts to avenge the blood of the Prophets."

Sept 10, 1879 - John Taylor and apostles vote to officially encourage Mormon polygamists to go into hiding ("the Underground") rather than be arrested.

Sept 10, 1891 - U.S. President Benjamin Harrison grants pardon to fellow Republican and second counselor Joseph F. Smith for outstanding warrants for his arrest on polygamy. Thirteen years later then President Joseph F. Smith testifies under oath that he is still living polygamously in violation of the of both "the laws of the church and the laws of the land."

Sept 10, 1893 - Apostle Francis M. Lyman preaches in St. George: "I then spoke of the financial condition of the Church and asked the Saints to come to the rescue with their tithes and offerings. At close of meeting I instructed the Bishops to hunt up men in their wards who have money and borrow it for the church."

Sept 10, 1958 - Under instructions by First Presidency, Apostle Henry D. Moyle conducts mass excommunication, in London, England, of nine American missionaries from the French Mission. Led by counselor to mission president, these missionaries converted themselves, in France, to necessity of continuing polygamy. Immediately after, most affiliate with Church of the Firstborn of the Fulness of Times, headquarted in Mexico and led by Ervil LeBaron.

Sept 10, 1988 - The bishopric of the Boise, Idaho 20th ward mails a letter on Church stationary to ward members. "In meetings with the area presidency, our stake presidency committed to raise funds for Consider [Consider is a political group opposing an Idaho State Lottery]. The assignment to our ward is to, among its members, raise $2,000 by September 15th. The urgency of this request does not allow for individual, person-to-person contact. Please, consider your resources, decide what would be an appropriate response to this request, and make a contribution to Consider. Checks need to be made out directly to Consider and collected on a ward basis. They can be turned in to a member of the bishopric or mailed in the enclosed envelope." The letter is signed by Bishop Gordon J. Stevens,

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